I remember buying this back in the day and was somewhat disappointed. I love the first two albums, with that raw energy, but by the time this album came out all that raw energy and power had been replaced by a much more slicker sound. This is a 2014 remaster and they don’t even sound like a metal band to my ears, as it’s been polished so much.
They were always good at doing a single and 2 Minutes To Midnight is the big one on this album, although that main riff was lifted from another NWOBHM outfit. (Bonus points for guessing who and what song.) I’m a sucker for a big sprawling centrepiece track and Rime Of The Ancient Mariner is my favourite tune on the record. Steve Harris is a genius at coming up with these type of tunes and I guess that’s comes from his love of old school Prog. In fact, maybe this should be classed as a Prog album instead of metal as it has much more in common with the Prog handle.
Do I like it anymore than when I first heard it? Well, yes I do and that’s because I accept it more as what it is than what I wanted it to be.
8.5/10 from The Grooveman.
