Iron Maiden’s eleventh album is for many fans a disappointment. The critical review I read about it called it a lackluster latter day album, because of its lack of riffs and tightly written songs. This is also one of the few albums featuring the band without its famous energetic singer Bruce Dickinson. I cannot escape the notion that he left the band a bit in disarray.
With the choice of the lead singer the band chose a darker path. Blaze Bayley’s baritone forces the whole band to write lower pitched songs. Add to that some personal struggles of Steve Harris, and the album paints a considerable darker tone. Even the choice of cover art for this follows suit.
Having said all that, I’ve given it some time, and it does grow on you. Some of songs are still fan favorites and regular live songs. Performed in DIckinson’s tenor.