My expectations are low and need nothing more.
About the album?
Mine are not low per se but I've adapted them to the times. Maiden has lost the metal chug in the guitar department. They're old, they don't play physically as hard as before, the drums are hit with half the power, the guitars are hit with half the power. The new song is very nice, but it's not exciting at all. I've felt that since the first listen.
If you had chance to listen to several seconds of riffs for the new Megadeth album, that's pretty metal. Very heavy. Maiden's single on the other hand is 100% hard rock. Like one YTer said "oh a cock rock guitar riff, is this Bon Jovi".
IM17 will be 'progressive hard rock' and I just hope it 1) sounds good 2) has consistent songwriting.
I had hopes that Smith would balance his Smith/Kotzen light bluesy stuff with some serious metal approach here, maybe bring out the KV1 and chunk out some late 90s riffs, doesn't seem to be happening.
Then again, the Harris stuff might be heavy it might be even fast. Who knows. He is absolutely the most talented songwriter in the band. Also Gers is fundamentally playing the same while both Smith and Murray have changed their right hand approach to rock and roll ergonomics. I hope Gers spits out some fast riffs if these two won't.
