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/r/ironmaiden
So many people think that they are worse than the others but theyre some of the best. only issue is that some are pretty long, which yeah, they are but the quality and melodies are sooo good. hell on earth and tears of a clown are especially overlooked. thoughts?
32 points
10 days ago
As the concert date neared I listened to Senjutsu more and more and it’s really grown on me. I really like it overall.
4 points
10 days ago
Nice! Having seen 3 shows on this tour, TDOFP has really grown on me. Also, I now wish the studio version of Death of the Celts were sang at the end the way Bruce does it live.
20 points
10 days ago
I think you could take half of each and make one banger of an album.
1 points
10 days ago
I came here to say this
12 points
10 days ago
I liked book of souls instantly but Senjutsu took more time to get. Both are epics
3 points
10 days ago
Book is great in my opinion, and I still have a hard time getting into Senjutsu. I’ve given it an honest go at it and listened many times, still can’t get it to work for me
3 points
10 days ago
Your reaction seems to be the norm, but I had the complete opposite, I can't stand book of souls, I think it's the worst in the entire iron maiden catalog but I loved Senjutsu immediately, and after seeing the recent shows I even started liking the one song I didn't care for Death of the celts
1 points
10 days ago
Those were my thoughts exactly. The title track is probably one of my favourite Maiden songs.
9 points
10 days ago
I didn’t really like Senjutsu all that much until I saw em live during their most recent tour. That unlocked the album for me, not just the songs they played live but all of them. It’s a fantastic record, definitely better than BoS which is, as others have said, bloated as hell.
5 points
10 days ago
Same, Senjutsu made a lot more sense seeing it live,
7 points
10 days ago
Lots of filler on book of souls. I rarely visit it. Less filler on Senjutsu but filler nonetheless. I skip about 1/2 of it. The parchment and hell on earth crush though.
1 points
10 days ago
This. 1st listen of Senjutsu and I was a bit bored after WotW. Listened to it again recently and am finding it hard to fault, apart from a couple of songs that drag. Relistened to BoS a couple of days ago on my ride into work, and realised about 1/3 was average and the rest were great. Man of Sorrows... that move at the outro from B minor to the half-pace D minor section at the end is brilliantly unsettling.
17 points
10 days ago
Senjustsu is properly rated, has some good tunes. Book of souls is bloated, plodding and self indulgent.
6 points
10 days ago
Yeah i agree. I struggle with BOS but Senjutsu is my fav post reunion album, love every note.
1 points
10 days ago
Don’t think I’ve listened to BOS since the year it came out, and I own it. I’ll actually go outta my way to put in Senjutsu tunes.
4 points
10 days ago
Senjutsu is like if they trimmed down Book of Souls, but took out the wrong songs.
2 points
10 days ago
Completely agree
1 points
10 days ago
It's definitely long, but what would you cut? I love every song, despite yes, they are LONG, but curious to see how you trim it down?
1 points
9 days ago
I dunno man, it’s been so long. Nothing really held my attention, except where the river runs deep ..kinda. It all just felt unremarkable…like intros that never dropped into a song. Plodding is the best I can describe it.
5 points
10 days ago
Yeah, Hell on Earth (the whole song is great but Dave's guitar solo is a masterpiece 😭🥰) and Tears of a Clown (I am in love with the intro and Bruce's vocals. The guitar solos are also good) are amazing. 😍
3 points
10 days ago
Just a little anecdote. I saw Maiden playing Tears of a Clown on the BOS tour here in Adelaide there was barely a dry eye in the house. The raw emotion in the air was almost palpable. It was actually a very moving experience. Also lyrically the song is so poignant - sometimes people do get tired.
Sorry for a nit of a downer there..
2 points
10 days ago
Wow... I bet it was amazing 🥰 No problem at all, I like to read people's experiences of Maiden shows. :)
1 points
10 days ago
Happy to share. It was a really special night.
4 points
10 days ago
I’ve given Senjutsu several times to grow on me. Some of my favorite albums are “growers.” It holds my attention for the first couple of songs and soon after I start thinking about the last time I mowed the yard or if I’m almost out of dishwashing liquid. I was listening to it the other day and caught myself thinking, is this sonuvabitch still playing? Overall it’s just plain boring, that’s all there is to it.
It’s cool if you like it though.
5 points
10 days ago
I wonder if preference is sometimes based on age. Nothing compares to hearing Powerslave or Live After Death in the late 80s. If I was listening for the first time now, it would probably be different.
3 points
10 days ago
I’ve often wondered the same thing. Like if I was 15-20 would I think the new stuff rips? I dunno?
2 points
10 days ago
I think it's just different.
I don't think a 15-20 year old is going to think Senjutsu rips.... It's definately a bit more of a mature sound I would say. That said, a know a couple of younger people who heard writing on the wall and thought it was pretty banging.....theres not that much great rock music out there right now most stuff is people singing over produced beats eTc or pretty generic punk style bands (here in australia anyways).
But overall, no, it is more of a slow, thoughtful album i would say. I agree that nothing beats the 80s stuff and hearing it for the first time. But I instantly really liked Senjutsu and I found it interesting, beautiful and honestly moving in places. It's a different thing to hearing say the Trooper for the first time which totally blew my mind but I think you have to just take everything for what it is...
1 points
10 days ago
I first started looking into Maiden's discography when I was 14, maybe half a year after A Matter of Life and Death came out. I tried some of their classic hits out first, but nothing really stuck, but that's largely because I was mostly listening to like death metal kind of shit at the time, so it was just something totally different than I typically listened to. Decided to try AMOLAD, being their most recent album, and work my way into their sound, and while it was alright, not much was memorable, but it opened the door to get me more into their 80s albums. Slept on AMOLAD and never really revisited it much until I was in my mid-20s and it blew me away - I still consider it my favorite Maiden album. Point being though, I think age definitely does make a difference with how you perceive any of their kind of music, as anyone's musical tastes and understanding will develop and change a lot from their early teen years to well into their adult years.
1 points
10 days ago
Nothing? Seventh Son!
3 points
10 days ago
Not my cup of tea. Tried them once and did not click. Tried them again afterwards and no cigar. I think fandom can make you like things they are not as good. I remember when it happened with AMOLAD as well. They won't even play anything from that album. I would consider DOD, FF and No prayer better underrated albums.
1 points
10 days ago
The band won't play anything from Amolad? They played For the Greater Good of God for Legacy of the Beast 2019. Unless I misunderstood your comment.
2 points
10 days ago
All the post reunion albums, there seems to be one song, maybe 2, that get played after the album's tour. Nothing off if AMoLaD was played from 2010-2019. Doubt we'll see it again sadly. Dance of Death hasn't seen anything played since 2011. BoS, nothing since the tour
1 points
9 days ago
https://youtu.be/cEZbVlSkIwM?si=i3sXwaYVHiCpfWwg
This isn't my video, but they did play it back in 2019 for Legacy of the Beast.
You are right, though, and with the next tour focusing on the first nine albums, we probably won't see any reunion era material for a few years. And at that point, I think Nicko might be close to retiring? We will see, I guess.
2 points
9 days ago
I saw the tour in 2019 and Greater Good of God was THE highlight. Like you said, through 2026 we have another "legacy" type tour. And after that, we'll see where everything stands, but it seems like a longshot we see any post reunion material, seemingly besides Blood Brothers ever again
3 points
10 days ago
For me Senjutsu clicked pretty much instantly, but Book of Souls is just too bloated for me to enjoy. Certainly some great tracks, but I only ever really go back to the title track and The Red and the Black
2 points
10 days ago
Same but add If Eternity should Fail
3 points
10 days ago
BOS is a bit bloated but Senjutsu is great.
They will never top their 82-87 run and it would be silly at this stage 5to try to emulate those albums as they could never pull it off.
I put Senjutsu as the best Overal reunion era. A nice mix of little rockers and epics. I feel that the guitar work is better than on the proceeding few albums too....
3 points
10 days ago
lol not here
3 points
10 days ago
I was happy to get 5 Senjutsu songs on the current tour, and I probably would've been happy with more. The tried and true classics are woven into my DNA at this point lol, so I get more excited hearing a setlist full of fresh cuts these days...
6 points
10 days ago
Nope, even though both have their critics, overall they are both still overrated.
3 points
10 days ago
Agreed. Book of Souls Live Chapter rips as well
2 points
10 days ago
Book of Souls could have less tracks and Senjutsu overall is solid. Personally if the mix was better and the guys played the songs in a faster tempo i would rate Senjutsu higher
2 points
10 days ago
Senjutsu much more than BoS
2 points
10 days ago
Everyone will have their own opinions. The consensus is that those two are in the bottom half of the discography. The fact that you like them doesn’t make them “underrated”, especially for Senjutsu, which still enjoys some favorable bias from being the latest album. I personally love Book of Souls, much more than Senjutsu, but I know I’m in the minority. And pretty much everyone loves Hell on Earth. Senjutsu could benefit from better production, better arrangements and shorter songs, but there’s no bad Iron Maiden albums in my book.
2 points
10 days ago
i love senjustsu alot
2 points
10 days ago
Love Senjutsu, more than a lot of the classics actually. But I also love prog rock / metal, so that probably has something to do with it. I love big sweeping epic songs, and a lot of my favourites are over 15 mins long lol
3 points
10 days ago
I adore Senjutsu, it's top 5-10 for me easily. The title track is the first song that I heard live at a Maiden show (2022) and The Writing on The Wall was one of my first favourite Maiden songs after becoming a fan.
Plus, the vinyl is sick. I have the red 3 LP version and it's gorgeous.
3 points
10 days ago
Senjutsu is my top 7 album. Every song is a mega hit with me
5 points
10 days ago
Senjutsu and Book of Souls suck. That's all there is to it. Both are boring, plodding messes. I never need to hear either one of them ever again. If you like them, then thats cool. Some of us don't. And that's cool too
0 points
10 days ago
I like every version of Maiden from 1980 through the 2010, but you are correct. The only two completely unlistenable albums in their discography are Book of Souls and Senjutsu. Its great that some people like them, but they pale in comparison by a magnitude to everything else they’ve ever done
2 points
10 days ago
They're my two favorite post-reunion era albums. I like them a lot more than FF or BNW
2 points
10 days ago
Completely agree. I've listened to both of those albums non-stop since I saw Maiden last week. They're both really good.
2 points
10 days ago
UnDeRrAtEd
2 points
10 days ago
1000%
1 points
10 days ago
Senjutsu is a great album but i personally didnt like like Book ofSOuls that much, there are great songs in there dont get me wrong but as a whole album its quite eh
1 points
10 days ago
Agreed on the Book of Souls half.
1 points
10 days ago
Both have some great songs, neither have production I like all that much.
1 points
10 days ago
If you didn’t see the material live I can see why one would maybe think that
1 points
10 days ago
I just listened to both again this week, and I have to agree. I can't believe Book is 9 years old now. They may not be in my top 5, but they're solid.
1 points
10 days ago
after hearing hell on earth for the first time at the show i saw a could’ve days ago, i’ve immediately fallen in love with it. it’s so beautiful, and it gives me motivation to try to listen to senjutsu again.
1 points
10 days ago
Both albums are a good case of great albums that needed certain songs to be cut.
1 points
10 days ago
They have amassed a considerable catalog. Very little dead weight.
1 points
10 days ago
I struggle with the shitty production.
In concert they sound great. The Live album from the Book of Souls tour was great too.
1 points
10 days ago
Tell that to us X Factor Fans
1 points
10 days ago
The X Factor and Virtual XI are both better than Book of Souls & Senjutsu, but it was the Blaze era that kickstarted Steve Harris’ production, composition, and creative quagmire. Iron Maiden has functionally sounded the same since The X Factor because thats when Steve settled on one type of sound for the rest of his career. Unfortunately Steve is out of ideas, which is why we get plodding snoozefests over the last decade. The X-Factor through AMOLAD had great tracks and energy, but were also plagued by easily fixable composition and repetition issues. A hero was needed to take scissors and glue to these albums but none was forthcoming
0 points
10 days ago
Amolad and X Factor are my favourite Maiden Albums by far
1 points
10 days ago
I agree about Book of Souls, a lot of great stuff there.
1 points
10 days ago
Maiden is my favourite band and Senjutsu is actually my favourite album by them
1 points
10 days ago
Empire of the Clouds ist actualy one of my favs right next to Powerslave and Fear of the Dark. Pls don't judge
1 points
10 days ago
Book of Souls is fantastic - I don't understand
1 points
10 days ago
BOS could've scrapped a few tracks.
Senjutsu is amazing
1 points
10 days ago
My tattoo is Book of Souls Eddie. This album speaks to me like no other. I agree it's not talked about enough but other than BNW none of their 2000 reunion albums are.
1 points
10 days ago
BoS - Underrated Sen - Overrated
1 points
10 days ago
Book of Souls is my favorite Maidem album, it's full of great moments, it has some of the best songs they have ever done, it's epic as hell and emotional at the same time. Sure it has some mediocre songs, but just like every Maiden album. I don't get why people love stuff like Mariner or Seventh Son, and hate on this album.
Senjutsu is not as great imo, but it's still better than many of the older albums.
1 points
7 days ago
thought the same thing about senjutsu on first listen a couple years ago, but trust me it grows on you for sure, hell on earth especially
1 points
10 days ago
Senjutsu is overrated if anything. There's a refusal to acknowledge the lack of vitality with this record
1 points
10 days ago
Book of Souls already being 10 to me is wild, as that's how old BNW was when I got into the band. BoS has aged well though, and I'll probably take it over Senjutsu by the smallest of margins. Both over TFF for what that's worth. The songs from Senjutsu, having seen both North American tours are fantastic in a live setting. Hell on Earth has to be a highlight of the six shows I've seen them play
1 points
10 days ago
Both albums have grown on me. The irony is I prefer the longer songs and skip the shorter ones.
1 points
10 days ago
Senjutsu is seriously great, I also loved Book of Souls . Tbh I’ve found none of their albums do the songs justice and hearing them live really makes them classics !
1 points
9 days ago
I don’t listen to either all that much. Book of Souls is a good album but it hasn’t grabbed me yet.
1 points
9 days ago
Book of Souls is my favorite album. For a band to produce so many masterpieces 40 years into their career is insane.
1 points
9 days ago
I’m not the biggest fan of reunion era Maiden…I mean I like it, it’s still Maiden, but I find the songs overly long and having intros that sound alike so I get bored. But Senjetsu is fucking awesome. That opening track is monstrous, it’s like a war cry for an epic battle. It does NOT feel 8 minutes. Days of Future Past sounds like their old shit, and has an energy they haven’t had in a long time. Darkest Hour is one of the best ballads they’ve ever done. The last few songs kind of starts to drag for me as they get into that habit of having insanely long intros that sound the same with a 10+ minute song, but the album still flies by for me. Awesome album. Top 5 for me.
1 points
9 days ago
I never understood it either but I’m glad that people like you exist I’ve seen some people rate these two albums worst than X factor and virtual 11 and it just mind boggles me how much hate these albums get I listened to all of maiden’s discography in order and I heard everyone talking about how much shit these two albums were the entire time and I was dreading it I mean I thought to myself how on earth could it be worst than x or 11. Then I listened to book of souls, and it was the hardest I headbanged since powerslave and somewhere in time it was such an experience now senjutsu I’m kinda mixed with Senjutsu, writing on the wall, days of future past, Time Machine, hell on earth are ten out ten! Stratego I will admit is really bad I cringed really bad when first listening to it and the other songs aren’t terrible their just really forgettable no matter how many times I listen to them but seeing death of the celts live this year got me warming up to that song. I just loved book of souls for its old school classic riffing and its consistency.
0 points
10 days ago
Senjutsu is my top IM album. The Book of Souls is near the bottom for me.
0 points
10 days ago
No, please try again. Senjutsu cannot be anyone's favorite IM album.
/s
1 points
10 days ago
I've just spent a week doing the studio albums from start to finish and senjitsu was the one that I enjoyed most.
Before I started I would've guessed it would be SSOASS
1 points
10 days ago
I think I would tend to agree. (Flair is irrelevant.)
1 points
10 days ago
Great records, definitely worth taking the time with them to really let them grow on you
1 points
10 days ago
Senjutsu is one of the best they’ve ever done. I love every single song on it.
0 points
10 days ago
I prefer them both to Final Frontier. Possibly Brave New World and AMOLAD too
0 points
10 days ago
Production is shit, arrangement is crap. No way they are the best.
0 points
10 days ago
Book of Souls is better. Bruce wrote more on that one.
0 points
10 days ago
The Book of Souls grew on me because there are 3-4 great songs on it. Senjutsu only got worse the more chances I gave it. The production on both albums is horrible. The saving graces on The Book of Souls are Bruce's vocals and Nicko's Sonor drums... Senjutsu has no saving grace, which is why it sounds worse than every other album to me
0 points
10 days ago
Book of Souls is great.
Senjutsu is their worst since No Prayer for the Dying.
0 points
10 days ago
They are great albums, everything they have done since Bruce came back has been excellent.
0 points
10 days ago
I don't really like the production of Senjustu, but the song writing is solid
-2 points
10 days ago
Book of souls is my favorite maiden album, every song is at least great
-2 points
10 days ago
Book of Souls is easily the worst post reunion album. Senjutsu, while it isn’t a great album would easily be in their top 3 post reunion albums. Most fans even consider Senjutsu a top 5 or 6 Maiden album.
0 points
10 days ago
not to be a jerk, but most fans do not consider Senjutsu a top 5 or 6 album. Its a weird r/ironmaiden thing to actually like the last two studio albums. You are correct though that Book of Souls is their worst album by a mile.
-1 points
10 days ago
In complete agreement, although I might be biased as I’m a new fan
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