Album DescriptionAvailable in:
Dance of death es el decimotercer álbum de estudio de la banda británica Iron Maiden lanzado el 8 de septiembre de 2003
Este álbum marca la primera participación en composición por Nicko McBrain, quien co-escribió la canción «New Frontier» y también es la primera (y única vez hasta ahora) en la que todos los miembros de la banda obtienen crédito por composición de letras. El mensaje habitual de la banda en cada álbum (una variante de la línea "Up the Irons!") está ausente también. A veces se dice erróneamente que Steve Harris realiza todas las partes de teclado en el álbum y no se da crédito al colaborador habitual de la banda Michael Kenney, pero esto es en realidad debido a un descuido en la impresión del álbum.
El «Dance of Death World Tour» fue la gira soporte del álbum. Dance of Death trae una vez más trajes al escenario en el show. Durante Dance of Death, Bruce Dickinson usa máscaras de teatro y una capa mientras se mueve alrededor del escenario, al final se viste como el austero segador para el coro final. Durante la canción «Paschendale», Dickinson a veces usa el desgastado traje tradicional británico de infantería, traje usado durante la Primera Guerra Mundial y actúa su muerte en el escenario durante la canción.
El título del álbum se refiere a una alegoría del medioevo tardío sobre la universalidad de la muerte: No importa la posición de uno en la vida, la Danza de la Muerte une a todos. Esta imagen es también conocida como danza macabra.
User Album Review
There's a very good case to be argued that a review of the latest Maiden album is a redundant exercise. Fans of the band (and they number in the millions) will adore it. The rest of us will just shrug our shoulders and make the odd Spinal Tap joke. Yet, while there's no denying the oft-comical aspects of all things heavy and metallic only the most hard-hearted of critics could deny the quality of their latest offering.
Dance Of Death is, appropriately enough, the band's thirteenth (woah...spooky) studio album and more than justifies their longevity. Always a band with a fearsome live reputation, this outing finds them playing at the top of their game and bringing a fair amount of that live prowess into the studio. Producer Kevin Shirley has spoken of them as being 'the last of the naturally moving rock bands', and DOD seems to bear this out. The whole thing has an almost organic feel to it with the rhythm section of drummer Niko McBrain (crazy name, dude) and bass player (and main writer) Steve Harris providing a rock solid backing for the three (count 'em) guitarist's fretboard fury, and Bruce Dickinsons operatic yowls.
Lest it be forgotten, this band have now been around, in one form or another, since 1976. Once considered the young pups of NWOBHM, Maiden now show youngsters how it's done. Dickinson has never sounded better (maybe his day job as a BBC DJ is good for the vocal chords?) and relative new boy Janick Gers (only with the band for thirteen years!) seems intent on cramming in as many wild solos as he can muster. From McBrain's count in on ''Wildest Dreams'' to the last poignant chords of ''Journeyman'', DOD displays a rude energy that would shame the Darkness.
Song lyrics reflect the overall epic feel. War (''Paschendale''), religious martyrdom (''Montsegur'') and, of course, death and horror (''Dance Of Death'') all get the Maiden treatment. The only real lowpoint comes with ''Age Of Innocence'' whose lyrics seem ripped directly from the letters page of the Daily Express.
No matter. Maiden have always survived by ignoring fickle fashion and giving their loyal minions exactly what they want; all wrapped in the obligatory cover featuring deaths head mascot, Eddie. With Dance Of Death they won't have one dissatisfied customer.
External Album Reviews
None...
User Comments