What? Were they listening to a lot of Bon Jovi during quarantine? Before the vocals cut in, I was expecting, “I’m a cowboy/On a steel horse I ride/I’m wanted dead or alive …” I know that’s unfair, because it does have some weird gypsy/folky stuff going on, but my first reaction was “Wanted Dead or Alive,” only a little heavier and with a better singer.
Maybe it will grow on me, but right now, I think it’s a turd. The artwork is definitely a turd. Can they just kiss and make up with Derek Riggs already?
Released: July 15, 2021
So I agree with everything you said, but you left out a really important piece: Bruce Dickinson could sing the phone book and it would still sound amazing. As soon as he started singing, I completely forgot about the bad early ’90s Bon Jovi intro and happily gave into the song.
I’m not a huge Maiden fan but even I spotted some pretty cool Easter eggs in the video. The plane at 0:53 is clearly Ed Force One, and the crushed beer cans at 1:50 look to be Trooper beer.
Well, Bruce Dickinson ought to do something right after writing this stinker. I went from being very excited about the new record to being ambivalent.