Bruce Dickinson - Scream for Me Sarajevo (Music from the Motion Picture) (2018)

Genre - Hard Rock / Heavy Metal

Label - BMG Rights Management (UK) Ltd

Track listing:

01 - Change Of Heart (2001 Remastered Version)

02 - Tears Of The Dragon (2001 Remastered Version)

03 - Gods Of War (2001 Remastered Version)

04 - Darkside Of Aquarius (2001 Remastered Version)

05 - Navigate The Seas Of The Sun

06 - Road To Hell (2001 Remastered Version)

07 - Arc Of Space (2001 Remastered Version)

08 - Omega (2001 Remastered Version)

09 - River Of No Return

10 - Power Of The Sun

11 - Strange Death In Paradise

12 - Inertia (Live)

13 - Acoustic Song (2001 Remastered Version)

14 - Eternal (Tyranny Of Souls Japanese Bonus Track)

Now this one is a strange release for me, not that there is anything at all wrong with it, it is after all a great compilation of the legendary Iron Maiden vocalists (Bruce Dickinson) solo out put. Its just the tracks included make very little sense to me to be honest, and yes I do realise that this release is the official sound track to the critically acclaimed documentary of the same name, that tells the story of Bruce Dickinson's (and his then young band Skunkworks), fabled concert in Sarajevo during the height of the Bosnian War. And that is where my confusion stems from.
Firstly, a little history lesson. The event took place in 1994, with Sarajevo under intense bombardment, Bruce and the band risked their very lives and ignored official safety advice to travel to the city and perform the now legendary concert at the Bosnian Culture Centre (BKC). The entire purpose of the trip, in which Bruce and the guys were literally smuggled in to the besieged area, being to tell the citizens of Sarajevo that they were not being forgotten by the rest of the world, despite their isolation.
Now 'Scream For Me Sarajevo' is not just a concert movie, it also reflects on the people of Sarajevo that were taking drastic measures to endure the brutal hardships of war and their struggle to survive. The critically acclaimed film includes footage of the concert, and the war, recent interviews with Bruce and his band mates, and also follows Bruce as he makes an emotional return to Sarajevo.
This release is the official soundtrack to the film, as previously stated, and includes music that spans the entire length of Bruce's solo career, including a couple of rare tracks, and this is where my confusion stems from. The concert took place in 1994, at the time Bruce had released two solo albums, 1990's Tattooed Millionaire and 1994's Ball To Picasso. He had put together a young band of musicians and was writing and recording songs for the album Skunkworks, which was also the banner under which he and his new band were touring, and would release the said album. So surely only material up until this point should be featured in this movie and on its soundtrack? Yet we have the majority of the material coming from 1997's Accident At Birth and 2005's Tyranny Of Souls albums. Strange, but putting that aside hoe does this soundtrack stand up as an album? Well to be honest very well.
The album opens with 'Change Of Heart', the epic 'Tears Of The Dragon' and 'Gods Of War', all originally from 1994's excellent Balls To Picasso album, that show cases Bruce's versatility and also how much his musical direction had changed since the straight up rock n roll of his debut solo album, 1990's Tattooed Millionaire. Next Up we have the excellent and broodingly heavy 'Darkside Of Aquarius' from 1997's Accident at Birth album which flows into the beautiful almost balladesque track 'Navigate The Seas Of The Sun', which is taken from 2005's Tyranny Of Souls album.
Next up we return the Accident At Birth album for the next three tracks, the rocking 'Road To Hell', co-written with a certain Adrian Smith (Iron Maiden/A.S.A.P./ Psycho Motel). The epic 'Arc Of Space' and the haunting 'Omega'.
The album then returns to Tyranny Of Souls as a source for the next three songs. The brooding atmospheric, 'River Of No Return', the rocking 'Power Of The Sun' and the heavy brooding 'Strange Death In Paradise'.
Next up we have one of this releases rarer tracks in the form of a track from the Skunkworks album, 'Inertia'. This is a live version of the track that was only previously available as a bonus track on the expanded 2005 re-release of Skunkworks. 
This CD's penultimate track is the beautiful 'Acoustic Song', a wonderful acoustic ballad that was previously only available as a bonus track on the 2001 Best Of album (Special Edition). The album closes with 'Eternal', a beautiful almost Pink Floyd type of a song that was previously only available as a bonus track on the Japanese edition of the Tyranny Of Souls album.
So do I understand the track listing in relation to the monumental event that this album and documentary celebrate? No not really, but as a compilation of some of Bruce's finest musical moments, then sure. Scream For Me Sarajevo is a great album / soundtrack that showcases one of Britain's greatest and legendary vocalists at his best in the solo arena.

Very Highly Recommended!!!!!

Rating: 10/10

Iron Maiden - Book Of Souls (2015)

Genre - Heavy Metal / NWoBHM

Label - Parlophone UK

 

Track listing:

Disc 1
1. If Eternity Should Fail (Dickinson) 8:28
2. Speed Of Light (Smith/ Dickinson) 5:01
3. The Great Unknown (Smith/ Harris) 6:37
4. The Red And The Black (Harris) 13:33
5. When The River Runs Deep (Smith/ Harris) 5:52
6. The Book Of Souls (Gers/ Harris) 10:27

Disc 2
7. Death Or Glory (Smith/ Dickinson) 5:13
8. Shadows Of The Valley (Gers/ Harris) 7:32
9. Tears Of A Clown (Smith/ Harris) 4:59
10. The Man Of Sorrows (Murray/ Harris) 6:28
11. Empire Of The Clouds (Dickinson) 18:01

Iron Maiden are back, and by god are they back! British heavy metal legends return with their brand new album, the awesome double album (a career first!) "Book Of Souls". Its been five years since Maiden last studio opus, 2010's "The Final Frontier" but judging by the sheer quality of the songs on offer on "Book Of Souls" then its been well worth the wait.

Disc One kicks off with the Dickinson composition, 'If Eternity Should Fail'. The song kicks of with some dark atmospheric keyboard layers and an almost spaghetti western synth trumpet before exploding into one of the heaviest songs that Iron Maiden have ever recorded, yet alone opened an album with! Great start, and its heart warming to hear Bruce in such fine voice!
Next up we have the albums lead single, and in my humble opinion the albums weakest track, the Smith / Dickinson composed, 'Speed Of Light'. Its one of the albums shortest tracks and is destined to become a Maiden classic, with its sing along chorus. Its worthy of noting the energy that both the song and the band seem to posses, something that they have rarely captured in the studio since 1992's "Fear Of The Dark" release.
"The Great Unknown" follows, this time a Smith / Harris composition, and what a song! The song opens with a huge rumbling bass line from Steve Harris before growing into a true Maiden classic, that just keeps on building the atmosphere throughout the songs duration.
"The Red And The Black" is up next. This song is a Harris composition, and to be honest on any other Maiden album this song would have definitely been the album's centre piece. Yet another Maiden classic, so that's four songs in and we have three dead cert new Maiden classics among them!
"When The River Runs Deep", follows, this time being written by Smith and Harris. This song is one of the most metal songs that Iron Maiden have written in years, reminiscent of some early Dio material in places, and at times bringing to mind the Maiden classic's 'Rime Of The Ancient Mariner' and 'Heaven Can Wait'.
Next up we have the albums title track, 'Book Of Souls', this time being written by Janick Gers and Steve Harris. This song is huge! Filled to the brim with spooky atmospheres, this ode to the Mayans is simply a huge towering track, and well deserving of its status of being the albums title track. Opening with a simple acoustic guitar and a slowly building atmospheric keyboard layer, before exploding into this huge Iron Maiden classic akin to 'To Tame A Land' and 'Alexander The Great'. Simply magnificent. That closes out disc one of the this two disc opus, and would by the standards of any mere mortal band, that would constitute a great album, but this is Iron Maiden, so lets get onto disc two!

Disc Two opens with the Smith / Dickinson composition, 'Death Or Glory'. This tale of World War I fighter pilots is a ripping track, bursting at the seams with energy. This is one of the albums shortest tracks and definitely destined to become a live favourite!
'Shadows Of The Valley' follows, this time the song is another Janick Gers and Steve Harris composition. With an intro that could have just stepped off of the grooves of 1986's "Somewhere In Time" album, this mid-paced song is simply a maze of riffs and hooks, dark hues and a distinct of the supernatural permeate throughout this track. Guaranteed to become another Maiden classic.
"Tears Of A Clown" is up next. This one is a Smith/ Harris composition, and a tribute to the late great comedian, Robin Williams, who sadly committed suicide in 2014 after his long battle with depression. The song simply asks the question, how can someone who brings so much joy, feel so much pain? tragic subject, but a brilliant song non the less.
The next song on this immense opus of an album is 'The Man Of Sorrows'. This is not Iron Maiden version of Bruce's track from 2005, 'Man Of Sorrows' from Bruce's "Accident At Birth" album. No this track features the only writing credit for guitarist Dave Murray on this album, being a Murray / composition. This is a blues-tinged number that sees the guitarists showcasing a slightly different side of the talents. Once again Bruce is fine voice, as he has been throughout the entire album!
Now every Iron Maiden album since time began has featured and epic over blown masterpiece as the closing track, usually written by Steve Harris, and usually the albums centre piece. Well "Book Of Souls" is no different, only this time the master piece has been composed by vocalist Bruce Dickinson, And what a masterpiece it is! Clocking in at a mighty eighteen minutes and one second, 'Empire Of The Clouds' is Iron Maiden's most grandiose and ambitious song to date. To my knowledge this is also the only song that Iron Maiden have recorded that features a piano and cello so prominently! 'Empire Of The Clouds' is Bruce telling the tale of the tragically doomed R101 airship (or Zeppelin) in 1930. A fantastic piece of story telling and a magnificent opus of a song ta boot!

So there you have it, Iron Maiden return with what is quite possibly their best album ever in the form of the double album, "Book Of Souls" and definitely the best album that will be released in 2015. This album would be a great album to bow out on should the band choose to call it a day after their forth coming mammoth world tour next year, but judging by the quality and creativity on display throughout 2Book Of Souls" I hope they choose to record at least one more album, especially considering Bruce's recent victory in his battle with cancer.

Long Live Iron Maiden!

This album is simply a must for any fan of the band, or any fan of any metal genre!

Very, Very Highly Recommended


Rating - 10/10          (Album Of The Year!)

Iron Maiden - Powerslave (2015 iTunes Remaster)

Genre - Heavy Metal / NWoBHM

Label - Parlophone Records (BMG/INgrooves Music Group for the USA)

 

Track listing:

01 - Aces High
02 - 2 Minutes To Midnight
03 - Losfer Words (Big 'Orra)
04 - Flash Of The Blade
05 - The Duellists
06 - Back In The Village
07 - Powerslave
08 - Rime Of The Ancient Mariner

 

As previously featured here, let's continue with IRON MAIDEN catalog albums which have been Remastered for iTunes, encoded from 24-bit / 96 khz high resolution masters. All these albums have been freshly mastered with iTunes in mind, delivering the music to listeners exactly the way the artist and recording engineer intended.
These are brand new 2015 remasters from their original analog sources, exclusively produced for iTunes.

Now it's time for "Powerslave".

The third in a trilogy of legendary Iron Maiden albums, "Powerslave" is frequently ranked as the fan favourite of the bunch, capping off a stellar run that sealed the band's genre-defining status. If "The Number of the Beast " was the all-time metal landmark, 'Powerslave' is perhaps the quintessential Maiden album, capturing all the signature elements of the band's definitive era in one place.
The album opens with Maiden at their catchiest, turning in a pair of metal classics right off the bat with the British hit singles "Aces High" (a high-speed ode to a WWII air battle) and the apocalyptic "2 Minutes to Midnight".

Next we get an instrumental, "Losfer Words (Big 'Orra)," of the sort that Maiden periodically deployed to keep fans in awe of their technical chops. A pair of their best and most overlooked album tracks follows; "Flash of the Blade" and "The Duellists" exemplify the glory-minded battle hymns that made up such an important part of their lyrical obsessions, even if both are about sword fighting rather than modern military history.
By the end of the album, we're seeing Maiden at their most progressive and ambitious. The seven-minute title track, "Powerslave",  builds on the previous album's "To Tame a Land" with its use of Middle Eastern melodies, delving into Egyptian mythology for a rumination on power and mortality.
This leads into the biggest, most grandiose epic in the Maiden catalogue: "Rime of the Ancient Mariner," a multi-sectioned, thirteen-and-a-minute prog-fest adapted from the Samuel Taylor Coleridge poem. Though it isn't exactly what you'd call hooky, its shifting moods and lofty intellectual aspirations made it a live favourite.

Steve Harris continues; "Now with this fresh mastering, the guitars are louder, the drums more substantial and the overall tone is so very much improved, in my opinion.
Tony Newton and Ade Emsley, who worked closely with me on the project, did a terrific job recapturing everything from the original masters, and together we've re- mastered them all digitally and I'm really happy with the results."
Tony Newton adds: "The process started with locating all of the original album mix tapes (or whichever format they were mixed to). Then the choice of analogue to digital convertor was chosen for the most accurate capture to make it as close as possible to the sound of the mix as it was intended by the band.
When a lot of these tapes were last captured it was in the 1980s, early days of digital and only 44.1khz/16bit files were possible. On top of this, the new A/D convertors are far superior now, and, of course, it is possible to produce files of far higher resolution.
The result of this is that the songs now sound more defined with added depth and warmth.

And you can tell it: on this new remaster of "Powerslave" there is definitely a difference with the previous versions of this album, perhaps the most notorious of this new batch of remasters.

Its clearer, fully sounding and well, just bloody well awesome!

 

Very, Very Highly Recommended!!!

 

Rating - 10/10

 

Simply A Classic!!