Album Review — Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden — Senjutsu
Iron Maiden is back with their 17th studio album and first since 2015’s “Book of Souls”. “Senjutsu” is over 80 minutes long with only ten songs. Steve Harris is the main songwriter again but there are three tracks written by the Dickinson/Smith tandem. The album was recorded in 2019 but the pandemic caused delays pushing the album back almost two years.
“Senjutsu” is well worth the wait. Stylistically, it continues down the path of “Book of Souls”. 8 of the 10 songs are over six minutes and four clock in at over nine minutes.
“Senjutsu” is loosely translated as “strategy and tactics” and the album’s theme mostly centers around war. It’s not exactly a concept record but the songs certainly do go together to create a whole work.
Each song is skillfully crafted with many of them containing multiple movements within the track. There are a couple of moments that are a little different for the band. The Pink Floyd-sounding beginning of “Lost in a Lost World” being the most glaring.
The album is heavy but very melodic. I’ll attempt a track by track breakdown but each track is so complex that a full breakdown is nearly impossible after only a few listens. This record will take a long time and many listens to properly take in all that “Senjutsu” has to offer.
“Senjutsu” — The title track opens things up and starts with tribal drums with one guitar chord. The song kicks in and we get an epic tale of coming war. It’s a heavy track but more plodding than speedy. Like most of the tracks on the record, there are multiple parts to the song but it never loses its way. A great start.
“Stratego” — One of the shorter songs on the record at just five minutes, it kicks right in from the start. It’s a driving track with those Maiden guitars throughout. It’s a little less of an epic track and has a more classic Maiden sound to it. Just a fantastic song.
“The Writing On The Wall” — The first track that was released from the album, it starts with a classical guitar intro followed by a more bluesy riff which is a little unexpected. It’s the first of the three Dickinson/Smith tracks and it definitely is a bit different in that it has a more defined chorus but it really works.
“Lost In A Lost World” — At nine and a half minutes, this one sounds like a Pink Floyd song for the first two minutes but then it’s back to a driving Maiden track. This one is more classic second Dickinson era Maiden with lots of intricacies and plenty of guitar work.
“Days of Future Past” — The second Dickinson/Smith track is the shortest song on the record at just over four minutes. This one is far more classic sounding Maiden with Dickinson’s vocals soaring over the driving bass line and guitars.
“The Time Machine” — The second half of the record is loaded with epic tracks with every song clocking in at over seven minutes. “The Time Machine” starts off slow with Dickinson singing over one guitar but it builds. This one is also a little different for Maiden until the halfway point when the classic Maiden riff kicks off the driving second half of the track.
“Darkest Hour” — The final Dickinson/Smith track starts with the sounds of waves in the ocean which fades into a musical intro and then melancholy verses that slowly build to an epic chorus. Maiden isn’t really known as a band that conveys a lot of emotion but “Darkest Hour” is a fantastic example of music telling an emotional story. So good.
“Death of the Celts” — The album finishes with three tracks that each are over ten minutes. A Steve Harris trilogy, if you will. This one starts with an intricate minute long bass/guitar intro that leads into the opening verse. This one has that classic Maiden sound as the verses build and build without a break for a chorus. There’s plenty of time for multiple guitar solos, breakdowns and time changes. Classic Maiden.
“The Parchment” — It seems every Maiden record has an epic song with a similar title and this one is no different. “The Parchment’ starts off slow but you know what’s coming and we aren’t disappointed just after the one minute mark. This twelve and a half minute epic is all that you could want from a Maiden epic. We don’t hear from Dickinson until a little over two minutes into the track. Like the previous track, it’s verse after verse with no real chorus, just guitar breaks and plenty of soloing. Another classic Maiden track that ends with a flurry.
“Hell On Earth” — Another epic ends the record. A mellow bass/guitar intro extends over two minutes and gives way to another driving bass line and classic riffing. This one reminds me of “The Red And The Black” off the last record and might be in the running for my favorite Maiden song of all time. It’s everything I love about this band. Driving, melodic, soaring vocals and those guitars. Such a glorious end to an amazing record.
This record is truly awesome. It is simply amazing that after 16 studio records a band can release new music that may be the best they have ever made. I am partial to the newer Maiden stuff and loved the last record, but “Senjutsu” tops them all. The frontrunner for album of the year.
100 out of 100
Track Listing
1. Senjutsu
2. Stratego *
3. The Writing On The Wall
4. Lost In A Lost World
5. Days Of Future Past *
6. The Time Machine
7. Darkest Hour *
8. Death Of The Celts
9. The Parchment *
10. Hell On Earth *
*Best Songs