BEAST FROM THE EAST
DAVE MURRAY IS laughing at Guitar World’s question, and, honestly, we can’t really blame him. We’ve connected with the Iron Maiden guitarist to discuss his iconic metal band’s new record, Senjutsu. It’s an epic double album bursting with complex, head-spinning guitar action — and we’ve just asked him to pick out its single most challenging six-string moment.
“Anything that sounds difficult … was difficult to play!” he says with a chuckle.
Murray’s good-natured jibe aside, Senjutsu is a truly formidable work of art. The New Wave of British Heavy Metal trailblazers’ 17th album is a 10-song, 80-plus-minute collection of classic Maiden grandeur and inimitable triple-guitar assault, courtesy of Murray and his compatriots Adrian Smith and Janick Gers. It’s stacked with Iron Maiden’s signature calling cards: dual-guitar harmonies, soaring solos, galloping rhythms, loud-soft dynamics and more merge with enthralling lyrical tales to lead listeners on one hell of a headbanging journey.
“Guitar should be a form of therapy. AND EVERYBODY NEEDS THAT AT THE MOMENT”
—DAVE MURRAY
“‘Senjutsu’ is cinematic,” says Smith of the stirring title track, which features taiko-esque drums, exotic guitar runs and multiple fiery leads. “There’s a lot of dramatics on the album … ‘Days of Future Past’ has a modern vibe, ‘The Writing on the Wall” has a folky vibe. [Bassist-songwriter] Steve [Harris] has come up with some classic stuff. His songs are getting longer and longer. He’s gonna need a triple album next time. [] But if you’re a Maiden fan, you’re going to love it.” “Because of our past we’re a band that can afford to do that,” says Gers of extended running time. “We take chances. There’s no set three-minute song that goes exactly where you want it. … You can have your fast metal stuff, ‘Death of the Celts’ where there’s all the Celtic things, the Eastern-kinda [sounds] of ‘The Parchment.’ You’ve got the huge choruses of ‘Hell on Earth.’ It all adds to the album.
