This album is worth 5 TIMES 5 STARS!!!

Review Score:

(10/10)
I had almost given up on Iron Maiden ever releasing another album after Blaze Bayley took over as vocalist after 'Fear of the Dark'. IM had been going downhill a little since Seventh Son... and then Bruce Dickinson left and IM released two albums I just couldn't really stand (but have recently given them second chances and liked them). Not that 'X-Factor' and 'Virtual XI' were wastes of time, it's just that I was ticked off that Bruce had left and might not be coming back...

Then 'Brave New World' was released and I heard "The Wicker Man" on the radio and thought, "Who the hell is that that sounds like Iron Maiden/Bruce Dickinson?!" I couldn't believe it. I did a quick search on Amazon.com and found this album, almost 4 years ago now. I still pull this album out almost on a weekly basis and listen to it, and I still can't believe how they've recaptured the "old sound" from their earlier days. This album is a masterpiece that never gets old. By far my favorite album they've ever released, I'm now just hoping they will be able to release another one soon and be able to at least come close to it. And if not, then they have certainly capped off an amazing career with an excellent comeback that I never thought they had in them.

I like every single song on this album and can't really pick a favorite. There is a complete range of styles from melodic ballads to heavy powerhits that are all equally top-notch in their own ways. There's not a bad song on this album, but depending on what mood I'm in at the time, I might prefer one or more songs over the others (temporarily). I don't see how they can ever top this album, but I can still hope...

Lyrically and acoustically one of the best albums of all time. Only Blind Guardian and Iced Earth can compete, and then only because depending on which mood I'm in at the time I prefer different things.

I don't really care to write song-by-song reviews (but I do enjoy reading other peoples' reviews of them!) so I will just say this:

The thought-provoking, lyrically sweet songs. Most have slow, driving tempos that hint of what's to come (the heavy, highly-singable choruses):
*Ghost of the Navigator
*Brave New World
*Blood Brothers
*Dream of Mirrors
*The Thin Line Between Love and Hate

The driving, heavy, non-stop metal songs that you can't help but turn up really loud!:
*The Wicker Man
*The Mercenary
*The Fallen Angel
*The Nomad
*Out of the Silent Planet

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