IRON MAIDEN Senjutsu

More than 45 years into their career, Iron Maiden show no signs of slowing down. I caught their performance at Trondheim Rocks in 2018, and it remains one of the most memorable concerts I’ve attended. Now, six years after The Book of Souls, the band returns with their seventeenth studio album, Senjutsu, an ambitious, 82‑minute epic that leans heavily on long‑form songwriting, with three tracks stretching beyond the ten‑minute mark.

Stylistically, the album is unmistakably Iron Maiden, yet it also ventures into territory that deviates from their familiar formula. Those departures will likely divide listeners. Death of the Celts, for instance, has drawn criticism for echoing The Clansman. The comparison is understandable, but despite the similarities, I still find it an enjoyable track, just not one of the album’s standouts.

As for highlights, The Time Machine, Days of Future Past, The Writing on the Wall, and Darkest Hour all deserve mention. The closing track, Hell on Earth, is particularly impressive and, in my view, the strongest of Steve Harris’s recent “ten‑minutes‑or‑more” trilogy.

The production on Senjutsu also sets it apart. It has a different character than many of Maiden’s previous albums, punchy, warm, and surprisingly pleasant on the ears. If there’s one criticism to make, it’s that a few of the longer tracks could have benefited from some trimming without losing their impact.

Still, Senjutsu stands as a strong and worthy addition to Iron Maiden’s legacy. It’s a testament to a band that continues to evolve while staying true to the spirit that made them legends in the first place.

Discography;

Senjutsu (2021)

The Book Of Souls (2015)

The Final Frontier (2010)

A Matter Of Life And Death (2006)

Dance Of Death (2003)

Brave New World (2000)

Virtual XI (1998)

The X Factor (1995)

Fear Of The Dark (1992)

No Prayer For The Dying (1991)

Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son (1988)

Somewhere In Time (1986)

Powerslave (1984)

Piece Of Mind (1983)

The Number Of The Beast (1982)

Killers (1981)

Iron Maiden (1980)