Fear Of The Dark

Although alternative rock was burning up the charts in 1992, longtime metallist outfit Iron Maiden admirably stuck to its guns with FEAR OF THE DARK. This effort follows in the path of 1990's NO PRAYER FOR THE DYING, as Maiden again sticks to more simple compositions, avoiding the more ambitious songwriting tendencies that marked the group's late-'80s work. The album-opening "Be Quick or Be Dead" recalls the work of such younger speed metal bands as Megadeth, while "From Here to Eternity" is one of Maiden's few forays into tales of sex and sin, a la Guns N' Roses. Unfortunately, Singer Bruce Dickinson quit the band after the ensuing tour (although he and guitarist Adrian Smith would return for a reunion in 1999).

Q (6/92, p.106)
- 3 Stars - Good - "...the ultimate heavy metal band...the Maiden sound is exhilarating...rocks like a dervish..."