Just two months ago, this forum was like a kindergarten on a sugar rush: kids (users) running around and screaming excited about somebody's t-shirt while nannies (mods) tried to calm everybody down. Seems so long ago now, doesn't it? I was thinking of hanging up my meme gloves, thinking: "If it weren't for certain users here, I would have nothing to meme about. Nothing!" But then it came... Those words made out of fire that spelled: "Writing on the Wall." What a blissful moment!
I must admit that the first couple of listens I was a bit sidetracked by the video in a manner that I didn't really "follow" the song itself. Still, I'll say today what I said after that first listen (those 4 Eddie bikers be damned or not!): That first minute has more variation than the majority of "Book of Souls". (sidenote: 6 years later, I don't really rate BoS that high and somehow still feel disappointed by it).
So I approached this one cautiously: even after a couple of listens, I still couldn't say the song is "bad". I liked it, but then again, it wasn't like I was instantly overjoyed with the song itself like I was with some other singles (El Dorado, for example). Could this one be a grower? (SPOILER: It was.) At first, I didn't want to read what people here said because I don't really know everybody's "Maiden taste". So, I sent a couple of messages to my friends whose taste I know a bit better. Responses came back positive.
As days passed, I've liked the song more and more, but I still couldn't really wrap my head about it. It was a couple of weeks later when it came on the radio as I was driving. I turned it up and asked my wife for an opinion. This was her first reaction even before chorus hit: "OK, this sounds great, but you couldn't tell it's a Maiden song until Bruce came up. And when he did, he sings like it's a typical Maiden song." And then it clicked.
It really is different and to put this one as a first single is really brave. Nothing (rhythm, riff, Adrian solo) about this one is what I knew as Iron Maiden. On the other hand, Bruce's singing is everything I knew as Iron Maiden. For me, it was a weird combination at first, but keeps growing with time. Except one part: that riff between two solos - you could've played that to me one year ago, and I would instantly know it was Maiden.
Yeah, it took me some time. During that time, I started liking the verses (I loved the intro instantly) get used to Bruce's voice and made peace with the chorus (it isn't anything special or something to get really excited about but fits the song nicely). Furthermore, I'll try not to get myself involved into mastering debate because it's something I know very little of. But... In WOTW choruses there are some guitar licks (I believe it's Janick - if I use my good headphones I can barely hear it on the left channel) that would give that nice extra layer to the chorus.
Oh, and I believe more than enough has been said about Adrian solo. If there is any reason why it should be played live, that's Adrian solo. On the other hand (and I may be in the minority) but I don't see this one as a live song. It is good, but it's kind of unconventional for it to be played live. Who knows, if it happens, I might go: "Damn, that sounds great, I can't believe I said this isn't a live song."
Nevertheless, two months ago, Maiden announced another album journey with "Writing on the Wall". I could feel it was a bit "different" journey, a territory I wasn't familiar with. Maybe because of that, I was really hyped, although I was trying to reason myself down. But last Friday, September 3rd, these three first songs on "Senjutsu" were enough to justify the six-year wait.
And we haven't even reached the "good stuff" yet...