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Senjutsu Review

Iron Maiden - Senjutsu
Band
Albumpreview 

Senjutsu

TypeAlbum (Studio full-length)
Released
GenresHeavy Metal
LabelsParlophone
Length1:21:55
Ranked#58 for 2021 , #2,800 all-time
Album rating :  81 / 100
Votes :  42  (8 reviews)
Reviewer :  level 10         Rating :  50 / 100
Ok so I will approach this album by listing how I felt about individual songs. I adore Iron Maiden's classic albums, but it has been a while since I heard anything other than middling LPs from them. Which is a huge bummer.

Also sorry for lack of any cohesion beforehand, because I'm writing this to curb my urge to do anything and everything. If you have problems, please fill my med bottle. Thanks.

Album cover - so, Apple Music says "Eddie, in full samurai regalia was immediately appealing". Bollocks. It is just a poorly rendered 3D model of Eddie. As someone else said, this is some boomer wapanese shit.

1. Senjutsu - There are guitar melodies which are payoffs without any setup. From 5 minute mark and onward they are decent, but before that, those solos are real doozy. You cannot just slap a good melody on a song and call it a day, you know?

Also, this cut features boring drums and questionable guitar mix. Both of them are certainly signs of things to come.

2. Stratego - Starts off good, a galloping riff is ear-catching. However, the band's method to complement Bruce's less-than-stellar vocal is questionable at best, and asinine at worst. Silly, and poorly mixed guitar melodies. Insipid, and equally poorly mixed synth. Is it really hard to give additional flavor to synth?

3. The Writing on the Wall - Why Bruce's vocal is mixed like it is wrapped in layers of paper foil? I listened to this song with higher volume once more, but seems like it is indeed poorly mixed. His vocal isn't even that bad to the point where hiding it behind instrumentals is justified. This is something I should've pointed out in former songs, but it just stands out so much more in this kind of Iron Maiden style epic song. Guitar solo is really good, though.

4. Lost in a Lost World - Why is the acoustic guitar in intro part so poorly mixed? Seems like the only thing I'm bitching about is mixing, but it really is bad. For Pete's sake, I can hear clippings! It shouldn't be this audible. Drums are also ear-piercing. Guitar melodies really don't complement his vocals. A band of Iron Maiden's caliber should know that vocal and guitar playing the same note doesn't count as harmony, so it can sound jarring when used this frequently, right? Why are you guys doing this over and over again? Also the solo really reminds me of Dance of Death. Outro also reminds me of Dance of Death. I want to listen to Dance of Death. Or Lost in the World by Kanye West, because that one has a similar name to this. Also Bon Iver sample on that one really gives me life.

5. Days of Future Past - Maybe the best song on this album. Other than rather uninspired vocal melody in chorus or a rather janky segue into the final chorus, this is a whole banger and a half. The solo should've been longer.

6. The Time Machine - Why are those dull acoustic intro on almost every song? Cut the loss, start off the song with a strong riff. Iron Maiden is suffering from Metallica Syndrome. Also, another song that reminds me of Dance of Death. I'm drifting out of my attention.

7. Darkest Hour - Intro could've been impressive if guitars are mixed well. Guitars really sound like they're cramped into one Pringles box. It sounds like it could've been a real hitter if it is mixed to sound ethereal. Which is an argument that goes for a lot of guitar segments in this album. Also, this song too is a victim of poorly written chorus melody.

8. Death of the Celts - It's almost like every song on this wretched album has an interlude, a bad one at that. Does this kind of interlude adds anything to the context of a song? It's not really about my short attention span, I can listen to one 2 hour album in one sitting and go 'damn this is a masterpiece'. It is that those interludes lacks any material to grab my attention. Also the instrumental break is appealing at first, but it overstays its welcome and meanders too long before guitar solos come in. Songs up to this point do not give me any emotions which are comparable to my experience with Dance of Death.

I think I know where Iron Maiden is going with all those epic songs, but when the album consists of just epic songs wall-to-wall, it's just boring. And for the last time, those songs aren't even that good. I want to listen to Rime of the Ancient Mariner or Seventh Son of a Seventh Son.

9. The Parchment - A nice intro driven by bass (and bass is stronger than any other instrumentals on this album, mind you). Compositions, including relatively well-mixed synths and thunderous outro, are better than any other epic songs on this album. Also guitar solo acutally hits like a truck. Guitar & vocal melody going together actually works well on this song! Doesn't really justify this kind of length, though. Would've been a classic if it was around 7 minutes long. Certainly up there with Days of the Future Past.

10. Hell on Earth - Would've been much better if this was a short outro. Reflective vibe of the intro is nice, but again, it massively overstays its welcome. And again, the riff that opens up the song, in combination with galloping bass lines, is too reminiscent of Dance of Death. Furthermore, the sudden change of tempo and the instrumentation which connects the song into the instrumental break is awkward. Outro should've started way more explosive with the courtesy of better vocal takes, and given that this is an official outro for the entirety of the album, it should've been much more carefully written. Not just another generic calming instrumental.

Best: The Parchment, Days of the Future Past
Worst: Lost in a Lost World, Darkest Hour
2/10 - If Iron Maiden cannot write songs that are as compelling as they were in their prime, they should have at least kept their songs short, so that it at least sounds fresher and diverse.
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Track listing (Songs)

titleratingvotesvideo
Disc 1
1.Senjutsu8:208512Audio Audio
2.Stratego4:5990.319Music Video Music Video Audio Audio
3.The Writing on the Wall6:1390.321Music Video Audio Music Video
4.Lost in a Lost World9:3184.113Audio
5.Days of Future Past4:038513Audio
6.The Time Machine7:098212Audio
Disc 2
1.Darkest Hour7:208512Audio
2.Death of the Celts10:2085.913Audio
3.The Parchment12:399212Audio
4.Hell on Earth11:1992.715Audio

Line-up (members)

  • Bruce Dickinson : Vocals
  • Steve Harris : Bass, Keyboards
  • Dave Murray : Guitars
  • Adrian Smith : Guitars
  • Janick Gers : Guitars
  • Nicko McBrain : Drums
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1 2 3 4 5 6
Senjutsu
level 5 doguri11   85/100
Sep 4, 2021       Likes :  18
발매전부터 평론가들이 평균 4.7 이나 되는 점수를 주었는데 막상 발매되고 들어보니 그 정도 까지는 아닌것 같다 후기 아이언메이든 스타일 중에서 장엄하고 묵직한 미들템포 악곡 스타일을 참 좋아하는데 이 앨범은 그걸 극대화 한 느낌이다 개인적으로 나는 메탈 밴드들이 나이가... Read More
The Number of the Beast
level 12 제주순둥이   65/100
Oct 16, 2019       Likes :  14
서두로 주의를 먼저 드리자면 이 리뷰는 이 앨범에 대한 개인적인 생각 5%와 잡소리 95%로 이루어져 있습니다. 메탈을 들은지 어연 10년째가 되가고 메탈킹덤도 가입한지 내년에 10년차가 된다. 지금까지 수많은 앨범에 코멘트를 달아왔지만 Iron Maiden 하나만큼은 정말 코멘트를 달기가 애매... Read More
The Book of Souls
level 13 Harlequin   85/100
Aug 5, 2016       Likes :  11
아이언 메이든이 왜 거장인지 궁금하다면 이 앨범을 들어보라. 보통 신생밴드들은 돋보여야만 뜰 수 있다는 마음가짐에 치열한 악곡의 발칙한 데뷔작을 세상에 내놓고, 청자들이 그들의 창의적인 면에 감동을 받을 때 성공가도 위에 올라 본인들의 음악세계를 펼쳐나가기 시작한다. ... Read More
Fear of the Dark
level 18 이준기   90/100
Jul 31, 2013       Likes :  11
Fear of the Dark이라는 아이언메이든의 대표곡 중 하나가 수록된 앨범으로 아쉬우 점이라곤 애드리안 스미스가 없다는것 뿐 본작은 아이언 메이든의 디스코그라피중 명반계열에 당당히 자리잡을 가치가 있는 작품이라고 생각한다. 깔끔하고 단정한 사운드의 싱글트랙들은 각기 개성있는 기... Read More
Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
level 6 KimiRaikkonen   100/100
Jan 24, 2011       Likes :  11
아이언 메이든식 프로그레시브 메탈. 아이언 메이든의 앨범 중 가장 자주 듣는 앨범이자 가장 좋아하는 앨범이다. 완성도 자체는 그래도 Powerslave가 약간 더 높다고 생각하지만... 아이언 메이든만이 만들어낼 수 있는 아이언 메이든식 프로그레시브의 진수를 보여주는 게 이 앨범이다. 발... Read More
Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
level 21 구르는 돌   95/100
Oct 4, 2010       Likes :  9
80년대가 시작될 시기에 기존의 Hard Rock 사운드를 좀더 무겁고 강하게 다듬어 큰 인기를 누렸던 정통 Heavy Metal은 80년대가 절반 정도가 지났을 즈음에는 위기에 직면하게 되었다. 원래 헤비 메탈이 인기를 끌 수 있었던 이유는 하드 록 사운드의 이상의 강렬한 음악을 듣고 싶어하는 팬들의 ... Read More
Piece of Mind
level 19 앤더스   90/100
Jun 26, 2006       Likes :  9
Trooper도 좋지만 마지막곡인 To Tame A Land라는 곡은 그 기타 솔로가 좋다. 은근히 사람 끄는 멜로디가 일품이며 드라마틱한 곡구성도 최고다~!! 아이언메이든의 초창기 앨범이지만 진짜 이렇게 타이트하고 완숙한 앨범이 어딨나?? 아이언메이든의 모든 멤버들에게 존경을 표한다. 나는 처음엔... Read More
Senjutsu
▶  Senjutsu Review (2021)
level 10 Rin   50/100
Sep 6, 2021       Likes :  8
Ok so I will approach this album by listing how I felt about individual songs. I adore Iron Maiden's classic albums, but it has been a while since I heard anything other than middling LPs from them. Which is a huge bummer. Also sorry for lack of any cohesion beforehand, because I'm writing this to curb my urge to do anything and everything. If you have problems, please fill ...
The Final Frontier
level 13 BlueZebra   90/100
Jul 17, 2022       Likes :  6
전설적인 헤비메탈 밴드 아이언 메이든은 1980년 Iron Maiden부터 2021년 Senjutsu에이르기까지 40년 넘게 현역으로 활동하며 매 순간 역사를 쓰고 있다. 이들의 음악적 전성기에 대해 메탈 팬들에게 물으면 대부분은 브루스 디킨슨이 참여한 The Number of the Beast부터 Fear of the Dark까지를 꼽을 것이며... Read More
Senjutsu
level 10 주난   70/100
Sep 12, 2021       Likes :  6
메이든의 첫 정규 풀랭스 앨범은 1980년에 나왔고 부르스 디킨슨은 1958년생이다. 메이든은 전성기의 힘과 속도를 잃은 지 오래다. 돌이킬 수 없는 사실이다. 이 돌이킬 수 없는 사실을 얼마나 감안하느냐에 따라 『Senjutsu』(2021)에 대한 평가가 갈린다. 좋게 말하자면, 메이든은 현재... Read More
Senjutsu
level 10 피규어no5   55/100
Sep 4, 2021       Likes :  6
영국 헤비메탈 역사상 가장 위대한 밴드 중 하나인 Iron Maiden은 무려 40년이 넘는 기간 동안 헤비메탈 외길을 걸으며 메탈이라는 문화의 아이콘이자 큰 형님 같은 기둥으로 군림해 왔다. 이들은 초창기부터 밴드 내 최고 권력자 Steve Harris의 베이스가 주축이 되는 스타일을 일관적으로 보여줬... Read More
The X Factor
level 5 ricky310   65/100
Apr 17, 2016       Likes :  6
The X Factor 1995 Fear of the Dark 투어 이후 보컬리스트 Bruce Dickinson은 이미 Iron Maiden에서의 활동에 허무감을 느끼고 있었다. 하지만 자기 상황을 설명하기도 전에 이미 다른 팀원들과 소속사에서는 다른 Tour를 또 준비 중이었고 (“Real Live Tour”) 그 과정 중에 Bruce Dickinson은 탈퇴하겠다는 자기 ... Read More
The Book of Souls
level 10 주난   75/100
Nov 22, 2015       Likes :  5
작년 말에 브루스 디킨슨이 혀암(!)에 걸렸다는 소식은 메틀계에 큰 충격을 주었다. 시대 상황도 상황이었고 디킨슨이 아이언 메이든을 떠나있던 1990년대 중반의 암울했던 시기를 생각해보라. ‘샤아 아즈나블’의 목소리는 ‘이케다 슈이치’밖에 없듯이 아이언 메이든의 목소리는 디킨... Read More
Fear of the Dark
level 8 --헐--   75/100
Jul 12, 2014       Likes :  5
브루스 디킨슨이 탈퇴하기 전까지의 전성기를 마무리하는 앨범이다. 무엇보다도 타이틀 트랙인 Fear of the Dark로 매우 유명한 앨범이며, 이 곡은 Hallowed be thy Name과 함께 메이든을 대표하는 단 두곡이라고 할 수 있다. 하지만 이러한 초특급 킬링 트랙이 있음에도 불구하고 앨범 자체가 잘 만... Read More
Rock in Rio
level 7 Inverse   90/100
Oct 15, 2013       Likes :  5
처음에 (아는 분을 통해서 DVD를 빌렸을 때) 이 실황공연을 별로 기대하지 않았습니다. 'Live after Death'가 워낙에 훌륭한 실황공연이라서 그런 것도 있었고 멤버들의 - 특히 Bruce Dickinson의 목소리 - 상태에 대한 우려도 있었지요. 하지만 실황공연을 보고 난 후에 느낀 건 역시 이분들은 공연을... Read More
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