The region where I come from is
Naxalism infested so whenever I look upon the cover art, I feel like it is in some way trying to convey the same issue. Though there aren't tanks hurling around but as they say,
Art is in the eye of the beholder, and everyone will have their own interpretation.
Religion and war have played a major role in human history and continue doing so even in the present times. The band has beautifully themed the songs around these two topics, though there's much more to the lyrics. For a long time, I felt Dance Of Death to be my favourite reunion album then again for sometime it was Brave New World for me but finally after pondering some time and giving the album a proper listen, I reached the conclusion that A Matter Of Life And Death totally
does it for me, considering the fact that I once felt it to be the weakest link among the post-2000s albums.
The album opener
Different World keeps it more straightforward and is one of my favourite 'short-rocker' type song from Maiden's 21st century catalogue.
The Longest Day is a complete goosebumps-fest, easily in my top 5 Maiden songs. The entire built-up, the part when the entire band kicks in, the chorus and the brief instrumental right before a majestic solo, just awesome!
The Pilgrim and
The Legacy are among their most unique songs, especially the former which has some great 'oriental-sounding' melodies something they last captured only in Powerslave's title-track. Similarly,
The Legacy has some of the band's proggiest moments, a perfect album closer.
Brighter Than A Thousand Suns has got to be one of Maiden's heaviest songs, the main riff/harmony structure is excellent and there is even a brief galloping part in the mid-section which is mostly absent in the rest of the album, Dave just being a big bro and giving Adrian and Janick their chance to shine with soaring solos. Give me one good reason why it wasn't featured as a soundtrack in the film
Oppenheimer! The intro to
The Reincarnation Of Benjamin Breeg could have been a bit shorter but when the rhythm part kicks in, it drives the song further very well.
These Colours Don't Run has an interesting start with an awesome main riff, started as a hilarious chant during live performances before the album came out, it turned out to be a great song, something the band must bring back to play live.
For The Greater Good Of God is much better than I remember, a very cool intro, great riffing, a unique solo and the middle section again shows hints of prog and is a total jam. While Wasting Love is Maiden's certified 'power ballad', I find
Out Of The Shadows to be much better. The moodiest track on the album, has a great atmosphere and the introspective lyrics are just awesome! The second to last song
Lord Of Light, though has a lengthy intro but it works out very well in creating the atmosphere, again the main riff is one of the band's heaviest. It is possibly their most underrated song of all time.
Concluding it, I will say that the songs in the album feel as one in a flow, something which makes it more coherent than the previous two albums. I my personal opinion, A Matter Of Life And Death is 'The X Factor
but done correctly'.
(for my other album reviews -
click here)
