IRON MAIDEN
FEAR OF THE DARK (1992)
REMASTER
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While 1992's Fear of the Dark was definitely more of a return to form for Iron Maiden, it still wasn't quite on par with their exceptional work from the '80s. Easily an improvement over 1990's lackluster No Prayer for the Dying (both musically and sonically), the album debuted on the U.K. charts at number one. The opening "Be Quick or Be Dead" proved Maiden could easily hold their own with younger thrash metal bands, "From Here to Eternity" contained lyrics that seem better fitted for Mötley Crüe, while the expected epic album-closing title track would become a concert staple (all three tracks were released as U.K. singles). While Maiden records of the past would contain an album's worth of first-rate material, Fear of the Dark is again weighed down with too many drab compositions — "Childhood's End," "Chains of Misery," "Judas Be My Guide," and more. The serene "Wasting Love" proves to be one of Maiden's better ballads of the '90s, while the rockers "Fear Is the Key" and "Afraid to Shoot Strangers" are also standouts. Fear of the Dark would be singer Bruce Dickinson's final studio album with the band (until their late-'90s reunion), as he publicly voiced that he felt the band had run its course.
1. Be Quick or Be Dead
2. From Here to Eternity
3. Afraid to Shoot Strangers
4. Fear Is the Key
5. Childhood's End
6. Wasting Love
7. Fugitive
8. Chains of Misery
9. Apparition
10. Judas Be My Guide
11. Weekend Warrior
12. Fear of the Dark
5 comments:
"music which is usually not spotlighted by the mainstream media".....come on
Usually...
I disagree quite a bit with what you've said here.
"Judas Be My Guide" is one of my favourite Maiden tracks, with a great solo and a fantastic lyric. "Childhood's End" is pretty darn fun too, and some great guitar work. "Be Quick or Be Dead", "Afraid to Shoot Strangers" and the title track are definitely the other clear standouts, though.
Still, I'd say this is Maiden's worst album. It's less consistent than NPFTD. "The Fugitive", "The Apparition", "Weekend Warrior" are all not up to much.
Oh well, still a good album by general standards, even if rookie Maiden fans seem eager to acquire it after hearing the title track. I've told quite a few that this is no place to start with the band, usually after it's too late and they've already heard "Chains of Misery". D'oh!
As worst Iron Maiden album go, I think Virtual XI is quite hard to beat though Dance of Death is a close second.
I think that Fear of the Dark was an improvment after No Prayer for the Dying of which I despise the production above all.
That said, the worst of Iron Maiden is still 10x better than the many second-rate act overcrowding today's metal scene. I just wish they let go of their pseudo-progressive influences and go back to their roots.
"the worst of Iron Maiden is still 10x better than the many second-rate act overcrowding today's metal scene"
Absolutely!
I actually enjoy Virtual XI quite a bit. "The Angel and the Gambler" is probably the worst Maiden song ever but "The Clansman" and "Futureal" are classics and most of the rest is pretty catchy too. Just a shame about the boring drums, repetitive choruses and flat production.
Dance of Death would be my second least favourite below FOTD, it's got some really shaky tracks.
Hopefully we won't have too long to wait for some new Iron Maiden, it's been a while. They did so far into the 'progressive' realm with their last one, overdoing the acoustic intros and long songs etc., so maybe on the next one they will do like they did on NPFTD and go back to a more barebones rocking style... except better than NPFTD, hopefully, whatever they do.
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