Iron Maiden, ‘El Dorado’ — New Song

Iron Maiden's 'The Final Frontier' tour -- in support of their upcoming release of the same name -- is underway, and to celebrate the launch, the band is offering a free download of the album track 'El Dorado' at their official website.

The epic, explosive song begins the way many tunes end, with a clamor of guitar, bass and drums that gradually slows to a halt. Then, a rhythmic high-hat kicks in, followed by that trademark Maiden bass gallop and a jagged guitar riff that sounds like a cross between AC/DC and ZZ Top. We're under way in an unpredictable fashion, but before you know it, we're back in vintage Maiden territory, guitars blasting to the sky, vocals weaving a dramatic story of mystery and intrigue.

As always, vocalist Bruce Dickinson's distinctive vibrato roars with dramatic intent: "I'm a jester with no tears, and I'm playing on your fears/I'm a trickster spiraling underneath this mask of love and death," he sings cryptically before the band even gets to the first chorus.

The song is progressive, yet infectious, sounding a bit like something from Iron Maiden's 1984 classic 'Powerslave.' As 'El Dorado' progresses, the song builds with serpentine guitars into a rousing refrain, with Dickinson singing at a high enough register to break a rack of wine goblets. And we haven't even gotten to the middle-eight, which features an ascending and descending layered guitar riff shadowed by climactic snare blasts. And what would an Iron Maiden song be with volleys of blazing solos, each player dueling the other to create a more climactic composition?

Fans of vintage Maiden will eat up 'El Dorado,' and if it's any indication of what the rest of 'The Final Frontier' sounds like, Iron Maiden will surely be going out with a bang, if this is, in fact, their last album.

From now until June 21, fans can order 'The Final Frontier' on high quality MP3 for $7.99. The different formats of the record, which comes out Aug. 17, are standard CD, standard digital download, a limited-edition CD with exclusive extra content, iTunes LP with access to extra content and a picture-disc vinyl.

Iron Maiden launched their North American tour on June 9 in Dallas. Dates run through July 20 in Washington, D.C. If this is, indeed, the 'final' Frontier for Maiden, you should sell your little brother for tickets.



'The Final Frontier' track list

1. 'Satellite 15 ... The Final Frontier'

2. 'El Dorado'

3. 'Mother of Mercy'

4. 'Coming Home'

5. 'The Alchemist'

6. 'Isle of Avalon'

7. 'Starblind'

8. 'The Talisman'

9. 'The Man Who Would Be King'

10. 'When the Wild Wind Blows'