Bruce Dickinson - Accident of Birth

"Bruce in top form; heavy metal done brilliantly."

Accident of Birth perfectly encapsulates everything that heavy metal should be. Fine musicianship, soaring vocal deliveries, fervent aggression, and enthusiastic performances brimming with intensity. The follow-up to "Tattooed Millionaire" and "Balls to Picasso," AoB is more of an overtly fiery metal album, with better, more intense arrangements yielding stronger results on the whole. TM and BtP were good, but more in the vein of hard rock sensibilities and not exactly what one expects from Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson. I find AoB's musical approach more interesting and better in the end.

Bruce's panache for writing brilliant lyrics based on mythological tales and historical elements are intact here. More importantly, Bruce's phenomenal vocals are better than ever. They retain the utmost intensity of his finest days with Maiden but have developed considerably, becoming more visceral and husky. Songs are gritty and harrowing, and this album shows that Bruce's songwriting was clearly on a roll. Over the course of an hour, this album covers plenty of ground. "Darkside of Aquarius" is a classic the likes of which Maiden wishes they could have done in their time without Bruce. "Taking the Queen" is a chilling, slow heavy song that is incredibly evocative. "Man of Sorrows" is like a power ballad about Aleister Crowley. "Road to Hell" is a catchy, fast-tempo cut. The album ends with the beautiful elegy "Arc of Space," with nylon string guitar, violin, and cello, a touching song from an artist you wouldn't expect to write something like this. And that's just the beginning, because all the other songs are good too. But it's wonderful. Bruce's reunion with Adrian Smith was definitely a good choice. Smith adds an important melodic element that makes the songs so much better.

A great album; it really shows you how good heavy metal can be.