Iron Maiden - Senjutsu
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Iron Maiden's 17th album was released on September 3, 2021 and is titled: "Senjutsu"
This album is released almost exactly 6 years after the previous album "The Book of Souls" in 2015, marking the longest gap between two "Iron Maiden" albums. However, it's clear that the wait was worthwhile. In our humble opinion (and we know we might be in the minority), this is one of the band's finest albums of the current millennium, even surpassing some from the last century.
"Senjutsu" is connected to "The Book of Souls" not just by its release date. The band opted to record at the "Guillaume Tell" studio in France, the same location used for the previous album. The writing and recording approach was alike for both albums: the band would write a song, rehearse it, and then immediately record it while it was still fresh.
Recording took place at the start of 2019 during breaks from the "Legacy tour". The covid-19 pandemic caused delays, but the band chose to postpone the release, even though the recording was complete.
The album's title, "Senjutsu", is a Japanese term meaning "tactics and strategy", but it can also be interpreted as "skill and spell". These themes are prevalent throughout the album, as seen in the second single "Stratego", whose title speaks volumes.
From the moment we first heard the single "The Writing On The Wall" on July 5, 2021, it was obvious that the album would be "mind-blowing." This track immediately emerged as the anthem!!! The classical guitar intro reminiscent of "Jethro Tull," which oddly brought to mind Ehud Banai's "Canaan Blues," along with the catchy riff featuring an oriental flair, resonated deeply with us. By the time the sweeping chorus hit, we couldn't help but sing along with Bruce, and it was clear that this song would become our 2021 anthem.
The Writing On The Wall title refers to the story of the "Belshazzar Feast" from the book of Daniel. During this event, an inscription appears on the wall, which Daniel interprets as a prophecy foretelling Babylon's downfall. King Belshazzar of Babylon hosted a grand feast for a thousand of his ministers and concubines, where they drank wine from the vessels of the destroyed great temple. At that moment, a hand appeared, writing on the Western Wall near the "menorah" the words "Mana Mana Tekel and Persin." The king was terrified and summoned the sages of Babylon, but only Daniel could decipher the "writing on the wall" as a prediction of Belshazzar's kingdom's fall and Babylon's destruction. That night, King Belshazzar was killed, and Darius took his place.
About a month later, the band released their second single, "Stratego". Initially, the melodic riff leading the song seemed like a "Rainbow" imitation to us. Steve Harris's galloping bass playing is reminiscent of his powerful bass work on "Powerslave", which is celebrating its anniversary today. However, as we delved deeper into the song, we grew to love it. It's a classic "Maiden" track with a modernized sound. Stylistically, it could have easily fit into the band's early albums with Bruce Dickinson, but here, the enhanced sound elevates the song, particularly with the addition of keyboards that sometimes accompany Bruce's vocals and occasionally the guitar riffs.
It seems that these two singles are enough to prove how versatile and different this album is from the previous "The Book of Souls" album, even though the band chose to record both albums in the same studio ("Guillaume Tell" in France) and through the same process of writing and recording, as mentioned.
This diversity is also reflected in the theme song, which is also the opening track, “Senjutsu.” An epic piece that crosses the 8-minute mark, it touches on all the band's sound elements and sets the tone for whatever comes next.
Further proof of the band's versatility on this album can be found in the intro of the song "Lost in a Lost World." The classical guitars, Bruce's vocal effect, and the backing vocals remind us of the "Uriah Heep" sound. It is unlike anything else "Maiden" has done in the past 41 years. The song starts quiet and slow with Bruce's soft vocals and the caressing backing vocals, continues heavy with a mid-pace rhythm, and then reaches the anthemic chorus and the excellent instrumental part that follows. One of our favorite parts of the song is the one that starts at 3:40 minutes, with the guitar line accompanying Bruce's voice with such a beautiful melody. This section repeats itself at the end of the song starting at 8:06 minutes, and then it just breaks us into pieces. It is hard not to mention Bruce Dickinson's vocals. He simply surpasses himself on this album and proves that despite the passing years, the illness, and the erosion of his voice, he is still one of the greatest singers in metal and has a vocal range that may have shrunk a little over the years but still can be envied by many singers.
By the way, "Lost in a Lost World" is one of the four songs on the album that Steve Harris wrote solaly, all of them cross the 9-minute line. Also this time, Harris is the main writer of most of the album's songs, which ends up with three epic songs written exclusively by him and spanning all together over a half hour of music. Along with Harris, there is also a very respectable representation of the Bruce Dickinson/Adrian Smith duo, who are responsible for writing 3 of the ten songs on the album, including the lead single "The Writing On The Wall".
What's beautiful about this album is that next to the band's attempt to change and diversify, they still don't allow themselves to completely move away from the DNA that characterizes them. In almost every song on this album, you can find something that will remind you of the classic "Maiden". over the 82-minute album, we get elements from the band's various music over the years. From the glorious 80s, through the Blaze Bayley era to the band's greatest albums in the current millennium, such as "Brave New World" and "A Matter of Life and Death".
A notable example is the song "Days of Future Past", which, according to Bruce Dickinson himself, aligns with the band's "Piece of Mind" and "Powerslave" era. Contrary to popular belief, "Days of Future Past" is not related to the "Marvel" comics or the "X-Men" movie series. It was inspired by the graphic novel "Constantine" and particularly its film adaptation starring Keanu Reeves. Additionally, there is no connection to The "Moody Blues" timeless album "Days of Future Passed". Interestingly, this is the shortest song on the album and features one of the most minimalist solos in "Maiden's" career.
Following that is "The Time Machine," co-written by Janick Gers and Steve Harris, which concludes the first disc. This track stands out on the album, featuring an engaging guitar line, a captivating and expansive melody, and a stunning blend of the three guitarists alongside Bruce's powerful vocals. It's a highly dynamic song with numerous transitions and shifts in melody and rhythm, some of which evoke the classic "Maiden" sound, such as the section beginning at 3:11 minutes.
The second disc begins with "Darkest Hour", a dramatic and thrilling track. It's another excellent song from the Bruce Dickinson/Adrian Smith duo. This ballad, while not typical of the band's musical style, showcases the album's remarkable diversity. Despite the album's lack of a consistent musical theme, it maintains a high standard without any missteps, fillers, or unnecessary moments across its 82-minute length. Bruce's breathtaking vocals deliver the lyrics superbly, and Adrian Smith's solo is tremendous and moving, possibly one of the best on the album.
The album concludes with mind-blowing epic compositions by Steve Harris. Any of these pieces could serve as the final track on any of the band's albums.
The opening track, "Death of the Celts," features Harris' exquisite bass playing and immediately establishes a folk-metal feel. This is particularly evident in sections like the one beginning at 5:15, where Harris' bass is influenced by Celtic music. The song manages to evoke the atmosphere and "vibe" of "The Clansman," one of the standout tracks from the "Virtual XI" album from the Blaze Bayley era..
The second track, "The Parchment", is an epic piece and a standout highlight of the album. It begins with a quiet and dramatic introduction that could easily fit into the soundtrack of a historical war film. At 1:10, it bursts into a remarkable, melodic, and sweeping guitar line with an oriental flair. Then, at 2:01, there's a shift that transports us directly into the oriental melody reminiscent of "To Tame a Land" from the "Piece of Mind" album. The song continues to evolve, featuring increasing rhythm changes throughout a thrilling instrumental section that spans 4 enjoyable and delightful minutes, ultimately bringing us full circle back to the quiet part that started the song.
The third track, "Hell On Earth," is a war epic that concludes the album with a dark and thrilling atmosphere. After about two minutes, it shifts and immerses the listener in a battle-like ambiance. This classic piece is precisely how "Maiden" should end such an incredible album. It becomes evident here that this band excels at their craft. Harris' rapid bass charges into the fray, while Nicko McBrain's drums set the rhythm. The guitar harmonies intertwine gracefully, delicately, and at times aggressively, always paving the way for Dickinson's powerful vocals. If there were a guide on how "Iron Maiden" should sound, this song would likely be featured.
Few bands possess a distinctive sound so uniquely their own, yet are able to evolve, diversify, innovate, and continue to captivate without altering their core essence. "Iron Maiden" is one such band, achieving this for nearly five decades, even if not always meeting the high standards they established with their first seven albums during the glorious 80s. "Senjutsu" is an ambitious and extraordinary album. It's dauntingly lengthy, yet it contains all the elements needed to keep us engaged without skipping a track, which speaks volumes. It showcases a band with exceptional writing and performance skills and reaffirms why it remains the biggest metal band globally, capable of selling out tickets within 6 hours for a show scheduled over a year in advance (see "2023 Wacken Open Air").
It's official! From our perspective, the metal world should be divided into two eras: before "Iron Maiden" and after!!!
For Listening: Spotify, Apple Music
Track List:
1. Senjutsu (Smith/Harris) 8:20
2. Stratego (Gers/Harris) 4:59
3. The Writing On The Wall (Smith/Dickinson) 6:13
4. Lost In A Lost World (Harris) 9:31
5. Days Of Future Past (Smith/Dickinson) 4:03
6. The Time Machine (Gers/Harris) 7:09
7. Darkest Hour (Smith/Dickinson) 7:20
8. Death Of The Celts (Harris) 10:20
9. The Parchment (Harris) 12:39
10. Hell On Earth (Harris) 11:19
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