Now at their 35th anniversary and 15th album, Iron Maiden have earned themselves a lofty position in the metal world, one arguably rivalled only by Metallica. But whereas those US giants have long proved unpredictable, Maiden have built their fiercely loyal fanbase on a steady and reliable body of work. Though a rather more progressive outfit than, say, Motörhead, a certain amount of continuity is undoubtedly welcomed – even demanded – by fans.
All the same, one criticism of Maiden’s post-comeback records (ie, from 2000’s Brave New World) has been a lack of variety. While The Final Frontier is certainly not the album to dramatically break that pattern, it is at times refreshingly bold. Opening with an almost Fear Factory-esque blend of militarily precise, tribal-esque drumming and foreboding, futuristic overtones, the album maintains a clear sense of drama throughout its 76-minute running time. The lengthy songs – not least 11-minute, folktinged closer When The Wild Wind Blows – tend to play to the band’s strengths, allowing space for the prog-tinged twists long favoured by chief songwriter Steve Harris. Ultimately, The Final Frontier proves a strong album that manages to throw a few new ideas at the already successful Maiden blueprint. Realistically, that’s all fans currently require.
