By: Anders

Posted: Oct 31, 2005

An All Star Salute To Iron Maiden

An all star salute, finally a subtitle that is worthy of the words… The players on this tribute album to the mighty Iron Maiden are some of the biggest names within the respective genres, quite an amazing force producers Bob Kulick and Brett Chassen have gotten together here. I'm usually fond of tribute albums, I like hearing other bands doing their version of my favourite tracks, it is usually fun and interesting, though at times it seems better to use money on "real" albums, instead of tributes, though I cherish all the tributes and cover albums I have bought through out the time.

Classics as 'Run To The Hills' fronted by Robin McAuley and Michael Schenker and Brian Tichy on drums. 'Wasted Years' with Dee Snider on vocals and a team of George Lynch, Bob Kulick, Jeff Pilson and Jason Bonham on the instruments. 'The Trooper' with Lemmy, Phil Campell, Rocky George, Chuck Wright and Chris Slade. We also have Paul Di'Anno, Jeff Scott Soto, Mark Slaughter, Jon Bush and Joe Lynn Turner as some of the other vocalists. Mikkey Dee, Billy Sheehan, Vinny Appice, Scott Ian, Craig Goldy, Alex Skolnick, John Tempesta, Bruce Kulick, Aynsley Dunbar and Mike Inez as some of the musicians… Am I the only one drooling?

The tracks are delivered flawless and the different vocalist puts their trademark to the tunes. The only ones seeming a bit off set is Chuck Billy doing 'Fear Of The Dark', his dark vocals is quite hard to work into that track, though it could have been killer to hear Chuck Billy singing the track 15 years ago. And Then Chris Jericho doing 'The Evil That Men Do', and that’s more or less the same as Billy's problem, the dark and not too melodic vocals. The musicians are all top notch and deliver swirling and breathtaking music, not that far off the originals, it is not much they have tweaked the originals, which is both good and somewhat a shame, a bit tweaking here and there could be fun to hear, when thinking of who is delivering the music here. The production is great as well, powerful with focus on the right things, in the right places… The music is getting spewed out of the speakers with an immense and captivating force.

This is a sure buy for Iron Maiden fans, this is so far the best tribute I have heard with Iron Maiden tunes. Others might tread a bit cautious with this, but if you look at the track/performer list and see a track or some performers on there that you dig, give it a listen… My faves on here has become 'The Trooper' with Lemmy, 'Flight Of Icarus' with Ripper Owens, 'Aces High' with Jeff Scott Soto and 'The Wickerman' with Jon Bush is actually very good as well.

Rating: 7½/10

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