Root of all evil is diminishing album sales, i think. Nowadays, bands make money only by touring.. Pay attention, beer sells, so... they make more and more of it. Albums clearly not in favor, business wise.
Fair point. But then, if as a band you know album sales generally suffer a bit, why the f*** release a rushed live album (which Bruce himself can't be fully proud of, btw) instead of focusing all the attention on a brand new studio album?
I will never get tired of underline this: who bought and paid for previous Maiden studio albums in the past, will/would still do, anytime and in any case. Any year, pandemic or not. For instance, I don't think I'll ever get a copy of Nights Of The Dead, as I consider it their worst live release, their worst cover artwork, and their worst (still good, though!) performance captured on a live recording.
But, on the contrary, a studio release physical format will always make it to my Maiden shelf, no matter what.
I'm not a cryingbaby begging for 6 Englishmen in their late sixties to get together and to write music at all costs. But given that THEY DID two years ago, freezing a potential hidden masterpiece is a real pity.
I don't think they'll get shooted if they released it later this year. Even with the damned 3rd Legacy Leg to conclude (which I'm supposed to witness in Bologna, btw!).
Having said that, I'd be fine with just an album title + artwork and tracklist this month and then with the album released in late 2022, with not a second of music until release day. I'd have already enough material to jizz on (joking, but you get the picture, don't ya ahah ), after 6 years of speculations and bullshits!