The Writing on the Wall (Iron Maiden song)

"The Writing on the Wall"
Single by Iron Maiden
from the album Senjutsu
Released15 July 2021 (2021-07-15)
RecordedEarly 2019
StudioGuillaume Tell (Paris)
GenreHeavy metal
Length6:13
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Kevin Shirley
Iron Maiden singles chronology
"Empire of the Clouds"
(2016) 		"The Writing on the Wall"
(2021) 		"Stratego"
(2021)
Music video
"The Writing on the Wall" on YouTube

"The Writing on the Wall" is a song by the English heavy metal band Iron Maiden. The song was released on 15 July 2021 alongside a music video,[1] and served as the lead single from their seventeenth studio album Senjutsu. It was also the band's first single since 2016's "Empire of the Clouds".[1][2]

It was elected by Loudwire as the 14th best metal song of 2021.[3]

Music video

The song's music video was directed by Nicos Livesey from BlinkInk, a London based animation studio, in collaboration with Bruce Dickinson and former Pixar executives and long-standing Maiden fans Mark Andrews and Andrew Gordon via weekly Zoom meetings.[4] The video is a story written by Dickinson, inspired by the biblical stories of Belshazzar's feast and Daniel, as well as other biblical references[5] featuring the band's mascot, Eddie, in various styles influenced by the artwork of previous albums.[6] The visual effects were provided by BlinkInk with fans of the band reaching out with storyboard ideas from across the globe.[7]

Personnel

Iron Maiden

Production

Charts

Chart performance for "The Writing On The Wall"
Chart (2021) Peak
position
UK Rock & Metal (OCC)[8] 15
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[9] 39
US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[10] 36

References

  1. ^ a b "Iron Maiden Release The Writing on the Wall, Their First New Song in Six Years". Guitar.com. 16 July 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  2. ^ "Iron Maiden return with new single, The Writing On The Wall". GuitarWorld.com. 15 July 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  3. ^ Al-Sharif, Rabab; DiVita, Joe; Hartmann, Graham; Richardson, Jake; Trapp, Philip; Summan, Yasmine (6 December 2021). "The 35 Best Metal Songs of 2021". Loudwire. Townsquare Media. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  4. ^ Blabbermouth (15 July 2021). "IRON MAIDEN Releases First New Song In Six Years, 'The Writing On The Wall'". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  5. ^ "Iron Maiden returns with an overtly political animated epic by Nicos Livesey". www.itsnicethat.com. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  6. ^ McKittrick, Christopher (10 August 2021). "Animated 'WRITING ON THE WALL' Music Video Celebrates the Visual History of Iron Maiden". VFX Voice. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  7. ^ Kreps, Daniel (15 July 2021). "Iron Maiden Drops Biblical Epic 'The Writing on the Wall,' First New Music in 6 Years". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  8. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  9. ^ "Iron Maiden Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  10. ^ "Iron Maiden Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 October 2021.