The Chemical Wedding in Bloomington, MN

Like its consistently excellent (and slightly superior) predecessor,
Accident of Birth
,
Bruce Dickinson
's fifth solo effort,
The Chemical Wedding
, continued to provide a welcome sanctuary (blatant reference intended) for disgruntled
Iron Maiden
fans suffering through the all-too-long mediocrity of the
Blaze Bayley
era. By avoiding the experimental pitfalls of prior solo outings to fully embrace his metallic origins,
Dickinson
-- the solo artist -- is at his creative peak on these two records. The importance of co-songwriter, producer, and guitarist
Roy Z
's guidance in this revival cannot be overstated, and reuniting with fellow
Maiden
alum
Adrian Smith
wasn't a bad idea, either. Muscular anthems such as "King in Crimson," "Killing Floor," and the title track manage to deliver with aggression, confidence, and, most importantly, a modern metal aesthetic sorely missing in
's efforts of the time. The album's second half does dip in quality somewhat, but a storming parting shot of "Machine Men" (a classic
-
Smith
collaboration if ever there was one) and "The Alchemist" (which revisits the title track's main theme in
Seventh Son
fashion) offer a worthy finale to this very impressive album. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia