More about: Iron Maiden

It’s never wise to mess with something so robust. After 46 considerably successful years, Iron Maiden have long since earned their ‘legendary’ status. With a large portion of the 21st century pounding with their music, Iron Maiden have very little left to prove. So with Senjutsu (loose translation: ‘tactics & strategy’), an album only announced in July, you’d think Iron Maiden were adopting a whole new style of unexpected album releases and image reconfigurations. 

Fortunately, however, none of this is the case. Senjutsu instead crashes in as a work of reliable genius; a comforting reminder that Iron Maiden have an astronomical amount of creativity and chutzpah still in the tank. As complex, busy and impressive as the guitars, soaring vocals and track-lengths have ever been, the six-piece are in fine form. 

Setting things in motion with the titular track, the album kicks off with a rising soundscape building by the minute to a stunning finale fit for kings. The creeping barrage of pounding snare drums throughout complements an aerobatic display of twirly guitar lines, setting a hard-edged precedent for the seventeenth album in the band’s prolific career to follow. 

Single ‘The Writing on the Wall’ demonstrates that Bruce Dickinson’s vocals—whilst sometimes strained—are still capable of remarkable heights. The spooky cinematic themes heard on ‘Darkest Hour’ show just how menacing but spectacular their brand of lyrical narratives has always been. There’s a tenderness in the opening minutes of ‘Lost in a Lost World’ where it seems things could be getting a little mellow, but this is proved to be nonsense when the signature trio of guitars chime in with a catchy melody echoing their 1984 masterpiece ‘Powerslave’. 

One of the shorter tracks on the album ‘Days of Future Past’ shines with its simplistic old-school distorted feel reminiscent of early '90s album ‘Fear of the Dark’ and the majestic ‘Death of the Celts’ exhibits an almost medieval flavour reverberating traditional battle-cries and royal ceremonies. Admittedly, there may be commitment-reliant aspects rather than smooth sailing for the casual listener; however, Senjutsu's splendid scope rewards anyone seeking a dose of forward-thinking and wild escapism. 

Staying well within its lane, Senjutsu is a dependable gift to fans and newcomers alike. Doing exactly what is expected of it, album number seventeen establishes just why Iron Maiden continue to stride so confidently forward as they do. 

Senjutsu arrives 3 September via Parlophone.

More about: Iron Maiden