Iron Maiden Head to Head XXVI

[Forostar]

Of course it has also to do with Dance of Death because these two songs met.

Revelations probably has the least variation of all Maiden/w Dickinson songs from the eighties. The progression is very predictable, monotone (constantly the same chords) and repetitive.

The "ta da da" theme runs though the whole instrumental mid section. When I hear it, I wait til its over quickly. And that isn't a good sign when I'm listening to Maiden. Instrumental sections are usually for me highlights of the song. Not this time. The whole thing just "happens" and doesn't go through any interesting direction.
Much more going on in Dance of Death.

For the sake of clarity (and my curiosity): what happens next, mckindog?
Are you silently preparing XXVIII?

 

[mckindog]

OK, how about nothing to do with flaws in Dance of Death, then?
Repetition is a funny thing. If you like what's being repeated, it works. Revelations has consistently been one of my favourite songs for 30 years, so there is nothing tiresome in it for me.
When that riff takes centre stage it sounds very dramatic to me.
More importantly, it also serves as a backdrop for some superb vocal melodies and superb solos - heartfelt and emotional.
The song also might be my favourite performance from Bruce vocally. And I also really love the lyrical images.
I've noticed I seem to put much more emphasis on lyrics than you do, and that may be a significant factor in why you rate this one lower than a lot of Maidenfans.

As for the game, I'm actually ready to go on the next leg, just got busy today and didn't get it posted. Right now I'm wandering in from a wedding a little drunk and tired and think I'll crash instead of posting It. I've also found it works better for my schedule updating it in the mornings for me anyway - probably just in time for a lot of you to get home from work.

 

[Forostar]

Sara, mckindog has closed it now, I assume.

Superb solos in Revelations? Not when you play the solos in Dance of Death right after them ;-) You are probably right about what you said about lyrics and me, but you could also say that I find more in in the music than in the lyrics. I don't compare poems or texts, I compare songs and I focus on all aspects in them, good and bad.

I really like instrumental passages in songs and instrumental songs themselves. That joy can be aroused by a great melody, chord scheme or rhythm, but also by e.g. harmony, interaction, aggression, passion, feel or tension. I feel that these elements are not per se less important than text. Music can also tell a story or paint a picture. Maiden is for me the best band when it comes to instrumental passages, encompassing many different qualities. They've set the bar high, also for themselves.

What I left unsaid until now are the vocals, the way the melodies and lyrics are brought. Naturally Bruce has played an important role in why Maiden is my favourite band, because he's one of the best out there. And I certainly hear that he brings his lyrics with lots of passion in Revelations.

Now back to Dance of Death:
The quality of the melodies and the quick pace they are played with are astounding. The melodies are turned into riffs, or as you wish: the riffs are incredibly melodic!

The solo section is the best from the whole album it's on, especially Adrian and Dave reach their highest summit. Love the way Dave's section is in a different modus.

The build-up is sublime. The song becomes harder at a moment when Wrathchild would already be finished, but these short 3 minutes alone are much more captivating than the Killers standard.

 

[Kill Devil Hill]

I like Revelations and Dance of Death almost exactly the same. I think their qualities are also dead even. The deciding factor for me was that Revelations has the single best moment in Bruce Dickinson's vocal history. From a technical standpoint, this moment is perhaps the worst thing he's ever done, but from an emotional standpoint, it's just my absolute favorite:

So we lay in a black embrace,
And the Seed is sown in a holy place
And I watched <gasp> and I waited for the dawn

This is terrible because "Seed" is flat-out the wrong note (overshot), and the whole gasp in the middle is really poor from a technical standpoint. However, it feels like Bruce is making these mistakes on an otherwise vocally perfect song because he's so into it, so in-the-moment, that he just loses control. It's not only my favorite Bruce moment, but one of my favorite moments in all of music.

To me, in fact, that single moment demolishes all of Dance of Death. It's not so much that Dance of Death is the lesser of the two songs (like I said, I find them even), but it just doesn't have a hair-raising moment like that.

It's the Powerslave/Sign of the Cross demolition that makes no sense to me. Sign of the Cross is a monster of a song. There is nothing special about Powerslave outside of a gorgeous guitar solo and a cool bass line.

 

[LooseCannon]

It cut me hard having to vote out SotC. I love that track, but I adore Powerslave. I think it has a driving hard pulse, Bruce sounds great on it, the band is on fire, and everyone gets a solo. The instrumental part of Powerslave is bar-none my most favourite set of solos and instrumental work.

 

[Sara]

Sara, mckindog has closed it now, I assume.

Yep, I noticed that a while after I made that post... It was very sunny this morning, so I initially couldn't see the message in the poll saying it had been closed. lol

Well, I wasn't able to vote in this round, but if I could have, these would have been my choices:

Rime
Caught
Hallowed
Children
Sign
Dance
Phantom
Infinite

Some of those choices were incredibly difficult, especially voting against Powerslave and Revelations...

 

[mckindog]

I like Revelations and Dance of Death almost exactly the same. I think their qualities are also dead even. The deciding factor for me was that Revelations has the single best moment in Bruce Dickinson's vocal history. From a technical standpoint, this moment is perhaps the worst thing he's ever done, but from an emotional standpoint, it's just my absolute favorite:

So we lay in a black embrace,
And the Seed is sown in a holy place
And I watched <gasp> and I waited for the dawn

This is terrible because "Seed" is flat-out the wrong note (overshot), and the whole gasp in the middle is really poor from a technical standpoint. However, it feels like Bruce is making these mistakes on an otherwise vocally perfect song because he's so into it, so in-the-moment, that he just loses control. It's not only my favorite Bruce moment, but one of my favorite moments in all of music.

To me, in fact, that single moment demolishes all of Dance of Death. It's not so much that Dance of Death is the lesser of the two songs (like I said, I find them even), but it just doesn't have a hair-raising moment like that.

It's the Powerslave/Sign of the Cross demolition that makes no sense to me. Sign of the Cross is a monster of a song. There is nothing special about Powerslave outside of a gorgeous guitar solo and a cool bass line.

There is plenty special about Powerslave. Other than that, great post.

 

[The Flash]

Missed this round, sadly.

My votes would have been :

Rime of the Ancient Mariner
Caught Somewhere in Time
Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
Paschendale
Dance of Death
Powerslave
Phantom of the Opera
Infinite Dreams

 

[Crimson Idol]

My internet has been down for the past few days too so I could not vote, but I too would've voted for DoD over Revelations...

 

[Forostar]

Damn, looks like DoD would have won easily in this round if some people did not miss it.
At least if gives me the idea that Revelations is less overrated than I thought! ;-)

 

[mckindog]

Lol
If one vote is easily, I guess you're right.

 

[Forostar]

Perhaps not easily but still: DOD would have won with 2 votes difference (check the Sara, Crimson & Flash posts).

 

[Unknown One]

Dance of Death all the way! Yeah I forgot to vote as well.

 

[Crimson Idol]

Make that 3 vote difference then

 

[mckindog]

Perhaps not easily but still: DOD would have won with 2 votes difference (check the Sara, Crimson & Flash posts).

Plus those three, minus one for mine. My vote has to count for something .