아이언 메이든의 사운드는 언제나 한결같다. 중세 시대의 분위기를 떠올리는 듯한 웅장하고 드라마틱한 곡의 전개는 다른 메탈 그룹들이 도저히 흉내낼 수 없는 독보적인 브랜드이다. 거친 질감을 배제했으면서도 메탈 특유의 야수성은 존재하고 있고, 드라마틱한 전개 방식이지만 순간 순간마다 번쩍 하는 광기가 빛을 발한다. 데뷔 때부터 그룹을 지켜온 스티브 해리스와 데이브 머레이의 완벽한 호흡과 밴드의 아이콘이라 할 수 있는 브루스 디킨슨의 주술적인 보컬이 있기에 아이언 메이든의 음악은 오로지 한 길만을 걷고 있다. 지난 2000년 이후 3년 만에 공개하는 열 세 번째 스튜디오 앨범 역시 아이언 메이든 특유의 사운드가 그대로 저장되어 있다. 멤버들이 나이를 거꾸로 먹는 듯 뜨거운 열정이 앨범 전체에 담겨 있다. 브루스 디킨슨의 보컬은 훨씬 원숙해졌으며, 데이브 머레이, 에이드리언 스미스, 야닉 거스로 짜여진 기타 삼각 편대는 풍부한 리듬과 인상적인 리프를 선사하고 있다. 또한 스티브 해리스의 견고한 베이스와 닉코 맥브레인의 파워풀한 드러밍 역시 최상이다. 첫 곡 'Wildest dreams'는 기운 넘치는 헤드뱅잉 넘버로, 브루스 디킨슨의 시원스런 보컬이 곡 전체를 지배하고 있다. 'Rainmaker'는 가장 큰 상업적인 성공을 거둔 1992년 작품 의 아름다운 수록곡들과 비견될 만한 퀄리티를 가지고 있는 트랙이고, 7분 여의 대곡 'No more lies'는 아이언 메이든의 음악적 정수가 고스란히 담겨 있는 방대한 스케일의 노래이다. 'Montsegur'는 데이브 머레이, 에이드리언 스미스, 야닉 거스의 기타 시스템이 가장 절정에 달한 곡이고, 타이틀 곡 'Dance of death'는 웅장한 오케스트레이션과 브루스 디킨슨의 보컬 연기가 완벽한 찰떡궁합을 과시하고 있다. 또한 'Gates of tomorrow'는 곡의 짜임새가 수록곡들 중에서 제일 좋은 트랙이고, 'Paschendale'는 기승전결이 확실한 서사적인 대곡이며, 'Face in the sand'는 긴장감이 최고조에 달한 넘버이다. 전작 에서 처음 아이언 메이든과 인연을 맺었던 케빈 셜리(Kevin Shirley)가 멤버들과 공동 프로듀서를 맡아 사운드를 책임지며 이처럼 풍성한 소리샘들을 일궈냈다. 브루스 디킨슨은 이번 앨범에 대해 “(전성기 시절의 최고 명반으로 평가받고 있는) 로 돌아간 작품이다”고 평가하며 “스피드와 에너지를 최대한 집어넣었다”고 말했다. 요즘 음악팬들에게 아이언 메이든의 음악은 고리타분한 음악일지도 모른다. 항상 똑같은 캐릭터의 에디와 음악들은 급속히 변해가는 이 시대와는 맞지 않기 때문이다. 하지만 전세계에서 30년 가까이 아이언 메이든을 응원하는 메탈 팬들이 있기에 아직도 에디는 포효를 하고 있다. 잠깐 머물다 사라지는 것보다 이처럼 오랜 시간 그 자리를 기키는 것이 더욱 어렵고도 힘든 일이라는 것은 아이언 메이든을 통해서 다시 한 번 통감한다. -수록곡- 01 . Wildest Dreams 02 . Rainmaker 03 . No More Lies 04 . Montsegur 05 . Dance Of Death 06 . Gates of Tomorrow 07 . New Frontier 08 . Paschendale 09 . Face In The Sand 10 . Age Of Innocence 11 . Journeyman .... ....
Unchain the colours before my eyes, Yesterday's sorrows, tomorrow's white lies. Scan the horizon, the clouds take me higher, I shall return from out of fire.
Tears for rememberance, and tears for joy, Tears for somebody and this lonely boy. Out in the madness, the all seeing eye, Flickers above us, to light up the sky.
Unchain the colours before my eyes, Yesterday's sorrows, tomorrow's white lies. Scan the horizon, the clouds take me higher, I shall return from out of fire.
I've been looking so long for you now you won't get away from my grasp. You've been living so long in hiding in hiding behind that false mask. And you know and I know that you ain't got long now to last. Your looks and your feelings are just the remains of your past.
You're standing in the wings, there you wait for the curtain to fall. Knowing the terror and holding you have on us all. Yeah, I know that you're gonna scratch me, maim me and maul. You know I'm helpless from your mesmerising cat call.
Keep your distance, walk away, don't take his bait. Don't you stray, don't fade away. Watch your step, he's out to get you, come what may. Don't you stray, from the narrow way.
I'm running and hiding in my dreams you're always there. You're the Phantom of the Opera, you're the devil, you're just out to scare. You damaged my mind and my soul it just floats through the air. Haunt me, you taunt me, you torture me back at your lair.
The only place where you can dream, living here is not what it seems. Ship of white light in the sky, nobody there to reason why. Here I am, I'm not really there, smiling faces ever so rare. A let's walk in deepest space, living here just isn't the place.
Stalks of light come from the ground, when I cry there isn't a sound. All my feelings cannot be held, I'm happy in my new strange world. Shades of green grasses twine, girls drinking plasma wine. A look at love, a dream unfolds, living here, you'll never grow old.
Out of the winter came a war horse of steel. I've never killed a woman before, but I know how it feels.
*I know you'd have gone insane if you saw what I saw. So now I've got to look for sanctuary from the law. So give me sanctuary from the law and I'll be alright. Just give me sanctuary from the law and love me tonight, tonight.
I met up with a 'slinger last night to keep me alive. He spends all his money on gambling and guns to survive.
*Repeat
I can laugh at the wind, I can howl at the rain. Down in the Canyon or out in the plain.
Won't you come into my room, I wanna show you all my wares. I just want to see your blood, I just want to stand and stare. See the blood begin to flow as it falls upon the floor. Iron Maiden can't be faught, Iron Maiden can't be sought.
Oh Well, wherever, wherever you are, Iron Maiden's gonna get you, no matter how far. See the blood flow watching it shed up above my head. Iron Maiden wants you for dead.
Won't you come into my room, I wanna show you all my wares. I just want to see your blood, I just want to stand and stare. See the blood begin to flow as it falls upon the floor. Iron Maiden can't be faught, Iron Maiden can't be sought.
Unchain the colours before my eyes, Yesterday's sorrows, tomorrow's white lies. Scan the horizon, the clouds take me higher, I shall return from out of fire.
Tears for rememberance, and tears for joy, Tears for somebody and this lonely boy. Out in the madness, the all seeing eye, Flickers above us, to light up the sky.
Unchain the colours before my eyes, Yesterday's sorrows, tomorrow's white lies. Scan the horizon, the clouds take me higher, I shall return from out of fire.
I've been looking so long for you now you won't get away from my grasp. You've been living so long in hiding in hiding behind that false mask. And you know and I know that you ain't got long now to last. Your looks and your feelings are just the remains of your past.
You're standing in the wings, there you wait for the curtain to fall. Knowing the terror and holding you have on us all. Yeah, I know that you're gonna scratch me, maim me and maul. You know I'm helpless from your mesmerising cat call.
Keep your distance, walk away, don't take his bait. Don't you stray, don't fade away. Watch your step, he's out to get you, come what may. Don't you stray, from the narrow way.
I'm running and hiding in my dreams you're always there. You're the Phantom of the Opera, you're the devil, you're just out to scare. You damaged my mind and my soul it just floats through the air. Haunt me, you taunt me, you torture me back at your lair.
The only place where you can dream, living here is not what it seems. Ship of white light in the sky, nobody there to reason why. Here I am, I'm not really there, smiling faces ever so rare. A let's walk in deepest space, living here just isn't the place.
Stalks of light come from the ground, when I cry there isn't a sound. All my feelings cannot be held, I'm happy in my new strange world. Shades of green grasses twine, girls drinking plasma wine. A look at love, a dream unfolds, living here, you'll never grow old.
Giving a swish with your arse in the air, don't you know what they're saying? Charlotte you're so refined when you take all the love that they're giving. Sticking with every man that you find, don't you know what they're after? Charlotte you've got your legs in the air, don't you hear all the laughter?
*Charlotte the Harlot show me your legs, Charlotte the Harlot take me to bed. Charlotte the Harlot let me see blood, Charlotte the Harlot let me see love.
Taking so many men to your room, don't you feel no remorse? You charge them a "fiver", It's only for starters. And ten for the main course. And you've got no feelings, they died long ago. Don't you care who you let in? And don't you know you're breaking the law with the service you're giving.
* Repeat
There was a time when you left me standing there, Picking up pieces of love off the floor. Well Charlotte you left me alone in there, To make your ends as a bloody whore. Well Charlotte you told me you love me true, Picking up pieces of love yesterday. Well Charlotte you're draws are off color too 'Cause you're making love all day.
Giving a swish with your arse in the air, don't you know what they're saying? Charlotte you're so refined when you take all the love that they're giving. Sticking with every man that you find, don't you know what they're after? Charlotte you've got your legs in the air, don't you hear all the laughter?
Won't you come into my room, I wanna show you all my wares. I just want to see your blood, I just want to stand and stare. See the blood begin to flow as it falls upon the floor. Iron Maiden can't be faught, Iron Maiden can't be sought.
Oh Well, wherever, wherever you are, Iron Maiden's gonna get you, no matter how far. See the blood flow watching it shed up above my head. Iron Maiden wants you for dead.
Won't you come into my room, I wanna show you all my wares. I just want to see your blood, I just want to stand and stare. See the blood begin to flow as it falls upon the floor. Iron Maiden can't be faught, Iron Maiden can't be sought.
Out of the winter came a war horse of steel. I've never killed a woman before, but I know how it feels.
*I know you'd have gone insane if you saw what I saw. So now I've got to look for sanctuary from the law. So give me sanctuary from the law and I'll be alright. Just give me sanctuary from the law and love me tonight, tonight.
I met up with a 'slinger last night to keep me alive. He spends all his money on gambling and guns to survive.
* Repeat
I can laugh at the wind, I can howl at the rain. Down in the Canyon or out in the plain.
So you think you can own me, well you'd better just think again You'd better watch your steps now, woman, cause I ain't like those other men There's something burning inside me that makes me want to be free And when I get these feelings honey, you better keep away from me
There's things in life now, baby, that I know I've got to do And I need your love now, baby, to help me see it through So you think you can own me, well you'd better just think again You'd better watch your steps now, woman, cause I ain't like those other men
So you think you can own me, well you'd better just think again You'd better watch your steps now, woman, cause I ain't like those other men There's something burning inside me that makes me want to be free And when I get these feelings honey, you better keep away from me
Look out now, baby won't you take me away, Sittin' here its gonna be a new day. Gotta sing my song and I can't go wrong, Gotta keep on roaming, gotta sing my song.
What you feeling when you hold me tight? I'm gonna cuddle up with you tonight, gonna get you feeling so secure. listen child don't you see there's a cure? Anywhere got to get you away, feels so good think it's gonna be a new day. I'm gonna get my song till I can't go on, I'm gonna keep on roaming gonna sing my song.
I want you to sing it, sing it, sing it, sing it along. I want you to sing it, sing it, sing it, sing it along.
If you're looking for someone that you can keep then, baby, pass me by And if you wanted something that's twenty years deep Baby, don't even try And if you wanted someone to take your soul I'll lift you up little bit higher
I've got the fire I've got the fire
So you think I'm skinny, don't you sell me cheap I'm as wide as a country-mile Some like it wide, I like it deep Guess which one is my style So you think you can beat me by my own game Maybe I call you a liar
Trace your way back 50 years To the glow of Dresden - blood and tears In the black above by the cruel searchlight Men will die and men will fight - yeah| Who shot who and who fired first? Dripping death to whet the bloodthirst No radar lock on - skin and bone The bomber boys are going home
chorus
Climb into the sky never wonder why - Tailgunner You're a Tailgunner
(repeat)
Nail that fokker kill that son. Gonna blow your guts out with my gun The weather forecast's good for war Cologne and Frankfurt? Have some more| Tail end Charlie in the boiling sky The Enola Gay was my last try Now that this Tailgunner's gone No more bombers (just one big bomb)
.... 
