The X Factor Vs. Senjutsu

[Yax]

Listening to AMOLAD now. Is it weird to say that album, (or at least some songs like For The Greater Good Of God for instance) feel abit like a bridge between X Factor and Senjutsu?

I think you can make bridging arguments for a lot of albums inbetween two instances in time. This one applies too, sure.

 

[Abas]

They could do a tour from 95 to now and make a great setlist. For me the reunion albums have very good songs as good as the 80s

I hope it happens! As much as I didn't mind the Run For Your Lives tour, I think I might have liked this more.

Spoiler: Space saving for Ascendingthethrone's whole post

For me, it is the first time that the tropes of the reunion era started to wear thin. Here are my thoughts.

• The album didn’t need to be a double album. You can just hear them stretching out songs and ideas. All of the epics fee dragged out to no effect. For example, I love Hell on Earth but the intro and outro are too long.
• I also get the feeling that they were not all ‘into’ making the album. Nicko wasn’t at first and I think the writing credits show that Harris did the heavy lifting. There was also an interview where someone said that they just waiting around for Steve to finish songs. It doesn’t sound like a team effort.
• Did we really need another Janick song with the same sodding intro?
• Darkest Hour is a poor man’s Coming Home with half the song dedicated to seagulls.
• There are too many songs that have the guitars doubling up the vocal line. It’s really lazy.

It’s a good album, but it feels like it was put together in a rush with rehashed ideas. As I previously mentioned, The Writing on the Wall (and possibly Days of Future Past) felt fresh and exciting. It’s a shame that the rest of the album didn’t live up to that.

Thanks for sharing your perspective. I think that Darkest Hour might be the one that's aged the worst from the album some almost four years in.

 

[Kalata]

That ending is unseen on any Maiden album since the combo Powerslave/Rime

True that.

This is my opinion on it as well. I was really excited when I first heard The Writing on the Wall. I thought we were in for something really different. My hopes were extinguished when I saw the amount of Harris solo writing on Senjutsu.
That being said Stratego and Hell on Earth are certified bangers. The Parchment and Days of Future Past are great as well.

Well, Writing, the title track, Darkest Hour, songs like Days, Stratego, Time Machine and at least 2 of Steve's epics are a bit different and have something fresh in them.

For me, it is the first time that the tropes of the reunion era started to wear thin. Here are my thoughts.

• The album didn’t need to be a double album. You can just hear them stretching out songs and ideas. All of the epics fee dragged out to no effect. For example, I love Hell on Earth but the intro and outro are too long.
• I also get the feeling that they were not all ‘into’ making the album. Nicko wasn’t at first and I think the writing credits show that Harris did the heavy lifting. There was also an interview where someone said that they just waiting around for Steve to finish songs. It doesn’t sound like a team effort.
• Did we really need another Janick song with the same sodding intro?
• Darkest Hour is a poor man’s Coming Home with half the song dedicated to seagulls.
• There are too many songs that have the guitars doubling up the vocal line. It’s really lazy.

It’s a good album, but it feels like it was put together in a rush with rehashed ideas. As I previously mentioned, The Writing on the Wall (and possibly Days of Future Past) felt fresh and exciting. It’s a shame that the rest of the album didn’t live up to that.

Points 1, 3, 4 are valid, but not all were intro the album? Nicko, but you wouldn't tell from his playing. It's just that Steve is the main songwriter and that's their current style, doubling up the vocal lines too. You want something different to their classic style like TMP, for the most part? Also, he doesn't need help for his songs. I think SJ feels extra special and interesting compared to some other Reunion albums. And I mean every song. Still. Although a lot of long songs in an album since 2010 is tricky. They spend less time in the studio since 2003.

I hope it happens! As much as I didn't mind the Run For Your Lives tour, I think I might have liked this more.

I think it's a must and a perfect opportunity, but let's see.

 

[JayIto]

Senjutsu. The X-Factor has some awesome songs that really come into their own live (the addition of heavy guitars and more energy helps) but the albums on their own? Senjutsu by far. That said, Edge of Darkness, Sign of the Cross and Man on the Edge are awesome live. SOTC live at RiR is Maiden top 10ish