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Since Iron Maiden's emergence in the early eighties, Bruce Dickinson carved out his unique sound and became a vocalist by which you could define a decade of music. After ten years of success with Iron Maiden, Bruce left the band to begin his solo journey; this album is a culmination of his further musical growth. It made me remember why I have always loved metal: crunchy guitar, dark lyrics, and a legendary vocals that helped forge the true sound of Metal. I love his unforgettable voice, I love his poetry, and together these facets form one of the best songwriters of our century. Pilot, actor, historian, radio announcer, scriptwriter, novelist, world-class fencer, and once again the front man of one of the greatest heavy metal bands of all times, Bruce Dickinson has indeed had a successful career.
The album starts with the bass heavy "Broken", a soaring guitar lead piece with the best of Bruce's vocal range and a strong opener. Lyrically, the song is poignant "I stand alone now, I can see, You won't bring me down, Through all the pain and misery, I'm not broken, I'm not broken". I love the tribal drums, and the cadence of his vocal delivery is perfect, inserting "Crush, Crush" during the instrumental parts.

"Broken" is followed by the slower, more mainstream "Tattooed Millionaire." With its roots sunk deep in pure Rock and Roll, this one's got a catchy melodic chorus that demands attention. It's about the L.A. fake attitude that exists in the music industry, "Tattooed boys with expensive toys living in a bubble of sin" and the even more telling "You and all your entourage, to me are all the same, you and all your entourage, playing foolish games".

The next track is a live version of, "Laughing in the Hiding Bush" with an intricate guitar intro complete with fans screaming "BRUCE, BRUCE!!!". It's classic Bruce, with obscure lyrics, lots of guitar kick and a superb showcase of the man's impressive vocal range.

Following "Laughing in the Hiding Bush" is my absolute favorite off this album, "Tears of the Dragon". I found it hauntingly beautiful, with an exquisite melody and poignant lyrics. The song is from Dickinson's solo release "Balls to Picasso (1994)." It's a song about facing your fears and making a leap into the unknown... some of the lyrics are worth repeating here.


Waiting for the winter sun, the cold light of day
The misty ghosts of childhood fears
The pressure is building, and I can't stay away
Where I was, I had wings that couldn't fly
Where I was, I had tears I couldn't cry
My emotions frozen in an icy lake
I couldn't feel them until the ice began to break
To face the fear I once believed
The tears of the dragon, for you and for me

"Tower" comes next -- definitely reminiscent of the Maiden years. This is a classic rocker of a song, featuring a killer guitar solo. After "Tower" is the autobiographical "Born in '58" and the faster paced, heavy "Accident of Birth". At first listen "Accident..." appears to be simply about a man who returns to Hell, but Bruce sings so passionately that I think it might really have a deeper meaning.

Another favorite of mine is the new track "Silver Wings", once again Dickinson's poetic side comes shining through with lyrics like "soaring through the mountains of the moon on silver wings." The song has a certain strength and power, and will go down as one of the most memorable from this album.

After "Silver Wings is the epic "Dark Side of Aquarius," which features changing rhythms and a dreamy intro that fades into a blistering guitar attack that is soon followed by Bruce telling a tale of Hellriders and the coming of the end of the world. The lyrics manage to somehow tie the Apocalypse, Buddhist philosophy and the Silver Surfer together. It ends remarkably, with Dickinson being joined by a chorus as the guitarists shred towards the finale.

Towards the end of the album we get "Chemical Wedding", a darker, more melodic piece of brooding metal. I think this song is about growing up, the loss of innocence, and distancing yourself from the past, a giving up a part of yourself to make your dreams come true. I think that's part of the beauty of Dickinson's music, trying to figure out what story he is telling.

I have yet to find any lyrics that don't hold some deeper meaning, which to me makes for some real poetry. Next is "Back from the Edge," an unrecognized masterpiece. In this one Bruce pushes the limits of his creativity: soaring vocals encounter expert riffage amidst the drums powerfully kicking their way into the song -- it's a faster paced intro, leads, and chorus, as Bruce begins to sing about things that are very personal to him. Without seeing inside his head we can't know for sure, they could be about his childhood, his departure from Maiden, his 'fall from grace' and his return to his musical soul mates. These lyrics could be about many things, but no matter... this is a strong track and definitely deserves a spot on a "Best of..." compilation.

The finale is the live "Book of Thel". I think this song shows the musical strength of the group as a whole, with each instrument providing the perfect backdrop for the next. It's structurally diverse -- the song that musically could have blown away most of the songs on any of Dickinson's albums. "Book of Thel" shares a title with famed poet William Blake, and the similarities between song and poem aren't readily apparent, which makes it all the more interesting to figure out the meaning behind the lyrics. The song opens with keyboards, creating a wistful atmosphere, soon joined by an enchanting guitar lead, where the song begins a slow build into heaviness -- a crushing mass of music you can feel inside your heart, almost tangible. And then, thrown in amidst this powerful attack is a remnant of Shakespeare:

By the pricking of my thumbs
Something wicked this way comes
And when sleep takes you tonight
Will you wake to see the light?

The midsection features some amazing drum work and an addicting bass line that blends seamlessly with the guitar. "Book of Thel" progresses and ends with the same keyboards it started with, fading into a whispered poetry reading and the sounds of a chanting crowd. And then, seemingly out of the dark, is Bruce's chilling voice saying "So we close for you, the Book of Thel!".

This is an incredible grouping of Dickinson's work, and worthy of repeat listening whether you're a new fan or a die hard follower. It is a testament to Bruce's versatility as a musician - moving from hard, old-school rock - to reflective, chilling melodies - to a more brooding, dark music with strings, piano and choral voices included. His unique vocal abilities are highlighted on every song off the album. It's a superb example of power metal, displayed to perfection.

Bruce Dickinson's Solo Discography:
Tattooed Millionaire (1990)
Balls to Picasso (1994)
Alive in Studio A (1995)
Skunkworks (1996)
Accident of Birth (1997)
The Chemical Wedding (1998)
Scream for Me Brazil (1999)
The Best of Bruce Dickinson (2001)