After releasing their 1988 classic, Seventh Son of a Seventh Son, the band took a two year break, during which Adrian Smith left due to some conflict with Steve Harris. A less capable guitarist, Janick Gers took over, and the band tried to reclaim their throne with this rather poor release.

Well, it's still Maiden, but if you're expecting to hear great riffs, hooks & gallops, and unforgettable solos, look somewhere else. Really, the only thing left here that beckons to the band's glory days is Bruce's voice (and that's gonna be gone soon too). I suppose the main shift in the album is the music; much simpler, slower, and forgettable than before, with almost no real standout songs. I was very put off on the first few listens, but I've grown to like (nay - accept) a couple of tracks. These tracks, the highlights of the album, would be Tailgunner, a weaker version of Aces High, Holy Smoke, the slow title track, and the mysterious and pulsing Assassin. None of these songs are terribly catchy or imaginative, but they get the point across, so to speak. Really, the only true standout song that could fit well on any of the previous albums would be the 5:37 minute epic Mother Russia. Sounding like the title song from the previous album, this one has great emotion in both music and vocals, plus some welcome suprises such as an excellent solo and time changes. Otherwise though, this is nothing special. If you're a die-hard Maiden fan, then you probably already have this album...otherwise don't bother.

My rating - 6.1

This album even sounds like a sad state of affairs.  Bruce's voice sucks, and it seems that the whole band has lost their former magic.  Overall this album is crap....but its only the sum of its parts. Tailgunner is sadly repetitive, Bruce sounds like he's havng some major vocal problems. unforuntely the sad part about it, is this song could have been salvaged to create something halfway decent.  Bring Your Daughter to the Slaughter and Hooks In You, are two of the most hated Maiden songs from the Brucie era, but are actually two of my favorite Iron Maiden tunes.  Hooks In You, has raunchy, down right nasty overtones, and Bring Your Daughter to the Slaughter is just downright digusting, but still makes a decent song.  Both are heavy on the 80s hook with a Iron Maiden heaviness.  No Prayer for the Dying, is a good attempt at a slower more plodding ballad, and its a very good song.  It would have been worse, but it has a great rhythm to it, and that saves it.  The rest of the album just sucks.  Bruce sounds like  a whiney wimp, often growling and sounding just completely uninspired.   Adrian Smith's trademark guitar riffing is sorely missed, and Janik Gers can't even hold  a birthday candle to Smith.  What is left is alot of halfbaked material, sounds more like a desperate attempt to just put something out on the market and the attempt failed miserably.  Pass this one up, completely, its my least favorite of all. 

Rating= 4.5