Number 6
Ancient Mariner
Already commented on this one. 
Though, I must add, I think its only flaw was being made too short. It feels like an in-the-making extended epic which was cut short (even more than "Run Silent Run Deep"). If it were made into a full 8 or 9-minute song, it would definitely be a 10.
Though, I must add, I think its only flaw was being made too short. It feels like an in-the-making extended epic which was cut short (even more than "Run Silent Run Deep"). If it were made into a full 8 or 9-minute song, it would definitely be a 10.
GiovaOfficial
Powerslave
This album’s ‘epic’ song is a very creative piece of music, and like all of the trademark Harris epics, it definitely has several moments of genius. However, it misses something to make it a truly great song. It’s enjoyable, for sure, but it could have been better. 7/10
Bombusbombus
Nomad
A great song actually! I love the melodies in this one, but the lyrics isn't all that great. The arranging could use some work as well, it feels a bit like they actively tried to make it a bit shorter then it should be. Still one really strong song and a nice ending to the record.
Jer
A window to the west, a blazing star above
An epic harmonized opening gives way to a spookier interlude, then cuts into an exotic marching riff. The verse continues the march with some awkwardly phrased and rote-melody vocals before breaking into a lush melodic interlude that cribs a section from "Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son" before rolling into a pretty cool pair of solos on top of a marching beat.
Another extended solo alternates with harmonized breaks before returning to a final verse and reprise of the spooky earlier section.
Interestingly, this song has no chorus. Or maybe it has no verse, and the verse is the chorus. Anyway, the structure is interesting, and if we ignore the self-plagiarism the music is pretty satisfying. The verse vocals are a bit awkward, though. 7/10.
Another extended solo alternates with harmonized breaks before returning to a final verse and reprise of the spooky earlier section.
Interestingly, this song has no chorus. Or maybe it has no verse, and the verse is the chorus. Anyway, the structure is interesting, and if we ignore the self-plagiarism the music is pretty satisfying. The verse vocals are a bit awkward, though. 7/10.
Gk1
Here I sit in a serenade of glory!
Gotta love the twin guitar work. This is almost the last time we get a satisfying use of the Maiden harmonies. After this simg Steve decided that for the most part he should use doubling octave guirars or even single melody guitars in his songs. Thus the magic was lost.
Edington
Last Son of The Miracle
I gave this song a six but I'm torn between feeling that was too generous or too harsh.
I find that Steve's songs are usually ripped on for being overly repetitive, but I think this song actually suffers from the lack of repeats. It just breezes by so quickly that none of the riffs - while very strong and very unique sounding - make much of an impact. After the first verse finishes I expect Bruce to come in with the second - but we're already at the instrumental middle section? The Seventh Son (the song) rip-off at this point is very jarring and given that this is barely two years after the Seventh Son album it makes it obvious that Steve was out of ideas. I do like the solo section though, particularly Janick's, and the trade off section that follows is very good - again quite unique compared to other Maiden songs.
In short it's much the same as the rest of the No Prayer album - some good ideas that were very poorly executed.
I find that Steve's songs are usually ripped on for being overly repetitive, but I think this song actually suffers from the lack of repeats. It just breezes by so quickly that none of the riffs - while very strong and very unique sounding - make much of an impact. After the first verse finishes I expect Bruce to come in with the second - but we're already at the instrumental middle section? The Seventh Son (the song) rip-off at this point is very jarring and given that this is barely two years after the Seventh Son album it makes it obvious that Steve was out of ideas. I do like the solo section though, particularly Janick's, and the trade off section that follows is very good - again quite unique compared to other Maiden songs.
In short it's much the same as the rest of the No Prayer album - some good ideas that were very poorly executed.
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KidInTheDark666
What's yours is mine and what's mine is mine too
8. The intro is awesome and everything else is pretty good also. If it had a chorus I would give 9/10.
Christoffer
Nomad
5/10 sorry i don't get it, this song just bores me
Kalata
Out of the Silent Planet
Very good song, the epic of the album. It has great riffs through it and a fantastic solos section. The oh-oh part with the keyboards is amazing (mystic melodies). For sure, it is a underrated song, but I think it is a classic Maiden stuff. The song is with a perfect length. 9/10.
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Diesel 11
As you scream into the web of silence...
A chillingly beautiful intro bursts into a pumping riff as Bruce calls upon the northern land in a five minute epic like no other. "Mother Russia" evokes everything Russian like you've never heard before, and asks what will happen with it now that the USSR is tumbling to the ground. It's a great song, though its short length holds it back a bit. Great closer though. 8
Diesel 11
As you scream into the web of silence...
The melodies hinted at in some of the previous songs are finally fully on display here, in the pseudo-epic album closer. The music conjures up images of cathedrals and winter, before Maiden launch into a pretty cool groove. Bruce is going a little too rough in the verse, and I think the tempo is a little too fast to get that real connection needed. The instrumental section is decent but really is just a rehash of “Seventh Son”. Steve’s failure to think outside the box is the song’s downfall. Once we hit a faster beat it just isn’t such a much and it ends so fast it seems pointless. The final verse should be more emotional than it is. Overall a mixed bag of a song that thinks it’s more than it is. It’s okay, but nothing compared to previous Maiden epic closers. 6/10
Vaenyr
Ancient Mariner
Not that it really matters or changes things, but it's a shame that NPFTD is the only album that doesn't have a song that's 6 minutes or longer. Though Mother Russia is still a mini epic. Unfortunately, it's pretty weak compared to the epics of the previous albums.
The instrumental sections range from good to fantastic. The verses are easily the weakest parts. The intro sets the mood and the clean section afterwards builds up the mystique. The verse that follows is okay, but overall a bit of a misstep in my opinion. The lyrics and the number of syllables are quite clunky, that's nothing new though.
I like the reprise of the clean section, with heavy synths this time. The interlude right afterwards sounds like it's straight out of SSOASS, so no wonder I love it. Then we get to the solos. The first couple are accompanied by snare rhythms, which is not the most common thing in Maiden's discography. The second half of the solos is much faster, with short and quick solos, bookended by melodic guitar and bass interludes, not unlike the ones found in SSOASS's solo section. It worked better in SSOASS though.
After that we return to another clunky verse, before ending with the clean riff once again. I genuinely think this song would have benefited immensely from being an instrumental. Not only don't the vocals really add anything to the song, they explicitly detract and lower my score for the song. Because of that I have to settle on a 7, which isn't the worst, but there was some unrealized potential.
Which can be said for large parts of the album. I like it more than the consensus, yet I still believe that a bit more time spent on songwriting and editing (and maybe scrapping the lyrics for Tailgunner) could've resulted in an even stronger album. Most albums have some kind of highlight that overshadows the rest of the record. Sometimes it's a single (like with The Trooper) other times it's an epic that became a staple (like with Fear Of The Dark). NPFTD has none of that. I don't think that it is a forgettable album, yet despite that it is still largely forgotten. Quite a shame, because there are certainly some neat little parts here and there. I suppose neat is simply not good enough when the competition is legendary.
The instrumental sections range from good to fantastic. The verses are easily the weakest parts. The intro sets the mood and the clean section afterwards builds up the mystique. The verse that follows is okay, but overall a bit of a misstep in my opinion. The lyrics and the number of syllables are quite clunky, that's nothing new though.
I like the reprise of the clean section, with heavy synths this time. The interlude right afterwards sounds like it's straight out of SSOASS, so no wonder I love it. Then we get to the solos. The first couple are accompanied by snare rhythms, which is not the most common thing in Maiden's discography. The second half of the solos is much faster, with short and quick solos, bookended by melodic guitar and bass interludes, not unlike the ones found in SSOASS's solo section. It worked better in SSOASS though.
After that we return to another clunky verse, before ending with the clean riff once again. I genuinely think this song would have benefited immensely from being an instrumental. Not only don't the vocals really add anything to the song, they explicitly detract and lower my score for the song. Because of that I have to settle on a 7, which isn't the worst, but there was some unrealized potential.
Which can be said for large parts of the album. I like it more than the consensus, yet I still believe that a bit more time spent on songwriting and editing (and maybe scrapping the lyrics for Tailgunner) could've resulted in an even stronger album. Most albums have some kind of highlight that overshadows the rest of the record. Sometimes it's a single (like with The Trooper) other times it's an epic that became a staple (like with Fear Of The Dark). NPFTD has none of that. I don't think that it is a forgettable album, yet despite that it is still largely forgotten. Quite a shame, because there are certainly some neat little parts here and there. I suppose neat is simply not good enough when the competition is legendary.
Murder of Rue Morgue
They're never gonna find me!
It's a bad album by a tired band, no need to overthink a justification for it, everyone does bad albums sooner or later and in 1990 it was Maiden's turn. It has no standout single / epic, the only song they could have kept on playing wasn't even brought on stage in the tour.
Tailgunner is pathetic if compared with their previous openers, Mother Russia is laughable at best if compared with previous closers. Bring Your Daughter... To the Slaughter is even insulting if compared to their previous singles, even if compared to Holy Smoke - which isn't memorable, but has the same "happy metal" vibe that Can I Play With Madness? had.
The rest is easily forgettable. Hooks in You is probably Adrian's worst song. Only one that kinda stands out is Fates Warning.
Tailgunner is pathetic if compared with their previous openers, Mother Russia is laughable at best if compared with previous closers. Bring Your Daughter... To the Slaughter is even insulting if compared to their previous singles, even if compared to Holy Smoke - which isn't memorable, but has the same "happy metal" vibe that Can I Play With Madness? had.
The rest is easily forgettable. Hooks in You is probably Adrian's worst song. Only one that kinda stands out is Fates Warning.
Vaenyr
Ancient Mariner
It's obviously subjective, but I disagree with it being a bad album. For me it sits firmly in the middle and there are quite a few of their albums that I like less than NPFTD.