Ascendingthethrone
Ancient Mariner
The Final Frontier will always be overlooked by a large proportion of the fanbase. It’s a shame, as it was the last album where Adrian was actually adventurous with his song writing.
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- Thread starter Hottysmiff
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Yax
Ancient Mariner
TFF has grown a lot on me the past few years.
Ascendingthethrone
Ancient Mariner
It is still seen as the odd stepchild of the reunion. I have never understood the negativity towards the album. Ok the mix is not the strongest and there are a few weaker songs, but there is a good balance between long and short songs and the longer songs have some interesting parts to them.
The_7th_one
Ancient Mariner
I like The Final Frontier, El Dorado, Mother of Mercy, and I love Isle of Avalon and Starblind, Casually I'm not fan of the songs they performed live on that tour like Coming Home, The Talisman, The Alchemist and When the Wild Wind Blows…
I think you've probably summed it up very well there. If the best we can say is there's a good balance between long and short songs and some long songs have interesting parts, it's a bit damning with faint praise.
It just has no fire or intensity. It feels like Maiden without much to say, without any real direction.
I can't say I hate the album, and wouldn't disagree with anyone who loved it, but I get the general apathy. It feels much less essential than the likes of BNW and certainly anything pre 1990.
Vaenyr
Ancient Mariner
For me TFF has much weaker songwriting on average than the other reunion albums. Never liked Isle of Avalon (except the "fertility mother goddess" riff I guess), and songs like Coming Home or Mother of Mercy have a few cool sections, but quite a bit of stuff that doesn't resonate with me. TMWWBK is a blatantly unfinished mess. Starblind is phenomenal though, even if it doesn't quite reach the complexity of The Fugitive.
Flaming Blimp Crash
Ancient Mariner
Psst, they never performed The Alchemist (although I wish they did!)
I've cycled The Final Frontier for other albums to play more, but every time I do put it on it always provides for an engaging listen. I enjoy the writing and the playing on it.
AncientMariner_Essex
Ancient Mariner
I remember when TFF was released I was disappointed. Not because I thought it was bad per se just that after AMOLAD it just came across as a bit meh for me, a bit average.
For a long while I hardly ever listened to it save for the odd time is have a run through of the whole catalogue. Then a couple of years ago it just clicked and now I love it.
Still don’t like the album artwork very much. I like the sci fi idea I just don’t think the face looks much like Eddie at all.
Songs like starblind and the talisman are top tier Maiden for me, 10/10. Songs like coming home, eldorado and the title and isle of Avalon all 9/10 with the rest ranging from 6-8 out of 10.
One criticism I still have is satellite 15. If it was about a minute long then it’s fine as an intro to the title track but as it’s over 4 mins long as a song it’s complete dog shit and the worst thing maiden has ever recorded in my opinion. Just hate it and feel it drags on so long until the title track kicks in and the album starts proper.
For a long while I hardly ever listened to it save for the odd time is have a run through of the whole catalogue. Then a couple of years ago it just clicked and now I love it.
Still don’t like the album artwork very much. I like the sci fi idea I just don’t think the face looks much like Eddie at all.
Songs like starblind and the talisman are top tier Maiden for me, 10/10. Songs like coming home, eldorado and the title and isle of Avalon all 9/10 with the rest ranging from 6-8 out of 10.
One criticism I still have is satellite 15. If it was about a minute long then it’s fine as an intro to the title track but as it’s over 4 mins long as a song it’s complete dog shit and the worst thing maiden has ever recorded in my opinion. Just hate it and feel it drags on so long until the title track kicks in and the album starts proper.