The Final Frontier at 15

[Ascendingthethrone]

I can’t believe this album has just turned 15 years old! It feels like yesterday I got a copy of it from Amazon (the shitty tin edition, which has since been replaced by the CD remaster and vinyl).

I distinctly remember falling asleep listening to the album the first time. I had just come off a long shift. However, the album really clicked when I was on holiday in Cornwall and I had it on rotation in the car for most of the trip!

Looking back, my opinion of the album has never really changed. I think it is a solid album which some absolutely huge songs. The Alchemist onwards is just an outstanding run of songs. Despite the length of many of the songs, I think there is a good amount of variation on the album.

I would rank it 4th in a ranking of the reunion albums (ahead of Senjutsu and Book of Souls) and probably around 9th overall.

What are your opinions of the album all these later?

 

[Yax]

I think it's a rather ambitious and adventurous album that I fondly revisit every now and then. I like production, although I agree with H that it is too dry (and the toms are a bit boomy) and the songs and performances are generally strong, though with some missed opportunities like Mother of Mercy (that chorus...) and The Man Who Would Be King, which should have been condensed a bit. I remember the forum was overflowing with praise when it came out, though I felt even then that it was a bit overappreciated, it's the third best Reunion album for me.

 

[Kalata]

Time flies! I like TFF more when it was released, now it's my ''least'' favorite of the Reunion albums (still pretty strong) - but I think I sometimes forget how quality and interesting it is. A different and ambitious album for the band, very proggy with some new stuff like DOD. There's not a single bad song, just some weak parts (like Mercy's chorus). I like the overall rougher production, it has some power. Adrian's preferred production would probably have been good too. Some of Bruce's vocals needed more takes.

My gripes with the album are:

-the sequence of the songs is odd.
-curious, fitting, but too long intro to the title song.
-some shorter solos, or missing more and melodies (the title track, Talisman, Avalon), also the structures of King and Wild Wind could have been different (shorter, changed parts).

IMO, the run from Coming Home-Wild Wind (minus King, very interesting song) is underrated and very, very solid and great. All ideas! El Dorado is a pretty solid rocker with great heavy riffing, while the title track is great for its purpose and ideas with 2 great solos. I can call Wild Wind, Talisman, Starblind, Avalon and Coming Home special songs and ideas. Mercy's dark and heavy gallop too. The songs are great live.

As with every Maiden album for me, especially from the Reunion era, it has aged quite well. One of their most interesting and always impactful with its sounds and pure ideas - probably the most from the Reunion era, along with SJ. It's close ofc, but that's quite the praise when I think about it. Their classic style is probably the least represented here, from the Reunion era overall.