My expectations were huge up to the release of Maiden's reunion album with Adrian Smith and Bruce Dickinson back in business and I still get impressed with the freshness and energy found in these songs. This album is a good reminder of the elements that made them one of the biggest and best Heavy Metal bands of all time, stunning song writing, ingenious thinking, mind-blowing performances, huge dynamics and most importantly the ultra catchy melodies.

They couldn't have chosen a better opening track than the resurrecting The Wicker Man, the main riff is just so damn hard-hitting and overall it shines with intensity. Nicko's inventive drumming is to quote another song on this album "out of this planet" and the teasing guitar solo puts it over the top. It's so classic Maiden and then it sounds immensely refreshing at the same time.

The fantastic and gentle atmospheric triple guitar intro for Ghost Of The Navigator builds up a great setting for another very vivid and powerful track, this is really a song where the dynamic opportunities of three guitars pays off.

One of this albums many strengths is the mixture of soft and heavy, Brave New World is a stunning and compelling example. Dreaming keys and ingenious guitar wizardry creates a really special futuristic mood. Again Nicko underlines why he is one of the genre's best drummers of all time, I'm totally impressed by his creative style in this one, as goes for the album in general.

The excellent and elaborate bass chords running through Blood Brothers gives the song a thick and rich base, soaring orchestrations plays another important role. A very emotional song featuring great empathetic vocals.

The albums simplest and also weakest creation is found in The Mercenary, it has a monotone chorus and it never really becomes interesting. It's cool raw attitude and great solo's saves some of the day.

Maiden has never been afraid of going into huge and demanding long runners, Dream Of Mirrors is yet another gem to the large collection. A wonderful sedative opening section coming from clever acoustic guitars and Bruce's striking voice is one that grabbed me right from the start.
Technical drumming and lots of change in pace makes it quite progressive and the melodic mid-section lead guitars are no less than spectacular.

The Fallen Angel sets out on a more down to earth mission being simpler in composition, a compact and catchy rocker.

One of Maidens most important trademarks is the lead guitar adventures that has pleased Metal fans for decades. The Nomad presents huge, wonderful licks creating a eastern-like mood, making it match the mysterious theme of the song nicely.
Bruce's screaming vocals are plain awesome and all the delicate details that slowly unfolds only make things better.

Out Of The Silent Planet offers great melodic triple guitar action before a vigorous rhythm structure sets in. The harmonious guitar melody sounds phenomenal while the chorus works out quite well too.

With The Thin Line Between Love And Hate Murray and Harris brings life to one of the biggest flirtations with progressive music to ever enter the Maiden sphere, and what a mind-blowing success this is.
The structure keeps on impressing and changing colour; my favourite part is the slow section with the astounding lick and the subsequently magical vocal lines. I will never come close to getting tired of this song and would rate it as one of the bands best ever.

The band performance is top notch all the way; it's sparkling with creativity and positive energies in both the writing of the songs as well as the actual execution.

The majority of the lyrics are of high quality and quite interesting, we have the classic epic Maiden stories, philosophical issues and different spiritual scenarios, just to name a few.

When it comes to the albums sound quality I would describe it as clear and at the same time fairly raw and direct, fitting the musical vibe nicely.

It just keeps on growing and ends up being almost as amazing as the bands best recordings from the eighties. 

Written by Tommy
Saturday, January 22, 2005
Show all reviews by Tommy

Ratings

Tommy: 9/10

Members: 7.5/10 - Average of 3 ratings.



Member ratings

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Steen (Staff) Rating: 5.5/10 This is definitely not one of my favorite Maiden albums, it is closer to the bottom on tha... · Read more ·

Dark Lord Rating: 9/10 No review was posted

notrap Rating: 8/10 Welcome back Bruce&Adrian! Everyone knows that Bruce is the perfect front man and Adrian ... · Read more ·

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Comment by Morten Hansen (Anonymous) - Saturday, August 24, 2002

I agree Maiden rules. my rating is also 9 I think. I wish I had a crown under my bed, kiss the dragon and fly away, die and live again chase the fear of the hunted, accomplish glory of being the hunter and to be a free.

Comment by Pete (Anonymous) - Wednesday, August 6, 2003

7!

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

9/10 one great return for bruce

Comment by stranger in a strange land (Anonymous) - Wednesday, October 15, 2003

Where is ulrick´s review on Brave New World??

Comment by qaz (Anonymous) - Monday, December 1, 2003

a 9/10

Comment by ante (Anonymous) - Tuesday, December 16, 2003

this is great. thank you

Comment by Lord Shadow (Anonymous) - Thursday, January 15, 2004

it's an 11/10.in my top three together with piece of mind & 7th Son.

Comment by 13 yrs. old metalhead (Anonymous) - Saturday, January 31, 2004

Out of the silent planet is in my top 5 maiden songs ever, next to aces high, running free, man on the edge and children of the damned. The drums are the best i've ever heard. Apart from that, an amazing comeback, next to dance of death, powerslave and number of the beast in my favourite albums. Thin Line between love and hate a great maiden closer. 10/10

Comment by Croat (Anonymous) - Sunday, February 22, 2004

Apsolute masterpiece.When BRUCE is comeback MAIDEN is back too.After disapointing The X-Factor and Virtual XI albums Brave New World are really thing wich Maiden fans looking for.The old classic Maiden sound is back. A GREAT MILLENIUM MAIDEN BLAST.

Comment by The Wicker Man (Anonymous) - Tuesday, April 6, 2004

Nomad is poor but the rest of the album is amazing. Blood Brothers is best song on the album

Comment by i.Ron S. (Anonymous) - Friday, May 14, 2004

Great come-back for Dickinson and Smith, a little stupid that now the only song of the album what's left on the live-playlist is Wicker Man, I think that Ghost of the Navigator and a few other are better. The Thin Line between Love and hate is one of the best albumendings ever.

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

This album deserves a 10/10. The songs have become regulars in my playlists and they are on par if not better than some of their classic 80's material!! UP THE IRONS!!

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

Welcome back, Bruce and Adrian but remember Adrian, you are no Murray, He is Steve's left hand man from day one, you are Bruce's. Murray is Hendrix incarnate! Smith reminds me of the Def Leppard guy w/the short hair. and As for Bruce we all welcome you back conditionally! 1st no Wasting love, hooks in you, and bring your daughter,2nd no screaming and killing your voice on tour.(fotd) and for heaven sakes grow your hair back like the good ol' days, and lets all pick up where we left off from seventh son. this album is just that a pick up from where the 80's maiden left off. now enjoy all!!! maiden rules

Comment by The Nomad (Anonymous) - Sunday, May 23, 2004

Nice melodies. Lovely.....I liked Nomad, The Wickerman, Brave New World the most. Other tracks were also really good. Nice comeback album after a decade of decline... But this album lacks the energy and pace compared to their 80's work, haha but still really good

Comment by dusk8 (Anonymous) - Wednesday, May 26, 2004

wow, a masterpiece

Comment by Mathias Johansson [The Rain Maker] (Anonymous) - Tuesday, June 15, 2004

Brave new is one of the best records in the world!

Comment by Mihoci (Anonymous) - Tuesday, July 6, 2004

This is the best sound ever to be. I enjoy it from the first riff of the Wicker Man to the last notes of The Thin Line... 20/10

Comment by Worthy (Anonymous) - Monday, July 12, 2004

a 10/10 for me this is awesome

Comment by J Leeson (Anonymous) - Monday, January 10, 2005

ok - first maiden song i heard was run to the hills courtesy of my air guitar album (which has been demoted to the bottom of my cd collection now). first album of theirs i bought was brave new world - which i bought in france altho im english. i could not stop listening to this album. now i have all of their albums and i still hold this one in high regard. sure, its not a classic such as killers, powerslave of SSOASS but this does kick some serious iron ass. UP THE IRONS!! \m/

Comment by nihilist (Anonymous) - Tuesday, January 25, 2005

my first Maiden album, i bought it with my first payment after i get job. One of the best albums from worlds best metal band ever !

Comment by Saqib (Anonymous) - Monday, March 7, 2005

I reckon we will have to wait some ten years to totally understand the greatness of Brave New World. BEYOND RATING. This is classicar than classics, heavier than heaviest, so damn melodic and consisits of every tasteful musical excellence imaginable and not imaginable. WE SO LOVE BRUCE. WELCOME MATE!!!

Comment by Saqib (Anonymous) - Friday, March 11, 2005

Best Maiden album ever I'd add.

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

to be honest i didn't like this album at first, but being the biggest maiden fan i gave it another few listens, and naturally i became hooked, blood brothers for me ranks along side their finest efforts, its a mammoth half ballard with an absolutely masterful guitar solo. the fallen angle is another forgotten jewel. excellent come back, the tripple axe guitar work is a treat for the ears. oh yeah brilliant sing along chorus in the wicker man.

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

hey all dont listen to ASHLEY she dont like POWERSLAVE!!!! (worlds biggest fan my ass)

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

@Dickinson Sucks oh sorry m8 i do bow down to a supreme metal lord like yourself i guess with a name like dickinson sucks you must be the biggest iron maiden fan!! by the way sorry to ruin your fantasy but im actually a he not a she, maybe you got confused when you were wanking off over some cockicidal bi-atch whilst writing your comment, write back soon.

Comment by Saqib (Anonymous) - Friday, May 13, 2005

Your grandad and father suck. Your computer sucks and your keyboard sucks. BRUCE IS THE BEST THING EVER HAPPEND TO METAL MUSIC. I forgot - you suck

Comment by bruce sucks (Anonymous) - Thursday, May 19, 2005

(as Sean Connery) suck it long and suck it hard trebek

Comment by rh (Anonymous) - Thursday, May 19, 2005

who is this D sucks guy?, if i ever catch him i will whip his candy ass out of existance! sucka

Comment by Saqib (Anonymous) - Friday, May 20, 2005

May be his Dad's name is Bruce Dickinson [an uncanny resemblence may I mention].

Comment by No (Anonymous) - Monday, May 30, 2005

No

Comment by HAGEN OF VALHALLA (Anonymous) - Monday, June 12, 2006

ANOTHER MAIDEN MASTERPIECE, BRAVE NEW WORLD ITS A GREAT RECORD PLUS IT HAS DICKINSON AND SMITH BACK ON DUTIES (THOUGH BLAZE BAYLE DID A GREAT JOB IN DICKINSON PLACE) HERE WE HAVE IRON MAIDEN TAKING BACK SOME OF THE TASTE THAT ALBUMS LIKE SOMWHERE IN TIME AND SSOSS HAS AND DANCE OF DEATH THEIR NEXT ALBUM JUST PROVED THAT. GREAT GUITAR PERFOMANCES AND DRUMS OUT OF THIS WORLD PLUS THE CLASSIC OF THE MASTER HIMSELF HARRIS ON THE BASSGUITAR WITH HIS UNIQUE SOUND MAKES THIS ALBUM A HIT. THE TITLE SONG ITS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF WHY IRON MAIDEN RULES THE METAL SCENE. HOW MANY BANDS CAN SAY: I HAVE 30 YEARS ROCKING THE WORLD AND WE STILL PUTTING OUT GREAT RECORDS. I THINK THAT NONE CAN SAY THAT. NICKO DID A GREAT JOB CREATING FOR THIS ALBUM SO MANY OUTSTANDING PERFOMANCES, JUST CHECK OUT THE BASS PEDAL ON OUT OF THE SILENT PLANET SIMPLY AMAZING, BRAVO FOR YOU NICKO. AGAIN GREAT GUITARS AND FINE LYRICS PLUS WITH DICKINSON, ITS A SHAME IF YOU HAVEN'T LISTEN THIS RECORD YET, SO GO OUT AND BUY IT ITS A WELL WORTHY INVESTMENT. 9/10

Comment by joe satan (Anonymous) - Saturday, August 11, 2007

this album is the first maiden album ive been able to cough up £10 for. as im so bloody impressed with this album, especialy the cause that its obviousley singing bout global warming with brave new world, out of the silent planet and the fallen angel. yet i think that the album cover lacks the artistic reputioure (sorry about the fancy word) than in many over of there albums 8/10

Review by Steen (Staff) - Tuesday, February 1, 2005

View Profile Comments: 518 This is definitely not one of my favorite Maiden albums, it is closer to the bottom on that list. Brave New World lacks the excitement and the sense of power that pervaded the pre-1990 releases. It seems to me that every time a chorus or a good passage comes along it is repeated endlessly until it loses any impact. Blood Brothers, Out of the silent planet and Dream of Mirrors are prime examples of this. In general the songs are too long, lack focus and instead of growing with repeated listens, they stand still. There are still some good moments on the album, but overall I find Brave New World unexciting. This is an average album and it comes nowhere near my personal favorites, Piece of mind, Somewhere in time, Powerslave, Seventh son of a seventh son and Number of the beast. Rating: 5.5/10 Posted by Steen (Staff) Tuesday, February 1, 2005

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

View Profile Comments: 55 Ratings: 66 Welcome back Bruce&Adrian! Everyone knows that Bruce is the perfect front man and Adrian a great songwriter. Maiden without this guys its definitely not the same.. A good record Up the Irons! Rating: 8/10 Posted by notrap Friday, August 7, 2009

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

View Profile Comments: 518 Just to get some focus on our rating system... It's actually tougher than many like. A good record = 6/10 - A completely outstanding record = 8/10 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 Well Steen... I believe I can rate 8/10 without saying that this is a completely outstanding record... Posted by notrap Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Comment by Alanna (Staff) - Thursday, September 10, 2009

View Profile Comments: 245 Oh wow, I HATED this album when it came out. It was the butt of many jokes for years. Its garbage no matter what band dumped it out. Boring is the word! Posted by Alanna (Staff) Thursday, September 10, 2009

Comment by Stuart (Staff) - Friday, September 11, 2009

View Profile Comments: 116 The Wicker Man boring? The title track boring?? Out Of The Silent Planet (which features one of Bruce's greatest ever vocal performances IMO) boring??? I love this album, ok so songs like Dream of Mirrors and the Thin Line Between Love and Hate are a bit long winded but they are still solid Maiden tracks. Mind you I'm a big fan of pretty much everything they have recorded since Bruce's return. Only the dire New Frontier (No time for this science is un-godly nonsense from Nicko) really tests my patience Posted by Stuart (Staff) Friday, September 11, 2009

Comment by Craig (Member) - Friday, September 11, 2009

View Profile Comments: 134 Ratings: 29 Nicko didn't write the lyrics to New Frontier, try again. Posted by Craig Friday, September 11, 2009

Comment by Stuart (Staff) - Friday, September 11, 2009

View Profile Comments: 116 Yeah he did, try again. http://ironmaidencommentary.com/?url=album13_dod/commentary13_dod&lang=eng&link=albums#track7 Posted by Stuart (Staff) Friday, September 11, 2009

Comment by notrap (Member) - Friday, September 11, 2009

View Profile Comments: 55 Ratings: 66 Don't you think "Garbage" and "Boring" are strong words Alanna? I believe this band deserves more than that. Posted by notrap Friday, September 11, 2009

Comment by Alanna (Staff) - Friday, September 11, 2009

View Profile Comments: 245 No, no, I believe "garbage" and "boring" do indeed describe this "Brave New World" which was neither *brave* nor *new*. It is plodding. Predictable. Ridiculously, aggravatingly, mindnumbingly repetitive. "Out of the Silent Planet" I described (back when it came out) as "one of the worst songs I have ever heard in any genre, any musical format." With three guitarists I expected to be blown away, not bored to sleep (or to tears). "Virtual IX" was a terrible album, and to this day I cannot comprehend why there was so much hype surrounding "BNW" before and after it came out. Granted, I have not listened to since around its initial release besides a few curious pokes here and there. I realize there are a virtual plethora of Maiden fans out there that will accept and devour anything that plops out carrying their band banner, but to me, this album was a straight up embarrassment. And no, I am not a "Maiden hater", I quite adore many of their albums (especially from the 80s), not to mention Bruce Dickinson's twin solo masterpieces, "Accident of Birth" and "Chemical Wedding". Have a great day! Posted by Alanna (Staff) Friday, September 11, 2009

Comment by gizmo (Member) - Tuesday, September 15, 2009

View Profile Comments: 140 Ratings: 4 Was not among my farvorites either the only Maiden album worse than this is the awful A matter of life and death. After Seventh son they stopped being great but they are still among one of the greatest if not the greatest metal band out there. Would rate this as a 6 point Posted by gizmo Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Comment by endofus (Member) - Wednesday, January 6, 2010

View Profile Comments: 4 Ratings: 0 I bought this album in from the discount bin at the CD store and I am proud to ownit. It is really good. Nomad is the best song. Posted by endofus Wednesday, January 6, 2010