Senjutsu 4th anniversary

Edington said:
I've had at least one song from this album (though mostly the outro of Hell on Earth, or the choruses of Days of Future Past and The Time Machine) going around in my head since the day of release. It's aged incredibly well, much better than TBoS (which recently celebrated it's 9th anniversary, according to Maiden's official Instagram) and The Final Frontier. The production (while still having its flaws, yes) is a big improvement over its two predecessors and the pacing of the songs is much better. I was a little concerned when I saw the tracklist for the first time, and the three 'arry epics closing the album, but their moods are so different from one another that it never feels like a slog to get through them - like TFF's second half.
It's gets its two weakest tracks - the title track and Lost in a Lost World, though I mostly enjoy both - out of the way quite early, then gets into the real meat of the album and doesn't let up. Yes, The Time Machine is derivative, yes, the seagulls go on a bit, no, Death of the Celts doesn't need four intros, but those are really the only flaws I can think of after LIALW.
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The production is cleaner than TBOS (I like it, it has a fitting sound for the theme), but the pacing to be better? Can't fully agree. I want more faster material overall, but I have no issue with it for the most part (I really like the title track and Darkest Hour). Different moods are key (the last 3 songs!), especially for the longer songs. I guess, being longer they help for this songwriting, but it's not easy.
I like Celt's intro, I think it's needed, but the outro is not. The seagulls sounds being so long are an odd choice, maybe they wanted to fill the double album space? Tbh, I like, enjoy and appreciate them, but for the next album I want different/more energetic songs/fresh sounding/more metal/with more harmonies than Lost World (intro and outro are pure gold), Writing, etc. Or another proggy song like Time Machine is curious if they will do it. But Steve won't drop 4 long/er songs for 4 shorter, written on its own. I feel like SJ is a culmination of the Reunion era, so with Simon now they can try to freshen up the sound even more in a way. Maybe they could be inspired by the current tour.

Some might say that the flaw of the album is the repetition, but for me it's not always like that, especially with the previous Reunion albums. There are more important things like general ideas, playing, parts.
 
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Never understood all the hate for Senjutsu. Nice variety and some killer epics, especially the final 1-2 punch of “The Parchment” and “Hell On Earth”. And I like the seagulls, dammit!

My reunion album ranking:
1. A Matter Of Life And Death
2. Senjutsu
3. The Book Of Souls
4. The Final Frontier
5. Brave New World
6. Dance Of Death
 
Jer said:
Never understood all the hate for Senjutsu. Nice variety and some killer epics, especially the final 1-2 punch of “The Parchment” and “Hell On Earth”. And I like the seagulls, dammit!

My reunion album ranking:
1. A Matter Of Life And Death
2. Senjutsu
3. The Book Of Souls
4. The Final Frontier
5. Brave New World
6. Dance Of Death
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I just find it a pretty boring album. Nothing really makes the hairs on your neck stand up like moments on other Maiden albums
 
Christopher Baines said:
Nothing really makes the hairs on your neck stand up like moments on other Maiden albums
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1. The first verse and "LIVE TO TELL OUR SONS!!!" from Senjutsu
2. "I hear you calling my name, Come to claim my life AGAAAAAAAAIN" from Stratego
3. Adrian's Writing on the Wall solo
4. Intro of Days of Future Past
5. Almost all of The Parchment, mostly "Meet.. me.. therrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrre"
6. Literally all of Hell on Earth.
 
Edington said:
1. The first verse and "LIVE TO TELL OUR SONS!!!" from Senjutsu
2. "I hear you calling my name, Come to claim my life AGAAAAAAAAIN" from Stratego
3. Adrian's Writing on the Wall solo
4. Intro of Days of Future Past
5. Almost all of The Parchment, mostly "Meet.. me.. therrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrre"
6. Literally all of Hell on Earth.
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The only one that comes close is "now under seige" in Setjutsu. The rest no, especially not The Parchment
 
Fozzie said:
I think hair on your neck standing up moments are lacking on the last few albums, Hell on Earth is the closest i`ve seen to that in recent years, especially live.
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Tbh i think theres a few on TBOS. Parts of TRATB instrumental, the last couple of mins of TBOS, parts of EOTC, the lyrics of TOAC.
 
Christopher Baines said:
Tbh i think theres a few on TBOS. Parts of TRATB instrumental, the last couple of mins of TBOS, parts of EOTC, the lyrics of TOAC.
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Some of those moments you mention are very good but not quite hair standing up moments , for me Powerslave solos , Paschendale lyrics for that to happen.
 
I like the album, but it goes back and forth with Book of Souls as being my least favourite of the reunion era. It didn’t need to be a double album and it is the first time that some of the tropes of the reunion era started to grate on me.

Edington said:
1. The first verse and "LIVE TO TELL OUR SONS!!!" from Senjutsu
2. "I hear you calling my name, Come to claim my life AGAAAAAAAAIN" from Stratego
3. Adrian's Writing on the Wall solo
4. Intro of Days of Future Past
5. Almost all of The Parchment, mostly "Meet.. me.. therrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrre"
6. Literally all of Hell on Earth.
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I love the line ‘Pray for me I’m almost there!’ from Stratego. The delivery is on point! It’s a pity Bruce barely ever sang it right live.
 
Best parts or best moments of the album
Stratego, writting on the wall the song and the solo,adrian smith made it once again and hell on earth. I dont see this album close to the worst reunion era albums. Book of souls final frontier and dance of death. I see it next to bnw and a matter. For me weak songs are darkest hour and the parchement. The rest i can listen to it and enjoy it
 
naranja said:
The opening song is still the most boring thing they've ever done. Outside of one or two moments on poor ol' Virtual XI
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I like it, its a bit different but still preffer it than final frontier. Final frontier good riff with clean guitars and distortion good lyrics and then repeating again an again the chorus. Works for sing along but boring.
 
Edington said:
1. The first verse and "LIVE TO TELL OUR SONS!!!" from Senjutsu
2. "I hear you calling my name, Come to claim my life AGAAAAAAAAIN" from Stratego
3. Adrian's Writing on the Wall solo
4. Intro of Days of Future Past
5. Almost all of The Parchment, mostly "Meet.. me.. therrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrre"
6. Literally all of Hell on Earth.
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Apart from the intro of Days of Future Past, that is one of the weakest tracks for me, I fully agree with you. All of these moments are really emotional and brings a smile to my face (and, of course, make the hair of my neck stand out, specially the chorus of Hell on Earth).
 
I was dissapointed when I first heard it and it still is my least favourite post reunion album. Too muddy and mid-tempo and as others have said, no stand out tracks and a couple of blatant self plagiarism moments.

AMOLAD
BoS
DoD
TFF
BNW
Senjutsu
 
1. Brave New World (8.25/10)
2. Senjutsu (7.50/10)
3. A Matter Of Life And Death (7.25/10)
4. Dance Of Death (6.75/10)
5. Book Of Souls (6.00/10)
6. The Final Frontier (5.50/10)
 
1.Brave new world (9/10)
2 A matter of life and death(9/10)
3. Senjutsu (8/10
4.Final frontier (6/10)
5. Book of souls 6/10)
6. Dance of death not going to say it again. Title track a classic paschendale and .....
 
I’m not a big fan of the opening track. It’s different, I’ll give it that, but to me it’s quite a boring intro to the album.

Stratego and DOFP are both good short rockers, the kind they have step away from in the last few albums.

Hell on Earth took a bit to grow on me, but now I appreciate it’s the pinnacle of the album. However the last 4 together are a tough listen, and for me Death Of the Celts should have been cut or replaced. The rest of the album is just ok (By Maiden standards).

It’s probably a little bit stronger than TBOS overall, but the title track of that album is in my top 5 Maiden tracks. I also think If Eternity Should Fail is a far better opener, and Empire of the Clouds is more memorable as a ‘surprise’ from the usual sound than Senjutsu. For me, this rates TBOS higher than Senjutsu, although both are better than The Final Frontier. However BNW and AMOLAD are far superior.

I’d rate them:-

AMOLAD
BNW

TBOS
Senjutsu
DOD
TFF
 
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