The Iron Maidens
DRZ Records
Amazing. I had my normal "curiosity factor' when I got this disc, as I'm sure most people would. And sure, the entire first spin was filled with "what will this sound like?" or "how will they do this song?"
After that first time, however, this became a really entertaining album on it's own.
If I had to make a complaint, I would pick the very beginning. The first song on the album is "The Number Of The Beast", and they do the vocal intro just as the original Maiden would, only the voice is the same as the regular singing that follows. It would have been cooler to change that up. Maybe find someone else with a different voice to keep it somewhat in line with the original recording. It just seems to add character that way.
Otherwise, it is nearly flawless in all regards.
As I stated in my review of the Girls Got Rythem CD, The Iron Maidens separate themselves from the others in the fact that they are not simply "chicks doing covers" but are very professional and do Iron Maiden great justice. The instrumentals are superb and the vocals are perfect for the music. The singing isn't that "Dickenson" style that so many men have tried to copy for decades and one would expect to hear even from a woman, but this fits nicely and I like it even more because of it.
I would have to mimick a question that I brought up in that earlier review and wonder why they aren't out there attempting an original band. Perhaps they are. Maybe we can find out with an interview.
Anyway, I would say that this disc is truly entertaining not only for Maiden fans, but fans of hard rock or metal in general.
Here's the song listing:
1) The Number Of The Beast
2) 2 Minutes To Midnight
3) Children Of The Damned
4) The Trooper
5) Wasted Years
6) Killers
7) Aces High
8) Phantom Of The Opera
9) Run To The Hills
10) Hallowed Be Thy Name
With the exception of my take on the very beginning, each song is a good representation of the actual band, yet also done in that "original" take that not only a woman's voice would provide but showing great talent all their own.
To repeat a statement I made on the boards section for this site; after repeated plays, this becomes not just a cover album but like an original for The Iron Maidens. I think that is a compliment for these gals and I certainly give this a thumbs up.
