Iron Maiden - No Prayer For The Dying
1990 EMI
by Horatio

Quick Summary:
Every band goes through the 'back to basics' stage, and Maiden were no exception, having indulged themselves with epic releases like 'Somewhere In Time' and the concept album 'Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son'.  Both were excellent, but fans longed for the days of the rough and ready Maiden that epitomized 'Killers', 'Number Of The Beast' and 'Piece Of Mind'.  Maiden indulged them, with a raw, streetwise, no nonsense heavy metal album that made Priest and Manowar positively redundant.  Rumours were rife during recording that Bruce wanted out to pursue a solo career, something Adrian Smith had already done, replaced by ex-White Spirit and Gillan guitarist Janick Gers.  His arrival was a burst of freshness, adding a sense of dramatics Smith usually lacked.

The sound is almost live, as if the tracks were recorded on the spot.  Dickinson later complained about recording at Steve Harris' barn, which he viewed as bush league opposed to then perfectionists like Queensryche.  Nevertheless this is the last time Maiden recorded an album with nearly all four minute tracks, with the emphasis on immediate riffs and hooks, so often the opposite of their current direction.  It worked as 'Bring You Daughter' reached number one in the singles charts, unheard of for true metal.  The pace and energy never lets up, and as a result this is one of the greatest metal albums of all time.  Many panned it at the time, sensing Maiden had lost it compared to upstarts like Metallica and Megadeth.  Not true.  There's a magic to 'No Prayer' that can't be described, the sound of real British metal.  Sensibly the band discarded the fancy sweaters of the 'Seventh Son' album photos, returning to a standard leather jacket and denim jean look, complete with white trainers.  Vintage Maiden, and their last great album until this years 'Dance Of Death'.

Website:  www.ironmaiden.com

Song Summaries:

1. Tailgunner - In the tradition of 'Aces High' comes this WWII tale of aerial dogfights and general mayhem.  The music follows suit, galloping bass riffs from Harris, a memorable chorus and a wild guitar breakdown.  If some oaf ever asks for a description of what true metal is, then here is your answer.  A+
2. Holy Smoke - Another upfront rocker, with more hard rock shadings than metal.  The enthusiasm's there, and again the hook is timeless.  Could have come out yesterday for all we know as it hasn't dated one bit.  B+
3. No Prayer For The Dying - Shades of the epic direction that followed, slow intro with a fast section, etc.  Here it's not as drawn out, only four and a half minutes, compared to the now expected six or seven (maybe eight or nine).  When it goes off at the two and a half minute point, it's an unstoppable force.  B+
4. Public Enema Number One - Witty title to this day or what?  Maintains the urgency, unflinchingly heavy, melody stamped all over it.  A
5. Fates Warning - Harris hits his songwriting peak with such clever lines like 'why is it some of us are destined to stay alive, and some of us are here just so that we'll die'.  A mammoth chorus ensues, solid riffs and the notion that Manowar truly do suck when stacked up next to Maiden.  A
6. The Assassin - Where do you start?  The rudely chanted chorus?  The frantic pace and solos?  The lyrics?  How about them all?  The whole band is on form, playing with purpose and intent.  'Better watch out!'  Should be a live favourite.  When things kick in at the 2.26 point it's enough to make you weep, music of the gods.  A+
7. Run Silent, Run Deep - Take the most traditional metal riff from Deep Purple's 'Hard Lovin' Man' from 1970 and here's the result.  Galloping riff madness besets this genuine piece of class.  In it's way this is heavier than 'War Ensemble' or 'Hangar 18'.  A+
8. Hooks In You - Maiden do the right thing and cop the main riff from Montrose's 'Rock The Nation', layering it about a hundred times.  Masterful metal, aggressive enough to compete with The Who live.  It must have been great being a Maiden fan in 1990, thinking 'yeah they're back' only to be sprung with 'Fear Of The Dark' in 1992.  A+
9. Bring Your Daughter To The Slaughter - The first letdown of the album.  This track has never done it for me melody wise, despite the great title and chart success it obtained.  That this went to no 1 is proof of Maiden's enduring popularity, which saw 'Wildest Dreams' hit no 6 a few months back.  C+
10. Mother Russia - Amazingly the only five minute track on the whole album, and a good atmospheric piece documenting Russia's communist fall.  Keyboards play a big part in this one as such.  Certain segments recall 'Somewhere In Time', especially 'Alexander The Great'.  Sounds better than I remembered it to be, notably the near thrash workout during the guitar solos.  A positive end to a veritable feast of metal, and certainly one wouldn't have suspected the appalling decade ahead.  B

Average Song Rating:  A-
Overall Album Rating:  A+

Also be sure to read:
Iron Maiden - A Real Dead One Quick Reviews by Horatio
Iron Maiden - Dance Of Death by Horatio
Iron Maiden - Fear Of The Dark by Horatio
Iron Maiden - Killers by Horatio
Iron Maiden - Number Of The Beast by Horatio
Iron Maiden - Powerslave by Horatio
Iron Maiden - Somewhere In Time by Horatio
Iron Maiden - The X Factor Quick Reviews by Horatio
Iron Maiden - Virtual XI by Horatio