Rock legends also get sick. Very sick, in fact, like Bruce Dickinson. Shortly after the Iron Maiden frontman sang this album, it turned out that Dickinson had cancer of his tongue. After an operation and long treatment, the singer slowly seems to be back to normal. The Book Of Souls, the first album in 5 years, sounds familiar. Spun heavy metal songs with plenty of room for the melodic solos of the
… three guitarists. For the lyrics, the band members were inspired by the ancient Mayan culture. The house mascot (the angry skeleton Eddie) has had a Central American makeover for this album. The band had plenty of inspiration, because The Book Of Souls has become a double album. New roads are hardly explored. An exception to this is the 18-minute closing track Empire Of The Clouds on which Bruce Dickinson is not only as a singer, but can also be heard as a pianist for the first time. (PdK)more
