While IRON MAIDEN are touring the whole world in the context of their 'Somewhere Back In Time' tour, EMI thought that it would be appropriate to release another compilation.
Yes my friends, this is another 'best of' album with songs that cover the band's most successful 9 years, starting from the year of 1980. Whoever reads this review and has my age will possibly be thinking not another compilation. The younger ones would be very happy because with one purchase they could be prepared to watch the British band on this tour without spending money looking over the entire discography. Apparently to my humble ears and eyes the latter is the only purpose of this release and nothing more. Well, apart from the brand new artwork that - as you can see  - combines the respective covers of Somewhere In Time and Powerslave.
In the tracklist there is absolutely no surprise, since it comprises all the 'classics'; some recorded live and some taken from their original source. I think that this release will introduce, in the future, the documentary that is on the making featuring various moments from IRON MAIDEN's current tour. Although I am a huge MAIDEN fan (I have already bought a ticket for this tour) I dare to say that I am sick of all these compilations and that I missed some good new music. I am starting to believe that maybe artistically the band has come to a dead end and tries to remain on the top through their most successful past moments. I don't know; in fact, I hope that I am totally wrong on this.
Nevertheless, if you are MAIDEN collector (I will get this one on vinyl) or unaware (if it is possible) to the band's glorious days, then grab this one and be ready for their live show. Let us have our fingers crossed that IRON MAIDEN will get back on track and in the next five (to say at least) years will produce an album with songs worth having a spot on a future 'best of' release.