Brave New World (Iron Maiden Album) - Songs and Composition

Songs and Composition

Brave New World marked the return of vocalist Bruce Dickinson (left) and guitarist Adrian Smith (right).

Most of the songs were written before The Ed Hunter Tour and were later recorded at Guillaume Tell Studios, Paris. It was the first album the band would record with producer Kevin Shirley, and the first that they would record live in the studio.

"The Nomad", "Dream of Mirrors", and "The Mercenary" were originally written for Virtual XI, according to an interview with Adrian Smith. There was also a fourth, though neither Adrian Smith nor Steve Harris could remember which it was. Former singer Blaze Bayley also provided lyrics for "Dream of Mirrors", but was never credited.

"Brave New World" was the release's only song to reappear on the Dance of Death World Tour, the next tour in support of a studio release. None of the tracks from the album were played during the A Matter of Life and Death Tour, although many returned throughout The Final Frontier World Tour, with "The Wicker Man", "Ghost of the Navigator", the title track, and "Blood Brothers" being played during the 2010 leg.

The song "Blood Brothers", written by Steve Harris for his late father, was dedicated to Ronnie James Dio throughout the 2010 leg of The Final Frontier World Tour, following his death on 16 May. On the 2011 leg of the tour starting in Australia, "Blood Brothers" would then be dedicated to the victims and friends and family of the band members and audience who were affected by the 2011 Christchurch earthquake on 22 February. As the tour progressed, the song was also dedicated to the victims of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, as well as the revolts in Egypt and Libya and, later, the victims of the 2011 Norway attacks.