A Matter of Life and Death (album)

Infobox Album
Name = A Matter of Life and Death
Type = Studio album
Artist = Iron Maiden


Released = 28 August 2006 (most of the world)
5 September 2006 (North America)cite web
url=http://www.ironmaiden.com/article.php?section=1&subsection=1&article_=&article_id=1340
title=IRON MAIDEN announce special album format
date=2006-08-03
accessdate=2006-10-29
publisher=ironmaiden.com]
Recorded = September 2005 - July 2006 at Sarm West Studios, London
Genre = Heavy metal
Length = 1:11:54
Label = EMI
Producer = Kevin Shirley
Reviews =
* "Allmusic" Rating|3.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:aeozefbk5gf8 link]
* "Rolling Stone" Rating|3|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/ironmaiden/albums/album/11368913/review/11544784/a_matter_of_life_and_death link]
* "The Metal Observer" rating-10|10 [http://www.metal-observer.com/articles.php?lid=1&sid=1&id=11024 link]
*"Metal Hammer" rating-10|10
*"Kerrang!" Rating|5|5
Last album = "Death on the Road"
(2005)
This album = "A Matter of Life and Death"
(2006)
Next album = ""
(2008)

"A Matter of Life and Death" is the 14th studio album by English heavy metal band Iron Maiden. It was released on 25 August 2006 in Italy and in Finland, 28 August worldwide, and 5 September 2006 in the United States, Canada and Japan. It is the first heavy metal album to debut at #4 in India, and made it to #2 in the Indian charts. It is also one of the few rock/metal albums to go platinum in India. It is the first album in Iron Maiden's more than 30 year career to enter the U.S. Billboard charts in the top 10, and has seen significant chart success in many other countries. cite web
url=http://www.ironmaiden.com/article.php?section=1&subsection=1&article_type=&article_id=1359
title=A Matter of Life and Death kills the charts worldwide!
date=2006-09-11
accessdate=2006-09-17
publisher=ironmaiden.com] While the album is not a concept album,cite web
url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=54636
title=IRON MAIDEN Drummer, Guitarist Talk About New Album
date=2006-07-05
accessdate=2006-09-17
publisher=Blabbermouth] war and religion are recurring themes in the lyrics throughout the album, as well as in the album's artwork. The title "A Matter of Life and Death" is also linked with the war theme, as it titles a 1946 movie whose primary character is a WWII Royal Air Force pilot.

A Matter Of Life And Death Tour was the tour supporting the album.

Overview

The band, still consisting of the same lineup as their previous two studio albums (making it the second most stable lineup; see "Powerslave"), started to write the songs near the end of 2005 after their hugely successful appearances in the U.S. and Europe. By the end of the year, the songs were done and they started rehearsing at Sarm West Studios in London.

At 72 minutes, "A Matter of Life and Death" is the band's longest album to date (exceeding 1995's "The X Factor" by approximately one minute) and its average song length (7:12) also makes it the longest Iron Maiden album by song average.

This is the band's fourth studio album that is not named after a specific song on the album, following "Piece of Mind", "The X Factor" and "Virtual XI".

The album cover was created by Tim Bradstreet, an American artist, currently best known for his covers on the "Punisher" comics.

During their North American, Japanese and European tours, they performed the entire album in full.They announced after the show at Earl's Court, London on December 23rd, 2006, that the album would never be played in its entirety again.

Critical response

The album was met with positive reviews. "Metal Hammer" rated the album 10/10 and stated that "Iron Maiden have utterly surpassed themselves", Kerrang! rated it 5/5 and said "Another [Iron] Maiden classic... Keeps what longtime fans loved about the band alive."Classic Rock" also awarded it Album of the Year, and the band won an award voted by "Classic Rock" readers, for the album. "Rolling Stone" gave the album 3 stars out of 5, finding the music and lyrics "relevant." However, the magazine also claims that "the songs now march where they once galloped", implying that the band is "aging gracefully" cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title =Rolling Stone Review
work =
publisher =Rolling Stone
date =2007-05-03
url =http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/ironmaiden/albums/album/11368913/review/11544784/a_matter_of_life_and_death
format =
doi =
accessdate = ] .

ingle details

The first single to be released from the album was "The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg". It was released on 14 August 2006. On 10 August 2006, "Different World" was put on the official website for everyone to hear. The following day "Brighter than a Thousand Suns" was also put on the official site for public streaming.

"Different World" was the second single released from the album [ [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/discography/index.jsp?pid=4887&aid=811196 Billboard.com - Discography - Iron Maiden - Different World [3 Track Single ] ] . It has already been receiving airplay on many rock radio stations. The song also features an animated video, similar to that of "Wildest Dreams".

DVD documentary

In addition to the standard CD release, "A Matter of Life and Death" was also released in a limited edition version which contains a bonus DVD. The DVD, which has a total runtime of nearly one hour, contains a half-hour documentary, plus videos and photos all shot whilst the band were making the album. The documentary "The Making of A Matter of Life and Death", directed by Matthew Amos (director of "The Early Days" and "Death on the Road" DVD documentaries), features candid video footage shot largely by Kevin Shirley himself during the recording of the album giving a behind-the-scenes look at life in the studio. The bonus DVD also features the full video promo for "The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg", and a special intimate filming of the band recording "Different World" in the studio. The album is also available as a limited edition double picture disc vinyl in gatefold sleeve, and as a digital download.

Track listing

tracklist

lyrics_credits = yes
music_credits = yes

title1 = Different World
lyrics1 = Adrian Smith, Steve Harris
music1 = Harris
length1 = 4:17

title2 = These Colours Don't Run
lyrics2 = Bruce Dickinson
music2 = Smith, Harris
length2 = 6:52

title3 = Brighter Than a Thousand Suns
lyrics3 = Dickinson, Harris
music3 = Smith, Harris
length3 = 8:44

title4 = The Pilgrim
lyrics4 = Harris
music4 = Janick Gers, Harris
length4 = 5:07

title5 = The Longest Day
lyrics5 = Dickinson
music5 = Smith, Harris
length5 = 7:48

title6 = Out of the Shadows
lyrics6 = Dickinson
music6 = Dickinson, Harris
length6 = 5:36

title7 = The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg
lyrics7 = Harris
music7 = Dave Murray, Harris
length7 = 7:21

title8 = For the Greater Good of God
lyrics8 = Harris
music8 = Harris
length8 = 9:24

title9 = Lord of Light
lyrics9 = Dickinson
music9 = Smith, Harris
length9 = 7:23

title10 = The Legacy
lyrics10 = Harris
music10 = Gers, Harris
length10 = 9:20

Bonus track (iTunes store edition)

tracklist

lyrics_credits = yes
music_credits = yes

title11 = Hallowed Be Thy Name (Live)
lyrics11 = Harris
music11 = Harris
length11 = 7:11

Personnel

*Bruce Dickinson – vocals
*Dave Murray – guitar
*Janick Gers – guitar
*Adrian Smith – guitar and backing vocals, guitar synth on "Brighter than a Thousand Suns"
*Steve Harris – bass guitar, backing vocals, keyboard
*Nicko McBrain – drums
*Kevin Shirley - producer

Charting positions

The album went gold in Finland in its first week. [cite web
url=http://www.mtv3.fi/viihde/uutiset/musiikki.shtml/466223?iron_maiden
title=Iron Maiden kotimaisten myyntilistojen kärjessä
date=2006-08-31
accessdate=2006-09-17
publisher=MTV3 Finland] This gold record became Maiden's 8th from Finland. The album sold over 220,000 copies worldwide on its first day of release and sold over 500,000 copies worldwide in 3 days. By the end of the first week of release, A Matter of Life and Death had sold over a million copies worldwide. It entered at no. 4 in the world album chart, no. 1 in ten countries, no. 4 in the UK charts, no. 2 in Canada, no. 4 in India , and for the first time entered the U.S. top 10 at no. 9 with sales of over 56,000. An update on Iron Maiden's official website states that "In just the first week the new album has shipped over a million copies worldwide and impacted on the charts pretty well everywhere in the world". In doing so it has charted in the top 20 in 34 countries worldwide.

The album went 2xPlatinum in India (40,000+), Platinum in Finland (30,000+), and gold in: UK (100,000+), Brazil (50,000+) Sweden (30,000+), Greece (10,000+), Canada (50,000+), [ [http://www.cria.ca/gold/1006_g.php CRIA Gold & Platinum certifications for October 2006] . Retrieved July 25, 2007.] Italy (40,000+) and Switzerland (15,000+).

References