Album Review: The Book of Souls by Iron Maiden

By Brian Kane

The Book of Souls is an ambitious album, especially for a band as experienced as Iron Maiden. This two disk double album carries the sound and the quality of all other Maiden albums, but it feels rejuvenated.

The first disk, features the first single off that album "Speed of Light," which is what really sold me on the album at first. The other tracks are just as interesting and catchy in some places. This disc also features the second longest song in the album, "The Red and the Black," which is pretty solid by it's own merits. The titular song, "The Book of Souls" is the end of the first set. There's a nice, soft reference to Fear of the Dark in the beginning and end of the track. I can't tell if it's an intentional detail or something I'm just inferring on my own. Either way, it's a great track that earns the title of the album, very well crafted.

The second half of the album is nothing to sneeze at either. "Death or Glory," and "Tears of a Clown," are both great tracks. There really isn't a weak song on the album. The double disk format is a great decision, it's much better than waiting for the second half to be released at a later date. This second half ends with the most ambitious song in the album.

The album's magnum opus is the eighteen minute "Empire of the Clouds." Unlike other long Maiden songs, like Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner for example, this feels entirely It is a fantastical tale of the King's airship. It's really something special. Bruce plays the piano part, but after a while the song picks up in typical fashion. I actually enjoyed the piano part,it added depth and variety in a logical way. It has been reported that he spent over a month on this song alone. This is the first album since "Powerslave" to have two songs written solely by Bruce Dickinson, and it's a refreshing change.

That could be said about the whole album, despite the many albums before it, The Book of Souls feels just as thrilling as the albums that came before it. Overall, the album is eleven songs long and over ninety minutes. The Book of Souls will definitely be in my end of the year discussion. I recommend it to anyone looking for a refreshing take on a classic metal sound.

Posted in: Album Review, Metal, WSOU Exclusive