Final Frontier, The

Right-NOW album from one of the KINGS OF HEAVY METAL! It’s a “grower” but it pays off nicely and the band is playing top-notch. Bruce’s vocals are as fine as they were in ’82-’88 while a few of their choruses are at times off-putting (but again that’s the “grower” part) this is a very strong 2000s ‘Maiden and really often timeless Heavy Metal album. If you’re a knob that claims to like heavy music and doesn’t like ‘Maiden then, don’t bother using your brain again.

((((((1)))))) Trippy intro that’s more Voivod (!) than ‘Maiden. Goes into a nod to King Crimson-then a straight-up,1-2 chord rocker.
(((((2))))) Mid-paced and catchy, odd chorus but once you’ve heard this a few times then it fits well with the rest of the tunes.
(((((3))))) Slow, mellow intro, a slow mini-epic feeling with Steve Harris’ ever-present bass. Excellent lyrics & vocals from Bruce. Only minus is the chorus drags a bit.
(((((((4)))))) Double-guitar harmonies (who didja think a 1000 & ½ bands nicked it from?), slow build up with a nice anthem with slight (but not definitive) ballad feeling. Lyrics obviously inspired from Bruce’s pilot gig.
(((((((((((((5))))))))))) PERFECT! Timeless ‘Maiden sound. Solo Murray/solo Smith with Harris & McBrain taking up the low end flawlessly. If this doesn’t make you headbang you must be fucking DEAD!
(((((((6)))))) Bassy, strummy, epic then charges up rather nicely. More of the proggy side of ‘Maiden that they’ve done for great (“Seventh Son”) and not so great (a few places in 2000s).
((((((7)))))) Another proggy epic number with great bass, loose drum and good tone. Bruce puts a lot into the words as usual.
((((((8))))))) Acoustic intro, then bursts into a nice heavy epic (NOT using that word lightly, mind-this is ‘Maiden!). Really cool vocal/lyrical emphasis, guitars/solos, etc.
(((((9))))) Slow proggy intro then a ton of the “VERY ‘Maiden” twin harmonies and some big riffs mixing well with Bruce’s voice. Love the slide guitar before the solo, too.
((((((10))))) Their most epic tune in their current era. Very nice mellow intro, then goes on as a nice hard rock-ish tune with a ton of melody. Lyrics about a dystopian future.