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Dickinson's "Chemical Wedding" Is the Greatest Metal Album of All Time Sep 22, 2009
Yes, I know its a bold statement, but it is fact an honest statement on what I believe is simply the most incredibly powerful metal album I have ever heard, and one that I think bridged that amorphous gap between the metal of old, and today's much more aggressive metal. The vocals are incredible, the songwriting is simply unmatchable, and the hardness, and raw edge of the album is unmistakable. Moreover, almost all of the songs are unforgettable, a lyrical juggernaut, with incredible riffs and choruses.
When I first purchased the album years over 10 years ago, everyone I knew who for whom I played the album was simply mesmerized (I always got the same question, Who the heck was that? When I told them it was Bruce formerly, at the time, of IM, people were knocked out of their seats- I remember this vividly- people marching out of my house to go buy it) I have never owned an album that I have listened to more than I did Chemical Wedding. It was in my cd player for well over one year,maybe two, and I listen to it regularly still. If I have only one complaint about it, it is that I would like to drums to have been given more prominence (but that is as minor a complaint as one can make)
I only recently realized that it got remastered with some new songs to boot (which are all fantastic). And Although I am a huge fan of IM, I do not think that anything they have done, or that even Bruce has done can equal the pure emotional journey that is "The Chemical Wedding". As far as the quality of the songs, the title track, King in Crimson, The Tower, Book of Thel, Jerusalem, Machine Men and The Alchemist are in my opinion flawless masterpieces. They are equal parts ageless metal anthems, as they are complex rock masterpieces, and frankly I have no idea how Bruce even pulled it off. I was back then, and continue to be now, amazed at the greatest of this CD. The remaining songs are each very good in their own right, and I especially like Killing Floor's monster riffs. The spoken poetry in the album lends a depth to it that gives it a feel that you have gone on a journney once the album reaches the end. To be honest, you actually have. Simply amazing and incomparable to anything else I have ever owned metal wise. I sincerely hope that anyone who reads this will purchase it.
More great solo stuff from Bruce Jun 09, 2009
When I heard the previews on Amazon of Bruce's solo stuff I loved it and had to buy it. I ordered the last three ( I think ) solo CDs and have not regretted any of them. If you love Maiden, Bruce's vocals, or just plain'ole kick butt heavy music, get it NOW!
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
A work that stands the test of time. Mar 28, 2009
When I heard this CD for the first time I knew I would be listening to this for many years. Bruce showcases not only his superb voice but also his song-writing skills.
The album is confident with a variety of styles. Even so, there is a real unity within the album. This is not simply a collection of rockin' tunes, but a single, multi-layered piece.
That brings me to my one complaint about this remastered edition of the CD. This version includes three bonus tracks that were released as B-sides. The new songs are great (especially Return of the King) but they are a stylistic departure from the rest of the album. If they had simply been tacked on to the end of the album that wouldn't be such a problem. But they did some rearranging of song elements that throws everything off.
Throughout the album there is narration at the ends of some songs. This helps to unify the album. The second half of The Alchemist (the last song on the original release of this album) incorporates a variation on the main theme of the title track. After the song ends there is silence and then a final bit of narration. These elements really draw the album together nicely and make for a satisfying ending.
This version, however, edits off the silence and narration and instead goes right into the three bonus tracks. The new songs break away from the cohesiveness of the album. The last track, Confeos, really takes us away from the feel of the album (It's Bruce's tongue-in-cheek imitation of Deep Purple - you'd swear it was Ian Gillan singing). It's very light-hearted. And it is here that they tack on the silence and narration from the previous version of the album.
It totally throws off the feel. Those songs were meant to be a departure for the band - just for fun. To have them incorporated into the body of The Chemical Wedding... well, it would be like incorporating a gag reel in the middle of Casablanca.
That being said, the reason it bothers me so much is that this album is otherwise flawless. And that's a rare thing.
Excellent album gets an excellent remaster!!! Mar 08, 2009
I'm a huge Maiden fan and I got into Bruce's solo work back last year when I found the original recording of The Chemical Wedding in a used CD store. I loved it so much that in fact ever since I got it, it was 90% of what I listened to every day. Ten tracks of purely dark metal, and it was one of Metal's finest hours.
And then the other day, in HMV, I find his remastered catalogue, and I find this included. Mind you have all the other remastered discs, and so I decided to pick this remastered disc up since I figured it'd be worth owning. Normally I hate remastered versions since they are very low quality and seem to detract from the original raw sound that the original recordings produced, but along with the other Bruce discs, the Maiden 1998 recordings, and Megadeth's remastered 80 albums, this is the best remastering and remixing job I've ever heard!!!!
The album sounds excellent and like it was just released today, which is quite evident in the opening seconds of King in Crimson. This album sounds heavier and darker thanks to the remastering job!!! And it's a bit easier on the ears too since the original recording's production job is a tad too bright. But anyways, this is a great remaster that's worth every penny. Along with all ten tracks we get Return of the King, Real World, and Confeos, All three of which are spectacular songs. and not to mention the alchemist is shorter on this version, which means the spoken hidden track appears at the end of Confeos.
In short, buy this version of the album, because Castle Records sure have done an excellent remastering job!
OMG This Is His Best Work Ever So Far!!!!!! Dec 18, 2008
This is really good work from Dickinson. Nice album and is really good. I give it a 5/5!!!
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