Iron Maiden name album No.16

By Martin Kielty
published

First double-length release The Book Of Souls out on September 4

Iron Maiden will release 16th album The Book Of Souls on September 4 worldwide – and it’s their first-ever double-length studio release.

The launch was delayed after frontman Bruce Dickinson was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year – but he got the all-clear last month.

The follow-up to 2010’s The Final Frontier was recorded in France last year with producer Kevin Shirley. Artwork comes from Mark Wilkinson.

Dickinson says: “We recorded it at Guillame Tell Studios in Paris, where we’d done the Brave New World album in 2000, so the studio holds special memories for all of us.

“We were delighted to discover the same magical vibe is still alive and very much kicking there. By the time we’d finished we all agreed that each track was such an integral part of the whole body of work that if it needed to be a double album, then double it was going to be.”

Bassist Steve Harris adds: “We approached this album in a different way to how we’ve recorded previously. A lot of the songs were actually written while we were there in the studio.

“We rehearsed and recorded them straight away while they were still fresh – and I think that immediacy really shows. They have almost a live feel to them, I think. I’m very proud of The Book Of Souls. We all are, and we can’t wait for our fans to hear it when we take it out on the road next year.”

The album will be available in standard 2CD, deluxe hardbound 2CD, heavyweight triple-vinyl, standard and hi-res audio. Tour details will be confirmed in due course. Harris hits the road with solo band British Lion in July.

The Book Of Souls tracklist

Disc 1

  1. If Eternity Should Fail (Dickinson) 8:28

  2. Speed Of Light (Smith/ Dickinson) 5:01

  3. The Great Unknown (Smith/ Harris) 6:37

  4. The Red And The Black (Harris) 13:33

  5. When The River Runs Deep (Smith/ Harris) 5:52

  6. The Book Of Souls (Gers/ Harris) 10:27

Disc 2

  1. Death Or Glory (Smith/ Dickinson) 5:13

  2. Shadows Of The Valley (Gers/ Harris) 7:32

  3. Tears Of A Clown (Smith/ Harris) 4:59

  4. The Man Of Sorrows (Murray/ Harris) 6:28

  5. Empire Of The Clouds (Dickinson) 18:01

Martin Kielty
Freelance Online News Contributor

Not only is one-time online news editor Martin an established rock journalist and drummer, but he’s also penned several books on music history, including SAHB Story: The Tale of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, a band he once managed, and the best-selling Apollo Memories about the history of the legendary and infamous Glasgow Apollo. Martin has written for Classic Rock and Prog and at one time had written more articles for Louder than anyone else (we think he's second now). He’s appeared on TV and when not delving intro all things music, can be found travelling along the UK’s vast canal network.