While 1982 and Iron Maiden were great, both are kind of irrelevant now. And this is coming from a fan.
My complaint that it DID sound old. And even slower than before. Their last new/comeback album was better.
Good bands at least experiment or try to stay relevant. May be a flop, but at least they grow. Iron Maiden will always be a good band, a phenomenal band with all the worship that comes with being one of the creators of a genre. But to me this album helped solidify how the are not artistic or innovative. How they are not relevant or important. Like all the old bands cashing in on baby boomers/new geriatrics (not an insult just disposable income) like Aerosmith (again awesome in their day, not so much now) Stones, Def Leppard... All these ancient bands that want one last kick at the can and fail musically and artistically, just seel out to the new CD/DVD collection culture.
As much as people bitch about Metallica and St. Anger (which I agree, not good) at least it tried something. I would have appreciated something like that from Maiden. I loved their last album because it was comeback/throwback. You can't do that twice in a row. If you are a relevent and inspiring band, then you are a relevent and inspiring band.
They should do this album in Vegas with Celine Dion.
P.S. Please record and produce with The Perfect Machine Ltd.
You can call Tyler at 403-701-9551
Least you know we're serious about new and different music...