A Matter of Life and Death
Studio album by Iron Maiden
Released	28 August 2006 (most of the world) 5 September 2006 (North America)[1]
Recorded	September 2005 - July 2006 at Sarm West Studios, London
Genre	Heavy metal
Length	71:54
Label	EMI
Producer	Kevin Shirley
Professional reviews
Allmusic link Kerrang! Rolling Stone link Sputnik Music link
Iron Maiden chronology
Death on the Road (2005) A Matter of Life and Death (2006) Somewhere Back in Time (2008)
Singles from A Matter of Life and Death
"The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg" Released: 14 August 2006 "Different World" Released: 14 November 2006

A Matter of Life and Death is the 14th studio album by English heavy metal band Iron Maiden. It was released on 25 August 2006 in Italy and in Finland, 28 August worldwide, and 5 September 2006 in the United States, Canada and Japan. It is the first heavy metal album to debut at #4 in India, and made it to #2 in the Indian charts. It is also one of the few rock/metal albums to go platinum in India. It is the first album in Iron Maiden's more than 30 year career to enter the U.S. Billboard charts in the top 10 and the third album where Steve Harris has had a song writing credit on every track, and has seen significant chart success in many other countries.^[2]

While the album is not a concept album,^[3] war and religion are recurring themes in the lyrics throughout the album, as well as in the album's artwork. The title is also linked with the war theme, as it shared with a 1946 film whose primary character is a WWII Royal Air Force pilot, though singer Bruce Dickinson has stated that the title and dark lyrical themes came partly from the band members' childhood experiences having grown up in the Cold War era amid common fears of imminent destruction and war.

A Matter of Life and Death Tour was the tour supporting the album.

[edit] Overview

This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (August 2008)

The band, still consisting of the same lineup as their previous two studio albums (making it the second most stable lineup; see Powerslave), started to write the songs near the end of 2005 after their hugely successful appearances in the U.S. and Europe. By the end of the year, the songs were done and they started rehearsing at Sarm West Studios in London.

At 72 minutes, A Matter of Life and Death is the band's longest album to date (exceeding 1995's The X Factor by approximately one minute) and its average song length (7:12) also makes it the longest Iron Maiden album by song average.

In order to provide a more "live" sound, the album was not mastered.^[4] Producer Kevin Shirley said, "Spoke to 'Arry on Friday, who has decided against mastering the Iron Maiden album... It means that you will get to hear the new album exactly as it sounded in the studio, no added EQ, compression, analog widening, etc., and I must say, I am pretty happy with the end result."

This is the band's fourth studio album that is not named after a specific song on the album, following Piece of Mind, The X Factor and Virtual XI.

The album cover was created by Tim Bradstreet, an American artist, currently best known for his covers on the Hellblazer and Punisher comics.

During their North American, Japanese and European tours, they performed the entire album in full. They announced after the show at Earl's Court, London on December 23, 2006, that the album would never be played in its entirety again.

[edit] Critical response

The album was met with positive reviews. Metal Hammer rated the album 10/10 and stated that "Iron Maiden have utterly surpassed themselves", Kerrang! rated it 5/5 and said "Another [Iron] Maiden classic... Keeps what longtime fans loved about the band alive." Classic Rock also awarded it Album of the Year, and the band won an award voted by Classic Rock readers, for the album. Rolling Stone gave the album 3 stars out of 5, finding the music and lyrics "relevant." However, the magazine also claims that "the songs now march where they once galloped", implying that the band is "aging gracefully".^[5]

[edit] Single details

The first single to be released from the album was "The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg". It was released on 14 August 2006. On 10 August 2006, "Different World" was put on the official website for everyone to hear. The following day "Brighter than a Thousand Suns" was also put on the official site for public streaming.

"Different World" was the second single released from the album.^[6] It has already been receiving airplay on many rock radio stations. The song also features an animated video, similar to that of "Wildest Dreams".

[edit] DVD documentary

In addition to the standard CD release, A Matter of Life and Death was also released in a limited edition version which contains a bonus DVD. The DVD, which has a total runtime of nearly one hour, contains a half-hour documentary, plus videos and photos all shot whilst the band were making the album. The documentary "The Making of A Matter of Life and Death", directed by Matthew Amos (director of The Early Days and Death on the Road DVD documentaries), features candid video footage shot largely by Kevin Shirley himself during the recording of the album giving a behind-the-scenes look at life in the studio. The bonus DVD also features the full video promo for "The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg", and a special intimate filming of the band recording "Different World" in the studio. The album is also available as a limited edition double picture disc vinyl in gatefold sleeve, and as a digital download.

[edit] Track listing

Bonus track (iTunes store edition)

[edit] Personnel

• Bruce Dickinson – vocals
• Dave Murray – guitar
• Janick Gers – guitar
• Adrian Smith – guitar and backing vocals, guitar synth on "Brighter than a Thousand Suns"
• Steve Harris – bass guitar, backing vocals, keyboard
• Nicko McBrain – drums
• Kevin Shirley - producer

[edit] Charting positions

The album sold over 220,000 copies worldwide on its first day of release and sold over 500,000 copies worldwide in 3 days. By the end of the first week of release, A Matter of Life and Death had sold over a million copies worldwide. It entered at no. 4 in the world album chart, no. 1 in ten countries, no. 4 in the UK charts, no. 2 in Canada, no. 4 in India , and for the first time entered the U.S. top 10 at no. 9 with sales of over 56,000. The album went gold in Finland in its first week.^[7] This gold record became Maiden's 8th from Finland. An update on Iron Maiden's official website states that "In just the first week the new album has shipped over a million copies worldwide and impacted on the charts pretty well everywhere in the world". In doing so it has charted in the top 20 in 34 countries worldwide.

[edit] Certifications

[edit] References

1. ^ "IRON MAIDEN announce special album format". ironmaiden.com. 2006-08-03. http://www.ironmaiden.com/article.php?section=1&subsection=1&article_=&article_id=1340. Retrieved 2006-10-29. 
2. ^ "A Matter of Life and Death kills the charts worldwide!". ironmaiden.com. 2006-09-11. http://www.ironmaiden.com/article.php?section=1&subsection=1&article_type=&article_id=1359. Retrieved 2006-09-17. 
3. ^ "IRON MAIDEN Drummer, Guitarist Talk About New Album". Blabbermouth. 2006-07-05. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=54636. Retrieved 2006-09-17. 
4. ^ http://www.cavemanproductions.com/jul2k6.htm
5. ^ "Rolling Stone Review". Rolling Stone. 2007-05-03. http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/ironmaiden/albums/album/11368913/review/11544784/a_matter_of_life_and_death. 
6. ^ Billboard.com - Discography - Iron Maiden - Different World [3 Track Single]
7. ^ "Iron Maiden kotimaisten myyntilistojen kärjessä". MTV3 Finland. 2006-08-31. http://www.mtv3.fi/viihde/uutiset/musiikki.shtml/466223?iron_maiden. Retrieved 2006-09-17. 
8. ^ ABPD searchable database. Retrieved December 29, 2008.
9. ^ CRIA Gold & Platinum certifications for October 2006. Retrieved July 25, 2007.
10. ^ BPI searchable database. Retrieved December 29, 2008.