• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

If it needs to be compared to a previous Maiden album, I'd say Brave New World is closer to Seventh Son than to any of the other ones.  Not too many "rockers", a couple of Harris' best epic songs, and an overall visible songwriting experience make this an album that you'll have a hard time taking out of your CD player.  Some songs had to grow on me, like Blood Brothers and The Nomad, but beside that, this album was an instant YES!  The Wicker Man makes a great opener, and Ghost Of The Navigator quickly became one of my favorite Maiden songs.

I would have expected that the presence of three guitarists would have been more audible on the album.  It is noticeable in a song or two but that's it.  Surprisingly, at times I wonder where the bass is, which feels kind of weird considering that the sound of Steve Harris' bass has always been brought forward in previous albums.  Production problem?  Maybe, but this is almost a crime! :)

Make no mistake about it, Maiden's back, better than ever.  Enough said, go buy it.