IRON MAIDEN: Two Songs Mixed, Eight More To Go

IRON MAIDEN producer Kevin Shirley has issued another update as part of his ongoing studio diary covering the making of the group's new album, tentatively due this fall. An excerpt from the latest entry follows:

"Bruce [Dickinson, vocals] came in and sang three songs over two days — very well too! He cycles in on his bike — about 4 o'clock and leaves about 8 — and we're glad to see him go when he finally packs his bags, as the last hour is always spent listening to a discourse on planes and flight patterns and various other topics that he's very well versed in! I compiled the lead vocals from about 3 - 6 tracks, depending on the sections of the songs I was concentrating on. I used about 80% of the original live tracking vocal, cut when the band cut the basic tracks — and there's a magic spirit on them! The three amigos, Adrian [Smith], Davey [Murray] and Jan [Gers] also came in. Jan did an amazing solo — filled with his trademark 'Blackmoresque' licks and some awesome wild whammy bar nonsense, Adrian did one of his note-perfect precision solos and Davey rolled out some of his fluid and flighty solos, and we have finished 3 of the 10 album tracks — AND mixed two!! Finished! FINAL MIXES! The album opener, and rocker single,and a great durgy track with an evil 7/8 groove! * We are so far ahead of schedule — Steve's [Harris] bass sounds totally sick, he says he's never been happier with how the band, his bass, and the album is sounding — and I think this could be as big as anything they've ever recorded. It's definitely the high point of our relationship — that is MAIDEN with me producing."

To read the rest of the report, visit MaidenNorway.com.

IRON MAIDEN recently confirmed a full European leg of their world tour for this coming winter 2006. The trek will start in Scandinavia on November 9 and will include new album material, which will be released prior to the tour.