Most songs ignite yet !!

Even at the risk that my review of the numerous pre-reviewers will find no attention, here a few weeks after the appearance nor my thoughts on the new Maiden album:
After tens of runs, I can say that it is a really good album and the fact that the average rating has now leveled off at 4 of 5 stars also corresponds exactly my estimation. As with the previous album ("AMOLAD", 2006), the songs simply need time - spontaneous reviews on publication (or the very smart even before) but rarely retain their validity.

The album starts as already the last two rather mixed, "Different World" and "Wildest Dreams" were both rather weak spots on the otherwise successful discs. A new "Wicker Man" the opening song is really not that annoying intro and would - if at all - should be a separate track, the remaining four minutes from the songs are nice, but no longer. As an opener for a concert on the other hand it would have suited, but probably could Maiden playing a Phil Collins song, the show as long as finally begins! ;-)

With "El Dorado" because I can already considerably more start, even if that opinion is not a lot of parts, but for me the first highlight with a successful chorus and unfortunately on the first part of the tour for the album the only live played song - but that is likely to change soon.
"Mother of Mercy" I like pretty well with its oriental overtones and "Coming Home" is basically the equivalent of "Out Of The Shadows" from the last album, a very successful melodic power ballad (if you talk about something in Maiden can not and will).

"The Alchemist" is a short rocker who would not hurt a live concert, but also not a super-Song. What I can say also of "Isle of Avalon", with this song, I can not even begin really much even after weeks. Well, who knows, maybe that will come ...

Next, we move into the strongest part of the album: "Star Blind" (reminds me a bit of "Infinite Dreams", somehow ...) and "The Talisman" are for me personally, the two best songs on the album. Structurally course Maiden typically with slow intro and furious middle part, so not terribly original; but just great. Especially "Talisman" was also on the tour for the album also an asset to any concert.

The Album (The Man Who Would Be King) Dave Murray number is more of a failure in my opinion, the song bobs more or less to himself, which of course falls into the weight with a length of again during 8 minutes under particularly. Since the good in his rare songwriting contributions for the last album has proved a much happier little hands.
The Closer "When The Wild Wind Blows" makes up for it again for the occasional misfire. With a length of 11 minutes, I would have wished, although one or another musical idea more, thus he can not keep up with the two minutes shorter "The Legacy" from the last album. But it's still a good, catchy song, which rounds off the album worthy!

I would classify the disc after "A Matter Of Life And Death" (2006) and "Brave New World" (2000), the former being my absolute Favourite album of Maiden's. Qualitatively, it is still ahead of "Dance Of Death" (2003), but generally at critics also something bad comes off me (I rate a total of now only the Albums in the current line, so after the reunion, not the albums of the 80 or 90).
That the last album would be hard to beat, I have thought before. And unlike this has "The Final Frontier" does not have the potential to be performed live in full length, but just three to four songs to fall sharply from their colleagues. But the rest of the songs would be and certainly live down well and do not immediately disappear from the Maiden set. 4 stars!

PS With the sound of the album, I can (like its predecessor) are not satisfied. A for comparison inserted Maiden disc from the 80s should not really listen sound so much better than a product of the year 2010!