Adrian Smith

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New record is totally fine. I won't listen to it much, but it's pleasant. Smith/Kotzen are the kind of band I'd rather go see live than listen to.

Wraith is a very cool song, though. ANNNNND that main riff is virtually identical to an old Armored Saint song:

 
Just finished my first listen. First impressions: it’s much better than the first album. It just feels like the songs are better constructed and the album is heavier overall. Even White Noise has grown on me over time.
 
Adrian said on Planet Rock this morning they were looking at an early 2026 tour.
Hopefully early means March-April/May-June so Maiden can start recording from the beginning of the year (3 months as usual). Then the Maiden tour starts in June/July-August (until November/December again). It's very likely right, as far as timeframe goes. Bruce's solo tour plans for next year might be the key (Steve's too), he could do like Adrian (at least 2-3 months) but I doubt he'll do a 3rd leg for one album.
 
Hopefully early means March-April/May-June so Maiden can start recording from the beginning of the year (3 months as usual). Then the Maiden tour starts in June/July-August (until November/December again). It's very likely right, as far as timeframe goes. Bruce's solo tour plans for next year might be the key (Steve's too), he could do like Adrian (at least 2-3 months) but I doubt he'll do a 3rd leg for one album.
I think Bruce will play some UK/EU gigs this year (November/December). British Lion is touring in 2025 too, and the Smith/Kotzen project will be in the first months of 2026, with not many gigs because they are a pretty niche phenomenon. I think Maiden's 2026 tour will start in July and will run through December, covering Europe, the UK, South America, Latin America (including Rock in Rio?), North America, and some shows in Asia and Oceania (probably in December). Between March and June, there'd be a proper time to record a brand new Maiden album. Who knows?!
 
Hopefully early means March-April/May-June so Maiden can start recording from the beginning of the year (3 months as usual). Then the Maiden tour starts in June/July-August (until November/December again). It's very likely right, as far as timeframe goes. Bruce's solo tour plans for next year might be the key (Steve's too), he could do like Adrian (at least 2-3 months) but I doubt he'll do a 3rd leg for one album.
I like your optimism, but I am in the club that thinks Hell on Earth is the last Maiden song.
 
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Hard agree. It does feel like the beginning of the end. It's depressing to even think about it for too long.
 
Just finished my first listen. First impressions: it’s much better than the first album. It just feels like the songs are better constructed and the album is heavier overall. Even White Noise has grown on me over time.

I did like the first album and the songs from the EP, but this one might be better (I have only had time to listen to it twice). Good stuff!
 
I found I really liked about 75% of the SK album, and I'm sure the remaining 25% will grow on me. I like the dirty-blues approach on some of the tracks.
Only thing that I feel holds the album back, in all honesty, for me it's the drum performances. They're good, but I just feel like they're not quite hitting the mark in some places. I know others have mentioned about the slightly weird pattern in the chorus of Black Light - where it feels like they just 'drop out' for a moment after the tom-tom hits. And there are a LOT of 'snare hits' fills in the songs, like a very repetitive fill - which also changes a lot. It kind of feels like the drums are a human recreation of a basic midi-drums groove, where I feel they could be a bit more creative.

That being said, I think SK have done a great job with this album, it sounds good overall and some great riffs. I particularly like the chorus of Heavy Weather, it's straight forward good rock. And Wraith is probably highlight of the album (reminds me of Whitesnake mid-80s)
 
I found I really liked about 75% of the SK album, and I'm sure the remaining 25% will grow on me. I like the dirty-blues approach on some of the tracks.
Only thing that I feel holds the album back, in all honesty, for me it's the drum performances. They're good, but I just feel like they're not quite hitting the mark in some places. I know others have mentioned about the slightly weird pattern in the chorus of Black Light - where it feels like they just 'drop out' for a moment after the tom-tom hits. And there are a LOT of 'snare hits' fills in the songs, like a very repetitive fill - which also changes a lot. It kind of feels like the drums are a human recreation of a basic midi-drums groove, where I feel they could be a bit more creative.

That being said, I think SK have done a great job with this album, it sounds good overall and some great riffs. I particularly like the chorus of Heavy Weather, it's straight forward good rock. And Wraith is probably highlight of the album (reminds me of Whitesnake mid-80s)
The drums were mostly recorded by Ritchie. Although he is clearly a competent drummer, he is clearly a guitarist/singer first and everything else second. I have always been of the opinion that you should get a primary study player to record that particular part for an album. Surely you want the best person for the job. But then it probably comes down to costs.
 
The drums were mostly recorded by Ritchie. Although he is clearly a competent drummer, he is clearly a guitarist/singer first and everything else second. I have always been of the opinion that you should get a primary study player to record that particular part for an album. Surely you want the best person for the job. But then it probably comes down to costs.
Yeah I mean there's only the general 'press release' statements mentioning Bruno Valverde on the drums, but the performances did sound fairly similar in style to 1st album, which was mostly Richie
 
The drums were mostly recorded by Ritchie. Although he is clearly a competent drummer, he is clearly a guitarist/singer first and everything else second. I have always been of the opinion that you should get a primary study player to record that particular part for an album. Surely you want the best person for the job. But then it probably comes down to costs.

If I remember correctly, the credits mention Bruno Valverde and another guy (sorry, I do not have the CD with me) playing the drums on the album.
 
Even if the album isn't my thing, I'm still surprised about the many negative comments it gets on the Iron Maiden Facebook page.
Sure, it's hard rock, but the separation to metal fans is not that clear-cut and these are fans of Maiden and their members posting there.
 
Even if the album isn't my thing, I'm still surprised about the many negative comments it gets on the Iron Maiden Facebook page.
Sure, it's hard rock, but the separation to metal fans is not that clear-cut and these are fans of Maiden and their members posting there.
Metal fans can often be the worse culprits of accepting music outside of their usual parameters. It’s just a tribal thing, as they have apparently been persecuted so long for their music tastes…

Sorry for the massive generalisation and sarcasm.
 
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