Bruce really felt this might be the last recording he ever made. As soon as they were finished recording this he told the guys in the band he had throat cancer. He recorded this with a huge tumor on the base of his tongue. Thankfully he recovered and continues to belt it out like a beast!
The band delayed release of the album, for 12-18 months until Bruce got the all clear and the press release of the cancer. So that Bruce wouldn’t get hassled.
Metal must be one of the most underappreciated, ignored and criticised genres out there. People to this day make it out as a joke, so it is very cool to see a classical composer sit down and appreciate what a legend band Iron Maiden is and the complexity of their songwriting/sound. Keep on headbanging Doug!
That’s because MTV ruined metal by pushing hair bands (with or without makeup) and they became the face of it. They gave “metal” one hour a week on a weekend at like 1 am (head bangers ball) .
Bruce Dickinson plays the piano. He wrote the song ;) By the way, that "Cool sound" that you talk about around 9:25, is the Morse Code for "S.O.S", wich is: ... --- ...
I love that video because: 1. when you try to see the most replayed part of this video.. is the beginning and the rest is just a flat line, it really shows that it's worth every minute of watching 2. at the end of the song he says "Is that it?" the same reaction of every Maiden fan when he first heard it, I mean you'd think 18-minute songs are long, but not when it's this masterpiece 3. because he says that it's his favorite even though he didn't know at the moment all the struggles Bruce has been through while he was writing and recording that song, he didn't even know that Bruce was on the Piano either great song and a great reaction, absolutely love it
There is a video online where Nicko talks about the recording of this song, Maiden had to use a metronome (click track) to record this song because Bruce couldn't play the full piano part in time... so he played the parts, they cut/edited the parts that he had in time and built up all the piano parts from the bits he got right! Maiden tended to never use a click track in recording but on a few songs they did. This was a necessity on this song as the band didn't have a piano part to play with as it took them so long to get Bruce to play enough of it correctly to make a "Frankenstein" style full length piano part. And as simple as the little piano motif is throughout the song it actually makes the song better than having a Jordan Rudess style wizard on the keys. The simplisticness is what makes the song so beautiful and poignant. Amazing track.
This "cool sound" was morse code s o s. Important fact: Bruce had a big tumor on his tongue while recording this. He recovered and a year later I've seen him live for 2hours concert. Amazing guy. Great reaction!
That the truth but also pop culture case in point The Prisoner (Who is number One u r number six) another man on the edge, one more and for you young guys The Wicker man and another Back in the village
@@andrewjones588 oh man, i bet you were in the field fantasizing about their set list & headbanging lol. Well that sux bro. As Get Smart would say, "You missed it by that much".
once you know the story of the R101 you can 'hear' the airship taking off, the storm, the wind, the thunder, the S.O.S and her sad and terrible demise. It's art
I had never heard of the disaster until watching the 'Fascinating Horror' channel who did a short documentary of the ship and the disaster. It wasn't mentioned in the documentary, but was mentioned in the comments--the frame was purchased by the company that built the Hindenberg (theorized that the metal alloy used was ahead of its time).
@@Floofian of all he accomplished, The defeat of cancer is the one I am proudest, Bruce is my Idol, I felt so happy for him when they announced he was better
It's been so many years since I heard this song and only recently I found out what those chords at 9:24 are supposed to be. That's an SOS telegraph pattern.
I was lucky enough to go to the studio in Paris where this was recorded, to listen to the album before it was released. Bruce was there and he played the piano part on the grand piano in the studio
Recently, while accidentally looking through RUclips, I came across your videos. "Classical Composer reacts" and I thought this must be some old grandfather who would criticize the songs of Maiden, Metallica and everything Heavy Metal. But I decided to watch the video. I realized that this is a serious man with a great approach to music, a man who explains in detail all the elements and parts of the song. Honestly so far I have not seen a better Reaction Videos.
Why the hell would assume that brotha? Classical composers are probably desperate for good original music, and in modern music, metal rock and jazz are where you'll mostly find it
@@goncalobaia1574 That was the first impression when I saw the thumbnail on RUclips. Considering that Doug is few years younger than me I have to apologize to him that I called him "old grandfather" :) :) :).
Maiden has matured so much over the years and decades and members. They are one of the most legendary bands of all time. They belong up with Sabbath, Zeppelin, Beatles and Deep Purple. Legends.
This song. This song is one of the best metal songs ever written. It's so beautifully composed. Man it brings tears to my eyes. Iron Maiden: You guys are a blessing to the world!!!
@@Nicolas-lm6ic Yeah.. most of it. This is my other comment: "Seems to me like a bunch of tired old men waxing on their instruments and Bruce can barely sing anymore."
@@jacklodge8560 it might be good for a retirement community or a pretentious art gallery. I want something that still sounds and feels like metal. I don't expect them to sound like they did 40 years ago, but something of that raw metal energy. Nobody would have paid any attention to them if they released this crap in the 80s.
I loved that at the end you asked, "That's it?" Few metal bands would be able to record an 18-minute song and leave the listener wanting more. Thanks for sharing your interesting musical insights!
@@mikaeljansson4563 There's a trick you can do. As the video starts, skip it forward so the last few seconds play out. Then the video will come to an end. Then select play again. And the adverts will cease to be. Some guy told me this on here also. Mind blown! Just dont tell everyone! 😂 Our secret. 😂 😂
12:25 That's why Iron Maiden is such a great band. Almost every song I listen to, I have the same feeling of 'going on a journey' and/or 'being taught a history/mythology lesson'.
As a long time Maiden fan, I was so happy when I first heard Empire of the Clouds. Here we are talking about a band that have been active for 40 years and multiple classic albums and then when they are all 60+ they produce something that is so different from what they've done before and God damn if it isn't one of their best. On of the top 10 Maiden tunes IMO. I adore this song
If I could get rid of my nostalgia, this song would undoubtedly be #1 on my list of favorite Iron Maiden songs. But even with all the nostalgia flowing, this is top 10 for me.
This is exactly why Iron Maiden is above everything else. There are other bands still alive from the same era, but how many original members do they have? Do they stll make original music? No. They may have 1-2 original members and they play old hits. Seriously, Maiden has basically the same line-up as in 1983, with the addition of Janick. Who is also an old geezer like the rest of them. Seriously, the same line-up as forty years ago ??? I don't think that any other band has done that, and never will.
"Oh the dreamers may die but the dreams live on..." is one of the best lines ever and makes me cry every time. This is the only credit Bruce has received for playing an instrument on a Maiden album (he was originally the rhythm guitarist in fellow British metal band Samson before he became their vocalist and subsequently joining Maiden), but he would play guitar (clean arpeggios under Dave Murray's and Adrian Smith's harmony lines) on "Revelations" when they played it live between 1983 and 1985 (when they play it now, Janick Gers plays the arpeggios). Now you need to check out "The Talisman" from the ¡En Vivo! show. It's another nautical epic like "Rime Of The Ancient Mariner" and "Ghost Of The Navigator" and just as amazing.
I hope Maiden at least does a one-time live performance of this. Full orchestra, big themed set, pyrotechnics, everything. They've said before that it's not a song they can perform on a regular tour but it deserves at least one live rendition.
at the section, at 9:21 (in your video) is the S.O.S. morse code, played by the instruments. Not take off, but fall down. Listen it again in that spectrum
12:54 - That "Bluesy" guitar solo, it could have been ripped straight from their first 1979 studio album. Same sound as in Charlotte the Harlot. It's what I like about Maiden. Like 40 years in between and they've experimented, progressed and matured but it's still so recognizable Maiden. Great reaction.
7:00 Bruce himself was playing the Piano. He learned it specifically for this song. 8:07 Yes, there is a double vocal in "The engines drum" line. Bruce sings the low octave while Steve (I believe it's Steve, but not sure) sings the high octave. Then Bruce pitches up the high octave for the following "The telegraph sounds; Release the cords that bind us to the ground". 9:20 That is actually Morse Code for S.O.S. And you notice it gradually pitches down, as if the airship was passing by the observer/listener while telegraphing the SOS code into the air (like the doppler effect of when an ambulance passes you by with the siren on)
Man, I love the story telling vibe in this song. Besides the history lesson itself. It's super cool how the song changes as the R101 progresses toward its demise. The song really gets me near the end when the crew acknowledges their doom "we're down lads come the cry" and Bruce describes the scene. Also when he sings "the dreamers may die, but the dream lives on" or something like that. Thank you Sir, for sharing your thoughts on it. Cheers from Brazil.
Wiki has an answer: "According to Smith, the song was a challenge for the rest of the band as they had to play along to Dickinson's piano track while following his and producer Kevin Shirley's instructions. In addition to the band's parts, additional orchestration was added to the song afterwards, while Nicko McBrain experimented with a variety of percussive instruments, including a bowed gong, to recreate the airship's crash."
Metal has no boundaries, not like pop music, and a lot of other genre's, and it is so refreshing to see a classical composer, and teacher, not only reviewing Maiden, but enjoying, listening intently, and also being willing to be taken on a journey. I like how you dissect, and then explain what others cannot, keep the reviews coming, plenty of fantastic songs from the 70's onwards to catch up on. Stargazer by Rainbow, Dio on Vox, is a heavy rock journey, and Blackmore on guitar at his peak, Powell on Drums, magic of my youth.
Another great piece by Iron Maiden is Dance Of Death. It also has some amazing story telling and great instrumental parts. IMO it's worth checking out! BTW love your content, I like how they are more of an analysis than just a reaction, I feel like I'm learning things from you while watching!
I really enjoy watching and hearing classically educated musicians, listening with a scholarly ear to good hard rock/metal. Particularly when they are taken by surprise, being hit with unusual and out of the box writing. Stuff that just isn't thought of or done in their formal, day to day world of music. It's great seeing you being open and appreciative of music written both within and against the 'rules', often by people with little to no formal training. Constructed by gut, ear, experience and just simple noodling around until they stumble upon something that gets their hair on end. In anything artistically creative, rules and education can be hugely repressive and fatal but equally freeing and inspiring. The balance between having neither and both is where the art really lives.
@@fmoe87 I thought i could hear the strain in his voice .... been listening to and playing maiden since the Dortman concert Germany 1983.... Bruce and the boys are a phenom
The knowledge you bring to your song reactions is a fantastic breath of fresh air compared to many other peoples reaction videos. The way you brake down the parts and explain the workings of the music has helped me hear the songs differently and unterstand how they are composed. Thank you.
13:55 this is what I call "the Maiden shuffle." Changing tempo and key in the blink of an eye. Soon as you get grooving to one stanza, they mash the peace with a switch up out of nowhere. Love it
I really would love to see a reaction to Rainbow's "Stargazer", a sweeping early metal epic about slaves forced to construct a tower for a wizard. I'd say it is one of the songs that paved the way for the epics Maiden later produced.
Only just found your videos, this is my all-time favorite Maiden track. I think they are at their best when telling epic stories and don't care how long it takes. Like they have nothing to prove, so deccided to make this epic story, Bruce's ending vocals always get me "died in France", it has such a finality and tone, the guy is a perfect bard.
I think something important to consieder as far as being able to understand the lyrics... several of the "reaction videos" I've seen on RUclips have been by people who were commenting primarily on the vocalist. In that case, it makes sense to use a live recording. However, if you're approaching a reaction video with more of an eye towards the musical composition, then the clarity and precision of the studio version is going to be a much better choice. Granted, there was little option in this case, as Iron Maiden has never performed "Empire Of The Clouds" live, but going forward, at least as far as the metal genre... you're right in that certain elements such as guitars have a tendency to overpower other things, but that's generally even more the case with live recordings... whereas a properly mixed and mastered studio recording will feature better separation, clarity, and precision. So if you do more reaction videos to metal songs in the future, I'd certainly encourage using the studio versions of those songs.
Back in 2015 I was chatting to a bloke from the British Airship Museum about the R101, and this song. He was saying he knew of Bruce's connection to Cardington, where the R101 (and it's predecessor the R100) were built but he said the song about the R101 was totally unexpected. He was saying that prior to its maiden voyage, the R101 should've had weeks of flight testing. However, she only had 17 hours! He was also telling me how he himself had a family connection to the ship as his great aunt was one of the 'groundlings' who helped hold the ropes on the morning of that fateful flight. 2030 will mark the 100th anniversary of the disaster. The bodies of the 48 killed were returned to the UK and buried together in a common grave at St Mary’s Church in Cardington village.
Whwn I heard the song, and learned the story, I was amazed because I had never heard of it. The story itself is just as epic as the story of Titanic, perhaps even more interesting because they tried something completely new. Why isn't there a movie about this.Well, Bruce, you are an actor, a pilot, a writer ... not yet a director, but maybe you should do this :)
Fun fact Bruce taught himself piano for this song, he never knew how to play an instrument really, he played guitar live for revelations a few times but never learned to play it So for him to make this was just amazing
Something to note here: Bruce had fucking CANCER when he was recording this album and I think this was the last song they had to finish on the album before he went to the hospital to see what was up. Hallowed be thy name, Paschendale, and Dance of Death are all fantastic songs with excellent story telling to them as well.
In his book he says that If Eternity Should Fail was the very last song he sung. Looking back on it, he had the feeling one could hear it in this particular song, but it could be his imagination.
Yes, Bruce Dickinson plays the piano on this song, he also played a third guitar in the song Revelations during live performances back in the day, before the band had three guitarists. Further more, Bruce used to be a fencing champion (among the best in Britain at the time), he's been a commercial air plane pilot, radio host, he's written his own autobiography, survied throat cancer, played live in Sarajevo during a full blown war in the 90s and finally... he's never smoked or done any drugs, I don't think he's ever had any problems with alcohol either. His singing might not be for everyone, but nobody can deny that he's a remarkable man and a brilliant lyricist
12:56 Bluesy. So nice to hear an accomplished musician recognizing genre in an individual's performance. From what I've read, Dave Murray enjoys playing the blues from time to time. A very cool guitar solo indeed. Truly awesome.
Bruce Dickinson is the one on piano! He's trained in it and is very proficient at it as he wrote the part by ear all by himself. He also flies their tour plane since he had a career as a commercial Airline Pilot The drum part at 9:35 is Morse code for "S.O.S." by the way
Bruce Dickinson playing the piano. He won it in a contest and that was one of the first things he wrote on it (pretty sure he didn't play piano before that)
I recently found your channel and have been looking through mainly the Maiden stuff. This was the song I looked forward to the most. It's such a musical masterpiece and brilliant story telling! The ending of the song always has me in tears. Up the Irons! And up the Doug!
Maiden fan etc for 35 years ÷ and really appreciate & enjoy your critique ..you've got a great ear & its not gone unnoticed hope to see more .. up the irons 🤟
Great reaction vid! FYI, not only is Bruce the lead singer, pilot of Ed Force One, World class fencer, but also a master brewer. Check their beers! One more thing, that was Bruce on the piano.
You are so right when you say you can "see" it..... during the large instrumental in the middle bit i can picture the Airship struggling through the storm so very clearly in my mind. Loved your reaction
Their epics always make me want to weep. They have a new album that just came out, Senjutsu. It's filled with amazing songs like this one. Oh, btw, they also have some pretty amazing beers out there too. Amazing music and amazing beer! Hopefully you're able to see newer comments 😊
Doug, for not really listening to Maiden before this adventure, you have all of us figured out. When you said "adventure" I know you get us now. You are one of US. Up the Irons!
I love how you break it down piece by piece. The story telling in the music of these epic songs is great to see broken down. Gotta check out a band called "Symphony X" a song called "Odyssey".
Kevin Shirley did a fantastic job of mixing this song and the whole album, it makes a big difference when you have somebody with the understanding of how each instrument fits and how to get the right sound for the music. He's done a few albums with Dream Theater as I recall, quite adept at working on these long story pieces.
The only knock I can give the production on this album is that Nicko's china cymbal and his hi-hat are too similar in sound (I think Nicko even mentioned it himself in an interview as well). Other then that, I think this is a really good production.
Kevin Shirley is the worst thing about Iron Maiden. The albums sound like they were recorded in a shed. There hasn't been a good sounding album since Martin Birch.
Great reaction video! Been watching quite a few of your Maiden reactions now. I just find new ones I wanna watch. I'm glad you're enjoying their music. They're the reason why I even started play guitar. Also, I don't know if anyone told you this yet, but Bruce actually had cancer in his throat while he recorded this whole album. He was found to have two tumors: a "golf-ball" sized lump on his tongue and one the size of a “large strawberry” in his lymph node. You don't even hear the difference in his voice. Today he's all good, thankfully. That's pretty incredible.
A band that learned a lot from Iron Maiden, is Helloween. The 2 guitar players often join forces. Check out Twilight of the Gods or the fantastic Keeper of the 7 Keys. (This year, an album with 3 guitar players will be released.)
Iron Maiden is always a blast of sound and history. I have a ticket for their show here in Lisbon. It has been postponed due to the pandemic. Try also Ayreon or Arjen Lucassen, a progmetal composer, with The Day That the World Breaks Down. It will come on your way somehow. Enjoy your beer! Cheers!
What a masterpiece! 🙌🏻 The intro orchestra plus the storyteller's Bruce is just amazing!!!! 💞💯 Only Iron Maiden could compose these kind of songs... Love them more and more since more than 40 years now! 🤘🏻♥️
Great video, loved every part of it! If I may recommend a certain band called Rainbow, they're an older 70s early metal band that had tremendous influence on many after them (such as Iron Maiden) and I think you'll find a good number of interesting things to talk about. I would very much like to hear your comments on Rainbow songs like: -Catch The Rainbow -Temple of the King -Tarot Woman -Starstruck -Stargazer -Gates of Babylon -Kill the King If you're going to react to one of these, probably go with Stargazer (that one will fetch you the most views if that's what you're after), it's quite an epic not unlike Iron Maiden epics. But you'd also find plenty of surprises in the mystical, Middle-Eastern-sounding Gates of Babylon as well as the mellow, medieval vibe of Temple of the King. Much respect from Bosnia and Herzegovina! Edit: Oh and you'll also get to hear legitimately the greatest heavy metal vocalist of all time, Ronnie James Dio.
Bruce was a commercial pilot for 18 years while being in Maiden. He piloted their Boeing Flight 666 and was flying fans with the band when on tour. He took time off from his second job to tour. . That’s why he was with short hair . Now he grew back the long hair. That’s why he is interested in history of aviation. He had a show on BBC about aeronautics. He is also a fencer….many talents.
Bruce is the pianist in this piece He's also a qualified commercial pilot (commercial and flies the band plane) and a keen fan of aircraft, also very well read and loves his history. Hence the fascination with stories like this. It's also his first album since his throat cancer and a major resting of his vocal chords. So you'll hear his voice has shifted even since the last album. If you want to hear how his voice has changed over the years, give the early stuff a listen. Brave new world and Powerslave for example are some epic early albums where he really can wail
I've been listening to Maiden my entire adult life (metal since 8yo) and when your favorite band is able to pull of this level of MUSICIANSHIP 30 years into their career, it leaves you speechless!! Greatest Metal band, bar none!!! Thank you for a wonderful reaction.
This song is Maiden's finest hour. Definitely the whole BoS album is amazing and my favorite album of them (by a hair) and it sort of feels like "if this is going to be the last, then make it memorable!". EotC at the end is the culmination of everything that is Maiden: history, dynamics, riffs, solos, pitch, vocals high and low and includes elements rarely seen in metal music or in IM, like the piano or the orchestra. It is the pinnacle of Iron Maiden's vast and brilliant work and in my opinion it is easily one of the greatest pieces of music ever written. Definitely my favorite of the band. Not necessarily a song I can listen all day every day. But even after 6 years it kicks the same punch, 18 minutes fly by and I'm time travelling to that fateful morning, cheer with the crowd as the vessel lifts, watch the storm on the horizon, stare at my fellow crew member as 3000 horses go silent and mourn at the churchyard in the end. Brilliant piece of art, just brilliant!
i got this album on record and noticed this song ended the album AND took up an entire side of a vinyl. then the song came on and i was like what is this child's lullaby crap?! ended up i got hooked on this song right amidst one of the most stressful and difficult times in my life so it really means something to me but even beyond that i swear there is something eerie and special about this song, glad to see others see it as well.
I don’t understand people who want the same sounds the same old songs of Maiden! The greatness when you bring something new every time with a constant feel and signature in a way or other! Otherwise it’s getting boring; like AC/DC; same sounds, same structure, same pattern, same style
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
Bruce really felt this might be the last recording he ever made. As soon as they were finished recording this he told the guys in the band he had throat cancer. He recorded this with a huge tumor on the base of his tongue. Thankfully he recovered and continues to belt it out like a beast!
Absolutely awesome track and yes it's a fantastic story. If this is the last album they make I'll be happy. It's the best they've done.
As in "Tears of the Dragon" ??? another great song
@@tangotango256 yeah, tears of the dragon is another great classic from master bruce
The band delayed release of the album, for 12-18 months until Bruce got the all clear and the press release of the cancer. So that Bruce wouldn’t get hassled.
@@firefox3187 No, it was so they could tour to support it WITH him.
Look at this guy, living the good life with Belgian beer and Iron Maiden. I salute your for your good taste!
Should try The Trooper (beer and song) lol
Trooper would be a better beer.
@@brianferris8668 it’s not. 😄
@@Jonsson474 It's alright, I drank enough to get all the different bottle caps 😁
@@brianferris8668 Better for listening to Iron Maiden to, but it's a pretty standard as far as beers go.
Another brilliant Maiden epic is Paschendale, well worth a listen.
This!!!
Yep, love to see what Doug thinks of Paschendale. UP THE IRONS 🤘🤘
Exactly!!!
Took the words right out of my mouth.
Yeah! The Dance of Death album is so underrated!
Metal must be one of the most underappreciated, ignored and criticised genres out there. People to this day make it out as a joke, so it is very cool to see a classical composer sit down and appreciate what a legend band Iron Maiden is and the complexity of their songwriting/sound. Keep on headbanging Doug!
Thing is metal finds its roots in classical songwriting so there’s a lot of crossover (thus why the two Metallica S&M albums are so good)
Iron maiden are one of the best musicians i’ve ever heard, with great vocals. I just found them recently a few months ago. Lucky me!
That’s because MTV ruined metal by pushing hair bands (with or without makeup) and they became the face of it. They gave “metal” one hour a week on a weekend at like 1 am (head bangers ball) .
who makes it out as a joke? is that a NA thing?
Bruce Dickinson plays the piano. He wrote the song ;)
By the way, that "Cool sound" that you talk about around 9:25, is the Morse Code for "S.O.S", wich is: ... --- ...
Right, that's what it is. I've never thought of that.
Great catch!
I've listened to this song dozens of times, and didn't realize that!
woooow
Didn't know that, and I don't how explain how frigging cool that addition was.
I love that video because:
1. when you try to see the most replayed part of this video.. is the beginning and the rest is just a flat line, it really shows that it's worth every minute of watching
2. at the end of the song he says "Is that it?" the same reaction of every Maiden fan when he first heard it, I mean you'd think 18-minute songs are long, but not when it's this masterpiece
3. because he says that it's his favorite even though he didn't know at the moment all the struggles Bruce has been through while he was writing and recording that song, he didn't even know that Bruce was on the Piano either
great song and a great reaction, absolutely love it
This is Bruce's baby. He is on piano also
I would not be amazed in the slightest by Bruce playing the piano.
@@gtludwig He entered a charity raffle and won the piano. Got it home and tinkered...."Empire" being the end result.
There is a video online where Nicko talks about the recording of this song, Maiden had to use a metronome (click track) to record this song because Bruce couldn't play the full piano part in time... so he played the parts, they cut/edited the parts that he had in time and built up all the piano parts from the bits he got right!
Maiden tended to never use a click track in recording but on a few songs they did. This was a necessity on this song as the band didn't have a piano part to play with as it took them so long to get Bruce to play enough of it correctly to make a "Frankenstein" style full length piano part.
And as simple as the little piano motif is throughout the song it actually makes the song better than having a Jordan Rudess style wizard on the keys. The simplisticness is what makes the song so beautiful and poignant.
Amazing track.
Now he can’t complain about not remember the bloody lyrics anymore like he did for rhyme of the ancient mariner for live after death in 1985
22:05
You know a song is good when it's 18 minutes long and at the end you still say "That's it?"
This "cool sound" was morse code s o s. Important fact: Bruce had a big tumor on his tongue while recording this. He recovered and a year later I've seen him live for 2hours concert. Amazing guy. Great reaction!
HIs voice is actually almost back to what it was in the 80's.
It's actually CQ D. First time later in the track they use SOS...
Just came to the comments to comment your comment 😁😁
Yo I never knew it was morse code!! Not often there's a thing about Maiden I don't know, thank you for that info 😁
A cancerous tumor, no less. He didn't tell the other members because he didn't want to distract from the recording session.
I learned more about history through Maiden than in school
Absolutely-
sabaton - "hold my mead"
You clearly weren't there for the grammar lessons either 😊
@@loosegoose9647 I was thinking that! But Iron Maiden has good history and literature telling too!
That the truth but also pop culture case in point The Prisoner (Who is number One u r number six) another man on the edge, one more and for you young guys The Wicker man and another Back in the village
One of Bruce's finest moments. Makes me teary every time.
Coming Home also does that for me. another aviation theme. Maybe that's it.
Yeah, I'm even moved by songs like Silver Wings. I can't believe she's still in the sky!
Same here. No matter what, when Bruce sings "the dreamers may die, but the dreams live on", the waterworks ALWAYS come.
me too mate
Ive seen Maiden 32 times. My all time favorite band.
You have my envy my friend, my one regret is that I never saw them live.
@@andrewjones588 How have you not? My one regret. Not seeing Black Sabbath
@@jimjenkins3928 I got close once in Germany but had to deploy on a long field problem when they were there. It was the Seventh Son tour I think.🤔
@@andrewjones588 oh man, i bet you were in the field fantasizing about their set list & headbanging lol. Well that sux bro. As Get Smart would say, "You missed it by that much".
@@jimjenkins3928 LOL
“The dreamers may die but the dreams live on!” Is one of my favorite Iron Maiden lines ever, and there are a LOT of amazing ones
bruh that line just hit the soul., but in the end what is the dream?
once you know the story of the R101 you can 'hear' the airship taking off, the storm, the wind, the thunder, the S.O.S and her sad and terrible demise. It's art
I had never heard of the disaster until watching the 'Fascinating Horror' channel who did a short documentary of the ship and the disaster. It wasn't mentioned in the documentary, but was mentioned in the comments--the frame was purchased by the company that built the Hindenberg (theorized that the metal alloy used was ahead of its time).
Absolutely! Especially with over the ear phones on, you are transported back in time and can feel yourself in the airship!
I always tell my friends who have never heard Maiden just how awesome the music tracks to the actual flight ... It's magical
I had no idea about this. Thanks!
The S.O.S in a song explode my brain
Bruce not only sings and plays piano, he flies the 747 that get's them to their gigs..... seriously.
Also, he is an olympic fencer, has a phd in history and defeated cancer
A 10000% qualified legend!
And guitar. He played it live at rock in rio back in the '80s
More No - he played some arpeggiated chords on verse 2 of Revelations, I think A F C G.
But the guy can play and write on guitar OK.
@@Floofian of all he accomplished, The defeat of cancer is the one I am proudest, Bruce is my Idol, I felt so happy for him when they announced he was better
It's been so many years since I heard this song and only recently I found out what those chords at 9:24 are supposed to be. That's an SOS telegraph pattern.
Bruce spent weeks composing the piano sections. And I think it's their ultimate masterpiece. An amazing song by an amazing band
Hear Hear!!
he won an electric piano at a raffle and started messing with this. wonderful song.
I was lucky enough to go to the studio in Paris where this was recorded, to listen to the album before it was released. Bruce was there and he played the piano part on the grand piano in the studio
Family of Adrian by any chance?;)
@@MB-co6qj :)
Seventh son of the seventh son...the epitome of Maiden's musicianship...change of moods, keys, patterns...an adventure...
Yeah, that would be my next choice for him to listen to
decemberance: I thoroughly agree. It is a complex and beautiful song. They were wandering into some serious prog territory, good call. - James
Yessss
@suspicionofdeceit i am talking about the whole "progressive structure"
Also the climax of Nicko's play!
Recently, while accidentally looking through RUclips, I came across your videos. "Classical Composer reacts" and I thought this must be some old grandfather who would criticize the songs of Maiden, Metallica and everything Heavy Metal. But I decided to watch the video. I realized that this is a serious man with a great approach to music, a man who explains in detail all the elements and parts of the song. Honestly so far I have not seen a better Reaction Videos.
Why the hell would assume that brotha? Classical composers are probably desperate for good original music, and in modern music, metal rock and jazz are where you'll mostly find it
@@goncalobaia1574 That was the first impression when I saw the thumbnail on RUclips. Considering that Doug is few years younger than me I have to apologize to him that I called him "old grandfather" :) :) :).
Maiden has matured so much over the years and decades and members. They are one of the most legendary bands of all time. They belong up with Sabbath, Zeppelin, Beatles and Deep Purple.
Legends.
This song. This song is one of the best metal songs ever written. It's so beautifully composed. Man it brings tears to my eyes. Iron Maiden: You guys are a blessing to the world!!!
what's good about it?
@@rutessian Did you listen to the song?
@@Nicolas-lm6ic Yeah.. most of it. This is my other comment: "Seems to me like a bunch of tired old men waxing on their instruments and Bruce can barely sing anymore."
@@rutessian that's okay, stick with your alestorm and we'll appreciate the good music 😁
@@jacklodge8560 it might be good for a retirement community or a pretentious art gallery. I want something that still sounds and feels like metal. I don't expect them to sound like they did 40 years ago, but something of that raw metal energy. Nobody would have paid any attention to them if they released this crap in the 80s.
I loved that at the end you asked, "That's it?" Few metal bands would be able to record an 18-minute song and leave the listener wanting more. Thanks for sharing your interesting musical insights!
That "cool sound" at 9:30 is actually Morse code for SOS, for anybody that wasnt aware
I´m a 51 y old Swedish fan & I had never heard of the R101 until I listened to this song..so Maiden gave me a history lesson..
Do you other fans also get interrupted almost 10 times by commercial ads for 6-30 seconds,while looking at this ?
No. I use premium so no ad breaks. 😊
@@mikaeljansson4563 There's a trick you can do. As the video starts, skip it forward so the last few seconds play out. Then the video will come to an end. Then select play again. And the adverts will cease to be. Some guy told me this on here also. Mind blown! Just dont tell everyone! 😂
Our secret. 😂 😂
Also you can check "when the wild wind blows" is a incredible song and with an incredible story behind
12:25 That's why Iron Maiden is such a great band. Almost every song I listen to, I have the same feeling of 'going on a journey' and/or 'being taught a history/mythology lesson'.
As a long time Maiden fan, I was so happy when I first heard Empire of the Clouds. Here we are talking about a band that have been active for 40 years and multiple classic albums and then when they are all 60+ they produce something that is so different from what they've done before and God damn if it isn't one of their best. On of the top 10 Maiden tunes IMO. I adore this song
Couldn't agree more but I think only Nicko was over 60 when they made this... everyone else was obviously damn close ;)
If I could get rid of my nostalgia, this song would undoubtedly be #1 on my list of favorite Iron Maiden songs. But even with all the nostalgia flowing, this is top 10 for me.
This is exactly why Iron Maiden is above everything else. There are other bands still alive from the same era, but how many original members do they have? Do they stll make original music? No. They may have 1-2 original members and they play old hits. Seriously, Maiden has basically the same line-up as in 1983, with the addition of Janick. Who is also an old geezer like the rest of them. Seriously, the same line-up as forty years ago ??? I don't think that any other band has done that, and never will.
When the wild wind blows is also an amazing Iron Maiden epic song! Really good story as well!
"Oh the dreamers may die but the dreams live on..." is one of the best lines ever and makes me cry every time.
This is the only credit Bruce has received for playing an instrument on a Maiden album (he was originally the rhythm guitarist in fellow British metal band Samson before he became their vocalist and subsequently joining Maiden), but he would play guitar (clean arpeggios under Dave Murray's and Adrian Smith's harmony lines) on "Revelations" when they played it live between 1983 and 1985 (when they play it now, Janick Gers plays the arpeggios).
Now you need to check out "The Talisman" from the ¡En Vivo! show. It's another nautical epic like "Rime Of The Ancient Mariner" and "Ghost Of The Navigator" and just as amazing.
I hope Maiden at least does a one-time live performance of this. Full orchestra, big themed set, pyrotechnics, everything. They've said before that it's not a song they can perform on a regular tour but it deserves at least one live rendition.
The drumming by nicko is phenomenal
I'm my opinion the finest track they've ever done. Another history lesson from the greatest band
at the section, at 9:21 (in your video) is the S.O.S. morse code, played by the instruments. Not take off, but fall down. Listen it again in that spectrum
12:54 - That "Bluesy" guitar solo, it could have been ripped straight from their first 1979 studio album. Same sound as in Charlotte the Harlot. It's what I like about Maiden. Like 40 years in between and they've experimented, progressed and matured but it's still so recognizable Maiden. Great reaction.
1980*
@@fatihsendur7544 Shit! You're right, My bad I'm deleting my dumbass coment
Charlotte the harlot solo is totally different than this one mate
7:00 Bruce himself was playing the Piano. He learned it specifically for this song.
8:07 Yes, there is a double vocal in "The engines drum" line. Bruce sings the low octave while Steve (I believe it's Steve, but not sure) sings the high octave. Then Bruce pitches up the high octave for the following "The telegraph sounds; Release the cords that bind us to the ground".
9:20 That is actually Morse Code for S.O.S. And you notice it gradually pitches down, as if the airship was passing by the observer/listener while telegraphing the SOS code into the air (like the doppler effect of when an ambulance passes you by with the siren on)
Man, I love the story telling vibe in this song. Besides the history lesson itself.
It's super cool how the song changes as the R101 progresses toward its demise. The song really gets me near the end when the crew acknowledges their doom "we're down lads come the cry" and Bruce describes the scene. Also when he sings "the dreamers may die, but the dream lives on" or something like that.
Thank you Sir, for sharing your thoughts on it. Cheers from Brazil.
that is an INSANE moment of the song... goosebumps every time
Wiki has an answer:
"According to Smith, the song was a challenge for the rest of the band as they had to play along to Dickinson's piano track while following his and producer Kevin Shirley's instructions. In addition to the band's parts, additional orchestration was added to the song afterwards, while Nicko McBrain experimented with a variety of percussive instruments, including a bowed gong, to recreate the airship's crash."
Alexander the Great by Maiden epic progresive song
Of the older stuff my favorites are Alexander the Great, Stranger in a Strange Land, and Can I Play With Madness...
Metal has no boundaries, not like pop music, and a lot of other genre's, and it is so refreshing to see a classical composer, and teacher, not only reviewing Maiden, but enjoying, listening intently, and also being willing to be taken on a journey. I like how you dissect, and then explain what others cannot, keep the reviews coming, plenty of fantastic songs from the 70's onwards to catch up on. Stargazer by Rainbow, Dio on Vox, is a heavy rock journey, and Blackmore on guitar at his peak, Powell on Drums, magic of my youth.
One of Maiden’s most underrated and overlooked songs is “The Talisman” but it’s one of their best
Definitely! The talisman is one of my favorite maiden songs but sadly its criminally inderrated
I come back here to learn from Doug every time. Would love to see Maiden do an orchestra show. They could do this, Nomad, Strange World to name a few.
Another great piece by Iron Maiden is Dance Of Death. It also has some amazing story telling and great instrumental parts. IMO it's worth checking out!
BTW love your content, I like how they are more of an analysis than just a reaction, I feel like I'm learning things from you while watching!
Yes! One of my all time favorites, and the inspiration of my favorite Dungeons and Dragons character!
Dance of Death live in Dortmund if Doug is watching the video - the theatricality of Bruce is worth it.
Yeah man.. And When the Wild Wind Blows another masterpiece
@dunkin donuts699 well if i had to choose i would deffo choose DOD!
@dunkin donuts699 Same for me! Dance Of Death might even be my all time favorite from Maiden.
I really enjoy watching and hearing classically educated musicians, listening with a scholarly ear to good hard rock/metal. Particularly when they are taken by surprise, being hit with unusual and out of the box writing. Stuff that just isn't thought of or done in their formal, day to day world of music.
It's great seeing you being open and appreciative of music written both within and against the 'rules', often by people with little to no formal training. Constructed by gut, ear, experience and just simple noodling around until they stumble upon something that gets their hair on end.
In anything artistically creative, rules and education can be hugely repressive and fatal but equally freeing and inspiring. The balance between having neither and both is where the art really lives.
"I bet he's recording this when he's older"
Older and having survived tongue cancer
this was actually recorded before he got diagnosed, so i guess the tumour was there, yet he still sounded absolutely perfect
@@fmoe87 I thought i could hear the strain in his voice .... been listening to and playing maiden since the Dortman concert Germany 1983.... Bruce and the boys are a phenom
@@tangotango256 Bruce's voice just seemed off to me on this album.
@@fmoe87 he knew already and decided to tell guys after it was a wrap
The knowledge you bring to your song reactions is a fantastic breath of fresh air compared to many other peoples reaction videos. The way you brake down the parts and explain the workings of the music has helped me hear the songs differently and unterstand how they are composed. Thank you.
I'm always amazed at how quickly this song goes past
13:55 this is what I call "the Maiden shuffle." Changing tempo and key in the blink of an eye. Soon as you get grooving to one stanza, they mash the peace with a switch up out of nowhere. Love it
I really would love to see a reaction to Rainbow's "Stargazer", a sweeping early metal epic about slaves forced to construct a tower for a wizard. I'd say it is one of the songs that paved the way for the epics Maiden later produced.
I second that, and add not just Maiden, it set the way for a lot of the power metal and symphonic metal on the years to come.
Yes this, please!
Up!
Great suggestion!
Oh YES YES YES! Stargazer by Rainbow would be perfect. Or Gates of Babylon!
Only just found your videos, this is my all-time favorite Maiden track. I think they are at their best when telling epic stories and don't care how long it takes.
Like they have nothing to prove, so deccided to make this epic story, Bruce's ending vocals always get me "died in France", it has such a finality and tone, the guy is a perfect bard.
I am so excited for this. Didn't think you'd get to it but this made my Friday! UP THE IRONS!
I think something important to consieder as far as being able to understand the lyrics... several of the "reaction videos" I've seen on RUclips have been by people who were commenting primarily on the vocalist. In that case, it makes sense to use a live recording. However, if you're approaching a reaction video with more of an eye towards the musical composition, then the clarity and precision of the studio version is going to be a much better choice. Granted, there was little option in this case, as Iron Maiden has never performed "Empire Of The Clouds" live, but going forward, at least as far as the metal genre... you're right in that certain elements such as guitars have a tendency to overpower other things, but that's generally even more the case with live recordings... whereas a properly mixed and mastered studio recording will feature better separation, clarity, and precision. So if you do more reaction videos to metal songs in the future, I'd certainly encourage using the studio versions of those songs.
Thank you so much Doug! I have been waiting patiently for this masterpiece.Up the Irons!
Back in 2015 I was chatting to a bloke from the British Airship Museum about the R101, and this song. He was saying he knew of Bruce's connection to Cardington, where the R101 (and it's predecessor the R100) were built but he said the song about the R101 was totally unexpected. He was saying that prior to its maiden voyage, the R101 should've had weeks of flight testing. However, she only had 17 hours! He was also telling me how he himself had a family connection to the ship as his great aunt was one of the 'groundlings' who helped hold the ropes on the morning of that fateful flight. 2030 will mark the 100th anniversary of the disaster.
The bodies of the 48 killed were returned to the UK and buried together in a common grave at St Mary’s Church in Cardington village.
Whwn I heard the song, and learned the story, I was amazed because I had never heard of it. The story itself is just as epic as the story of Titanic, perhaps even more interesting because they tried something completely new. Why isn't there a movie about this.Well, Bruce, you are an actor, a pilot, a writer ... not yet a director, but maybe you should do this :)
This is such a great song! Iron Maiden is untouchable in metal.
Nico McBrains drumming does not get enough praise.
I agree
He is heavily underrared.
Fans of Maiden praise his amazing drums. But all other people don't recognise him :/
No Nikko if Steve has no bass lines..........
True
It's super simple, not like it's hard, but God damn, it's so damn tight and just... right.
Finally!
Some qualified reactions!
It was a pleasure to seen you, sir!
Doug's smile when the band returns to that beautiful melody towards the very finish (21:13) - priceless! Cheers!
Bruce and Steve are some of the best storytellers imo... this song and Rime are my favourite Iron Maiden songs!
Fun fact
Bruce taught himself piano for this song, he never knew how to play an instrument really, he played guitar live for revelations a few times but never learned to play it
So for him to make this was just amazing
Something to note here: Bruce had fucking CANCER when he was recording this album and I think this was the last song they had to finish on the album before he went to the hospital to see what was up. Hallowed be thy name, Paschendale, and Dance of Death are all fantastic songs with excellent story telling to them as well.
Listening to "Hallowed be thy name" after reading T. Dreiser's An American Tragedy overfills you with feeling of desperation and impending death fear.
Dance of Death is possibly my favourite. It's both my first IM song and my favourite "story" of theirs. Amazing throughout.
In his book he says that If Eternity Should Fail was the very last song he sung. Looking back on it, he had the feeling one could hear it in this particular song, but it could be his imagination.
Bottled Beer.
There is one called "The Trooper", and I am fairly sure it is widely available in North America.
Maiden is my favorite band and Trooper happens to be my favorite beer. Coincidence? I think not.
You should try this beer Doug ! and react to The Trooper !
@@paulmartin7241 Yes!Really good pint!
It is and it’s a great beer my friend cheers 🍻
Trooper? No more please
when i listen to MAIDEN it takes me on a journey deep into the nowhere ness in my head.. a place i absolutely love to be
Yes, Bruce Dickinson plays the piano on this song, he also played a third guitar in the song Revelations during live performances back in the day, before the band had three guitarists.
Further more, Bruce used to be a fencing champion (among the best in Britain at the time), he's been a commercial air plane pilot, radio host, he's written his own autobiography, survied throat cancer, played live in Sarajevo during a full blown war in the 90s and finally... he's never smoked or done any drugs, I don't think he's ever had any problems with alcohol either.
His singing might not be for everyone, but nobody can deny that he's a remarkable man and a brilliant lyricist
Awesome reaction to an epic of a song....IRON MAIDEN we salute you 👏👏👏
Fantastic, Doug. Nothing like listening to a masterpiece with someone who knows music. Thank you! Up The Irons!
12:56 Bluesy. So nice to hear an accomplished musician recognizing genre in an individual's performance. From what I've read, Dave Murray enjoys playing the blues from time to time. A very cool guitar solo indeed. Truly awesome.
Wow that ending gets me every time. Absolutely brilliant song.
I'm having a blasting watching Doug reacting to all these metal songs.
It's so good to hear insightful comments on my favorite metal music.
Bruce Dickinson is the one on piano! He's trained in it and is very proficient at it as he wrote the part by ear all by himself. He also flies their tour plane since he had a career as a commercial Airline Pilot The drum part at 9:35 is Morse code for "S.O.S." by the way
Bruce Dickinson playing the piano. He won it in a contest and that was one of the first things he wrote on it (pretty sure he didn't play piano before that)
yup he decided to teach himself the piano because he now had one lying around at home lol
I recently found your channel and have been looking through mainly the Maiden stuff. This was the song I looked forward to the most. It's such a musical masterpiece and brilliant story telling! The ending of the song always has me in tears. Up the Irons! And up the Doug!
the thin line between love and hate is a good song
Maiden fan etc for 35 years ÷ and really appreciate & enjoy your critique ..you've got a great ear & its not gone unnoticed hope to see more .. up the irons 🤟
It's a masterpiece of music. Bruce Dickinson on the piano, his composition.
So much fun watching someone hear my favorite band for the past 35 years for the first time. Keep them coming please!
Great reaction vid! FYI, not only is Bruce the lead singer, pilot of Ed Force One, World class fencer, but also a master brewer. Check their beers! One more thing, that was Bruce on the piano.
And an author to boot!
. . .and an all round nice bloke!
Just listened to an 18 minute song and at the end asks “That’s it?”
That’s why I’ve been a fan for 40 years - they always leave you wanting more…
I’ll keep recommending Iron Maiden’s ”Starblind”, ”The Talisman” and ”The Legacy”. More proggy, great storytelling, great music!
Starblind and The talisman até fantastics
Love The Talisman, that intro especially just grabs you and doesn't let go
I'm with you on this one mate! Starblind is such an underestimated jam. One of my favourite Iron Maiden songs.
The Legacy is a must!
You are so right when you say you can "see" it..... during the large instrumental in the middle bit i can picture the Airship struggling through the storm so very clearly in my mind.
Loved your reaction
Their epics always make me want to weep. They have a new album that just came out, Senjutsu. It's filled with amazing songs like this one. Oh, btw, they also have some pretty amazing beers out there too. Amazing music and amazing beer! Hopefully you're able to see newer comments 😊
Doug, for not really listening to Maiden before this adventure, you have all of us figured out. When you said "adventure" I know you get us now. You are one of US. Up the Irons!
I love how you break it down piece by piece. The story telling in the music of these epic songs is great to see broken down. Gotta check out a band called "Symphony X" a song called "Odyssey".
Wouldn’t that be something? Absolutely love that song and the way it takes you on a journey.
He'll be amazed by Romeo's solos and the overall influence of neoclassical music in their sound
The Divine Wings of Tragedy. In my opinion it was their Magnus Opus. For others. Depends who you ask. But it was my favourite album by Symphony X.
@@TSPH1992 I personally prefer Odyssey but Divine is my wife’s favorite
Yes, he should listen to it 🤘🏻
This is my favourite piece of music ever written, it is a true masterpiece
Kevin Shirley did a fantastic job of mixing this song and the whole album, it makes a big difference when you have somebody with the understanding of how each instrument fits and how to get the right sound for the music. He's done a few albums with Dream Theater as I recall, quite adept at working on these long story pieces.
Shirley didn't understand Dream Theater - he almost caused Portnoy to quit DT back then - that's why DT hasn't had an outside producer since.
@@bobanderson7571 but Dream Theater continued to have him mix their albums for a few more releases.
The only knock I can give the production on this album is that Nicko's china cymbal and his hi-hat are too similar in sound (I think Nicko even mentioned it himself in an interview as well). Other then that, I think this is a really good production.
Kevin Shirley is the worst thing about Iron Maiden. The albums sound like they were recorded in a shed. There hasn't been a good sounding album since Martin Birch.
@@chilly6470 agreed, Shirley is a woeful producer and his albums with Maiden are muddy as hell. Birch wipes the floor with him.
Great reaction video! Been watching quite a few of your Maiden reactions now. I just find new ones I wanna watch. I'm glad you're enjoying their music. They're the reason why I even started play guitar. Also, I don't know if anyone told you this yet, but Bruce actually had cancer in his throat while he recorded this whole album. He was found to have two tumors: a "golf-ball" sized lump on his tongue and one the size of a “large strawberry” in his lymph node. You don't even hear the difference in his voice. Today he's all good, thankfully. That's pretty incredible.
A band that learned a lot from Iron Maiden, is Helloween. The 2 guitar players often join forces.
Check out Twilight of the Gods or the fantastic Keeper of the 7 Keys.
(This year, an album with 3 guitar players will be released.)
Yes! This channel needs Helloween
Have you ever seen Bruce sing , how much air he takes in and gives out in ALL his songs , what a great talent
Iron Maiden is always a blast of sound and history. I have a ticket for their show here in Lisbon. It has been postponed due to the pandemic. Try also Ayreon or Arjen Lucassen, a progmetal composer, with The Day That the World Breaks Down. It will come on your way somehow. Enjoy your beer! Cheers!
What a masterpiece! 🙌🏻
The intro orchestra plus the storyteller's Bruce is just amazing!!!! 💞💯
Only Iron Maiden could compose these kind of songs... Love them more and more since more than 40 years now! 🤘🏻♥️
Great video, loved every part of it! If I may recommend a certain band called Rainbow, they're an older 70s early metal band that had tremendous influence on many after them (such as Iron Maiden) and I think you'll find a good number of interesting things to talk about.
I would very much like to hear your comments on Rainbow songs like:
-Catch The Rainbow
-Temple of the King
-Tarot Woman
-Starstruck
-Stargazer
-Gates of Babylon
-Kill the King
If you're going to react to one of these, probably go with Stargazer (that one will fetch you the most views if that's what you're after), it's quite an epic not unlike Iron Maiden epics. But you'd also find plenty of surprises in the mystical, Middle-Eastern-sounding Gates of Babylon as well as the mellow, medieval vibe of Temple of the King.
Much respect from Bosnia and Herzegovina!
Edit: Oh and you'll also get to hear legitimately the greatest heavy metal vocalist of all time, Ronnie James Dio.
Bruce was a commercial pilot for 18 years while being in Maiden. He piloted their Boeing Flight 666 and was flying fans with the band when on tour. He took time off from his second job to tour. . That’s why he was with short hair . Now he grew back the long hair. That’s why he is interested in history of aviation. He had a show on BBC about aeronautics. He is also a fencer….many talents.
Bruce is the pianist in this piece
He's also a qualified commercial pilot (commercial and flies the band plane) and a keen fan of aircraft, also very well read and loves his history. Hence the fascination with stories like this.
It's also his first album since his throat cancer and a major resting of his vocal chords. So you'll hear his voice has shifted even since the last album.
If you want to hear how his voice has changed over the years, give the early stuff a listen. Brave new world and Powerslave for example are some epic early albums where he really can wail
I've been listening to Maiden my entire adult life (metal since 8yo) and when your favorite band is able to pull of this level of MUSICIANSHIP 30 years into their career, it leaves you speechless!! Greatest Metal band, bar none!!! Thank you for a wonderful reaction.
This song is Maiden's finest hour. Definitely the whole BoS album is amazing and my favorite album of them (by a hair) and it sort of feels like "if this is going to be the last, then make it memorable!". EotC at the end is the culmination of everything that is Maiden: history, dynamics, riffs, solos, pitch, vocals high and low and includes elements rarely seen in metal music or in IM, like the piano or the orchestra. It is the pinnacle of Iron Maiden's vast and brilliant work and in my opinion it is easily one of the greatest pieces of music ever written. Definitely my favorite of the band. Not necessarily a song I can listen all day every day. But even after 6 years it kicks the same punch, 18 minutes fly by and I'm time travelling to that fateful morning, cheer with the crowd as the vessel lifts, watch the storm on the horizon, stare at my fellow crew member as 3000 horses go silent and mourn at the churchyard in the end. Brilliant piece of art, just brilliant!
i got this album on record and noticed this song ended the album AND took up an entire side of a vinyl. then the song came on and i was like what is this child's lullaby crap?! ended up i got hooked on this song right amidst one of the most stressful and difficult times in my life so it really means something to me but even beyond that i swear there is something eerie and special about this song, glad to see others see it as well.
I never been a big fan of Maidens work after Seventh Son, but The Book of souls is an absolute master piece.
I don’t understand people who want the same sounds the same old songs of Maiden! The greatness when you bring something new every time with a constant feel and signature in a way or other! Otherwise it’s getting boring; like AC/DC; same sounds, same structure, same pattern, same style
The mid section of "Empire of the Clouds" literally causes my jaw to drop, and heart to stop. I think it is stunning.
There’s a Jethro Tull vibe in this song, especially the guitar sound
Thanks Doug for highlighting what musical storytelling geniuses Iron Maiden really are.