British legends, Iron Maiden are one of the most respected and epic bands nowadays and, just a few weeks ago, they announced the release of their newest double album The Book of Souls scheduled to be out on September 4th. and to keep things epic, they wrote their longest track to date, boasting a whooping 18 min length, titled “Empire of Clouds” which Steve Harris describes as “a masterpiece.”
I think it’s a masterpiece, actually – I think I can say that because I didn’t write it! It sounds like Maiden but it’s totally different from what we’ve done before. Eighteen minutes sounds like a long time, but it’s actually such a journey that… Well, it’s best just to leave people to listen to it and see what they think. But it’s very interesting. It’s certainly not boring, let’s put it that way! And there are still other long songs also.
On the same interview with Kerrang, Harris discussed how the recording process was affected for frontman, Bruce Dickinson, after he was cleared from his cancer diagnosis:
Well, it didn’t at all, because Bruce didn’t know and none of us knew anything about… There was no inkling of any of it, He’d finished all his vocal bits completely anyway, and then there were some other bits and pieces we were doing. Really, we didn’t know anything — he didn’t show any signs at all. I mean, his singing, when you hear it… He’s singing better than ever.”
The band decided to wait until 2016 to tour supporting the new record to give Bruce enough time to recuperate and get ready to go back on stage but the band is excited to hit the road, as Harris mentioned:
We always feel like every show is sacred these days anyway, and I suppose even more so now after the scare with what’s happened with Bruce. It makes everything more important to us.
The Book Of Souls is a really powerful album, we’re really proud of it and we can’t wait to come out and play new songs on tour.
In the meantime, Harris will embark on a UK tour with his solo project, British Lion, at the following dates:
7/29: Harlow Square
7/30: Bristol Bierkeller
7/31: Cardiff University
8/02: Birmingham Rainbow Warehouse
8/04: Chester Live Rooms
8/05: Lincoln Engine Shed
8/07: Manchester Club Academy
8/08: Newcastle Riverside
8/09: Edinburgh Studio 24
8/ 10: Aberdeen Lemon Tree
8/12: York Duchess
8/13: Blackburn King George’s Hall
8/14: Doncaster Diamond Live Lounge
8/15: Grimsby Yardbirds
8/16: Nottingham Rescue Rooms
8/18: Colchester Arts Centre
8/20: Oxford O2 Academy 2
8/21: Plymouth Hub
8/22: Southampton 1865
8/23: Poole My Kyps
8/24: Norwich Waterfront
8/26: London O2 Academy Islington
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