Death Of The Celts

How good is Death of the Celts on a scale of 1-10?


  • Total voters
    29
This song is great, one that had me hooked from the first listen. I can't get enough of Harris' acoustic/bass intros, very reminiscent of songs like The Clansman, but in a good way. It also gives Bruce a break from the higher end of singing by letting him use his middle range throughout which sounds just as great. When the heavier section starts, Bruce gets buried in the mix which has a tendency to throw me off but it gets better in a bit. I love the middle section when Celtic melodies are employed and the bass gets pushed up in the mix, sounding almost like a fourth guitar. Some lovely synth work to build up a sense of atmosphere as well. It's a really cool song all around.
 
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The Celtic Rose is considered a symbol of purity of the heart. In general, the Rose has been associated with the Virgin Mary, sometimes called the “Holy Rose”. In Celtic mythology, rosettes were associated with the sun and the Celtic solar god. Thus, the rose symbolized both heavenly perfection and earthly passion.
Thanks man! Very interesting
 
I like how part of the ''Celtic'' melody in the outro (around 9:12) is different to the melodies in the intro - great little melody.

Actually, the intro of this song is one of my favorites in the album (along with the intro in the title track, LIALW, The Parchment and Hell On Earth).
 
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I like how part of the ''Celtic'' melody in the outro (around 9:12) is different to the melodies in the intro - great little melody.

Actually, the intro of this song is one of my favorites in the album (along with the intro in the title track, LIALW and Hell On Earth).

Yep bass sounds fantastic in that intro.
 
This is my attempt at creating a bass tab for "The Death of the Celts". As far as I'm aware, this is the first bass tab anyone has put together for this song. I stand by my previous comments that this is Harris's most interesting and challenging performance since at least 2000. Corrections are welcome (I'm confident I got all the main parts, but I'm sure I missed some subtleties and variations).

0:00 - 0:10 - Riff 1 (acoustic bass)
G|-----9---7---9-------5-7--------------|-----9---7---9-------5-7--------------|
D|---7---7---7---7---5-----5-----7---7--|---7---7---7---7---5-----5-----9---9--|
A|-0---------------------------5---5----|-0---------------------------7---7----|
E|--------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|

0:10 - 0:21 - repeat Riff 1
G|-----9---7---9-------5-7--------------|-----9---7---9-------5-7--------------|
D|---7---7---7---7---5-----5-----7---7--|---7---7---7---7---5-----5-----9---9--|
A|-0---------------------------5---5----|-0---------------------------7---7----|
E|--------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|

0:21 - 0:36 - Riff 2 (acoustic bass)
G|-----------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|
D|---10-10-10-10-10-9-5-7----10-10-10-10-10-9-12-|---10-10-10-10-10-9-5-7----10-10-10-10-10-5-7--|
A|-0-----------------------0---------------------|-0-----------------------0---------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|

0:36 - 0:50 - repeat Riff 2
G|-----------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|
D|---10-10-10-10-10-9-5-7----10-10-10-10-10-9-12-|---10-10-10-10-10-9-5-7----10-10-10-10-10-5-7--|
A|-0-----------------------0---------------------|-0-----------------------0---------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|

0:51 - 1:13 - repeat Riff 1 twice
G|-----9---7---9-------5-7--------------|-----9---7---9-------5-7--------------|
D|---7---7---7---7---5-----5-----7---7--|---7---7---7---7---5-----5-----9---9--|
A|-0---------------------------5---5----|-0---------------------------7---7----|
E|--------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|

G|-----9---7---9-------5-7--------------|-----9---7---9-------5-7--------------|
D|---7---7---7---7---5-----5-----7---7--|---7---7---7---7---5-----5-----9---9--|
A|-0---------------------------5---5----|-0---------------------------7---7----|
E|--------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|

1:13 - 1:27 - Riff 3 (acoustic bass)
|---------------------------(3x)|
G|---9---9-10-9-7---9--9---7-----|----------------------------------|
D|-7---7----------7--7---5---5---|---5---5---5---5-----------7---7--|
A|-------------------------------|-3---3---3---3-----5---5-5---5----|
E|-------------------------------|-----------------3---3------------|

1:27 - 1:41 - repeat Riff 3
|-------------------------(3x)|
G|---9---9-10-9-7---9--9---7---|----------------------------------|
D|-7---7----------7--7---5--5--|---5---5---5---5-----------7---7--|
A|-----------------------------|-3---3---3---3-----5---5-5---5----|
E|-----------------------------|-----------------3---3------------|

1:41 - 1:54 Riff 4 (acoustic bass)
|------------------------(3x)-|
G|---9-9----9-9-|---7-7--------|----------------------------|
D|-7--7---7--7--|-5--5----7-7--|---5-5---5-5-----------7-7--|
A|--------------|-------5--5---|-3--3---3-3-----5-5--5--5---|
E|--------------|--------------|--------------3--3----------|

1:55 - 2:08 repeat Riff 4
|------------------------(3x)-|
G|---9-9----9-9-|---7-7--------|----------------------------|
D|-7--7---7--7--|-5--5----7-7--|---5-5---5-5-----------7-7--|
A|--------------|-------5--5---|-3--3---3-3-----5-5--5--5---|
E|--------------|--------------|--------------3--3----------|

2:08 - 2:22 repeat Riff 3
|---------------------------(3x)|
G|---9---9-10-9-7---9--9---7-----|----------------------------------|
D|-7---7----------7--7---5---5---|---5---5---5---5-----------7---7--|
A|-------------------------------|-3---3---3---3-----5---5-5---5----|
E|-------------------------------|-----------------3---3------------|

2:22 - 2:34 Riff 5
(The main verse riff - nice and simple)
G|------------------|------------------|------------------|5--------7-------|
D|------------------|------------------|------------------|5--------7-------|
A|-0-000-00-----5-55|-0-000-00-----5-55|-0-000-00-----5-55|3-333-33-5-555---|
E|---------3-33-----|----------3-33----|---------3-33-----|-----------------|

2:35 - 2:48 repeat Riff 5
G|------------------|------------------|------------------|5--------7-------|
D|------------------|------------------|------------------|5--------7-------|
A|-0-000-00-----5-55|-0-000-00-----5-55|-0-000-00-----5-55|3-333-33-5-555---|
E|---------3-33-----|----------3-33----|---------3-33-----|-----------------|

2:49 - 3:01 play Riff 3 (this time on electric bass)
|---------------------------(3x)|
G|---9---9-10-9-7---9--9---7-----|----------------------------------|
D|-7---7----------7--7---5---5---|---5---5---5---5-----------7---7--|
A|-------------------------------|-3---3---3---3-----5---5-5---5----|
E|-------------------------------|-----------------3---3------------|

3:01 - 3:26 play Riff 5 twice
G|------------------|------------------|------------------|5--------7-------|
D|------------------|------------------|------------------|5--------7-------|
A|-0-000-00-----5-55|-0-000-00-----5-55|-0-000-00-----5-55|3-333-33-5-555---|
E|---------3-33-----|----------3-33----|---------3-33-----|-----------------|

G|------------------|------------------|------------------|5--------7-------|
D|------------------|------------------|------------------|5--------7-------|
A|-0-000-00-----5-55|-0-000-00-----5-55|-0-000-00-----5-55|3-333-33-5-555---|
E|---------3-33-----|----------3-33----|---------3-33-----|-----------------|

3:26 - 3:39 play Riff 3 (again on electric bass)
|---------------------------(3x)|
G|---9---9-10-9-7---9--9---7-----|----------------------------------|
D|-7---7----------7--7---5---5---|---5---5---5---5-----------7---7--|
A|-------------------------------|-3---3---3---3-----5---5-5---5----|
E|-------------------------------|-----------------3---3------------|

3:40 - 4:04 Riff 6
(Not sure about this one - the bass is pretty low in the mix here)
|---------------------(4x)-|
G|--------------------------|
D|--------55----------------|
A|-0-007-7---3-335-555-320--|
E|--------------------------|

4:05 - 4:17 Riff 7
|---------------(3x)-|
G|--------------------|-5---------7----------|
D|--------------------|-5---------7----------|
A|-0-202-320-0-202----|-3-333-333-5-555-555--|
E|----------------353-|----------------------|

4:17 - 4:42 repeat Riff 7 twice
|---------------(3x)-| |---------------(3x)-|
G|--------------------|-5---------7----------|--------------------|-5---------7----------|
D|--------------------|-5---------7----------|--------------------|-5---------7----------|
A|-0-202-320-0-202----|-3-333-333-5-555-555--|-0-202-320-0-202----|-3-333-333-5-555-555--|
E|----------------353-|----------------------|----------------353-|----------------------|

4:42 - 4:58 Riff 8 (play the riff below 4x)
G|-----------------------------------------|
D|---7-91097---7-91097---7-91097---45754---|
A|-7---------7---------7---------5---------|
E|-----------------------------------------|

4:58 - 5:13 Riff 9 (play the riff below 2x)
G|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
D|---------------777-------------|---------------777-------------|
A|-7-777-999-777-----777-999-540-|-7-777-999-777-----777-9997-57-|
E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|

5:14 - 5:27 Riff 10 (play the riff below 2x)
G|-------------------11-12-14-|-14-14-14-12-11---12-11-----11------------------|
D|----------11-12-14----------|------------------------14-----14-12--14-12-11--|
A|-12-12-12-------------------|------------------------------------------------| (continued)
E|----------------------------|------------------------------------------------|

G|-------------------11-12-14-|-14-14-14-11-11-11--12-11--------|
D|----------11-12-14----------|--------------------------12-14--|
A|-12-12-12-------------------|---------------------------------|
E|----------------------------|---------------------------------|

5:28 - 5:42 Riff 11 (play the riff below 2x)
G|-------9-----7-----9-----|-------9-----7-----9-|-------9-----7-----9-----|------7-----7--------|
D|---7-9--9-7---9-7----7-9-|---7-9--9-7---9-7----|---7-9--9-7---9-7----7-9-|---5-7--7-5---5---7--|
A|-7-----------------------|-7-------------------|-7-----------------------|-5--------------5----|
E|-------------------------|---------------------|-------------------------|---------------------|

5:43 - 5:57 repeat Riff 9
G|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
D|---------------777-------------|---------------777-------------|
A|-7-777-999-777-----777-999-540-|-7-777-999-777-----777-9997-57-|
E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|

5:58 - 6:11 repeat Riff 10 (play the riff below 2x)
G|-------------------11-12-14-|-14-14-14-12-11---12-11-----11------------------|
D|----------11-12-14----------|------------------------14-----14-12--14-12-11--|
A|-12-12-12-------------------|------------------------------------------------| (continued)
E|----------------------------|------------------------------------------------|

G|-------------------11-12-14-|-14-14-14-11-11-11--12-11--------|
D|----------11-12-14----------|--------------------------12-14--|
A|-12-12-12-------------------|---------------------------------|
E|----------------------------|---------------------------------|

6:12 - 6:25 Riff 12 (repeat 4x)
G|--------------------------|
D|--------------------------|
A|-0-00000-00000-0000-------|
E|-------------------3-333--|

6:26 - 6:39 Riff 13 (repeat 2x)
(Not sure of exactly what Harris is playing. It's C and D root notes with some basic ascending & descending fills after)
G|-------------------555-----|---------------777---------|
D|-----------333-555-----555-|-----------777-----777-555-|
A|-3-333-333-----------------|-5-555-555-----------------|
E|---------------------------|---------------------------|

6:40 - 6:54 play Riff 10 (play the riff below 2x)
G|-------------------11-12-14-|-14-14-14-12-11---12-11-----11------------------|
D|----------11-12-14----------|------------------------14-----14-12--14-12-11--|
A|-12-12-12-------------------|------------------------------------------------| (continued)
E|----------------------------|------------------------------------------------|

G|-------------------11-12-14-|-14-14-14-11-11-11--12-11--------|
D|----------11-12-14----------|--------------------------12-14--|
A|-12-12-12-------------------|---------------------------------|
E|----------------------------|---------------------------------|

6:54 - 7:21 play Riff 5 twice
(A bit faster here, and with more power chords for emphasis)
G|------------------|------------------|------------------|5--------7-------|
D|------------------|------------------|------------------|5--------7-------|
A|-0-000-00-----5-55|-0-000-00-----5-55|-0-000-00-----5-55|3-333-33-5-555---|
E|---------3-33-----|----------3-33----|---------3-33-----|-----------------|

G|------------------|------------------|------------------|5--------7-------|
D|------------------|------------------|------------------|5--------7-------|
A|-0-000-00-----5-55|-0-000-00-----5-55|-0-000-00-----5-55|3-333-33-5-555---|
E|---------3-33-----|----------3-33----|---------3-33-----|-----------------|

7:22 - 7:49 Riff 14 (repeat 2x)
G|-9-------7---------|-9-------7---------|-9-------7---------|-5---------7----|
D|-9-------7---------|-9-------7---------|-9-------7---------|-5---------7----|
A|-7-777-775-55-0-00-|-7-777-775-55-0-00-|-7-777-775-55-0-00-|-3-333-----555--|
E|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------333------|

7:49 - 8:03 play Riff 11 (repeat 2x)
G|-------9-----7-----9-----|-------9-----7-----9-|-------9-----7-----9-----|------7-----7--------|
D|---7-9--9-7---9-7----7-9-|---7-9--9-7---9-7----|---7-9--9-7---9-7----7-9-|---5-7--7-5---5---7--|
A|-7-----------------------|-7-------------------|-7-----------------------|-5--------------5----|
E|-------------------------|---------------------|-------------------------|---------------------|

8:04 - 8:17 Riff 15 (repeat 2x)
G|----------------------------9-9-9-9-------------------------|
D|--11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11--7-7-7-7--9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-|
A|-9--9--9--9--9--9--9--9------------7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7--|
E|------------------------------------------------------------|

8:18 - 8:46 Riff 16 (repeat 4x)
(Same as above, up three semitones - there may be a variation I'm missing at the end)
G|----------------------------12-12-12-12-------------------------------------|
D|--14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14--10-10-10-10--12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-|
A|-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12---------------10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10--|
E|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|

8:47 - 9:03 play Riff 8 (repeat 4x)
(Slow down during the final repetition)
G|-----------------------------------------|
D|---7-91097---7-91097---7-91097---45754---|
A|-7---------7---------7---------5---------|
E|-----------------------------------------|

9:06 - 9:28 play Riff 4 (except play the first part 5x instead of 3x)
|------------------------(5x)-|
G|---9-9----9-9-|---7-7--------|----------------------------|
D|-7--7---7--7--|-5--5----7-7--|---5-5---5-5-----------7-7--|
A|--------------|-------5--5---|-3--3---3-3-----5-5--5--5---|
E|--------------|--------------|--------------3--3----------|

9:28 - 9:47 play Riff 3 (a bit slower than before)
|---------------------------(3x)|
G|---9---9-10-9-7---9--9---7-----|----------------------------------|
D|-7---7----------7--7---5---5---|---5---5---5---5-----------7---7--|
A|-------------------------------|-3---3---3---3-----5---5-5---5----|
E|-------------------------------|-----------------3---3------------|

9:48 - 10:00 play Riff 1 (a bit slower than before)
G|-----9---7---9-------5-7--------------|-----9---7---9-------5-7--------------|
D|---7---7---7---7---5-----5-----7---7--|---7---7---7---7---5-----5-----9---9--|
A|-0---------------------------5---5----|-0---------------------------7---7----|
E|--------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|

10:01 - 10:16 play the following variation on Riff 2:
G|------------------------------------------------|
D|---10-10-10-10-10-9-5-7-----10-10-10-10-10-5-7--|
A|-0------------------------0---------------------|
E|------------------------------------------------|
Fade out on the ringing A
 
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I think subject matter this feels about 1600 years before William Wallace, as I said above, the lyrics remind me of the sentiment of the Dying Gaul, it definitely feels like it's a fight against the Romans.
It can't be about that period as the song says many times the word "God", they were druids, pagans when the Romans invaded (as were the Romans back then) so it would have been "Gods".
I'm from the last druidic stronghold in the UK, Anglesey so I know quite a bit about that period haha.
So I HOPE it's about the war against the English a thousand years ago or so, a continuation of The Clansman as they're not usually historically inaccurate.
 
It seems likely to me that, if it refers to a specific time period at all, the song is set during the Anglo-Saxon conquest of Britain, where the indigenous Britons were defeated in what would become England, though they remained in power in Wales and Scotland.

The population of Britain after the collapse of the Roman Empire was predominantly Celtic, but Christian which would explain the references to God in a monotheistic sense. The invading Anglo-Saxons on the other hand were pagan at the time, though they would later become Christian.
 
I enjoy listening to this song on headphones. The guitar work in the intro is really intricate and Dave is adding a nice harmony part to the bass at one point.
 
I can't believe this myself, but the verses of this insanely incredible song are now in a 3 way tie for most favorite vocal parts of all time along with the verses in both Aces High and The Red And The Black!
 
Highly derivative, yes. A bit Celtic-stock, yes. A damn good time, yes. 8/10

This will never be a classic in my eyes, but everyone sounds good! The riffs are all nice, even if I feel like I've heard them all before. Bruce does a workmanly job all around. It's a good tune that I wouldn't mind hearing live (and imagine we will since it's a pretty easy one for Bruce).

It could definitely lose a bit of fat, though. And, once again, when not read to the metre, Steve's lyrics are absolutely terrible.
 
I may look graphic ... but the lyrics on the last album are very loud! they will accompany me all my life!
 
I have been "haunted" by the maiden! No matter how many books I read and whatever I do, there are simply no words !!!
I think I'm not the only one who feels that way! I just spend most of my time alone and I think I're the only one who has done so much! but I probably am not!

im from greece and i dont know english... i use the www.lyricstranslate.com !!!
 
As the sound of the gulls fade from the speakers, we now enter a new territory as Steve's bass leads us through a darkened morning, just before sunrise, on the British Isles, where Celtic warriors prepare for battle. I love how this intro shifts through four sections before Bruce comes in; there's a "Clansman" vibe, sure, but it also feels uniquely its own. Nicko enters slowly as the song builds up until we reach the melody that will lead us into the song proper. Bruce never reaches crescendo here, but that's okay, because this is a song that doesn't require that. "Death of the Celts" moves forward on its own terms. It's arranged more like a poem than a song, with three verse 'sections' back to back right up front.

The first one builds off the intro, a very quiet piece that gets us set up for what's to come. It sounds like a Celtic fighter building himself up before battle. Then the slide in with a heavy, distorted guitar, and now Bruce is giving it what he's got. The battle has begun, the soldiers clash, and the song goes on. I love how the guitars change up between this second section and the third; the melody is the same throughout but these subtle changes mean that it never drags. And when we reach the only thing that reminds of an actual chorus ("Spirits cry for a god from the grave..."), it feels earned. And also pretty bleak. Not all wars can be won. The death toll here is a reminder of that. Yet they will die with honor, and without any tears shed, because the will live evermore beyond this life.

Adrian hits us with a ripping solo just before the song changes up with a little piece that reminds me of both AMOLAD and "Empire of the Clouds". Then we rumble through the battlefield in a glorious anthemic instrumental section that's like a jig of pride in the face of doom. There's also some pretty blatant nods to "Losfer Words" here, but worked in so well that it takes a couple listens to notice. There's some extended playing before we hit up the triple axe attack, this time with Janick leading us with a lengthy solo of his own. It rocks. Davey's is even better, laying on so much fire it's hard not to air guitar along with him. And then H rips through the speakers to wrap things up. This song demonstrates 100% just why we love the three amigos so much. They each have different styles and sounds but work off each other so damn well.

Then things comedown a bit as a mournful yet admiring Bruce comes back to remind us that this is not a song where the heroes win. "Dying, a warrior Celt has no fear... Immortal, for he will live evermore..." Things come to a close as Steve's bass picks up where the intro left off. Bruce's delivery here is so fucking good. He sounds like a dying warrior heading towards the light himself. "Following those who came from Hell, came to witness the death of the Celts," is SUCH a great fucking line to end things on. Steve nailed this song lyrically, constantly building up the narrative, filling it with glory and emotions. So good.

This one took some time to grow on me, but wow does it capture the attention once you really 'get' it. Not a typical song structure from Maiden, but it's constantly building, then shifting, then rocking, and by the time it comes to a close you almost want to weep. Steve's closing trio looked risky as hell on paper back when the tracklist was revealed, but he really brought out the big guns for Senjutsu. I think it'll work super well live too, almost like a "Clansman"-meets-"The Red and the Black" affair. What a great song. 10/10
 
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I'm glad this one works so well for you, @Diesel 11! Good write-up - as usual!

As I've expressed in the Senjutsu thread, this one is a bit hard for me. I like a lot of things in it and as I've already expressed so many times, I think it's solid. But somehow, it's still a song that I'd be most fine to kind of... let go of, if I had to. That all being said, I can see where the appeal comes from and I'm absolutely not saying that I wouldn't enjoy it. I just... don't feel with this song that much. Yet anyway?

Then again, I've always been quite fond of a lot of songs some other fans don't enjoy quite as much. It's cool that the new Maiden stuff raises a lot of different opinions; it would be extremely boring if everyone agreed that very specific 1-3 songs on Senjutsu are absolutely mind-blowing and the rest is garbage or whatever.

Cool!
 
A pleasant melodic bass-driven intro leads into a peppier Celtic groove for the verses. Bruce struggles a bit on the melody of verse 2. Things get heavier for the second run through the verses, but things still feel a bit rote. The chorus itself is solid, but not great.

A brief interlude leads into a great melodic solo which abruptly cuts into another water-treading interlude, then a much more appealing ascending and descending section with some nice bass runs. These trade off a couple more times before rolling into a more driving instrumental with sweet bass fills. Another round of the ascending/descending bit, then we get a solid but noisy solo followed by a gorgeous, soaring solo and a more aggressive, expressive one.

A return to the earlier interlude then flows into a smoother vocal bridge and some more water treading before reprising the softer verse. The song should have ended there on the title lyric, but Harris can’t help himself, so we get an unnecessary reprise of the intro to bookend the song.

This track has a lot of great parts, but also a lot of pointless weaker sections. Nothing here is bad, though, and on balance I think it still manages to be a good song overall. 7/10.
 
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