After a few years in anonymity,
Bruce Dickinson found together with his former co-writer Roy Z from the band Trybe of Gypsies. With Roy not having a record deal, they set out to make a metal album. And I must say that they succeeded. The lineup was the same as on "Balls to Picasso", but with one small, yet very important, change. Former band mate in Iron Maiden, Adrian Smith, had joined him in this, what later turned out to be Bruce's rise from the ashes and up the stairs leading to glory. What an album.
A great opener in
"Freak". You can just hear the joy is back in the singing. The production has gone up several notches. Roy Z is the man behind this "new"
Bruce Dickinson sound. Moving on, the 2nd track is sort of a intro to track 3,
"Starchildren". A very powerful song, awesome riff in the verses. Very cool guitar work on this track.
"Taking the Queen" slows it a bit down. But you can hear the good melody is intact. They have come a long way since "Balls.". This song also have one of favorite chord changes of all time. I soil myself everytime I hear it. It's just after the chorus, when he sings "-so they think". Just as he sings "think" they change chord and suddenly you think you are in paradise. If it is any easier it is also 2.25 minutes into the song. And the best of all it comes again. This time with more power in the guitars. See if you can hear it! Heavenly!! Very much like
"How Many Say I" with Van Halen.
"Dark Side of Aquarius" follows right after. The vocals/melody could have been better on this track, but the guitars totally makes up for it. There are some really great breaks in there.
"Road to Hell" is written by Bruce and Adrian and sounds very much like something you could expect from them. Straight forward heavy metal. Great melody in that song. Could have been a great Maiden song. Just a thought!
Bruce has this thing with at least one of the songs on the album has to written by himself and no one else. Or so it seems. This is in fact the case on "Balls.", the album following this one and of course this one. But this one is by far the "worst" of them. He can do better!
"Accident." is more what I like. Great riff and a nice drive on this one. Again great guitar work!!
"The Magician" is yet another of these straight forward heavy metal songs. Great song to sing a long to!
"Welcome." is another Dickinson/Smith song. A great song, with some cool guitars. The last two tracks are quiet, kind of ballads, tracks.
"Omega" has a raw outstanding guitar part! Worth a listen.
All in all. This is a great album. The
Air Raid Siren has done it again. The bass and drums are very anonymous, in the sense that the play really well, but never stands really out, as Bruce or the two guitarist Roy and Smith. But a rock solid performance by both of them. Actually all of them!
Written by
Ulrick Wednesday, July 31, 2002
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