"The Book of Souls" - Official pre-release thread (CONTAINS ALBUM SPOILERS)

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I was reading some stuff today that had sales figures for recent pop albums. Can't recall what the albums were, but:

53,000 US sales reached #4
75,000 US sales reached #1

in two different weeks this past April. If Maiden can sell 75k copies week one, they have a shot at #1 - although I haven't looked at what else is coming out on Sept. 4.
 
Here's what Metacritic has listed for Sept. 4:

Against Me!23 Live Sex Acts[Live album]
AmorphisUnder The Red Cloud
CruciamentumCharnel Passages
Dâm-FunkInvite The Light
Diane CoffeeEverybody's A Good Dog
FIDLARToo
HelenThe Original Faces[Grouper's Liz Harris project]
Iron MaidenThe Book Of Souls
Jerusalem in My HeartIf He Dies, If If If If If If
Mueller_RoedeliusImagori[Christoph H. Müller & Hans-Joachim Roedelius]
Painted PalmsHorizons
Public Image Ltd.What the World Needs Now...
RhodesWishes
The ArcsYours, Dreamily[Dan Auerbach's side project]
The LibertinesAnthems For Doomed Youth
The Wonder YearsNo Closer To Heaven
 
SinisterMinisterX said:
Here's what Metacritic has listed for Sept. 4:

Against Me!23 Live Sex Acts[Live album]
AmorphisUnder The Red Cloud
CruciamentumCharnel Passages
Dâm-FunkInvite The Light
Diane CoffeeEverybody's A Good Dog
FIDLARToo
HelenThe Original Faces[Grouper's Liz Harris project]
Iron MaidenThe Book Of Souls
Jerusalem in My HeartIf He Dies, If If If If If If
Mueller_RoedeliusImagori[Christoph H. Müller & Hans-Joachim Roedelius]
Painted PalmsHorizons
Public Image Ltd.What the World Needs Now...
RhodesWishes
The ArcsYours, Dreamily[Dan Auerbach's side project]
The LibertinesAnthems For Doomed Youth
The Wonder YearsNo Closer To Heaven
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Cheers! I'd say it looks like their chances are pretty good :D
 
They may be getting lazy in single art, but they sure don't appear to be lazy in song writing! If the music is amazing enough, it's very easy to forgive bad art.
tillyvick14 said:
I also hope we get some shades of Dance of Death with the newest Gers/Harris title track The Book of Souls.
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I realized by an amazing coincidence, my most favorite song on every reunion album is a Gers/Harris song. Dream Of Mirrors, Dance Of Death, The Legacy, and The Talisman. I wonder if that will remain the same or if it will end up being a Dickinson only song.

And knowing how long we have to wait for Speed Of Light makes me want to cry! SIGH
 
Wait. Maybe the full-record art cover will be different then??? I'm lazy and over worked today: What are any examples of the first single AND album cover art being exactly identical in Maiden history??
 
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No official confirmation. Warner Music Norway released info on "Speed of Light" as first single due August 14, Blabbermouth reported on it and Warner Norway withdrew the info.

I do hope they use that cover for the single and do another for the album. I seriously do not like the simplistic black background. It feels like a single cover! What's interesting is that the font for "Speed of Light" is the same as on the officially released art - seems odd to me. Had been more of a placeholder-feel if Best Buy had done it in MS Paint with Times New Roman.
 
I don't really understand why people keep suggesting that the cover they revealed isn't the real cover. It says so in the press release and they haven't given any reason to think it's not the real thing.

Anyway, I do think it's possible for the single artwork to be different. There hasn't been an official confirmation yet and these sites like best buy and Amazon have a tendency to present misinformation before an official announcement. Things such as artwork, content, and price tags. I was going to suggest that the $14 is probably inaccurate but apparently the shirt is included so 14 seems about right now. It'd be cool if there was a bside revealed later though. Maybe something from the AMOLAD covers session?
 
B-sides were a way to get people to buy a copy of the single even if they did get the album - they have played out their role long since.

Mosh said:
I don't really understand why people keep suggesting that the cover they revealed isn't the real cover. It says so in the press release and they haven't given any reason to think it's not the real thing.
Click to expand...

Besides from being horrendous then?
 
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Well idk I'm sure plenty of people like the cover. I like it. Maiden aren't (and shouldn't) bend to some whiny fans' whims. :p
 
I pretty sure the artwork shown for Speed of Light is a place holder for now. But if its not, then that would be very disappointing. If they're gonna maintain the minimalist approach, at least do so with different angles and themes.

As for the album art, I love it. Its probably their most visceral cover to date. The fact it has no background really sells it, and accentuates the intensity of Eddie. Its a refreshing change from their typically busy covers, harbouring a bit more mystique than what where're used to.
My favourite cover since Seventh Son, and better than their Self titled and Piece of Mind imo.
 
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