Iron Maiden Talks About New Album

U.K.'s Metal Hammer magazine recently conducted an interview with guitarist Adrian Smith of British heavy metal legends Iron Maiden. An excerpt from the chat follows below.

Metal Hammer: "Talking to everybody else, the attention seems to be now turning to a new album…"

Adrian Smith: "Yeah, we were talking about it briefly the other day and I've been thinking about it every day since because there are so many ways we can go with it. It'd be nice if we had the songs now and we could come off tour and go straight into the studio match-fit, as it were. Usually we have a long time off, and the way we play in the studio is as live, so it's always a bit tense at first because we haven't played for six months. I'd ideally like to go in [soon]. Again, it's a day-to-day thing, you go in, take it as you find it, try and do the best job you can."

Metal Hammer: "We've noticed one thing that was different from 12 months ago, when we interviewed Steve [Harris, bass], he said, "We've always said, 'We're only going to do 15 albums, we're coming up to it, there's going to be an ending point.'" Is everyone seeing things a little differently now?"

Adrian: "Look, we write music, we're musicians, we'll carry on. The great thing is that there's clearly a huge audience out there waiting to hear what we're going to do right now; and in the real world, that's not a very common situation, so you have to appreciate it. It's not always easy to make an album; you've got six guys with their own ideas and focusing it into one outcome is quite difficult."

Metal Hammer: "Is it the case that you use up every idea for an album each time, and that there's never anything left over from that for next time?"

Adrian: "I know a lot of bands who demo stuff from 30 songs or something and then break up when they're trying to pick 10 because you get the ego and the each guy wants to get their ideas in, so we just try to write 10 or 12 songs, and get everybody's best ideas in there. You soon know when you start playing it whether it's going to fly or not. You just have to do the best you can. It's difficult for everybody to be happy with the album: there's always a compromise, but as long as you can get through it and come out the other side and still be a band that's what it's all about. Sometimes creative conflict is good in songwriting, it brings out the best in everyon."

Read more from www.metalhammer.co.uk.

Thanks for the report to Blabbermouth.net.

Comments

[rhyme2zone]

holy shit. their last album was amazing i hope this album is epic.

[Coz_Metal]

i hope the new album is not like the last one, cause the last one was not that good. They should go back to classic Iron Maiden

[Lord Bonney]

Loved the last 3 albums, probably my favourite 'era' actually [prepares for abuse]. I hope they continue evolving and keep making their songs a little more experimental and long.

The last album was good, but all but one song was in the same key, I'd like to see them do something similar to ...And Justice For All, not in sound, but in style, something thats quite experimental, with songs meandering off all the time. It probably wont be as popular, but since when do they care, or even need the popularity? I'd like to see them go out with a huge artistic statement, rather than doing what #2 said and just rehashing old styles.

[Shaharz]

Coz_Metal wrote:

i hope the new album is not like the last one, cause the last one was not that good. They should go back to classic Iron Maiden

not that good?
Come on. There are so many classic Maiden albums... As much as I love them, I'd rather have new stuff.
I think they should keep evolving like they did in the last 3 albums. The new one is going to kick ass

[SuicidalFreak]

Alright, cool! It's about ****ing time for a new album, which has gotta be as good The Number of the Beast, Piece of Mind and Powerslave.

[FlyingV666]

up the ****ing irons \m/

[AEnima18]

I'm just desperate to see em again after I missed the Twickenham stadium show here in the UK. Last time I saw them was on tour for the last album, I hope next time they actually play some classics...

[MaidenandEddy]

Lord Bonney wrote:

Loved the last 3 albums, probably my favourite 'era' actually [prepares for abuse]. I hope they continue evolving and keep making their songs a little more experimental and long.

THANK YOU! I'm sick and tired of people saying the last album was hit because it wasn't classic Iron Maiden - the last album was amazing because Maiden evolved their sound. That's the only way bands progress, by evolving their sound.

When bands try to return to a 'classic' sound, it never works, and for as much as I love Metallica, 'Death Magnetic' really wasn't as good as Lightning or Puppets, because Metallica tried to return to that sort of style. Yes, evolving the sound of a band and progressing doesn't always pay off fully, and it can realy divide a fanbase, but on the flip side it opens up a new world of possibilities and opportunities that could make the band even bigger, and Maiden have been bigger since Bruce returned than they ever have been, and I' not sure they would have ever done that if they'd said 'Ok, now Bruce is back, let's pick up from before Blaze joined and carry on'

[vanshaya]

Maiden!!!!!

[Les Paul Ell]

Coz_Metal wrote:

i hope the new album is not like the last one, cause the last one was not that good. They should go back to classic Iron Maiden

We're gonna get flamed for saying this, but their last album just wasn't very good. Don't get me wrong, the new style is okay and I absolutely loved Dance of Death (didn't like Brave New World apart from 2 songs), but A Matter of Life and Death was just a bit too plodding and boring.

They should totally start writing fast, technical, Iron Maiden style heavy metal again.

[a6l6e6x1]

i really hope this is good

im going to see them tour with it no matter what but thats just due to there awesome

[ezlntrooper]

Up the Irons!!
Ok, now, I am excited for this new album. Can't wait to see in what direction this album goes in.
Can't wait to also catch another show; I've been waiting sine the last time I saw 'em! haha

[god of lamb]

Steve Harris : God Of Bass

[Eddie4President]

Awesome! When they were talking about the end of Maiden I nearly cried, but I'll just have to distract myself with "a new album!!!!!" awesome.

Hopefully they have enough time to really put good work into it, after all they're almost 'ALWAYS' on tour.

[skunkrock]

this is AWESOME!

[Peres.T.Peanut]

Last 3 albums were ****ing epic....hope they keep psuhing their boundries! UP THE IRONS!

[david_safc]

Coz_Metal wrote:

i hope the new album is not like the last one, cause the last one was not that good. They should go back to classic Iron Maiden

Why the hell would you want them to keep doing the same thing all the time? How is that interesting at all?
I bet if they kept making the same type of album for 30 years, you would be complaining that their music all sounds the same.

[darkl64]

Hmm...
Am I weird because A Matter Of Life And Death was my favourite Iron Maiden album?

[Confetti]

Coz_Metal wrote:

i hope the new album is not like the last one, cause the last one was not that good. They should go back to classic Iron Maiden

*sigh*

i am sick of everyone that says about any band that

*They should do it like in the old days!
BLAAH IM AN ALLIGATOR!*

Fuck that shit. I cant really demonstrate how idiotic it sounds when people try to give "advice" to bands in a freaking music forum. The classic maiden sounds bloody awesome. The new maiden sounds bloody awesome. Their latest album was in my books a good album. Thats it.
Do you people really think that any musicians that take their job seriously will do what the puplic wants instead of what they want? No they wont.

[de-fexxx666]

Awesome, though I don't really see it topping A Matter Of Life And Death, that was the best album since Powerslave. But I'm still very excited to hear my favorite band at it again!

[Coz_Metal]

dude you dont have to take it so seriously. im just saying what i think. its all cool man

[fishstickrocker]

I hope if they do make a new album, it's Number Of The Beast good. I doubt it'll be that good.

[maidenfan15]

Can't wait. I loved Dance of Death and A Matter of Life and Death.

[Wiland]

Up the IRONS!! \m/

[DZCunuck]

A Matter of Life and Death was awesome. I hope they keep making albums and touring.

UP THE IRONS.

[IronSam]

Iron Maiden is the only band in the world that which ALL albums are good! (Okay some are kinda far away from the best ones like 90s material but still) 2000s Maiden era got still very high class produces. Breave new world is one of the Maidens greatest albums and Rock in Rio is the greatest live record EVER! (At least IMO) Dance of death was good and A Matter of life and death I think was kinda ok. Cant wait for the new material!

[MoToRhEaD714]

As long as they dont play all of their new album on tour like they did last time

[Armagedn]

I hate Steve Harris. Every time I watch him play I put down my bass and go cry. I'm not worthy to kiss his feet.

I know it's already been said, but...
UP THE IRONS!!!! \m/

[The JesterHead]

I was actually quite pleased with A Matter of Life and Death, it was a bit more epic than the previous few albums and I like the progression. However, the 1982-1988 will forever be the greatest 5 albums ever made by Iron Maiden, and the masterpieces of heavy metal... To me, Maiden don't have a bad album, only those that didn't make you listen to them as much as the others, but all albums have that "special something" that makes them yet another piece of pure British heavy metal. Up the Irons! \m/

[decayingdave]

These guys have got a plane... A FRIKKIN' PLANE! How Rock & Roll is that?

After 85 years or however long they've been going (taking the piss, obviously!) they've continued to allways crank out something new, they've never become a nostalgia band and even though I don't think that the previous album was too great, at least they're still true to themselves. I eagerly await their new album.

[Eddie4President]

Matter of Life and Death > Dance of Death

still if they have slightly more upbeat songs than MoLaD, then awesome it should be a great album.

[Flibo]

Iron Maiden doesn't have a single unawesome album, I don't think this one will be either

[maximumrocker]

ED HUNTER rules if anyone has played that game hahah

[Kapalen]

I don't like anyone who says a band should go back to "classic" aka already been done cliche stuff.

[guitarguru1212]

darkl64 wrote:

Hmm...
Am I weird because A Matter Of Life And Death was my favourite Iron Maiden album?

not really, i say their latest album is always my favourate cos every album they manage the unmanageable, they top the album prior to their new release. and they will do it again, i have the old maiden feeling rising up in my bones :P

[Silas S Thompso]

rhyme2zone :
holy shit. their last album was amazing i hope this album is epic.

I think it had great points in every song but it doesn't beat piece of mind, powerslave, or brave new world. I thought it was actually a step backward from Dance of Death which was a pretty good record with montsegur.

[Sabscope]

I'd love to hear a new Maiden Album. I thought A Matter of Life and Death was really awesome, but the songs were too similar - almost every single one started slow and medieval-esque, and went heavier - good if you're in that mood, but not if you're not... obviously :P

[heavyprog]

de-fexxx666 wrote:

Awesome, though I don't really see it topping A Matter Of Life And Death, that was the best album since Powerslave. But I'm still very excited to hear my favorite band at it again!

Aren't you forgetting Seventh Son?

[Rocker_geek]

Maiden are gods, can't wait for the new album

[IRONMAIDENTLICA]

I love ironmaiden in general....not that my username would give that away or anything, but i also agree that their last 3 albums, BNW, DOD, AMOLD, were some of their best work, i really hope the new album is cool, but it seems like its impossible for maiden to make an album that doesnt at least have a few good songs on it

[dan_d_superman]

hope the new album is just as good as any of their others, i will admit that i didnt like their blaze era but other than that they are yet to have a kink in their musical reputation. all albums have been strong and continue to make me happy in my pants. dance of death and matter of life and death included.

[abdulalhazred]

FUCK YES!!!!! NEW MAIDEN!!!!! NOW I CAN GET AN ALBUM OF NEW STUFF AFTER I DISCOVERED THEM

[Altered_Carbon]

It'll be interesting to see if they've still got it after a tour of classics...My favorite Maiden albums will always be the first two, and perhaps SiT, but the new stuff has been interesting, except for the god-awful mess that was Dance of Death (one good song? Come on guys).
But yeah, new stuff should be cool if they keep progressing.

[uptheirons17]

ALRIGHT!!!! So pumped. just DO NOT bring in Blaze ever again... lol

[uptheirons17]

Altered_Carbon wrote:

It'll be interesting to see if they've still got it after a tour of classics...My favorite Maiden albums will always be the first two, and perhaps SiT, but the new stuff has been interesting, except for the god-awful mess that was Dance of Death (one good song? Come on guys).
But yeah, new stuff should be cool if they keep progressing.

Agree and Disagree. My Fav are Iron Maiden and Killers however DoD was not that bad i thought.. Like i said stated... there shitty years were X-factor and Virtual XI

[Imperial]

Well I already saw them for the SBIT tour, so i'm good, haha. But really, another new album sounds great.

[bigtimmy]

good on em. looking forward to it!

[Flying Afros]

Coz_Metal wrote:

i hope the new album is not like the last one, cause the last one was not that good. They should go back to classic Iron Maiden

If they never progressed with each album, they wouldn't be together anymore. Same with any band that's been together for a while. This album will be good, like their last two were.

[Set-Abominae]

Just one of the many albums I'm looking forward to this year.

[Ironpriest]

When bands try to return to a 'classic' sound, it never works, and for as much as I love Metallica, 'Death Magnetic' really wasn't as good as Lightning or Puppets, because Metallica tried to return to that sort of style.

Dude your comparing Maiden to Metallica!!!!

Metallica's last great album was the 80's, Maiden have continued to make amazing albums way into 2009. There is no doubt in my mind that this will be amazing and every song will be good!

[~Shred Hero~]

shveet.

[joshjosh667]

I WANT IT!!! I NEED IT!!!!! MUST HAVE!!!!

[metallifreak77]

Up the Irons! Maiden never dissapoints. I am very excited for this, and hope to see them live very soon!

Maiden forever

[LedZepp9]

I really like maiden and their last few albums, but i think that AMOLAD needed some better riffs, it was a good album but the only heavy fast riff was in lord of light and they only played it once, so i hope this new album will also show progress but in a heavier, faster way but still with melody of course.

[tigerking615]

Looking forward to the new album, ofc.

When I got Death Magnetic, I was like "it's probably not going to be very good, but I'll give it a listen anyway." And I was right.

When I get this, I'll be hopeful that it's every bit as good as their other albums since Bruce rejoined.

[ThePowerslave11]

This should be the top news story, i mean metal GIANTS, who play to millions of people worldwide, selling out stadiums and arenas,

washed up glam rock losers

[ThePowerslave11]

sorry, that was sposed to be, OR washed up glam rock losers

[isaacjnowland]

abdulalhazred :
FUCK YES!!!!! NEW MAIDEN!!!!! NOW I CAN GET AN ALBUM OF NEW STUFF AFTER I DISCOVERED THEM

lol love the enthusiasm, but just discovered? where have you been hiding :P

[MaidenandEddy]

Ironpriest wrote:

When bands try to return to a 'classic' sound, it never works, and for as much as I love Metallica, 'Death Magnetic' really wasn't as good as Lightning or Puppets, because Metallica tried to return to that sort of style.

Dude your comparing Maiden to Metallica!!!!

Metallica's last great album was the 80's, Maiden have continued to make amazing albums way into 2009. There is no doubt in my mind that this will be amazing and every song will be good!

I never meant to compare Maiden to Metallica - I was just giving an example of what happens if a band tries to go back to an old style and sound. You're right, Maiden have more-or less produced brilliant albums (X Factor and Virtual XI anyone?), but to go back to a style from a previous era just wouldn't work because it wouldn't be the same. Death Magnetic proved this.

[Nite`]

It's gonna be LEgen wait for it DARY!!!!!
MAIDEN!!! MAIDEN!!! MAIDEN!!! MAIDEN!!!!

[Nite`]

joshjosh667 wrote:

I WANT IT!!! I NEED IT!!!!! MUST HAVE!!!!

This

[nimrod_hahahaha]

i love how in forums for bands like a7x and metallica, the band gets ripped to shreds for 'selling out' on their latest album, but here maiden fans are intelligent enough to realise that bands do evolve and change their sound.
on topic, as long as this is the same standard as what they usually throw out, it'll be amazing!

[GS LEAD 5]

nimrod_hahahaha wrote:

i love how in forums for bands like a7x and metallica, the band gets ripped to shreds for 'selling out' on their latest album, but here maiden fans are intelligent enough to realise that bands do evolve and change their sound.
on topic, as long as this is the same standard as what they usually throw out, it'll be amazing!

Maiden fans usually are intelligent.....otherwise they wouldn't listen to melodic stuff like Maiden....
Can't wait for the album.....

[carcass_prowler]

FUCK YES! I CANNOT WAIT FOR THIS! UP THE IRONS!

[The_Raven]

GS LEAD 5 wrote:

nimrod_hahahaha wrote:

i love how in forums for bands like a7x and metallica, the band gets ripped to shreds for 'selling out' on their latest album, but here maiden fans are intelligent enough to realise that bands do evolve and change their sound.
on topic, as long as this is the same standard as what they usually throw out, it'll be amazing!
Maiden fans usually are intelligent.....otherwise they wouldn't listen to melodic stuff like Maiden....
Can't wait for the album.....

haha agreed

[Symmetry4321]

skunkrock wrote:

this is AWESOME!

Agreed

[Confetti]

GS LEAD 5 wrote:
Maiden fans usually are intelligent.....otherwise they wouldn't listen to melodic stuff like Maiden....
Can't wait for the album.....

Not the Maiden fans i know.

[devilex121]

GS LEAD 5 wrote:

nimrod_hahahaha wrote:

i love how in forums for bands like a7x and metallica, the band gets ripped to shreds for 'selling out' on their latest album, but here maiden fans are intelligent enough to realise that bands do evolve and change their sound.
on topic, as long as this is the same standard as what they usually throw out, it'll be amazing!
Maiden fans usually are intelligent.....otherwise they wouldn't listen to melodic stuff like Maiden....
Can't wait for the album.....

haha good one!
anyway, cant wait for their new album!
love the way maiden experiment with things!

[The Axeman]

ooh shizz, can't wait for the new album

[Helpy Helperton]

Shaharz wrote:

Coz_Metal wrote:

i hope the new album is not like the last one, cause the last one was not that good. They should go back to classic Iron Maiden

not that good?
Come on. There are so many classic Maiden albums... As much as I love them, I'd rather have new stuff.
I think they should keep evolving like they did in the last 3 albums. The new one is going to kick ass

I agree the newer maiden is really good, they don't seem to lose their style but still manage to create new stuff. I've got every maiden album and my fav album is, Dance of Death. That album just hits home you know. As soon as i saw the title of the news article I was like "YES!, FUCKING YES!!!!!"

[rhyme2zone]

if they go back to the old stuff we'll have a heavy metal ac dc

Checked

[pooflinger069]

Coz_Metal wrote:

i hope the new album is not like the last one, cause the last one was not that good. They should go back to classic Iron Maiden

dude if you u want to hear the classic shit go listen to the old albums...simple right...if they sounded the same they would be just like Dragon Force and suck cuz to me all Dragon Force sounds the same...anyone agree?...I like hearing what new stuff they can do....can't wait

[Izzy_Bryce]

GS LEAD 5 wrote:

nimrod_hahahaha wrote:

i love how in forums for bands like a7x and metallica, the band gets ripped to shreds for 'selling out' on their latest album, but here maiden fans are intelligent enough to realise that bands do evolve and change their sound.
on topic, as long as this is the same standard as what they usually throw out, it'll be amazing!

Maiden fans usually are intelligent.....otherwise they wouldn't listen to melodic stuff like Maiden....
Can't wait for the album.....

yeah exactly. i know this is off the record genre and i might get my butt kicked for this but me being a huge GD fan and their new album coming out in April is apparently "selling out". im sorry but im seeing these Maiden fans and im thinking these r some real fans. y cant the most recent bands be noticed like that?

btw Maiden rocks ^_^

[Kastöm]

Coz_Metal wrote:

i hope the new album is not like the last one, cause the last one was not that good. They should go back to classic Iron Maiden

You cant go back to the classics, its been tried by alot of bands but it has never succeeded. Thats like saying if you try really hard, you can turn a year younger.

and Matter of Life and Death is kick to the ass.

[metalifan]

pooflinger069 wrote:

Coz_Metal wrote:

i hope the new album is not like the last one, cause the last one was not that good. They should go back to classic Iron Maiden
dude if you u want to hear the classic shit go listen to the old albums...simple right...if they sounded the same they would be just like Dragon Force and suck cuz to me all Dragon Force sounds the same...anyone agree?...I like hearing what new stuff they can do....can't wait

Dude you're soo right about Dragonforce. They seem to write their songs in half an hour. Maiden's last album was probably the best album they had done since Seventh Son of Seventh Son. The songs are very different to each other and that's what fans want.

[darrenjables]

Who cares if it's classic Maiden or something different that they'll be going for?

It's still gonna be maiden, and it will kick ass.

[GS LEAD 5]

Maiden is Maiden.....

[Lohnanmilitia]

I love how maiden is getting more progressive as time goes by. They really started that with Brave new world and Dance of Death. Their back catalog is still amazing, but its great to hear new stuff from a band this good!

[benjibreeg]

up the irons!!!!!

[TheAmenCorner89]

Every single maiden album is awesome. The last 3 albums have just got better and better - this one should be incredible also

[PANTERAFAN^666^]

Hopefully this album will be good, well good so that I can buy it, and say wow this is ****ing awesome when "Im listening to it.

[csemege86]

I love the 2006 AMOLAD album but the overall voice of Bruce is kinda faraway...I mean it sounds dim and remote...has someone noticed it? What can be the reason?

[guitarsrock8594]

i think all their albums were good, but i'd have to say powerslave is still the best
ROCK ON IRON MAIDEN!!!!!

[Megadethrocker]

Coz_Metal wrote:

i hope the new album is not like the last one, cause the last one was not that good. They should go back to classic Iron Maiden

bruce can't sing like he used to anymore, he needed change his style, so basicly they cant go back to thier classic style anyways

[uptheirons95]

darkl64 wrote:

Hmm...
Am I weird because A Matter Of Life And Death was my favourite Iron Maiden album?

I guess I'm weird, too. AMOLAD is my musical bible.

[guitarsrock8594]

AMOLAD was a good album, but i prefer the classic maiden like the melodic times in somewhere in time, and the amazin riffs in powerslave

[joshmitchell34]

[quote]Confetti wrote:

Coz_Metal wrote:

i hope the new album is not like the last one, cause the last one was not that good. They should go back to classic Iron Maiden

*sigh*

i am sick of everyone that says about any band that

*They should do it like in the old days!
BLAAH IM AN ALLIGATOR!*



LOL +1

[janick6]

The day it comes out will be THE BEST day of my life. AMOLAD was so so good. I still can't stop listening to it, there are so many good parts though every song. If they could keep the complexity and "epic-ness" of AMOLAD and mix it with some of their 1980s energy it would be the best music ever made. Whatever it is im sure it will be great.