For sharing thoughts and ratings on the song.
Eternity Has Failed
none
3.0
1
This is a tricky one to rate. So, Iron Maiden’s “If Eternity Should Fail” was obviously a modified version of this song’s earlier demo, and this song is that demo polished into an album track, which differs in some ways from the aforementioned Maiden song but cannot be spoken about without mentioning it. Am I right? Also, the fact that Bruce played his demo to Steve (don’t do that again with your new songs, Bruce, please) might have had a massive effect on The Mandrake Project, because had he not done that, we might have a concept album in our hands. And “If Eternity Should Fail” would have been the opening track of that concept album.
In my opinion, “If Eternity Should Fail” is a top three 2000’s Maiden song. Just guess how many times I have imagined what Bruce’s concept album would have been like, if Steve and Maiden hadn’t ruined the whole thing.
Of course, I didn’t know that Bruce would release the song anyway. Did we get a better version now, with better production that took care of the little flaws in Maiden’s version?
Well, those flaws are gone, but… this version of the song is a lot more sterile, a lot flatter. In all, the production is not one of The Mandrake Project’s strongest points. For example, the drums feel a lot less alive than those of Nicko McBrain, who of course is a very lively drummer, but that’s not the sole reason. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with Dave Moreno’s drumming. This just does not sound like a band playing together, and compared to Bruce’s earlier work, that is a huge minus. And it becomes evident in a song that has been produced and released as a different version in a different environment earlier.
Plus, I think the guitar solo by Gus G. just sucks. It doesn’t bring anything essential to the instrumental part which was brilliant in the “old” version. (I’m already tired of referring to Maiden in this post.) Mistheria’s short keyboard shred is fine, even if it feels a little out of place.
So, how to rate it? I don’t know. I can’t think of it as “just” a song in its own right at this point, and I can’t hide my slight disappointment, even as the verses and the chorus still rule, and Bruce’s “lose your miiiiiiiind” is a particularly delightful vocal line.
Time will tell how this goes. It’s still a great song, but.