A video release and celebrating ten years with EMI, was what the boys had planned for us in 1989-90. And then of course a new album. But the band wanted to do something different. They wanted to go back to the roots, with a much more in your face attitude instead of the very thoughtful "Seventh Son."-album. Meanwhile Bruce Dickinson and Adrian Smith had been working with solo-projects in the Maiden break. It was a shock for the band when Adrian announced his departure from the band after nearly nine years in Maiden. For the first time in seven years they had to find a new member for the band. Luckily Bruce had been playing with Janick Gers on his solo thing, so he was asked to join. Not a bad choice as it later turned out.

Tailgunner: What the hell happened here? They got some of their raw sound alright. But the drums litterally sounds like cardboard boxes. Great disapointment there. The big production is gone, but they still maintain much of the layering guitars featured on "Somewhere." and "Seventh Son.". But back to the song. Great song by the way. One of the better from this album. Great middle part. And cool solo stuff.

Holy Smoke: First single. Charts at No. 3. Great video for this track. Ok riff. Not extraordinary, but very much in the Maiden vain. It is very clear when Gers is playing his solo parts. He doesn't have the same discipline as Smith. But what a performer!

No Prayer For The Dying: Interesting intro riff. Very quiet song this is. But you better believe that it suddenly explodes. Again it is clear to hear when Gers plays solo. Okay number.

Public Enema Number One: Starts off okay. Cool lyrics for this one. I love the chorus. Great melody in there, with some cool backingvocals by Bruce himself and some guitar licks in the back. Cool solo part.

Fates Warning: Hmm. A Murray/Harris song. I wonder how this starts? Ahh it starts quiet. Big surprise! But again Mr. Murray does it. I like the guitar in this number. But otherwise a very Maidenish song.

The Assassin: Typical Harris material this one. A weird drive in the song, that doesn't work well live with Gers's running around. But an okay song. Not my favorite though.

Run Silent Run Deep: Straight forward Maiden. Not much to say here. Sounds very much the same like the rest of the album. Cool solo and twin-lead. One of the first signs of Maidens desire to start a song quiet and end it quiet.

Hooks In You: Classic metal. A Dickinson/Smith song. Funny that one of Smith's songs made it onto the album, but he didn't play it. Cool song, with a great melody, and great solo part.

Bring Your Daughter.To The Slaughter: Original written by Bruce to the soundtrack for the motion picture "Nightmare On Elm Street". Also the 2nd single from the album. The bands first No.1 single. Debuts at No.1 and stays there for 2 weeks - despite being ignored by radio. You can just count yourself lucky that it wasn't Bruce original version that made it onto the album. This version is much better. Great sing-a-long part in the middle of the song. Otherwise an ok track. The lyrics are a bit lame though.

Mother Russia: Last track. Probably the best on the album. Cool drums. Very simple, but they sound extremely cool. Very cool solo part, and the ending sounds really beautiful. It is a quiet ending, I know, but this sounds good.

Definitely a step down the ladder. Clearly their weakest performance at this point. Whether or not it is because of Smith leaving the band, is hard to say. Lousy production. Some of the numbers have a tendency to sound alike. Few tracks stands out, and that make the songs difficult to remember. Still it's Maiden, but you might be disapointed when you hear it. I have always liked the album, but a low rating is what this record deserves.

Disagree? Let me know.

Written by Ulrick
Friday, July 12, 2002
Show all reviews by Ulrick

Ratings

Ulrick: 6/10

Members: 7.25/10 - Average of 2 ratings.



Member ratings

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Steen (Staff) Rating: 7/10 No review was posted

notrap Rating: 7.5/10 The worst Maiden release in 10 years. Steve wanted a more rough production on this record... · Read more ·

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Comment by E. G. (Anonymous) - Wednesday, September 24, 2003

I agree with the rating. It's a weak album for a group like Maiden.

Comment by kris s (Anonymous) - Friday, September 26, 2003

not very good for maiden 7/10

Comment by neil wilson (Anonymous) - Friday, October 10, 2003

i am a avid iron maiden fan.. i have all the albums, two on vinyl, two dvds and countless videos. this album is excellent in my opinion, everyone puts it down but the power in some of the tracks, like fates warning is incredible. holy smoke holds one of iron maidens better solos too

Comment by spanish24 (Anonymous) - Sunday, November 23, 2003

not their best but still good. I think that the main problem in this album is Bruce´s voice.

Comment by Mr Torture (Anonymous) - Saturday, January 24, 2004

This is one of Maiden's worst albums, but that still means that this is a good album (10/8). I don't have problems with Bruce's voice or Gers' solos, the main problem is the bad production. The songs range from great to good, but only a few stand out as really great songs, like Tailgunner, No Prayer for the Dying, Run Silent, Run Deep, Hooks In You, Bring Your Daughter and Mother Russia. The others have great parts, like the lyrics and solos of Holy Smoke and Public Enema, the beautiful intro of Fates Warning and the mysterious mood on The Assasin, but this is only enough for being okay songs. All in all, good solid in-your-face metal, and if you listen carefully, you'll discover that there are heavy and powerful riffs behind the awful production, wich is the albums most seriuos problem.

Comment by Dhritiman Sarma (Anonymous) - Monday, March 8, 2004

Well I'm a fan of Iron Maiden...yet I don't like some of their albums ..these are no prayer 4 the dying , killers 'n virtual 11 yet others r their classic 7th son ......, piece of mind, the # of the beast , powerslave, fear of the dark....

Comment by Tyke (Anonymous) - Sunday, April 18, 2004

I disagree with giving the album only 6 points. NPFTD features a raw, in-your-face production that may come as a surprise after listening to the polished 7th Son album. Yet, this album features some of the most compelling melodies and lyrics in Maiden's discography. Bruce's raw sounding voice works pretty well with the explosive song material. All in all, it's a very energetic album with lots of highlights: Tailgunner, Holy Smoke (the solo section is awesome), the beautiful melodic title track, Public Enema Number One (the chorus is instantly memorable)... I'm a long time Maiden fan, and this album ranks in my Maiden top 5. I'd even go as far as saying that it beats the classic Piece Of Mind and Powerslave albums in terms of energy and melody.

Comment by i.Ron S. (Anonymous) - Wednesday, May 19, 2004

Raw songs on this album, Bruce's voice sound great. Strong first one with Tailgunner, nice lyrics, same for Holy Smoke, No Prayer is a good song too, the songs that follow are not very great but are still nice, I like Hooks in You, Than follows Bring Your Daughter to the Slaughter, it was a big succes, Mother Russia makes me think at 7th Son...(the song). special sound, great intro. the first time I didn't really liked it but after a few times it gets a 7,5/10.

Comment by Storm Hammer (Anonymous) - Thursday, May 20, 2004

I'm a big Maiden fan and this album is one of the reasons I became a Maiden fan.. Mother Russia was the first Maiden song I ever heard and it blew my mind. I fell in love with Maiden after hearing that song. The production of this album might not have been as good as their other albums but the only weak point , I believe, is Adrian Smith's absence. He gives Maiden a special sound and gives the songs a special feel. He is GOD!! Maiden RULEZ!!! Up the IRONS!!

Comment by I Maiden (Anonymous) - Saturday, May 22, 2004

Expectations were too high for this album considering the success of seventh son, tghe new gutairist and of course bruce's solo project didn't help in the songwriting department, Hooks in you? bring your daughter? that's not maiden, that sounds more like glam shit to me, or deaf leopard, shit, those afformentioned songs clash with Tailgunner, running silent, The assassin, public ennema, M russia, and Fates warning. and as for holy smoke not the best song on the album, but fun

Comment by i.Ron S. (Anonymous) - Wednesday, May 26, 2004

Bring Your Daughter to the Slaughter is written by Bruce for his solo-project. However, Steve Harris liked it and wanted it for Maiden. It Became a huge succes. It made Maiden knowed by other, not metal fans, because of the title of course. You can hear the original version on the best of Bruce Dickinson, on disc 2(with Janick Gers on the guitar because Bruce braught him to Maiden from his solo-project).

Comment by The Return of the Ruthless Toy Stealer!!! (Anonymous) - Tuesday, June 29, 2004

This album is good. I just don't understand all of you shitting all over it just because Smith left the band. I think that Janick Gers is a great guitarist and never blasphemed Adrian Smith songs. The Toy Stealer is disgusted at your mediocre reviews of this gem. If you think that great live albums like a real live dead one or live at donington suck than TOY STEALER won't kill you, TOY STEALER hurt you in the worst way. ....TOY STEALER STEAL YOUR FAVORITE CHILDHOOD !!!TOY!!! HA HA HA Oh and do meet my good chum the great and all powerful TSIPPO TSAR!! Goodbye

Comment by dickison sucks (Anonymous) - Wednesday, February 16, 2005

oh boy heres where it all starts, dickinsomeass decided that he should go solo just like his boyfriend smith did before him (and they both sucked solo and begged to return on thier hands and knees, basterds)and gave a full out half assed performance (except on bring your bitch and hooks in u shit, and wasing love shit)which pisses me off and made me jump on the more war- oriented hate filled Blaze. (sweet) so yeah fuck you dickinsomeass. and your glammy grungy followers

Comment by ashley (Anonymous) - Monday, April 18, 2005

hmm well this certainly did set the alarm bells ringing about the future of bruce dickinson. personally i think he's one of the greatest rock singers ever to pick up a microphone but its quite clear here that he is bored and going through the motions for the band. the only true highlight of the album is tailgunner, and thats it, the rest isn't bad but neither is it especially good, and that by maidens own high standards showed that something was up. as history shows maiden would encounter some radical changes in the wake of this album. but in terms of its content, its nowhere near the brilliance of somewhere in time, number of the beast or SSOASS.

Comment by ashley (Anonymous) - Monday, April 18, 2005

oh and one more thing, the little twat that is 'dickinson sucks' should go stick his head up his ass and see if he can smell the shit he's been talking. both dickinson and adrian smith are musical gods. smith fucking rocked on Somewhere in Time, and dickinson carried maiden through some of their medicore shit they came out with on Powerslave. get your facts sorted mate!!

Comment by dickison sucks (Anonymous) - Friday, May 6, 2005

hey ashley powerslave mediocre!!!! i laugh at you. give me some of that dope. i wanna be trippin too. ps whats the matter truth hurts?

Comment by ashley (Anonymous) - Friday, May 6, 2005

@Dickinson Sucks yeah mate theres nothing like a bit of dope. hmm guess i insulted u a bit soz bout that bro, but i dont get where you're coming from on the whole dickinson sucks thing!! and as for Adrian Smith, dude you cant say he didnt do some special shit on the somewhere in time album!!

Comment by Jumblee (Anonymous) - Thursday, July 28, 2005

No Prayer For The Dying Pros-No Prayer For The Dying, Public Enema Number One, Fates Warning, Hooks In You Cons-Tailgunner, Holy Smoke, The Assassin, Run Silent Run Deep, Bring Your Daughter To The Slaughter, Mother Russia 4.5/10

Comment by Little Drummer Boy (Member) - Thursday, December 8, 2005

View Profile Comments: 166 Ratings: 46 Prolly the weekest recording in the BD era. It may be weak for maiden but it still stands up as a good release 6/10. BD and AS did great things during their solo outing and came back to maiden refreshed. Posted by Little Drummer Boy Thursday, December 8, 2005

Comment by ha ah (Anonymous) - Monday, February 27, 2006

dickinson sux and so does smif

Comment by Little Drummer Boy (Anonymous) - Saturday, March 18, 2006

I thought Bring Your Daughter... was on the Fright Night soundtrack.

Comment by HAGEN OF VALHALLA (Anonymous) - Friday, June 16, 2006

LETS BE HONEST, THIS NOT A TOP ALBUM FROM IRON MAIDEN TOUGH THERE ARE SOME SONG IN THIS RECORD THAT REALLY DO WELL, BUT THE REAL PROBLEM WITH NO PRAYER FOR THE DYING WAS ITS PREDECESSOR ALBUM SSOSS IF YOU HAVEN'T LISTEN A MASTERPIECE LIKE THAT FROM IRON MAIDEN THEN YOU WILL THINK.. HEY N.P.F.T.D.IS A GREAT DISC BUT ITS WAS SHADOWED BY THE GREATNESS OF SSOSS PLUS THE PRODUCTION OF THIS RECORD WASN'T THAT GOOD AND ALSO BRUCE'S PARTNER IN CRIME LEAVE THE BAND SO ITS OBVIUS THAT BRUCE WASN'T PUTTING HIS BEST 100% AND IN FEAR OF THE DARK HE MAYBE DID IT LESS, SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE PROBLEM THAT SURROUNDED NO PRAYER FOR THE DYING, IT COULD BE EASILY PUT IN AS ONE OF THE POOREST EFFORTS RELEASED BY MAIDEN, BUT WHO CARES ITS MAIDEN AFTER ALL, AND SOME SONGS FROM THIS ALBUM IRONICALLY DEBUTED AS NUMBER ONE AND NO OTHER SONGS FROM THEIR OTHERS ALBUM HAVE DONE THAT SO THIS TELL US SOMETHING... IRON MAIDEN IS FOR REAL PALS. 7/10 UP THE IRONS

Review by notrap (Member) - Friday, August 7, 2009

View Profile Comments: 55 Ratings: 66 The worst Maiden release in 10 years. Steve wanted a more rough production on this record...Well everyone (including myself) were a little bit disappointed. The golden era ended with Seventh Son... Up the Irons! Rating: 7.5/10 Posted by notrap Friday, August 7, 2009