The (Original) Iron Maiden

IM SHINGDIG REVIEW 2012

FLASHBACK REVIEW Nov 2012

The (Original) Iron Maiden – Maiden Voyage (Rise Above Relics)

by PAUL MADDISON on Jun 27, 2012 • 8:25 am AVE NOCTUM


Before Steve Harris formed arguably the biggest heavy metal band on the planet, Iron Maiden existed as a completely different band. Formed in Basildon,Essex, these chaps were inspired by the likes of Cream, until Led Zeppelin caught their eye that is. Immediately embarking on a heavier direction that resulted in the release of their one and only single (which included the tracks Falling and Ned Kelly – released in 1970) the story was prematurely cut short for one reason or another. Roll on into 2012 and Rise Above Relics in their genius wisdom have dusted off some old demo tapes and re-released these prized recordings along with the said two tracks from their single. I say prized recordings as with this style of music there is very little guitar distortion, each note can be clearly audible, each intricate riff and band jam is captured perfectly and it also makes you realise how talented these guys were way back when. They certainly cannot hide their fretboard travels behind massive amounts of distortion and feedback like some bands do and have done for years.


In these early days of music, much inspiration was drawn from many quarters that would seem obtuse, even absurd in modern hard rock, prog and even heavy metal. Jazz was quite a major influence, listen to the bass run during opener ‘God of Darkness’ and mark the similarity to that of Sabbath’s debut release. Influence continues from many quarters, Maiden’s sound on the rockier elements is akin to Leafhound (as most people would know who that is – a lazy comparison!), whilst the occult nature of the recording would also do justice to some Black Widow fans. If you ignore the production, the music will still stand up on its own against some of the music of the current decade, it’s timeless. It has been said that these musicians were the first “proto-doom metal” band, with the aforementioned ‘God of Darkness’ being recorded one year before the seminal heavy metal blueprint of ‘Black Sabbath’ as we know and love was recorded.


This release itself has some epic tracks, at over 12 minutes long ‘Liar’ grooves and moves and shakes into action without too much repetition but possessing the lost art of jams and improvisation. The vocals sound American; I cannot really pick out a classic singer for reference, they sound more of a folk style actually, as for British vocalists, maybe similar to that of Lindisfarne’s Alan Hull in minor places, usually when holding notes. ‘Plague’ is a big jazz/blues fusion jam, this highlights the ability and importance of a drummer in those days, there is a bit more inclusion in the overall sound of the “jam”, the harmonies drive the sound towards a simulated dance with the witches; dreamy and stereotypically occult.


Looking beyond the throwaway attitude in certain parts of today’s musical world, ‘Maiden Voyage’ documents a band that were extremely talented, the recordings come across as thoughtful, expressive and even innovative (think about when/what year these were actually recorded), the more avid musician and proto-doom/prog/folk connoisseurs amongst you will really rejoice with these recordings, I for one am rekindled to this remarkable collection of music, for me it comes across as refreshing and inspiring, hopefully you will also feel the same way. ‘Maiden Voyage’ maybe a trip down memory lane for a band long past, but I can say that it is a crime not to let music fans hear the majesty, the inspirational musical journey that was and is The (Original) Iron Maiden’s ‘Maiden Voyage’.


(7/10  Paul Maddison)

http://www.avenoctum.com/2012/06/the-original-iron-maiden-maiden-voyage-rise-above-relics/


First men to do the Ironing    RECORD COLLECTOR


Prophets with zero honour, the luckless late 60s/early 70s Basildon-based quartet The Iron Maiden were forced to take it on the chin when the other lot with the same name became the globally revered gold standard of British metal in the 80s. Worse still, The (Original) Iron Maiden stole a march on Black Sabbath with their early embrace of entry-level occult lyrics and doomcore riffing, but were so far below the radar when they did so that hardly anyone knew about it beyond the band members’ immediate families. The fact that the band were initially called Bum is almost too perfect in terms of sealing their loser script with a pitiless flourish.

Maiden Voyage collates the demos intended for the band’s never-to-be-issued album alongside their sole release, 1970’s Falling/Ned Kelly single, and it’s a fascinating, often amusing tribute to the pioneering miners of an unforeseeably rich seam of rock. They were, essentially, one-trick ponies – theatrical, declamatory, finger-pointing vocals and suet-pud riffs, inevitably leading to extended blues-rock soloing by handy guitarist Trevor Toms – but pursued this trick tirelessly. Falling and God Of Darkness define their dolorously punchy sound best, while Ned Kelly sports some riotously illustrative lyrics: “He failed to derail a train and tried to flee.”

   

Rise Above | tbc (CD / 2-LP) - Reviewed by Oregano Rathbone

http://recordcollectormag.com/reviews/maiden-voyage