BLAZE BAYLEY

The Man Who Would Not Die

Blaze Bayley/ CD

I keep my fingers crossed for success of Bayley’s new album. Not only on the musical level – however it’s one of the best heavy metal albums that I’ve heard in recent months, but also on personal level. As you all probably know last few years were quite hard for the guy who replaced Bruce Dickinson in MAIDEN. His band BLAZE broke-up and his ex-label left him with no deal. But this is tough guy. And what didn’t kill him, only made him stronger.

Bayley completed new line-up consisting of two Colombian Bermudez brothers and his two rather unknown countrymen, recorded live DVD in Poland, started his own label, recorded probably his best album and – with a big help from his wife - finally has beaten demons haunting from his past.
Seem like we have a great screenplay for another happy ending movie. But it’s not so simple. Now - when everything seemed to be on the right tracks again – Blaze must face another personal drama. I hope that it won’t beat “The Man Who Would Not Die”, too.

But let’s focus on the main topic. The music itself. As I’ve already said the second-solo-debut album – for the first time album is released under the full BLAZE BAYLEY name - marks the new beginning with powerful strike. First of all it’s more aggressive then previous releases. From the very first notes of the title track, which opens the whole stuff BLAZE and his crew announce that they’re not going to take prisoners. Fast, heavy riffs combined with catchy melodies welcome us at the theatre of madness.
“Blackmailer” is another groovy track with MAIDEN-like guitar work. When talking; about the IRONS I still think that Blaze was at the wrong place in the wrong time. His mission impossible – to replace Bruce Dickinson – came together with the evident decrease in band’s condition. “The X Factor” and “Virtual XI” simply are not as good as other MAIDEN’s albums. And blaming Bayley for the failure of his cooperation is at least unjust. “Smile Back At Death” is more epic, but still heavy and furious with great guitar work. Nico Bermudez fuels the beast. His well varied and technical guitar work shines bright throughout the whole album. Some riffs combine heavy and thrash elements. Solos are premeditated. There’s no place for redundant notes. No place for instrumental masochism. In - dedicated to his wife – love ballad “While You Were Gone” Bayley shows more delicate side of his nature – however I must admit that after few minutes this song also speed up a little. Today when we know what really happened, that song sound much more impressive.

Another great thing about this album is sound. Everything is loud and clear. It’s definitely not overproduced. It’s simply and well-balanced. ”Samurai” may be an echo of MAIDEN-era with it’s historical subject. “Crack In The System” and raging and thrashin’ “Robot” remind of “Silicon Messiah” and “Tenth Dimension” sci-fi concept. But mostly – like it was on “Blood & Belief” - the lyrics refer to Bayley’s personal struggles and thoughts.

After all I must say that I’m really positively surprised with quality of that effort. It’s all about the headbanging. It’s all about power and adrenaline. It’s all about manic heavy metal that never dies. Get this one and enjoy.

8/12