For those of you unfamiliar with the mighty Metal monster known as Iron Maiden, "Remember Tomorrow" is a song from one of their earlier albums. It's only fitting that I title my Epinion "Remember Tomorrow" as their new album reminds me of the band at their height but also bodes well for their future...they're not just re-living their former glory...they're creating something fresh and new. I look forward to the future!

Now, onto the album itself.

The cover art (by Steve Stone and longtime Iron Maiden cover-artist Derek Riggs) is absolutely gorgeous. It's a view of a futuristic London, rendered in metallic blues and silvers, with strange, surreal domed architecture, flying cars and sci-fi-looking ships cruising along the river Thames. Above, a storm is brewing within purple-blue stormclouds -- Iron Maiden's ever-present mascot, Eddie the 'Ead, makes his appearance in the cloud formations...a grinning spectre with a cadaver's smile, sunken eyes and sharp fangs.

Yup, they're back.

Bruce Dickinson (vocals) and Adrian Smith (guitars) have returned after a too-long hiatus from the band. Adrian had played guitar on Bruce's solo masterpiece "The Chemical Wedding" and evidently it re-kindled his love for the classic power metal that made Maiden one of the greatest metal bands ever. He adds his distinctive guitar style to the famous dual-guitar harmonies for which he and fellow axeman Dave Murray are so well known.

And Bruce? My god, man. Has Bruce ever sounded better? His voice stronger, clearer and filled with more passion than anything he's ever done? Despite not being one of the founding members, Bruce's presence defines Iron Maiden. Without him, well...X-Factor and Virtual XI will not go down in history as being high points in the 'Maiden catalog.

Steve Harris, the founder of the band, main songwriter and crazed bassist, is back with his twelfth studio album, along with Dave Murray (guitars), Nicko McBrain (drums) and relative newcomer Jannick Gers) who has taken Adrian's place alongside Dave Murray for the last four albums.

The music. Oh, what wonderful, wonderful music. Steve's galloping bass returns in full force and Nicko's drumming is outrageous -- someone please tell me that he's finally using a double-bass drum set...I cannot believe anyone can still play that fast with one foot pedal! Jannick, Dave and Adrian combine their efforts to create rich tapestries of sound...the three-guitar assault works perfectly within 'Maiden's musical style and really stands out in "The Thin Line Between Love and Hate."

The album starts out strong with a short, fast song -- "The Wicker Man." An obvious choice for the album's opener (and it's single). "Ghost of the Navigator" is a much longer song (the majority of the ssongs on BNW clock in at over six or seven minutes long) and thematically fits in with "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" from their Powerslave days. "Brave New World" is another marathon of passionate singing and beautiful lyrics. Track 4, "Blood Brothers" has a classical feel to it, almost Elizabethan...as if it was written circa Seventh Son of a Seventh Son. It's a really gorgeous song with some killer bass playing/strumming by Steve and powerful singing by Bruce. This is the song that my girlfriend seem to like the most. The next song ("The Mercenary") could've also been featured on Powerslave as a sequel of sorts to "2 Midnight til Midnight." I can just picture Eddie dressed up as the song's titular character. Grrr..."lose your skin, lose your skull one by one the sack is full!"

"Dream of Mirrors," an epic song about deja vu (again, a song reminiscent of a classic 'Maiden tune from Somewhere in Time). Lots of signature 'Maiden time changes and choruses...but again, the song is unlike anything that they've done. "Everything old is new again," the saying goes. Track 7 is "Fallen Angel" is just a powerhouse of a song that gets better with each listen. The thumping rhythm section drives the song home as Bruce sings about the "Chosen One" and battling demonic forces. Rock on, Bruce! "The Nomad" is a great song...very Eastern (again, capturing the flavor of "Powerslave" and "To Tame a Land" while still remaining unique!)...about a wandering, enigmatic desert rider who has become a legend. At first this was my least favorite song but man, after a few listens I'm screaming along with Bruce ("Nomad! You're the rider so mysterious! Nomad...you're the spirit that men fear in us!"). As soon as this song ends, "Out of the Silent Planet" begins. It starts out with soft singing and a very gentle feel, then explodes into a tooth-gnashing, foot-stomping beast of a song. Finally, the epic "The Thin Line Between Love and Hate" -- a song that doesn't really sound like anything I've ever heard 'Maiden play before.

The main chorus shows off Bruce's voice and the lyrics possess a simple, beauty...especially with his operatic rendition of them:

I will hope
My soul will float
So I will live forever
Heart will die
My soul will fly
and I will live forever

But the one part of this song occurs at around the half-way point, when everything settles into a "groove" (in a 'Maiden song?!). Steve and Nicko lay down the "groove," backed up by a dual-guitar riff and then a beautiful guitar solo over the whole thing before it all falls away into a "near-jazz" style. Words fail me at this point...it's heartbreakingly good. The whole song has an epic, majestic feel to it and ends not with a bang but a whisper...an elegant end to one of the year's best albums.

Whew. Can you tell I love this band? 'Maiden is back with a vengeance. So all you Earth-Dogs, Hell-Rats and Rivetheads out there...you know what to do...

UP THE IRONS!