With the Album opening on the blasting drums of "Run to The Hills" and closing on Bruce Dickinson screeching for Brazil to scream for him, Edward the Great is Sixteen songs that prove that Iron Maiden are one of the Greatest bands in metal and one of the greatest on the planet. This reveiw is based off the original Edward thte Great.
Run to the Hills (Harris)[3:59]
The son opens with a catchy drum beat quickly followd by a vaguely annoying guitar intro. The song soon speeds up and comes into the chorus, the sort of thing that can be roared into a stadium of 70,000 people as well as be sung by 20 drunks in a bar. The guitar solo for the song is good if only a little short. Overall a good song.
4/5
The Number of the Beast (Harris) [4:55]
With a spoken intro it is quickly followed by almost whispered words. The song speeds up for the chorus which is entered by a primal scream from Bruce. A long fast solo that just has that special sound that only Iron Maiden Seems to be able to produce. Not a Bad song but a bit Long. Incidentally, the song is based on a dream.
4/5
The Flight of Icarus (Harris) [3:54]
A realtively boring song intro which very soon turns into a very melodic chorus. The second Verse heralds the arrival of Icarus, who is then betrayed by god. One more incredible solo then another one to take us to the end of the song which has some excellent bass work from Harris. Another incredible song.
4/5
The Trooper (Smith/Dickinson) [4:14]
The Trooper seemed to me to be just a little too generic for Iron Maiden. It was good but it isn't necessarily good enough for a greatest hits album. A circular solo follows the second chorus. A breif break for Bruce in a small instrumental part. Not a bad song just not great either
3/5
2 Minutes To Midnight (Smith/Dickinson) [6:03]
An incredibly catchy riff opens this song followed by a excellent verse, prechorus and an incredible chorus. The Solo starts slow but soon builds up into a solo that cuts over the rest of the band. The song goes soft briefly only to be followed by the intro riff which leads back into the verse,prechorus, chorus structure with the song ending on a bit of a disapointing outro. Overall and incredible song, a must have for any metal fan.
5/5
Wasted Years (Smith) [5:09]
An almost happy intro soon turns to vocals about someone who has wasted their life. This isn't to say it isn't a good song. Another melodic chorus from Bruce reinforces how good Maiden really are. The intro riff is repeated before the solo comes in. A fairly average solo yet still excellent. This song has everything a music fan could want. It has words to satisfy emo's, punks and headbangers all at once. Top Notch song
5/5
Can I Play with Madness (Smith/Harris/Dickinson) [3:33]
An annoying unacompanied voice opens this song by yelling the song name. The rest of the band soon joins. They compliment the song well yet are still very noticeable. The chorus come back with the songs title except this time it is any thing but annoying. The Solo has an almost duel beetween the lead guitar and the rest of the band. The song closes on the same annotying unnacompnied voice, taking away from an almost perfect song. Still great though.
4.5/5
The Evil That Men Do (Smith/Harris/Dickinson) [4:36]
A song starts slowly yet is soon sped up. The vocals are briefly average yet soon jump to excellent with the prechorus. Sadly the song gets worse when the reach the chorus. Another solo that has many guitar players jelously staring at the pictures of Iron Maiden and the incredible sound they produce. Another good song, with some interesting lyrics.
4/5
The Clairvoyant (Harris) [4:29]
An intersting bass intro guides the song along until the rest of the band joinin. With thoughts of death we hear a song that i find horribly average. It sounds too forced and it is too long. Also the chorus is boring and the verses all sound very similar. A solo peirces through which breifly picks the song up but it falls back again. Not a bad song, but like The Trooper, just not incredible like some other songs on the album.
3/5
Infinite Dreams (Harris) [6:13]
Another generic Iron Maiden song with the only interest coming from the guitar interludes and solo, with the best bit of the song being the secong half.
3/5
Holy Smoke (Harris/Dickinson) [3:50]
A very catchy intro followed by vocals from the perspective of christ. It is talking about how the bible can be interpreted and the real story may not be getting through. A solo follows that is technically insane. Ending on an ahh of satisfaction the listener feels the same. Great song
4.5/5
Bring your Daughter...To The Slaughter (Dickinson) [4:46]
The last disapointing song on this album, it opens very well with an intersting verse, but then a stupid and boring verse. I suppose all they could think of that rhymes with slaughter was daughter. And I don't blame them that is tricky but still it is still a boring song. The best bit of the song is a musical interlude beetween choruses.
3/5
Man on The Edge (Gers/Bayley) [4:15]
Another slow intro we soon hear Blaze Bayely's Deep resonant voice. A good song with a great chorus even if it is just the same phrase over and over agian.
4/5
Futereal (Harris/Bayley) [2:58]
A very catchy intro followed by some interesting lyrics. An fairly average chorus folwed by a technically incredible solo yet it isn't the best. Not a bad song.
3.5/5
The Wicker Man (Smith/Haris/Dickinson) [4:36]
The return of Bruce Dickinson's voice returns to sing a great verse and an awesome chorus. Another solo leaves us reeling. Great song, maybe a little Long.
4/5
Fear of The Dark[Live At Rock In Rio] (Harris) [8:04]
This song really cements Iron Maidens reputation as not only as a great studio band but as an incredibly live band. This song opens with a crowd that can actually hold the melody and rythymn of the song before Bruce Dickinson takes over. This song is Eight Minutes of Maiden at their best. Probably My favourite Iron Maiden Song ever, this song goes from acoustic into screaming electric. Bruce has an incredible voice in the way that he can sing softly as well as scream incredibly. We are fooled into beleiving the solo starts twice before it does. But when it starts no one should want it to end. An amazing song
5/5
From fantastic riffs to Burning solo's to amazing vocals to the sort of choruses that seem to encompass every genre of music. If you have not heard Iron Maiden Before,get this album. It is annoying that it lacks any rare footage but it is the best place to start if you haven't heard any Maiden.
Dedicated to Iron Maiden girl (You Know Who You are)
Faithfully, Fade.To.Black
