Paul Dianno - The Living Dead Review
by Zane Ewton
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Paul Dianno is an original of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. As lead singer of Iron Maiden he was crucial to two of the band's most loved releases, Iron Maiden and Killers. When he parted ways with Iron Maiden they went on to worldwide success and Dianno dispensed his time between other bands and the occasional solo album. Some of Dianno's other previous bands include Gogmagog, Battlezone, Praying Mantis and Killers.
The English gent now lives in Brazil where he continues to thrash away at the metal beast with damaging riffs and maniacal vocals. Dianno's newest release is The Living Dead, basically a re-release of his 2000 album Nomad, with a few bonuses for good measure. Those extras include live performances of the Maiden standards "Wrathchild" and "Phantom of the Opera".
The new cuts are infused with the same elements of the NWOBHM bands, including punk, thrash, a little doom and a flair for the dramatic. The guitars are abrasive. The drums are manic. Dianno still has unlimited strength in his voice and can range from a whisper to ear splitting howl.
Not a single throwaway litters The Living Dead. Dianno even demonstrates what a good singer could have done with Megadeth's "Symphony of Destruction". Metal fans of all creeds can find something redeemable on The Living Dead. It is just a simple, rocking metal album.
A second disc offers up a making-of video and an in-depth interview with Dianno about his time with Iron Maiden. The story of Dianno's departure was always under a dark cloud of mystery. Maybe his insights could provide some answers to those fans looking for resolution. The same fans who questioned Maiden for hiring some guy who fences and wore unfortunate short pants.
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Paul Dianno - The Living Dead Label:Cleopatra
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