IRON MAIDEN producer Kevin Shirley, who has worked with the group on their last two studio releases as well as the live album "Rock In Rio", has taken the unusual step of publicly defending the production on MAIDEN's latest CD, "Dance Of Death", calling it a perfect replica of the band's live sound.

Writing to his web site, Shirley said, "I have been getting all sorts of e-mails (yeah I read 'em, but don't reply to them all) about the sonic quality of 'Dance of Death'. Now, I don't need to qualify anything, except it sounds like that 'cos it's meant to sound like that! The band love it! Nicko [McBrain] prefers the energy of the drum/guitar balance to 'Brave New World', which actually featured more drums (which he liked). Steve [Harris] says the bass finally sounds like his rig sounds. The three amigos love the guitars - including the odd amp crackle and distortion which is the sound of them live - and that, my friends, is Bruce singing like he sings! Not coaxed, and digitally enhanced, tuned and corrected. IRON MAIDEN - captured. The songs are great, but not necessarily reflective of nu-metal themes - because THEY ARE NOT NU-METAL! That is IRON MAIDEN, and no one is stopping you filling up your CD players with LINKIN PARK, LIMP BIZKIT or CHEVELLE, or whatever the hell you think is a fine sounding record. (they all sound sonically pretty similar to me, whereas NO-ONE else sounds like MAIDEN. I love the album. So, Up the Irons - and for the know-it-all detractors = Up yours!"

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Iron Maiden