18th Studio Album discussion

[Starblind]

Even younger bands are now releasing albums at longer intervals. Take Volbeat, their new album will be released after 4 years from the previous one and no-one thinks this is abnormal.

Very young and commercially extremely successful pop-rap musicians who have an army of song writers, producers etc prefer to feed their fans with singles rather than albums. Times have changed, habits have changed, the industry has changed.

Still glad to see Maiden guys productive both tour-vise and in solo-recordings stuff, even they don't need any of that... God bless their work ethic coming from their working class roots.

 

[Vaenyr]

Even younger bands are now releasing albums at longer intervals. Take Volbeat, their new album will be released after 4 years from the previous one and no-one thinks this is abnormal.

Very young and commercially extremely successful pop-rap musicians who have an army of song writers, producers etc prefer to feed their fans with singles rather than albums. Times have changed, habits have changed, the industry has changed.

Still glad to see Maiden guys productive both tour-vise and in solo-recordings stuff, even they don't need any of that... God bless their work ethic coming from their working class roots.

There are examples for each direction really. Evergrey have released 3 albums since 2021.
Trivium did what Maiden had thought about for a second according to Bruce, they released an album in 2020, couldn't tour for it so they wrote another and released it in 2021. Then did a double tour for both albums in 2022.
Cradle Of Filth used to release every 2 to 3 years on average. After their 2017 album COVID disrupted their usual plans, so their most recent album came out in 2021. The next release will be this month, so a gap of 4 years this time around.

Not trying to make any point in particular here, just looking at some other examples of how a few bands dealt with the last few years.

 

[AncientMariner_Essex]

Saxon are another good example of a band who regularly releases albums. Starting with Killing ground in 2001 they’ve released 10 studio albums up until last years Hell, Fire & Damnation. That’s an average of an album just over every 2 years. Plus a few live albums in between too. Plus the Saxon guys are older. Biff sounded incredible last year and he’s the same age as my father in law, 74

I could name more but there are a lot of bands that are still releasing albums at a decent rate.

I know Covid messed things up for the band but they had all that down time with no touring that they could have got an album sorted then if they really wanted too I mean the whole world was in lock down so what were they doing, slobbing out and binge watching Netflix shows

Senjutsu might have released in 2021 but it was recorded in 2019 so it’s coming up to 6 years since they gave any attention to an album. That wouldn’t be so bad if we were getting a new album this year but with the new tour coming up they look packed out now for another 2 years.

I’m still hoping we get a new album but if we do we still have a while to wait.

I was just really hoping for a future past live album this year to be honest. I don’t care if Nickos performance was slightly sub par, he sounded great to my ears when I saw them in London and Bruce was on top form singing for most of the tour from what I’ve seen on the crappy YouTube vids that have been posted.

 

[GhostofCain]

Saxon are another good example of a band who regularly releases albums. Starting with Killing ground in 2001 they’ve released 10 studio albums up until last years Hell, Fire & Damnation. That’s an average of an album just over every 2 years. Plus a few live albums in between too. Plus the Saxon guys are older. Biff sounded incredible last year and he’s the same age as my father in law, 74

I could name more but there are a lot of bands that are still releasing albums at a decent rate.

U.D.O. is another perfect example of a band releasing albums very regularly (usually every other year) for quite some time. If we were to focus only on the post-reunion Maiden timeline (i.e., albums released since 1999), this is what they have released:

Holy (1999)
Man and Machine (2002)
Thunderball (2004)
Mission No. X (2005)
Mastercutor (2007)
Dominator (2009)
Rev-Raptor (2011)
Steelhammer (2013)
Decadent (2015)
Steelfactory (2018)
We Are One (2020)
Game Over (2021)
Touchdown (2023)

Not bad for a band whose singer turns 73 years old next month!

 

[Trevoire]

Saxon are another good example of a band who regularly releases albums. Starting with Killing ground in 2001 they’ve released 10 studio albums up until last years Hell, Fire & Damnation. That’s an average of an album just over every 2 years. Plus a few live albums in between too. Plus the Saxon guys are older. Biff sounded incredible last year and he’s the same age as my father in law, 74

I could name more but there are a lot of bands that are still releasing albums at a decent rate.

I know Covid messed things up for the band but they had all that down time with no touring that they could have got an album sorted then if they really wanted too I mean the whole world was in lock down so what were they doing, slobbing out and binge watching Netflix shows

Senjutsu might have released in 2021 but it was recorded in 2019 so it’s coming up to 6 years since they gave any attention to an album. That wouldn’t be so bad if we were getting a new album this year but with the new tour coming up they look packed out now for another 2 years.

I’m still hoping we get a new album but if we do we still have a while to wait.

I was just really hoping for a future past live album this year to be honest. I don’t care if Nickos performance was slightly sub par, he sounded great to my ears when I saw them in London and Bruce was on top form singing for most of the tour from what I’ve seen on the crappy YouTube vids that have been posted.

In fairness they did think about doing an album, but realised that the logistics of getting all the band and crew from around the world during travel bans would be difficult, and then being stuck in either the hotel or the studio for months on end wouldn't be much fun.

 

[GhostofCain]

In fairness they did think about doing an album, but realised that the logistics of getting all the band and crew from around the world during travel bans would be difficult, and then being stuck in either the hotel or the studio for months on end wouldn't be much fun.

In essence, they couldn't be arsed enough to make the effort.

Joking aside, it is not like they spend years working on their studio albums, rather 6 weeks for writing stuff and not much more for the recording process with Kevin Shirley.

Bottom line is they have had plenty of gaps in their schedule over the last 15 years to record more studio albums if they wanted to.

 

[AncientMariner_Essex]

In fairness they did think about doing an album, but realised that the logistics of getting all the band and crew from around the world during travel bans would be difficult, and then being stuck in either the hotel or the studio for months on end wouldn't be much fun.

The logistics would have been tough but really what else were they doing in lockdown?

I never expected the band to actually record an album during lockdown but they could have all jumped zooms with each other and shared song ideas and lyrics and riffs and worked on stuff so that they had everything ready for when the lockdown was over to get everyone together and jump in the studio and record it.

As Ghost says, they couldn’t be arsed and they can’t really be arsed now. If the creative juices were flowing and they really wanted to do another album they could they just prefer touring and selling beer these days

 

[malfeitor]

No live album from the recent tour would be a huge disappointment. I think that it was clear that they intended to release something ("blame the manager!"), but it's taking too long. Even if they wanted to include the last performances of 2024 (which would make sense, I can't imagine not including the final performance of Wasted Years), they had months to mix the recordings. The announcement should have taken place already. I can't really see them releasing a live album from TFPT right before they start touring with a new setlist. I hope I'm wrong here.

 

[Brigantium]

The logistics would have been tough but really what else were they doing in lockdown?

I never expected the band to actually record an album during lockdown but they could have all jumped zooms with each other and shared song ideas and lyrics and riffs and worked on stuff so that they had everything ready for when the lockdown was over to get everyone together and jump in the studio and record it.

As Ghost says, they couldn’t be arsed and they can’t really be arsed now. If the creative juices were flowing and they really wanted to do another album they could they just prefer touring and selling beer these days

Yeah, I thought any band that went inactive at that time missed a major opportunity with a captive audience. Look at UTA and Paradise Lost with their online gigs, Richie Faulkner with his live request it I'll play it sessions.

Adrian did do something online once I remember, but Maiden otherwise just seemed to take a break. At a guess they didn't feel they needed to do much.

 

[CA Bryers]

The logistics would have been tough but really what else were they doing in lockdown?

I never expected the band to actually record an album during lockdown but they could have all jumped zooms with each other and shared song ideas and lyrics and riffs and worked on stuff so that they had everything ready for when the lockdown was over to get everyone together and jump in the studio and record it.

This was what I was hoping for during the lockdown, using the downtime to get way ahead of things and put an extra album or two in the bank writing-wise that they could record in one larger recording session. But, that's the selfish fan in me that always wants more and forgets these are fairly old dudes we're talking about, some of whom probably relished the break.

It's hard to say when they would logistically fit in release and promotion of those extra album(s), though, unless you just don't tour Senjutsu since it's window was taken up by lockdowns and Legacy of the Beast #3 booking commitments. Tour Bonus album 1 in 2023/2024, RFYL in 2025/2026, and Bonus album 2 in 2027/2028?

Guess that could've worked, but then we wouldn't have gotten Future Past, so...

 

[AncientMariner_Essex]

Yeah, I thought any band that went inactive at that time missed a major opportunity with a captive audience. Look at UTA and Paradise Lost with their online gigs, Richie Faulkner with his live request it I'll play it sessions.

Adrian did do something online once I remember, but Maiden otherwise just seemed to take a break. At a guess they didn't feel they needed to do much.

The best band for me during lockdown was obituary. They did loads of stuff online.

They played gigs in their home studio playing the first two albums in their entirety and then released them physically after.

I think, as you say, a lot of bands missed a big trick. They had fans sitting at home and could have done tons to stuff online. Plus they could have been writing new music.

 

[Spaldy]

The best band for me during lockdown was obituary. They did loads of stuff online.

They played gigs in their home studio playing the first two albums in their entirety and then released them physically after.

I think, as you say, a lot of bands missed a big trick. They had fans sitting at home and could have done tons to stuff online. Plus they could have been writing new music.

Machine Head did weekly live streams jamming classics and covers. Sometimes it was just Robb Flynn with a backing track. In fact, they still do them in between tours.

 

[Ruflux]

The best band for me during lockdown was obituary. They did loads of stuff online.

They played gigs in their home studio playing the first two albums in their entirety and then released them physically after.

I think, as you say, a lot of bands missed a big trick. They had fans sitting at home and could have done tons to stuff online. Plus they could have been writing new music.

I think what killed this for a lot of bands was simple physical distance. Convening together to rehearse and livestream or record material would've been easy enough even in the middle of corona if everyone lives relatively close by. Not so easy when the whole band's spread out over the globe, along with the crew, and travel restrictions and whatnot are a clusterfuck.

 

[GhostofCain]

I think what killed this for a lot of bands was simple physical distance. Convening together to rehearse and livestream or record material would've been easy enough even in the middle of corona if everyone lives relatively close by. Not so easy when the whole band's spread out over the globe, along with the crew, and travel restrictions and whatnot are a clusterfuck.

That is true, but for a band who has been marketed over the years as being “so close to their fans” as Maiden, their silence during the pandemic was deafening.

I remember the vitriol directed at me over at the official Fan Club forum for suggesting that Bruce reappearance was because they probably had something to sell soon. Guess what? Shortly afterwards he was promoting the Nights of the Dead live album. Both videos were probably filmed on the same day…

 

[Ascendingthethrone]

I think what killed this for a lot of bands was simple physical distance. Convening together to rehearse and livestream or record material would've been easy enough even in the middle of corona if everyone lives relatively close by. Not so easy when the whole band's spread out over the globe, along with the crew, and travel restrictions and whatnot are a clusterfuck.

I can’t imagine them ever doing something like this. Also they had an album in the can and just had to ride out the pandemic. Personally think they should have done a better job at releasing good quality live recordings for the fans during this time. NOTD is shite but the Donnignton 07 videos from the Download Festival stream in 2007 were awesome. They should have just released the whole bloody show (or the good bits). It would have kept us ticking over!

 

[Spaldy]

Both videos were probably filmed on the same day…

Nah, he just wore the same Hawaiian shirt for the entirety of lockdown.

 

[GhostofCain]

Nah, he just wore the same Hawaiian shirt for the entirety of lockdown.

Definitely! In September and in November.

 

[Starblind]

U.D.O. is another perfect example of a band releasing albums very regularly (usually every other year) for quite some time. If we were to focus only on the post-reunion Maiden timeline (i.e., albums released since 1999), this is what they have released:

Holy (1999)
Man and Machine (2002)
Thunderball (2004)
Mission No. X (2005)
Mastercutor (2007)
Dominator (2009)
Rev-Raptor (2011)
Steelhammer (2013)
Decadent (2015)
Steelfactory (2018)
We Are One (2020)
Game Over (2021)
Touchdown (2023)

Not bad for a band whose singer turns 73 years old next month!

udo's music is too formulaic. i love him, i especially loved his steel factory album from the recent ones. but it's hard to even separate one album to another. he never disappoints but he is not making really unforgettable albums too. i wish he gives some creative control to peter baltes on the next album.
on the other hand, maiden is operating more artistically. finding inspiration, creating the right sound (whether we critize or not), the timing etc... I don't know if he is the right man to quote () but Joey DeMaio once said: "”Good songs do not grow on trees and great art does not abide by some arbitrary timetable. When we’re inspired, we create."

 

[Kalata]

The logistics would have been tough but really what else were they doing in lockdown?
I never expected the band to actually record an album during lockdown but they could have all jumped zooms with each other and shared song ideas and lyrics and riffs and worked on stuff so that they had everything ready for when the lockdown was over to get everyone together and jump in the studio and record it.
As Ghost says, they couldn’t be arsed and they can’t really be arsed now. If the creative juices were flowing and they really wanted to do another album they could they just prefer touring and selling beer these days

Having 2 albums in the can for more than 2 years, when they write a new album quickly now, can't see that. They just saved the ideas. And we wouldn't have TFP tour, although they probably knew (not sure; SIT throwback tour? who knows) their plans for the next tour after the album tour. They should have released a live video from the LOTB tour back then, that's it. Or some live in the studio performance. Plus they write in the studio together now (habits; also logistics, distance, LOTB having a 3rd leg also played a role), the individual ideas will always be there. Bruce (creating the comic story), Steve and Adrian were also writing for their solo projects. They probably wanted a bit of a break from the big machine.

The best part is that they thought the many ideas were good to want to record them, so I guess a fair amount of the new album will (probably) be from their 2019 ideas with some new ones from Steve(ofc, he recently said he's always writing), Adrian(riffs), Bruce(although he writes for solo, working on Adrian's ideas) and maybe Janick. We don't know how many songs/ideas/parts are carried over from the previous sessions. But I assume they'll want to use some of the 2019 ones.

 

[GhostofCain]

udo's music is too formulaic. i love him, i especially loved his steel factory album from the recent ones. but it's hard to even separate one album to another. he never disappoints but he is not making really unforgettable albums too. i wish he gives some creative control to peter baltes on the next album.
on the other hand, maiden is operating more artistically. finding inspiration, creating the right sound (whether we critize or not), the timing etc... I don't know if he is the right man to quote () but Joey DeMaio once said: "”Good songs do not grow on trees and great art does not abide by some arbitrary timetable. When we’re inspired, we create."

You can argue that Maiden's music is formulaic too and has been for a very long time. Moreover, to a lot of people outside the Maiden fans bubble, Iron Maiden have spent the last 25 years creating albums full of lumbering longueurs with boring slow intros and outros.

For what is worth, I much prefer Iron Maiden to U.D.O. though.