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"A dark, heavy album, "Chemical Wedding" possesses a power and authenticity that make it one of Bruce Dickinson's finest albums."
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4/5
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A year after "Accident of Birth", Bruce Dickinson is back in the spotlight with a new album, "Chemical Wedding". To maintain the energy of his previous effort, he surrounds himself with the same team, including Adrian Smith and above all Roy Z, with whom he composes most of the tracks.
"Chemical Wedding" is often described as conceptual, but it's more about unity and coherence. Indeed, the lyrics are largely inspired by William Blake (whose paintings also feature in the artwork) but also by the Bible and other ancient writings. As Bruce Dickinson points out, they are of interest in their own right, maintaining an atmosphere that seems to have emerged from another age.
The moods of "Chemical Wedding" are dark and heavy, and the arrangements are meticulously crafted, with guitar melodies that overlap and complement each other effectively. Each instrument clearly expresses its melodic line, especially the bass, which enlivens many of the tracks, 'The Tower' in particular. Bruce Dickinson's vocals are also perfectly audible, and he gives us one of his best performances, chanting the lyrics with force and conviction.
The tension is maintained by a compositional strength that gives most of the tracks surprising, evolving structures. 'King in Crimson', for example, starts out with a very heavy metal riff, but has a chorus that gives it even more power. Similarly, the chorus of 'Killing Floor', almost shouted out by Bruce Dickinson, adds an extra dimension to the song. Alongside these relatively convoluted tracks, there are more compact, haunting titles like 'Chemical Wedding', 'Machine Men' and even a ballad, the heavy, dense 'Gates of Urizen'.
"Chemical Wedding" is a monolithic album, but it's airy and, above all, exciting. Bruce Dickinson and his band have outdone themselves, delivering a powerful, authentic opus that makes no compromises. One of the Iron Maiden singer's finest albums. - Official website
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TRACK LISTING:
01. King In Crimson - 04:43
02. Chemical Wedding - 04:06
03. The Tower - 04:45
04. Killing Floor - 04:29
05. Book Of Thel - 08:13
06. Gates Of Urizen - 04:25
07. Jerusalem - 06:42
08. Trumpets Of Jericho - 05:59
09. Machine Men - 05:41
10. The Alchemist - 08:27
LINEUP:
Adrian Smith: Guitares
Bruce Dickinson: Chant
Dave Ingraham: Batterie
Eddie Casillas: Basse
Roy Z: Guitares
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(0) MIND(S) FROM OUR READERS
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Top of the page
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(0) COMMENT(S)
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READERS
5/5 (2 view(s))
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STAFF:
4.4/5 (7 view(s))
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IN RELATION WITH BRUCE DICKINSON
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LAST INTERVIEW
BRUCE DICKINSON (JANUARY 12, 2024)
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It's been 19 years since Bruce Dickinson released a solo album. With 'The Mandrake Project', the almighty Iron Maiden frontman makes up for lost time and reveals all the secrets behind his ambitious project...
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OTHER REVIEWS
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OTHER(S) REVIEWS ABOUT BRUCE DICKINSON
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