News 18th Studio Album discussion

Do you like the alchemist? The last album with good short rockers was bnw. Even GOTN is more agresive than the alchemist
Joking aside, I personally find The Alchemist underwhelming. It’s nowhere near Futureal* or The Wicker Man. You could call it a nice little song, but that’s about as far as I’d go.

In fact, now that I think about it, if I had to sum up the song in a single phrase, I’d call it Maiden for kids. That’s simply how it comes across to me sonically.

*Futureal doesn’t have particularly great lyrics - much like Wildest Dreams - but its sheer musical explosiveness gives it an immense boost. The Alchemist never reaches that level for me.
 
Joking aside, I personally find The Alchemist underwhelming. It’s nowhere near Futureal* or The Wicker Man. You could call it a nice little song, but that’s about as far as I’d go.

In fact, now that I think about it, if I had to sum up the song in a single phrase, I’d call it Maiden for kids. That’s simply how it comes across to me sonically.

*Futureal doesn’t have particularly great lyrics - much like Wildest Dreams - but its sheer musical explosiveness gives it an immense boost. The Alchemist never reaches that level for me.
Yeah maiden disney. Its double twin guitars but for children. And then the choruses
 
Why is that strange? The new Maiden album will be recorded early next year, followed by (a limited number of) Maiden live shows in the summer, and then Bruce's tour at the end of the year.
Bruce's tour should be longer (5 months? from July, possible) and the album will be released earlier. I doubt Maiden would want to do just a few shows with the same tour. The timeframes are: early next year->summer next year->early 2028 for a summer release and tour.

From the new interview, Steve: ''I don't like sitting around doing nothing, not for long anyway. Someone told me I should be writing, but to be able to do that, you need to go and do different things before you can come back refreshed. I don't really like it, having too big of a break. I like keeping busy, still physically playing, so that when I come back to Maiden again, I'm going to be in a reasonable shape. That's the idea, anyway.''
 
Come on you lot, the Alchemist ROCKS! I enjoy the energetic and optimistic sound, even when it contrasts to the bleak-y lyrics. It's a weaker brother to Montsegur from the same blood type, with Montsegur being Top Top Top.

// talking about it made me put my headphones on and give it a spin
 
Come on you lot, the Alchemist ROCKS! I enjoy the energetic and optimistic sound, even when it contrasts to the bleak-y lyrics. It's a weaker brother to Montsegur from the same blood type, with Montsegur being Top Top Top.

// talking about it made me put my headphones on and give it a spin
I did the exact same thing. «The Alchemist» is fucking ace. Great lyrics too! Viva John Dee!
 
I don't actually dislike Alchemist, but I usually skip everything up to that and start playing the disc at Isle of Avalon.
I've got my En Vivo disc to cover earlier songs like the title track and El Dorado.
 
In short:
Bruce wants to do another album
Steve wants to tour
Bruce has no problem touring
Steve has no problem doing another album
Both agree that a new album will come eventually, if Bruce had bigger control - album will come soon, if Steve had (has) bigger control - album will come at one point.
 
In short:
Bruce wants to do another album
Steve wants to tour
Bruce has no problem touring
Steve has no problem doing another album
Both agree that a new album will come eventually, if Bruce had bigger control - album will come soon, if Steve had (has) bigger control - album will come at one point.
My analysis:
Steve probably feels/knows that their touring life is limited and wants to squeeze all juice that is left and do interesting tours, which could be a reason we got 2018-2026 70% Senjutsu live, ROTAM, SSOASS, ATG, ID, FOI, ½ Powerslave live, more than ½ of Somewhere in time live, almost ½ of Killers and Piece of mind live, Blaze and Paul era revisited. Some events bigger than others, but definitely very interesting and different one from another. Which means next tour could be as interesting, and on and on and when they retire pump out albums.
Bruce on the other hand has more old-school approach album-tour-tour cycle, which I like personally more.
We'll see where this gets us, but one is for sure - either 2027 plans are scrapped or new album in 2027.
 
In short:
Bruce wants to do another album
Steve wants to tour
Bruce has no problem touring
Steve has no problem doing another album
Both agree that a new album will come eventually, if Bruce had bigger control - album will come soon, if Steve had (has) bigger control - album will come at one point.
And this is where the other members come into play. I think some of them (particulary Dave and maybe Janick) accepted the extensive 2026 tour dates, if Maiden activity is very limited next year (let's say 3 months at max). That's where the "no shows in 2027" comes from. Adrian is pretty neutral in this situation, I think. Simon is a paid employee. That's where Steve's frustration comes from. He was likely outvoted by Bruce, Dave and Janick (I think Bruce also wants 9 months without Maiden activity, so he can do his solo stuff).

Now, what can they do with those 3 months? That's where I think Bruce and Steve have different priorities. Realistically, you can do 3 weeks of rehearsals and 6 weeks of shows, which is basically a short summer Euro run. But is that good for business? Probably not, since they milked Europe dry in last 2 years.

Now, what could they do to compensate and make both parties happy? They can. I think they can record an album in 2 months and then do 6-8 show residency at the O2, where you can do some special things, like playing 7th Son in full or maybe even play with an orchestra. With screens, production is much cheaper and doing all shows in one arena opens up some possibilities to some additional things like full arena production. Plus, doing shows in the same place would relieve them from the grueling part of the touring: the travel.

I think a vote is due in the Maiden camp, some time during the 2026 tour. And after that, Bruce will likely start dropping hints at the end of the shows.
 
Outside of The Wicker Man, Maiden have been incapable of writing a short "rocker" song anywhere near as good as Futureal in the reunion era.
That's unfair to the rockers lol

There have been quite a few good ones. TBOS didn't impress me on that front, but Senjutsu had a couple of really good shorter songs. Futureal is just that good of a rocker/an opener, of course other songs will fall short.
 
That's unfair to the rockers lol

There have been quite a few good ones. TBOS didn't impress me on that front, but Senjutsu had a couple of really good shorter songs. Futureal is just that good of a rocker/an opener, of course other songs will fall short.
If eternity should fail is a good opener but its not a short rocker,stratego is a very good short rocker but like the old galloping not a straight rocker. Final frontier, meh i preffer it than wildest dreams and different world but far from a good short rocker. They have soft them since dance of death. I miss one song like this but stratego was a great surprise . I doubt if they record and album they do a short agresive rocker maybe if bruce adrian and janick do one but steve is writting on his mode more than ever.
 
And this is where the other members come into play. I think some of them (particulary Dave and maybe Janick) accepted the extensive 2026 tour dates, if Maiden activity is very limited next year (let's say 3 months at max). That's where the "no shows in 2027" comes from. Adrian is pretty neutral in this situation, I think. Simon is a paid employee. That's where Steve's frustration comes from. He was likely outvoted by Bruce, Dave and Janick (I think Bruce also wants 9 months without Maiden activity, so he can do his solo stuff).

Now, what can they do with those 3 months? That's where I think Bruce and Steve have different priorities. Realistically, you can do 3 weeks of rehearsals and 6 weeks of shows, which is basically a short summer Euro run. But is that good for business? Probably not, since they milked Europe dry in last 2 years.

Now, what could they do to compensate and make both parties happy? They can. I think they can record an album in 2 months and then do 6-8 show residency at the O2, where you can do some special things, like playing 7th Son in full or maybe even play with an orchestra. With screens, production is much cheaper and doing all shows in one arena opens up some possibilities to some additional things like full arena production. Plus, doing shows in the same place would relieve them from the grueling part of the touring: the travel.

I think a vote is due in the Maiden camp, some time during the 2026 tour. And after that, Bruce will likely start dropping hints at the end of the shows.
Next year they will be recording an album if what we have read in that kerrang interview.is real. Is 2027 or maybe 2029 and. They know they are not going to be there for 10 years. My only doubt is if nicko will be there for a couple of songs. And i think he should be
 
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