It’s not an easy task for someone like me who has followed this band for more than 25 years to focus mu thoughts and theories on ‘The Final Frontier’. The reasons are emotional and practical. This fourth album after Maiden reunited with Bruce Dickinson and Adrian Smith in 2000 is going to polarize the opinions of the hardcore fans. The reason? What some people will call an experiment (some parts of ‘The isle Of Avalon’ and ‘Satellite 15… The Final Frontier’ do not sound like Maiden at all), others will categorize as exhaustion. The thing is that may be both of these groups have the right to say so. The 15th studio album of the British legends leaves most people with mixed feelings. There are fantastic songs in here ‘Coming Home’, ‘Starblind’ and the closing ‘When The Wild Wind Blows’. These three cover all the standards of the name and the reputation of Maiden and save the album, because they are absolute standouts. It would not be overestimating to say that they are also some of the best songs this band has ever written. ‘The Alchemist’ and ‘The Man Who Would Be King’ remind me of the middle of the 90’s when Bruce wasn’t with the band, but between the 4th and the 5th minute of the latter there’s something weird happening again. Atypical moments actually are very often in this album- the middle part of ‘The Isle Of Avalon’ is completely out of any maiden form and sounds more like prog rock meets jazz fusion or something. There’s some Rush elements in ‘The Talisman’ too. t’s a question of understanding and respect that some 30 years after the debut studio album, one of the most influential heavy metal bands of all times is looking for different means of expression, but we could easily be happy without songs like ‘El Dorado’ or ‘Mother Of Mercy’. That’s it. Maiden have nothing to prove to no one. And if you are reading between the lines of ‘The Final Frontier’, you will get the message. It’s simple: If you still want to follow this band, you’d better get used and learn to listen albums like this.