#steve stone

Originally posted online on December 31, 2022.

Introduction

Sometimes lightning really does strike twice.

Rock history is littered with reunion albums that promised the impossible. Legendary line-ups reform, nostalgia runs wild, expectations soar—and the resulting album rarely lives up to the hype.

Iron Maiden did something extraordinary.

They exceeded it.

Released on 29 May 2000, Brave New World marked the triumphant return of Bruce Dickinson and Adrian Smith, restoring the classic line-up while introducing a bold new concept: three guitarists. Rather than replacing Janick Gers, Maiden embraced the opportunity to expand their sound, creating richer harmonies, denser arrangements and a broader sonic palette than ever before.

For many bands, such a dramatic change could have resulted in chaos.

For Iron Maiden…

It opened an entirely new creative chapter.

The seven years between Fear of the Dark and Brave New World had transformed the band. Steve Harris had weathered personal upheaval, Blaze Bayley’s tenure had taken Maiden into darker emotional territory, and heavy metal itself had begun to enjoy a revival. Freed from the pressure of competing with the changing musical landscape, Iron Maiden returned sounding refreshed, hungry and creatively fearless.

Inspired in part by Aldous Huxley’s classic novel, the album explores individuality, technology, war, faith, isolation and humanity’s uncertain future.

It is neither an attempt to recreate the 1980s nor a rejection of the Blaze Bayley years.

Instead…

It combines the best qualities of every era into something entirely new.

Many bands reunite to relive former glories.

Iron Maiden reunited…

…to create new ones.

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1. The Wicker Man

What a statement.

After years away, Bruce Dickinson wastes no time reminding everyone exactly why he remains one of heavy metal’s greatest frontmen.

The opening riff is immediate.

Punchy.

Confident.

Steve Harris’ bass gallops beneath three interlocking guitars.

The chorus explodes with irresistible energy.

Lyrically inspired by the 1973 cult horror film The Wicker Man, the song feels like Iron Maiden throwing open the doors to a new millennium.

A superb opening.

Rating: 10/10

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2. Ghost of the Navigator

The reunion album immediately becomes something far more ambitious.

Steve Harris returns to one of his favourite themes:

The sea.

Isolation.

Endurance.

The introduction slowly builds before bursting into one of Maiden’s finest modern epics.

Bruce sounds magnificent.

His voice possesses new maturity.

The instrumental middle section showcases exactly why the three-guitar approach works so well.

One of the finest songs Maiden wrote after the 1980s.

Rating: 10/10

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3. Brave New World

The title track perfectly captures the spirit of the album.

Drawing inspiration from Huxley’s dystopian novel, Steve Harris examines conformity, manipulation and the seductive dangers of technological progress.

The verses remain restrained.

The chorus soars.

Dave Murray’s melodic solo blends beautifully with Adrian Smith’s tasteful phrasing and Janick Gers’ expressive playing.

The song possesses genuine emotional depth.

A modern classic.

Rating: 10/10

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4. Blood Brothers

Few songs feel as personal.

Written by Steve Harris following the death of his father, Blood Brothers becomes both an intimate tribute and a universal meditation on family, friendship and shared humanity.

The opening melody is beautiful.

Bruce delivers one of the warmest performances of his career.

The chorus invites audiences to sing as one.

It has become one of Maiden’s defining live songs for good reason.

Simple.

Emotional.

Timeless.

Rating: 10/10

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5. The Mercenary

After several expansive compositions, Maiden deliver something direct and aggressive.

The riffs are relentless.

Nicko McBrain attacks the drums with tremendous power.

Bruce sounds wonderfully menacing.

Although often overshadowed by the songs surrounding it, this remains one of the album’s strongest pure heavy metal tracks.

Rating: 9/10

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6. Dream of Mirrors

One of Steve Harris’ finest post-1980s compositions.

The introduction patiently builds tension for several minutes.

Some listeners may find the pacing demanding.

Remain patient.

The payoff is extraordinary.

The song gradually transforms into a relentless progressive epic filled with magnificent instrumental passages.

Bruce narrates the psychological descent beautifully.

One of Maiden’s hidden masterpieces.

Rating: 10/10

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7. The Fallen Angel

Perhaps the album’s most underrated song.

Short.

Fast.

Aggressive.

It recalls the energy of Maiden’s early years while benefiting from the richer production of the reunion era.

Dave Murray and Adrian Smith trade exhilarating solos.

The chorus is instantly memorable.

A criminally overlooked gem.

Rating: 9.5/10

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8. The Nomad

Steve Harris once again demonstrates his fascination with history, mythology and philosophy.

Built around Middle Eastern-inspired melodies, The Nomad explores exile, identity and survival.

The instrumental passages create remarkable atmosphere.

Bruce’s storytelling is exceptional.

The song unfolds like a cinematic journey across ancient landscapes.

One of Maiden’s most ambitious modern compositions.

Rating: 9.5/10

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9. Out of the Silent Planet

Inspired by C. S. Lewis’ science-fiction novel, the song balances philosophical themes with one of the album’s strongest choruses.

Janick Gers contributes significantly to its restless energy.

Nicko’s drumming remains endlessly inventive.

Steve Harris’ bass once again anchors everything with effortless authority.

A genuine fan favourite.

Rating: 9.5/10

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10. The Thin Line Between Love and Hate

An extraordinary conclusion.

The gentle acoustic opening gradually gives way to one of Maiden’s most emotionally rich finales.

Bruce Dickinson delivers a remarkably nuanced vocal performance.

The song explores obsession, relationships and the fragile boundary separating affection from destruction.

The closing instrumental section feels almost transcendent.

One of the band’s finest closing tracks.

Rating: 10/10

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Production

With Martin Birch retired, producer Kevin Shirley faced an unenviable task.

Rather than attempting to imitate Birch, Shirley established his own identity.

The production is warmer.

More organic.

Less clinical than some 1980s albums.

The three guitars remain beautifully balanced.

Bruce sounds revitalised.

Nicko’s drums possess enormous natural presence.

Steve Harris’ bass remains unmistakably prominent.

Some fans prefer Birch’s sharper precision.

Others favour Shirley’s live, spacious sound.

For this album…

It works perfectly.

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The Return of Bruce Dickinson and Adrian Smith

The return of Bruce Dickinson understandably dominated headlines.

His voice had matured.

Deepened.

Gained emotional nuance without sacrificing power.

He sounds magnificent throughout.

Equally significant was Adrian Smith’s return.

His melodic sensibilities had been sorely missed during the 1990s.

Rather than forcing Janick Gers aside, Maiden wisely embraced all three guitarists.

The result is arguably the richest guitar sound in heavy metal.

Each player contributes something unique.

Dave Murray provides fluid melody.

Adrian Smith delivers elegant precision.

Janick Gers injects unpredictability and fire.

Together…

They became something greater than the sum of their parts.

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Derek Riggs Returns

Although much of the final cover artwork was digitally enhanced and completed by Steve Stone, the original concept once again came from Derek Riggs, marking his return to Iron Maiden after several years away.

Eddie looms above a futuristic London skyline, emerging from storm clouds like an ancient god observing humanity below.

The image perfectly complements the album’s themes of technology, civilisation and uncertain futures.

While stylistically different from Riggs’ classic 1980s paintings, it remains one of Maiden’s most memorable modern covers.

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Legacy

Few reunion albums have been greeted with such universal acclaim.

Brave New World didn’t merely reassure fans that Iron Maiden were back—it demonstrated that they still had something vital to say. Critics praised the renewed energy, the richer songwriting and the seamless integration of Bruce Dickinson and Adrian Smith alongside Janick Gers. For many listeners, it marked the beginning of Iron Maiden’s second golden age.

The accompanying Brave New World Tour culminated in the legendary Rock in Rio performance before a crowd of approximately 250,000 people. Released as the live album and concert film Rock in Rio (2002), it captured the rejuvenated band at the height of their powers and introduced countless new fans to songs from the reunion era alongside the classic material.

Tracks such as The Wicker Man, Blood Brothers, Ghost of the Navigator and Brave New World quickly established themselves as permanent fixtures in Maiden’s live repertoire. Rather than feeling like songs from a “new” album, they blended naturally alongside timeless classics such as The Trooper, Hallowed Be Thy Name and Run to the Hills.

Perhaps Brave New World’s greatest achievement is that it avoided becoming an exercise in nostalgia. Instead of revisiting former glories, Iron Maiden embraced maturity, writing longer, more reflective and more progressive songs while retaining the energy that had always defined them.

It proved that the band’s greatest years were not confined to the 1980s.

A remarkable achievement few of their contemporaries could match.

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Overall Verdict

Reunion albums are supposed to celebrate the past.

Brave New World celebrates the future.

Rather than simply recreating the sound of The Number of the Beast or Powerslave, Iron Maiden took everything they had learned over twenty-five years and forged something richer, deeper and more emotionally mature.

Steve Harris writes with renewed confidence.

Bruce Dickinson returns in astonishing vocal form.

Adrian Smith immediately reminds listeners why his melodic instincts were so sorely missed.

Dave Murray remains effortlessly elegant.

Janick Gers fully justifies his place within the band.

Nicko McBrain continues to perform with seemingly limitless imagination.

The album flows beautifully from beginning to end.

Its epics never feel self-indulgent.

Its shorter songs never feel disposable.

It balances aggression with introspection, optimism with melancholy, tradition with innovation.

Perhaps most impressively…

It never sounds like a band trying to prove themselves.

It sounds like a band that already knows exactly who they are.

For many fans, Brave New World represents the beginning of Iron Maiden’s second classic era.

It is difficult to disagree.

Overall Album Rating: 10/10

Standout Tracks: Blood Brothers, Ghost of the Navigator, Brave New World, Dream of Mirrors, The Wicker Man

Most Underrated Track: The Fallen Angel

Hidden Gem: The Nomad

Best Reunion Performance: Blood Brothers

Final Verdict: Brave New World is one of the greatest comeback albums in rock history. More than simply a reunion, it is a creative rebirth that successfully blends the ambition of Iron Maiden’s progressive years with the power and immediacy of their classic sound. Rich in emotion, intelligence and world-class musicianship, it announced not only the return of Bruce Dickinson and Adrian Smith, but the beginning of one of the most remarkable second acts any heavy metal band has ever achieved.

Paul Cornell + Lee Harris form Cosmic Lighthouse, announce first project with Comixology

On a more serious note: love how we are seeing glimpses of who he will become here. The eyeing of the lady, her response, the using of the body to make a statement, the faux cockiness that he so convincingly portraits