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A Matter of Life and Death (album)

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A Matter of Life and Death
Studio album by
Iron Maiden
Released25 August 2006 (2006-08-25)
Recorded1 March – 4 May 2006 (2006-03-01 – 2006-05-04)
StudioSarm West (London)
GenreHeavy metal
Length71:53
LabelEMI
ProducerKevin Shirley
Iron Maiden studio albums chronology
Dance of Death
(2003) 		A Matter of Life and Death
(2006) 		The Final Frontier
(2010)
Singles from A Matter of Life and Death
  1. "The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg"
    Released: 14 August 2006
  2. "Different World"
    Released: 14 November 2006

A Matter of Life and Death is the fourteenth studio album by English heavy metal band Iron Maiden. It was released on 25 August 2006 in Italy and Finland, and 28 August worldwide, excluding the US, Canada and Japan on 5 September. It is the first album in Iron Maiden's career to enter the US Billboard charts in the top 10, achieving significant chart success in many other countries as well.[1]

While not being a concept album,[2] war and religion are recurring themes throughout, as well as in the cover artwork.

The A Matter of Life and Death Tour was the tour in support of the album, during which they played the record in its entirety.

Overview

Iron Maiden began writing new songs near the end of 2005, after a break following their hugely successful festival dates in the US and Europe during the Eddie Rips Up the World Tour.[3] After taking time off over Christmas, the songs were completed and the band began recording at Sarm West Studios in London, with their regular producer, Kevin Shirley.[3] The album was recorded from 1 March to 4 May 2006.[4][5]

To provide a more "live" sound, the album was not mastered.[6] Shirley said, "Spoke to 'Arry (Steve Harris) on Friday, who has decided against mastering the Iron Maiden album ... It means that you will get to hear the new album exactly as it sounded in the studio, no added EQ, compression, analogue widening, etc., and I must say, I am pretty happy with the end result."[7]

Iron Maiden during the A Matter of Life and Death Tour, in which they performed the album in its entirety.

Speaking to Metal Hammer in September 2006, lead vocalist Bruce Dickinson commented that "Everyone was up for pushing things as far as they'd go, but the record was so easy to make." Dickinson went on to claim that they "finished the record with two months to spare," with Harris adding, "A lot of what you hear are first time takes." Speaking about the record's musical style, Harris states that "It is heavier than we've ever been, but also very progressive. And I don't mean that in the modern sense, but like Dream Theater, more in a 70s way."[8]

This is the band's fourth studio record not to share its name with a song, following Piece of Mind, The X Factor and Virtual XI. Drummer Nicko McBrain and guitarist Janick Gers claim that the band originally intended to name the album after one of its tracks, with both "The Pilgrim" and "The Legacy" being considered. According to Gers, "sometimes a title will just leap out at you as the obvious choice, but it didn't this time for some reason", so the band decided on A Matter of Life and Death, which, according to McBrain, was amongst "two or three ideas which we were kicking around". Neither Gers or McBrain can remember who came up with the title, which they state was thought up by either Harris, Rod Smallwood (the band's manager) or "Drew" (an engineer at Sarm West Studios).[2]

The album cover was created by Tim Bradstreet, an American artist, best known for his work on the Hellblazer and Punisher comics. A lifelong Iron Maiden fan, who drew much influence from Derek Riggs' artwork for them, Bradstreet described the opportunity as "one of my wildest dreams".[9] He had a tight schedule, receiving for reference the songs to listen to and key art done by Peacock Designs UK, who directed the booklet's artwork. Along with redrawing a few of the original elements – which featured the tank described by Bradstreet as "Korean War era but with a twist" as the gun barrel is patched over from another vehicle – Bradstreet added Eddie as a general leading an army of skeletons. Bradstreet's colourist partner Grant Goleash finished the art, which was then retouched by Peacock. The back cover would originally feature Eddie shot on the back, but then the band opted to instead feature a detail of the tank icon featuring Eddie's head along with crossed guns.[10][11][12]

During the 2006 leg of the A Matter of Life and Death Tour, Iron Maiden performed the album in its entirety, which received a mixed response.[13] The band still supports their decision to play the record in full,[14] with McBrain commenting that "I think that this is the best album I've ever made with this band" and that "a lot of people [were] very happy to hear this album in its entirety",[15] while Dickinson says that doing so contributed to the fact that "the fans are attracted to us because we are still an active musical force".[16]

Lyrically, the album deals primarily with war and humanity’s predisposition towards conflict. “Brighter Than a Thousand Suns”, which has lyrics written by Bruce Dickinson, is about the Manhattan Project of World War 2. “The Longest Day” is written about D-Day 1944. War is also the central theme in “These Colours Don’t Run, “The Legacy” and “Lord of Light”.

Single details

The first single to be released from the album was "The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg", released on 14 August 2006.[17] On 10 August, "Different World" was made available for public streaming on the band's website,[18] as was "Brighter than a Thousand Suns" the following day.[19] "Different World" was the second single,[20] receiving airplay on many rock radio stations.[21] The song also features an animated video, similar to that of "Wildest Dreams".[20]

DVD documentary

In addition to the standard CD release, A Matter of Life and Death was also released in a limited edition version containing a bonus DVD. The DVD, which has a total runtime of nearly one hour, contains a half-hour documentary, plus videos and photos all shot while the band were making the album. The documentary, entitled "The Making of A Matter of Life and Death", directed by Matthew Amos (director of The Early Days and Death on the Road DVD documentaries), features candid video footage shot largely by Kevin Shirley himself during the recording of the album giving a behind-the-scenes look at life in the studio. The bonus DVD also features the full video promo for "The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg", and a special filming of the band recording "Different World" in the studio. The album was also released as a limited edition double picture disc vinyl in gatefold sleeve, and as a digital download.[22]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
About.com[23]
AllMusic[24]
Blabbermouth.net5.5/10[25]
BW&BK6.5/10[26]
Classic Rock9/10[27]
Entertainment WeeklyB−[28]
IGN8.3/10[29]
Metal Hammer10/10[30]
PopMatters8/10[31]
Sputnikmusic5.0/5[32]

The album was met with highly positive reviews from music critics. Metal Hammer rated it 10 out of 10, stating that "Iron Maiden have utterly surpassed themselves" and that "it makes for a riveting listen."[30] Sputnikmusic also gave it full marks, commenting, "A Matter of Life and Death contains everything fans want to hear; be it exciting, Maiden-style story telling; aggressive riffs; impressive solos; or melodic harmonies." BBC Music praised the band for "their uncanny ability to write great lyrics wrapped around guitar orchestration that rock fans crave", concluding, "In this world of hopeless auto-tuned mediocrity here is a British band that consistently crafts fantastic music that surprises reviewers and fans alike."[33] IGN awarded it 8.3 out of 10, praising the album as "the crew's best release since Piece of Mind".[29] PopMatters rated it 8 out of 10, deeming it "their most focused record since 1988's Seventh Son of a Seventh Son, one that eschews crowd-pleasing anthems in favour of massive, sprawling compositions."[31] Classic Rock gave the album a score of 9 out of 10, stating that "it's not only Maiden's best since the 80s but quite possibly their finest release since 1983's Piece of Mind,"[27] and awarded it "Album of the Year" at the 2006 Classic Rock Roll of Honour Awards.[34] The album was voted Best Album in the 2006 Burrn! magazine readers' poll.[35] It also won the 2006 Metal Storm Award for Best Heavy Metal Album.[36]

Rolling Stone gave the album 3 stars out of 5, finding the music and lyrics "relevant", although also claiming that "the songs now march where they once galloped", implying that the band is "ageing gracefully".[37] AllMusic were also less positive, rating it 3.5 out of 5 and commenting that it is "a more elaborate and meandering experience than [its predecessor] Dance of Death, but a rewarding one for fans willing to indulge the group's occasional excess".[24]

Track listing

A Matter of Life and Death track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Different World"
4:17
2."These Colours Don't Run"
6:52
3."Brighter than a Thousand Suns"
  • Smith
  • Harris
  • Dickinson
8:44
4."The Pilgrim"
5:07
5."The Longest Day"
  • Smith
  • Harris
  • Dickinson
7:48
6."Out of the Shadows"
  • Dickinson
  • Harris
5:36
7."The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg"
7:21
8."For the Greater Good of God"Harris9:23
9."Lord of Light"
  • Smith
  • Harris
  • Dickinson
7:25
10."The Legacy"
  • Gers
  • Harris
9:20
Total length:71:53

Limited edition DVD

  1. The Making of A Matter of Life and Death – 30:15
  2. "The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg" music video – 7:23
  3. Studio performance footage of "Different World" – 4:17
  4. Photo gallery – 5:36

Personnel

Production and performance credits are adapted from the album liner notes.[38]

Iron Maiden

Production

Commercial performance

On 14 September, Iron Maiden released an update which stated that "in just the first week the new album has shipped over a million copies worldwide and impacted on the charts pretty well everywhere in the world".[39] This was their first album to chart in the top ten in the Billboard 200, reportedly selling 56,000 units in its first week.[40] Debuting at No. 4, it was the highest-charting rock album ever in India, until their fifteenth studio album, The Final Frontier, which debuted at No. 1.[39] A Matter of Life and Death also achieved gold status in Finland in its first week,[41] the band's eighth from the country.

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[77] Gold 30,000*
Canada (Music Canada)[78] Gold 50,000^
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[79] Platinum 32,882[79]
Germany (BVMI)[80] Gold 100,000^
Greece (IFPI Greece)[81] Gold 7,500^
Sweden (GLF)[82] Gold 30,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[83] Gold 15,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[84] Gold 100,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

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  12. ^ Tim Bradstreet on the tank
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