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Iron Maiden - Fear of the Dark Audio CD

A fair review of the Iron Maiden "Fear of the Dark" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Iron Maiden reviews here, or go back to the Iron Maiden tabs.

Iron Maiden Band: Iron Maiden
Title: Fear of the Dark
Rating:
Release Date: 2002-03-26
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Be Quick or Be Dead 2: From Here to Eternity 3: Afraid to Shoot Strangers 4: Fear Is the Key 5: Childhood's End 6: Wasting Love 7: Fugitive 8: Chains of Misery 9: Apparition 10: Judas Be My Guide 11: Weekend Warrior 12: Fear of the Dark

I have a phobia...
In fact, `Fear' would top the UK charts upon its release in the spring of '92. Maiden was more than surviving the nineties by the time `Fear of the Dark' was released. The decline in their popularity had more to do with the fact that American audiences were starting to turn away from any metal that wasn't Pacific Northwest in origin which means the classic metal of the `80's was on the wane. Iron Maiden just `trooped' along and while their sound did have some slight adjustments to it, they still did what they did best. `Fear' seems to take a bad rap from fans and from noted metal writers (Martin Popoff hates this record!) but I like it. It's not my favorite but it does have a few songs that rank right up there with earlier classics. The title track is an absolute monster and quickly became a stage favorite so obviously the band loved it as well. Besides being reminiscent of earlier Maiden epics, it speaks to something all people understand, fear of the unknown. "Be Quick or Be Dead", the lead single and song is a speedy affair that shows that the American thrash movement had an influence on Maiden just as Maiden influenced them in the first place! I don't understand why some people feel that Bruce's voice is that significantly different, showing wear and tear. . . . I think he sounds the same as he always does, brilliant! "Wasting Love" is a ballad which may seem unusual for the band but remember they did "Remember Tomorrow" and "Prodigal Son" in the early years. "Childhood's End", "Fear Is the Key" and "From Here to Eternity" pretty much sum up the key tracks for me as most of the 2nd half of the album is not really all that memorable with the exception of maybe "Judas Be My Guide" and of course the last song! `Fear of the Dark' has become a favorite of many Iron Maiden fans and while I don't put it into the lofty category of any of the first five, it is still a valuable piece of the canon. Snake eyes in heaven. . . the thief's in your head.


bruce's farewell
in the world of maiden this one doesn't rank at the top of the maiden list,but still a solid release. a real solid release.


An underrated gem
Many songs may be weak, but a few are very good. An oft overlooked album, yet nonetheless this is one of my favorite maiden albums, and definitely their best 90's album. The great opener Be Quick or be Dead, the deep Afraid to shoot Strangers, the dark Fear is the Key, the quick Childhood's End, and the powerful Wasting Love, after this, the tracks are weak until Judas Be My Guide, then weekend warrior, a very poor song, is followed by the epic closer; Fear of the Dark. A current concert staple. Overall, not as good as Number, Powerslave, or seventh son, but better then all the other albums.


solid effort with gem


Childhood's End, The Fugitive, Judas Be My Guide - these tracks hold up with any classic Maiden album. A solid effort here with a gem - it shows that there is still some magic left.

Afraid to Shoot Strangers starts off slow and initially did not grab my attention but as the song plays it finally hits its stride, although it takes 2:45 to get there.

The title track 'Fear of the Dark' ranks as one of their finest songs, ever.

Weekend Warrior, Wasting Love, and 'From Here to Eternity' are solid tracks. Apparition and 'Fear is the Key' are the weakest tracks on the album, enjoyable but not up to the classic Maiden standards fans have come to expect.


Not as good as the 80's, but better than the "Wasted Years" with Blaze...
After the atrocities committed by Maiden with Blaze Bayley singing lead, "No Prayer for the Dying" and "Fear of the Dark" became 5-star classics in comparison. To all the reviewers trashing this album: give me a break! I'll take this Maiden album with Bruce singing over any of the music from that same early 90's era. For the record, "X Factor" is the worst Maiden album to date. Even having Bruce sing "Lord of the Flies" or "The Sign of the Cross" live doesn't make them more appealing, much less tolerable. Any album that produces a concert favorite such as "Fear of the Dark" cannot be that bad. Still though, "The Number of the Beast" through "Seventh Son of a Seventh Son" remain Maiden's best offerings. Up the irons!.


You can see a complete list of all Iron Maiden discography, or go back to the Iron Maiden tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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