The year is 1992, and it is time for Maiden to release their 9th studioalbum. The lineup is still the same. Maybe that has given the band the necessary breathingspace to create a better album than the previous not so well recieved "No Prayer For The Dying". Allthough it charted at No. 2 it wasn't the big succes of previous albums. This time they had to prove that Maiden still had it. But whether or not Maiden still had it, should later prove to be the least of their concerns.

Be Quick Or Be Dead: What an opener! This is more like! Cool drum production compared to "No Prayer.". Great drive in the song. Gers is now a big part of Maiden an co-writes 5 songs for the album, including this track. First single, chart debuts at No. 2. Allright. Back in business! Overall cool production. I like the sound on those guitars!

From Here To Eternity: Very much straight forward Maiden. An okay chorus and solo part saves this song from being put in the box of Maiden-songs-you-skip-when-you-hear-the-Fear-Of-The-Dark-album. Then again, the song lacks something.

Afraid To Shoot Strangers: Oh no quiet intro. But it started so good. The intro is ok. This song is played in an odd tempo as well. Weird. And suddenly the twin-lead guitars break through! By the Metal Gods. Harris has done it again. What a guitar piece!!

Fear Is The Key: This song, is claimed to sound a lot like "Perfect Strangers" by Deep Purple. The melody isn't any way near, but the way Bruce sings and the mood, reminds you of the before mentioned track. Not a great song in my opinion. The lyrics are ok though.

Childhood's End: A very lite song. A lite foreplay, and the the drums pick up the pace. Sounds very much like something that only could be on this album. Great guitar work on this one. Cool twin-lead. Serious lyrics. The new Maiden. Not all lyrics are stories, but now they are lyrics about serious issues. The tendency started on "No Prayer.".

Wasting Love: I have been looking forward to reviewing this song, because many of my mates like it and I don't. I think the riff sounds lame. It is a song Maiden wrote, to show the world that Bruce actually can sing, and not only sound like an air raid siren. I just don't like the song. (This is in my skip-forward-list when I hear the "Fear Of."-album.) But you might like it. So listen to it and make up your own mind.

The Fugitive: That's the spirit. Starting out loud. Great drive in this song. The chorus could be better, but there are some very cool guitars in the middle of this one. Good one.

Chains Of Misery: Again an okay song. Not any actual weak points, but not a classic. Great solo. Easy to remember chorus.

The Apparition: A very non-Maiden song. There are no chorus and no guitar intro or anything. It just starts. And that is what makes it great. The lyrics could be better, but they suit the song, so I guess they are sufficient. Great middle guitar part on this one as well.

Judas Be My Guide. This is actually one of my favorite tracks on the album. Cool intro that reminds me of "The Loneliness.". They sound nothing alike, but somehow they remind me of each other. A nice song with a nice drive. Cool Murray solo.

Weekend Warrior: Again one of these not very typical Maiden tracks. An okay track, but not their best. Okay middle part.

Fear Of The Dark: The jewel among these 12 tracks. Steve Harris suddenly pulls this masterpiece of a song out of his hat. Still played live, and I can understand why. Nice drive and cool lyrics. Very moody intro. Masterpiece!

They are back! It is not "Powerslave" or "Seventh Son.", in fact it is not even close. But there is still something special about this album. A cool production, in my opinion, and some kick ass guitars, takes this album a little higher than the previous. It actually went No. 1 in the charts in the UK and several other contries. Not bad for an album that is supposed to be mediocre! Just proves the old theory that Maiden fans would buy anything with the Maiden logo on it. Stupid theory. ;o)

Written by Ulrick
Monday, July 15, 2002
Show all reviews by Ulrick

Ratings

Ulrick: 8/10

Members: 8/10 - Average of 3 ratings.



Member ratings

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Steen (Staff) Rating: 7.5/10 No review was posted

Dark Lord Rating: 9/10 No review was posted

notrap Rating: 7.5/10 I little bit better than the previous. An average Album, far far away from the golden 80'... · Read more ·

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

8.5 for me

Comment by qaz (Anonymous) - Saturday, November 29, 2003

i prefer No Prayer to this one. Although has some classics like fear of the dark, wasting love and afraid to shoot strangers there are many fillers to consider it a good album. Just a decent one. Fillers: fear is the key, the fugitive, weekend warrior, the apparition, childhood´s end. a 7/10 for me

Comment by Steve Harris Jr. (Anonymous) - Saturday, November 29, 2003

@qaz Did you even bother to read the lyrics for The Apparition, Childhood's End and not least Fear Is The Key??? Calling these standout tracks album-fillers is fucking lame! Simple as that...

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

This is a very underrated Maiden album. But it isn't their best, that's also true. IMO all Maiden albums are brilliant (wich means 10/11 :) except No Prayer, Virtual and Fear, wich are really good albums (10/8). But since they were released by the mighty Iron Maiden, many people bash them. As for me, I like all of these albums, and Fear is my facvourite (maybe cos this was my first Maiden album after Best of the Beast.) I really like Bruce's aggressice vocals, the great guitarwork, and there are really great tracks, such as Be Quick (heavy, fast and aggressive - I love it!), From Here to Eternety (at first I didn't like it, but since I've heard it live, I do :), Afraid to Shoot Strangers (masterpiece!), Childhood's End (really great song), Wasting Love (absolutely beautiful and inspired!), The Fugitive (I love this song, it's just so fuckin' heavy, I can't imagine how can many hate it), Judas Be My Guide (Mr Murray does it again, simply awesome! :) and of course, the title track, wich is one of Maiden's absolute best songs. There are other songs I find okay (Fear is the Key, Chains of Misery), wich means they're good songs, just not the best, altough they have great parts, like Bruce's screams on Fear or the solo of Misery; but these just can't save this song from being just okay songs. About The Apparition: I can't decide if I like it or hate it. Sometimes I think it's Maiden's worst song, and after that I think it's an okay song with awesome solo's. I just don't know. The same goes for Weekend Warrior; but I must say it has great guitars and it has a "weekend feeling". This sounds a bit lame, but it's kinda lame song though ;o)... The bottom line: this is a really good album, but not the best. I agree with the rating of Sir Ulrick: it's 10/8. Maybe if it had a better production or if it had lacked those 2 not-so-good tracks (Apparition, Weekend), it could have been a better. Anyway, this ain't matter now, and Maiden showed with The X Factor and with the two reunion albums that they still can make fuckin' brilliant albums. Up the Irons! "Mr Torture"

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

When i heard this album I looked forward to Blaze Bayley, Wasting love??? what the fuck is this, Poison, slaughter, bon jovi, cinderella? glam fuck that just pissed me right off, what's next a maiden Rap, with dancers, basketball, bling-bling. well you see where i'm going, and thank god it didn't end up that way.!!

Comment by dude (Anonymous) - Wednesday, May 26, 2004

amen

Comment by mega fan (Anonymous) - Tuesday, February 15, 2005

i had fear of the dark in one hand and coundown to extintion in the other, i wnt fear, looking back, boy i chose wrong!

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

look at me im bruce dick-in-some-ass! and i cant sing i can only scream with my halford, smith threesome! I suck I should have stayed gone and let a real singer like Dianno or Bayley take over maiden without smith/dickhead. ps dianno rules

Comment by legerdemain (Anonymous) - Wednesday, March 23, 2005

i'd beg to differ here.. well... to start with.. childhood's end and fear is the key have interesting lyrics.. they do lack that storytelling atmosphere, but i could still appreciate what was on offer.. again about wasting love.. its kinda glam but definitely nothing a poison or bon jovi could have conjured.. thats fucking insulting.. this was my first maiden album so am very sento over it.. and the album's inspired so many others to join the maiden cult.. for that reason alone.. this album deserves lot more than 8

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

Fear Of The Dark Pros-Be Quick Or Be Dead, Afraid To Shoot Strangers, Fear Of The Dark Cons-From Here To Eternity, Fear Is The Key, Childhood's End, Wasting Love, The Fugitive, Chains Of Misery, The Apparition, Judas Be My Guide, Weekend Warrior 0.9/10

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

View Profile Comments: 55 Ratings: 66 I little bit better than the previous. An average Album, far far away from the golden 80's Up the Irons! Rating: 7.5/10 Posted by notrap Friday, August 7, 2009

Comment by Steen (Staff) - Saturday, August 8, 2009

View Profile Comments: 518 Notrap: If you think it's an average album then a rating around 5/10 is more in tune with the site's rating system - 5/10 = Average according to our rating system. More info here. Posted by Steen (Staff) Saturday, August 8, 2009

Comment by notrap (Member) - Wednesday, September 9, 2009

View Profile Comments: 55 Ratings: 66 You're right Steen. However, in my opinion, an average record for Maiden is always a good record and this one in particular don't deserve a 5/10 rating. It's average comparing with all they have done in the 80's. Posted by notrap Wednesday, September 9, 2009