Iron Maiden’s Senjutsu — An Experimental, Metal Classic
By: Muralidharan Pc
Tags: Iron Maiden, Review, Heavy Metal, Música, Rock

Iron Maiden’s Senjutsu — An Experimental, Metal Classic

Pic Courtesy: From the writer’s collection

One of Iron Maiden’s most definitive albums, which put them right at the zenith of NWOBHM (New Wave Of British Heavy Metal), was Powerslave, released on September 3, 1984. Thirty seven years later, on September 3, 2021, Iron Maiden released Senjutsu. Aside from this trivia on the date of release, there is just one more thing (and nothing else) in common between the two records. If Powerslave was a Maiden classic from the 20th century, Senjutsu is slated to take that position in the 21st.

The Inspiration

Iron Maiden has always looked far and wide for their inspiration. Greek Literature, British and American Literature, Science Fiction, Ancient Egyptian Civilisation and what not. But with Senjutsu, it’s the farthest they have travelled to seek their muse. Their trailblazing mascot, Eddie, adorned in a Samurai costume on Senjutsu’s cover artwork, is a nod to the East.

Senjutsu is Iron Maiden’s attempt at making metal more prog, more experimentative, more layered and, not to mention, more diverse than any of their previous albums. Translated from Japanese, Senjutsu stands for ‘strategy’/ ‘tactics.’ As they were preparing to record the album in 2019, vocalist Bruce Dickinson was diagnosed with throat cancer and also had his Achilles tendon torn. Yet, they manage to put the record together, keep it under wraps through Covid and released it after almost two years. How is that for strategy?

The Songs

Admittedly, Bruce Dickinson’s throat cancer has had an effect on his singing. In a good way, I would argue. He sounds incredible with a more earthy tenor, all through the album. As a consequence, the vocals seem just perfect for the dark, brooding mood that the album tends to create. Everything else one expects from a Maiden record — the galloping riffs, impeccably structured breakdowns, imaginative melodies — are all there.

With their first song, Senjutsu, Iron Maiden instantly announce their lofty ambitions with thundering drum beats. What follows is an 8-min, crushing epic that ruminates about the end of the world. Days Of The Future Past straddles the same theme with a far lesser effect on the listener.

Iron Maiden takes the essence of Southern Rock and gives it a spin that’s pure, scintillating metal in The Writing On The Wall — a beautiful song that offers a breezy take on Belshazzar’s Feast. Lost In A Lost World and The Time Machine are classic Maiden anthems. The air-siren style Dickinson pipes swoop in along with the cool triple guitar swag that casually hops around melodic interludes on both the tracks.

Even The Darkest Hour, which reflects on Churchill’s shortcomings with calculated amounts of gloom and doom, don’t prepare you for what comes next: The Steve Harris Triple Prog Panorama. It’s the most intense and glorious pieces of music put together in an Iron Maiden record. Death Of The Celts, The Parchment and the swashbuckling Hell On Earth — all written by Steve Harris — run to more than 10, 11 and 12 minutes respectively.

With a brilliant acoustic bass prepping the intro, Death Of The Celts is a lilting musical opus, where Dickinson narrates a story about the sacrifice of the Celtic warriors. The Parchment opens with an operatic blockbuster-style musical motif that segues into pulsating guitars, as Bruce Dickinson introspects about his ‘primal quest for fear.’ And the final track, Hell On Earth, is a sonic masterpiece. It’s possibly the standout track on the album. The song swings between passionate guitar melodies and hum-worthy lyrics as Iron Maiden takes us on a sonic superhighway into an incredibly dark space.

Final Thoughts

Senjutsu certainly belongs to the 21st century Maiden montage. It elegantly picks up from where Book Of Souls left — waltzing into unchartered musical territories, experimenting with newer sounds and exploring diverse themes. The album is a treat for fans who love the unexpected when it comes to metal.