18th Studio Album discussion

[AncientMariner_Essex]

I guess my opinion on a new album comes from being a fan of Iron Maidens since 1991.

At the time I became a fan the current album out was NPFTD. My first new album release purchase was fear of the dark, my first live experience with the band was on the x-factor tour in 1995 and since then I’ve seen them on every tour and a few gigs abroad so I’ve been around for 9 brand new album releases and over 34 years of being a fan and seeing them live. If they stopped now I wouldn’t blame them and I would still have the music to listen too and 34 years of great memories.

Most of the people in this thread disagreeing with me and saying there will be a new album and the band aren’t about to quit and can go on for longer are likely younger than me (I’m 48) and have only been listening to maiden for less than 20 years and only been to a handful of shows so there opinion s more about being hopeful as they haven’t experienced Maiden long enough and hope to see more albums and tours. Their ignoring the obvious signs that this is coming to an end just because they want more Maiden.

 

[dickinson1978]

There’s levels of cabaretness and Maiden are definitely, and thankfully, not at the Kiss level yet. But let’s not kid ourselves: they have released just 6 studio albums in the 26 years since the reunion took place. That’s not a benchmark of productivity.

i Think most of the big bands do this. They have family kids they want to stay on holydays after years on the road. The music indistry is not the same as 80s 90s. So when they record and album is when they want now. They dont have the pressure of the mangment. The tours is where they make money. I dont know but if we compare to metallica guns n roses judas helloween kiss motley and many others they do the same. Helloween could be different but from 95 until reunion they werent at the same level than the big bands so they spent all those years doing album and tour

 

[GhostofCain]

It wasn't until a year ago or so I understood that tour name

It is definitely not their brightest tour name choice.

 

[Kalata]

Had Senjutsu been released as expected in 2020 I really think we’d have another by now.

Probably, and they had desire back in 2019, but I'm not that sure, because they probably still would have done a SIT throwback tour and celebrate their 50 years.

Yes I do.
That’s why they chose the drummer they chose. They could have gone with the young buck Joe Lazarus or another more profile drummer.
No, instead they’ve chosen a guy nearly as old as them who’s been playing with Steve for more than a decade. This was the obvious choice when a band just needs a step in for one last big tour.

Why would Maiden, of all other old bands, choose to stop doing big shows when they still sell out big gigs? Ofc with lesser shows. And granted Joe is very good (listen to his cover of Murders!), but I still think Steve chose Simon mainly because he played with him.

And I never said they’d stop playing.
My thoughts are this will be the last iron maiden tour. They haven’t called it a farewell tour so they can leave the door open to the odd one off gig and maybe a few headline slots at festivals.
With this tour and all other promotions heavily leaning on the 50th anniversary of the band it feels the right time to draw everything to a close.

It's normal for the bands to note such anniv. Did Priest stop after their celebration with some older band members? No, they returned with a strong new album.

Bruce seems as eager as ever to create music, Adrian also keeps writing. Steve? Maybe he is unsure, but I have never gotten the impression that he doesn’t want to keep making new music. Maybe the rest of the band aren't eager to make another album. Or maybe Nicko's illness put a complete stop to any recording plans. One thing is touring with a new drummer, making new music is a completely different thing. It would really see Maiden head in a different direction.

True that.

Unless a new album comes out I really doubt they’ll keep touring. They’ve always said they don’t want to be a cabaret band just playing the hits and since the reunion they’ve been very careful to find good themes as an excuse to go out and do a nostalgia tour in between new album tours.
This run for your lives tour is the first time I feel like there’s no real theme for this tour other than to celebrate 50 years and that is a fitting way to end. I can’t see a brand new nostalgia hits themed tour after this one.
Playing one off gigs and the odd headline festival gig gives them an excuse to play whatever they want from any album without coming up with a new theme to base a whole tour on.

The current tour's theme is odd, but it's still a proper theme. They've run out of ideas for next Hits tours, but they could always do popular Reunion era songs. Part 2 of RFYL will always be an option - and that's good.

If they don't want to be a cabaret band, as they always say, the next move is logical.

Honestly, I don't think they would have invested in this new stage production for just one tour.

Plus, with the screens it's much easier for a tour.

No ones realistically going to veto recording an album. It's not like they're banging one out every year. It's been 6 years since they've been in a studio together.

This. I think Maiden are fairly prolific since the Reunion. They could have released one more album, for sure.

They will take the run for your lives tour up to the end of 2026. Possibly extend for 1 more year and make a couple of tweaks to the set list but that’s it. Doing this they would have spent 3 years celebrating their 50th anniversary.
I really don’t think they will have the desire to create a new album, new Eddie, a new marketing and branding strategy and then take the new album on the road for another 2/3 years I really don’t. Maiden will never announce a farewell tour but when the time comes to stop touring they will not leave the last tour they ever did as an album tour, likely they will stop after a hits/nostalgia tour so if they did release a new album in 2027 and tour it till 2030 then another hits tour for 2/3 years that takes them all to around mid 70’s and nearly 60 years of the band.
If they were planning to go on till they reached the 60th anniversary then I doubt they would have made such a big deal of the 50th anniversary with a big documentary and a new book as the story hasn’t finished yet.
This whole thing around the 50th anniversary says to me they are drawing the band to a close and they will go their separate ways and devote time to solo projects and every now and again get together for a one off gig or a festival headline slot.

An album tour will be 2 years, as usual, and shorter. The current tour is like a conclusion of sorts, but it's a must for them to do for the celebrations, so. And Bruce said yesterday that they promise to come back.

 

[jeanpoleon]

I guess my opinion on a new album comes from being a fan of Iron Maidens since 1991.

At the time I became a fan the current album out was NPFTD. My first new album release purchase was fear of the dark, my first live experience with the band was on the x-factor tour in 1995 and since then I’ve seen them on every tour and a few gigs abroad so I’ve been around for 9 brand new album releases and over 34 years of being a fan and seeing them live. If they stopped now I wouldn’t blame them and I would still have the music to listen too and 34 years of great memories.

Most of the people in this thread disagreeing with me and saying there will be a new album and the band aren’t about to quit and can go on for longer are likely younger than me (I’m 48) and have only been listening to maiden for less than 20 years and only been to a handful of shows so there opinion s more about being hopeful as they haven’t experienced Maiden long enough and hope to see more albums and tours. Their ignoring the obvious signs that this is coming to an end just because they want more Maiden.

Maybe you are pessimistic and that's why you don't see the obvious signs that they plan on continuing

 

[dickinson1978]

Probably, and they had desire back in 2019, but I'm not that sure, because they probably still would have done a SIT throwback tour and celebrate their 50 years.

Why would Maiden, of all other old bands, choose to stop doing big shows when they still sell out big gigs? Ofc with lesser shows. And granted Joe is very good (listen to his cover of Murders!), but I still think Steve chose Simon mainly because he played with him.

It's normal for the bands to note such anniv. Did Priest stop after their celebration with some older band members? No, they returned with a strong new album.

True that.

The current tour's theme is odd, but it's still a proper theme. They've run out of ideas for next Hits tours, but they could always do popular Reunion era songs. Part 2 of RFYL will always be an option - and that's good.

If they don't want to be a cabaret band, as they always say, the next move is logical.

Plus, with the screens it's much easier for a tour.

This. I think Maiden are fairly prolific since the Reunion. They could have released one more album, for sure.

An album tour will be 2 years, as usual, and shorter. The current tour is like a conclusion of sorts, but it's a must for them to do for the celebrations, so. And Bruce said yesterday that they promise to come back.

They are going to continue for sure if nothing bad happens. We have seen that with nicko. But its not a feeling its what they say. Its obiuus that they are not going to say we are going to stay for 10 years becasue nobady knows. But they are going to record and tour if they feel they have a great show ( and they have)

 

[dickinson1978]

Probably, and they had desire back in 2019, but I'm not that sure, because they probably still would have done a SIT throwback tour and celebrate their 50 years.

Why would Maiden, of all other old bands, choose to stop doing big shows when they still sell out big gigs? Ofc with lesser shows. And granted Joe is very good (listen to his cover of Murders!), but I still think Steve chose Simon mainly because he played with him.

It's normal for the bands to note such anniv. Did Priest stop after their celebration with some older band members? No, they returned with a strong new album.

True that.

The current tour's theme is odd, but it's still a proper theme. They've run out of ideas for next Hits tours, but they could always do popular Reunion era songs. Part 2 of RFYL will always be an option - and that's good.

If they don't want to be a cabaret band, as they always say, the next move is logical.

Plus, with the screens it's much easier for a tour.

This. I think Maiden are fairly prolific since the Reunion. They could have released one more album, for sure.

An album tour will be 2 years, as usual, and shorter. The current tour is like a conclusion of sorts, but it's a must for them to do for the celebrations, so. And Bruce said yesterday that they promise to come back.

Cabaret? From their last album they have played all the songs live unless what... 3 songs ? Of 10?
Check motley crue or guns n roses shows. That is sad.
For me the show is good they still got it. Its different? Yes. But still maiden.

Check this and its not one of the worst. Its one of the ones he better sings

This is cabaret ,money grabbers and many others things

 

[redandtheblack92]

Well given Bruce’s & Adrian’s plans next year, I think Maidens new album will be out somewhere in late 2027 unless:

- they record later this year to aim for a release in mid 2026 (assuming Bruce would record his solo in early 2026 for a release in early 2027). I know Bruce would resume his North American solo tour by they could record in fragments and save the second half of the recording for Jan/Feb 2026

- they hit the studio in say Jan (assuming Bruce starts his solo sessions in March) and they release one in Sept 2026

- the final and the worst outcome is they hitting the studio early 2027 for a release in mid-late 2028

I am really rooting for possibility number 2 but let’s see, It seems rather unrealistic.

 

[AncientMariner_Essex]

Well given Bruce’s & Adrian’s plans next year, I think Maidens new album will be out somewhere in late 2027 unless:

There isn’t going to be a new album

 

[Vaenyr]

There isn’t going to be a new album

This screams for an invitation to bet on it

 

[redandtheblack92]

There isn’t going to be a new album

There will but just remember that patience is no sin

 

[Jadukor]

Did you guys see the latest video from Bruce on the maiden youtube channel? Towards the end he says "we have lots of shows and more stuff i can't talk about because they would have to kill me" For me, this is what he usually says before a new album comes out, no? Thoughts?

 

[Jer]

For me, this is what he usually says before a new album comes out, no? Thoughts?

New Trooper beer flavor, more likely.

 

[Dick Brucinson]

Did you guys see the latest video from Bruce on the maiden youtube channel? Towards the end he says "we have lots of shows and more stuff i can't talk about because they would have to kill me" For me, this is what he usually says before a new album comes out, no? Thoughts?

Yes, it's interesting. Here's my thoughts I just posted in an other thread:

If Bruce was hinting a new studio album...: When could that have been recorded? If a new album, I guess it's with Simon on drums (I hope!), not Nicko. So, let's assume their plan of the drummer exchange was well wrapped perhaps by later summer last year (I don't believe it was any earlier) to be announced December 7 2024, there's not so many possible time frames left when an album could have been recorded. Were they spotted anywere as a band together in one place since then? If I'm not mistaken, there was some Paris mentioning, but I'm not sure really.

I don't believe if a new album was to be released it has Nicko on drums.

 

[CA Bryers]

Yes, it's interesting. Here's my thoughts I just posted in an other thread:

If Bruce was hinting a new studio album...: When could that have been recorded? If a new album, I guess it's with Simon on drums (I hope!), not Nicko. So, let's assume their plan of the drummer exchange was well wrapped perhaps by later summer last year (I don't believe it was any earlier) to be announced December 7 2024, there's not so many possible time frames left when an album could have been recorded. Were they spotted anywere as a band together in one place since then? If I'm not mistaken, there was some Paris mentioning, but I'm not sure really.

I don't believe if a new album was to be released it has Nicko on drums.

If he is referring to a new album...which I can't think of anything else "kill-worthy" that hasn't already been announced (book, documentary, etc.), I would lean toward them being more in the planning stages of a new album than something that's already recorded. What with Simon newly aboard and figuring out how that was going to work out, I don't think they would have quickly hammered out an album with him or with Nicko as things got progressively worse with him.

So, if that's the case, it's a matter of looking at windows of time between the end of this leg of RFYL, Bruce recording his new album early next year, and the second leg of RFYL. Or after all that.

 

[Dick Brucinson]

Yeah, that

If he is referring to a new album...which I can't think of anything else "kill-worthy" that hasn't already been announced (book, documentary, etc.), I would lean toward them being more in the planning stages of a new album than something that's already recorded. What with Simon newly aboard and figuring out how that was going to work out, I don't think they would have quickly hammered out an album with him or with Nicko as things got progressively worse with him.

So, if that's the case, it's a matter of looking at windows of time between the end of this leg of RFYL, Bruce recording his new album early next year, and the second leg of RFYL. Or after all that.

Quite plausible scenario you are describing. I've seen them twice few days ago, and it's possible they wanted to check out first how things would work with Simon and how he was welcomed by the fans. Crowd really likes him, so do I, and I guess they all feel well and comfortable with him.

 

[CA Bryers]

Yeah, that

Quite plausible scenario you are describing. I've seen them twice few days ago, and it's possible they wanted to check out first how things would work with Simon and how he was welcomed by the fans. Crowd really likes him, so do I, and I guess they all feel well and comfortable with him.

I think that's why they said he's the drummer for 2025, and not for the Run For Your Lives Tour in its entirety. He was probably contracted for the one year only, with an option to extend or replace him for 2026 if things didn't work out. Since Bruce has been calling him "their drummer" recently, I imagine they're happy enough to continue and have/are planning on extending his contract.

And jealous you've gotten to see them this go-round! Being from North America, I have to wait until next year to see them. At least I've got Bruce coming to town in September, though!

 

[Kalata]

Did you guys see the latest video from Bruce on the maiden youtube channel? Towards the end he says "we have lots of shows and more stuff i can't talk about because they would have to kill me" For me, this is what he usually says before a new album comes out, no? Thoughts?

I also think it's about a new album, that's like their usual way of hint talking, although it would be a bit odd if it isn't recorded yet (unless they change their ways of recording a bit, they write stuff all the time). I guess they decided to do it (planning stages) as the next logical step in their career - and probably with Simon. Bruce's schedule of recording his solo album early next year and Adrian's dates are an issue, but after the tour in the fall or early 2027, why not. Even if there is a 3rd leg.

Iron Maiden Brasil - on Instagram: "Em uma entrevista com Eddie Trunk, o baterista do Iron Maiden, Nicko McBrain, que se aposentou das turnês em dezembro passado, falou sobre como ainda faz parte da família da banda, revelando que não há planos para

1,234 likes, 36 comments - imbnoticias on July 17, 2025: "Em uma entrevista com Eddie Trunk, o baterista do Iron Maiden, Nicko McBrain, que se aposentou das turnês em dezembro passado, falou sobre como ainda faz parte da família da banda, revelando que não há planos para um novo álbum, mas que...

www.instagram.com

Here's what Nicko said about the matter in a new (I assume) interview:

There are no plans, as far as I know, to record an album. I mean, we talked about recording a new album a few years ago, and it wasn't exactly a shared idea at the time. But now, you know, everyone's gotten so old. We all lost a year and a half, actually two years, to that stupid pandemic that affected everyone, including our psyches. I'm still part of the family. I'm still involved and I'm doing a lot of things with the fan club. You know, I'm writing a book. Actually, I've been writing a book for 10 fucking years. It's time for me to finish it.

If there's a new album in the works, I might play on a few tracks. Not on tour, but on the album. Yeah, who knows? We're all still part of the family, even if I'm not playing shows.

It wasn't a shared idea in 2019 after the recording of SJ... what? This is not good and a surprise to hear. Everyone's gotten so old... not good to read this either. I doubt Nicko will spoil the plans, but let's hope so for the best.

He is thinking about playing a few songs on a new album. Cool and curious to hear.

 

[Vaenyr]

It wasn't a shared idea in 2019 after the recording of SJ... what? This is not good and a surprise to hear. Everyone's gotten so old... not good to read this either. I doubt Nicko will spoil the plans, but let's hope so for the best.

Probably talking about what Bruce has mentioned before, where they thought about recording another album prior to the release of Senjutsu. There were travel restrictions, so some would have had issues with that, and I believe some wouldn't want to "dilute" Senjutsu's importance by overshadowing it with a new album before it even had a chance to be played live.

 

[Perun]

Did you guys see the latest video from Bruce on the maiden youtube channel? Towards the end he says "we have lots of shows and more stuff i can't talk about because they would have to kill me" For me, this is what he usually says before a new album comes out, no? Thoughts?

He means the documentary and the book. Maybe a live album. I bet they also have a new mobile game in the works or something.

I think it's unlikely we'll get a new album, and if we do we won't hear about it before the end of the third leg of RFYL in late 2027.