Spiritualized + Iron Maiden: two of a kind

Spiritualized
‘Amazing Grace ®’
(Sanctuary)

Following the trip-orchestric ‘Let It Come Down’, Jason Pierce decided that Spiritualized next step should be – back to basics, his punky, garage days. Well, ‘Amazing Grace ®’ does a lot in that respect but it is not as ‘alternative’ as it is talked up. Still, being recorded in three weeks rather than in years, it contains instant, direct and rockier feel.

From the opening screech of feedback on noisy rocker ‘This Little Life Of Mine’ it looks like it is going to be a high-rocking but the impression is false. Pierce explores his other interests as well, such as gospelly feel on ‘Lord Let It Rain On Me’, or melancholic ‘Hold On’ and ‘The Ballad Of Richie Lee’ (a friend who committed suicide in 2001).

There is also, less successful, jazz ramblings on ‘The Power And The Glory’ or an ace mayhem that is ‘Cheapster’… the lyrical content appears to be rather limited to religion, drugs and the climate. Yet, despite its simpler recording technique this is not a stripped-down offering and it has more fast tracks than usual, which is good, methinks.

A swell thing, indeed.

8/10
*

Iron Maiden
‘Dance Of Death’
(EMI)

Iron Maiden’s ‘Dance Of Death’ is as… Well, let’s put it this way – Maiden are a British institution and suchlike entities do what you expect them to do and they do it. Thus, ‘Dance Of Death’ is a typical band’s album, on par with your favourite disc: it sports all the elements and it doesn’t betray the previous records’ spirit. This is not a diss, it just is.

Hairs may be shorter, some greyer, but riffs are here, big rocking sound (not too Heavy, not too hard), that urging vocal, Captain Bruce Dickinson in front does his job in his usual style, guitarists duel and solo, themes are familiar (a bit of history, sci-fi, a smidgen of fantasy, few observations on reality)… in short, everything is in order. If you are a fan, no disappointment.

It gets progtastic in parts, such as on ‘No More Lies’ and the title cut (echo of Peter Gabriel’s period Genesis?), then fast-as-wind bass driven ‘Montségur’ and very often flying as high as Bruce’s planes…
It may sound incredulous but this is a comfortable album, well produced, big-sounding and really getting the fan’s sweet spot in the centre. And, you gotta be camping outside ‘Guinness Book Of Records’ for the ‘Oldest living being’ category to find this offensive in any way.

Finally, you may find yourself asking what these two albums have in common and we’ll let you in on a little fact: Iron Maiden’s manager is behind the label Spiritualized are signed to right now. That’s all.

7/10