I like that it tells a story. The lyrics have been loosely inspired by the 1986 animated film - When The Wind Blows, itself adapted from Raymond Briggs's graphic novel of the same name. The original story is that of an ageing couple, Jim and Hilda, who prepare for a thermonuclear war, each in his own way - Jim prepares a shelter, while Hilda is preparing tea. After the nuclear explosion that has destroyed everything around their little house in the countryside, they reflect on their past and wonder about the future, all the while exposing themselves to the radiations that eventually kill them. It's a beautiful tale about the madness of the authorities and the helplessness of the people when faced with annihilation. The song, however, takes a different view, and the couple prepare for the apocalypse so much that they end up in total denial when the news arrive that this is not going to happen. What actually happens is a mere earthquake that scares them so much that they eventually commit suicide with poison, rather than face the aftermath of total destruction. This twist of the tale is quite ironic, mostly when you consider how hard they'd been working to prepare for survival. Parts of this sing, especially the beginning are very similar to the Maiden song Hell on Earth.

So annoying when these lyric videos don’t have the correct lyrics like what’s the point in going into all that effort of making the video to write the wrong words 😅

I can understand the feeling of intimidation of or unwillingness to want to sit through a near 19min song but I do think you'll be surprised by it. Be sure to have the lyrics for it to give yourself the best chance of enjoying the potential emotional roller coaster that is Empire of The Clouds. Peace 🍻

This song live at the En Vivo concert in Chile is a must, the performance, the crowd, just amazing! Up the Irons!!

You really need to see these songs performed live, they are so much more powerful and good. This song especially is great live along with The Talisman. Check out the video En Vivo, it covers most of this album and I think you'll like these songs more after you hear them live. Just FYI Empire of the Clouds is based on actual events you should look up the story of the R101 British airship disaster.

Empire of the clouds is a journey .sit back read the lyrics ,feel the music and you will love it

The melodies in this song are so beautiful. Its like 4 melodies in it that still gives me the chills. 🥶🤘

Saw them play this live. Bloody excellent.🤘

Amazing song, love the storytelling and the melodies

Empire of the Clouds is amazing. Just do a lyric video to help you understand the story.

You should check the live version, it's incredible.

I fucking love this song. It’s an 11 minute song, but because of the change ups it feels like it goes so fast. The riffs in each part of this song are brilliant. The lyrics are so good at telling the story, and yes it is an unfortunate tale of overthinking the worst. Beautifully written and a fitting end to a pretty decent album in my eyes. I’m really not sure what you’re gonna think of The Book of Souls. Production wise, it sounds kinda old and is quite different from the other post reunion albums. I’m looking forward to all of them, but mainly If Eternity Should Fail, Speed of Light, The Red and the Black, and Tears of a Clown. Keep it up Hurm!

next album have very good songs on it ( "The Great Unknown" "The Red and the Black" "When the River Runs Deep" "The Book of Souls" "Tears of a Clown" "The Man of Sorrows" "Empire of the Clouds") definitely get better sound from F. Frontier , but Senjutsu it's the real one which will make you really happy to listen !!! cheers !

My bet is that Red and the Black will be your favorite from the next one. 😁

Hurm, thanks man, I'm in Tampa, I just came back from the Iron Maiden Concert.... It was. Increible man it never gets old Maiden played amazing today. Im excited for book of souls, man I think you'll enjoy varios Songs, For Speed of Light I recommend watching the Video it's amazing and I'm sure you'll enjoy it. Then look forward for: The Red and the Black Speed of Light Man of Sorrows Book of Souls Great unknown

Please keep doing the lyric videos for the next album!! Every song has very meaningful lyrics as always

Glad you really appreciated rated this one! I think it's epic storytelling... again. Maiden's the best at it. Looking forward to your reactions to Book of Souls!

Definitely this is my fav of the album. Wait and watch the version of En Vivo! Surely It's will stick with you.

You know.. I AM, and you should be excited for THE Empire of the Clouds, its the one of the Bruces masterpieces... just wait !!! #hurm1t #uptheirons

Can’t wait for The Book of Souls. Some tracks might seem a little bit uninspired on the first listen through but I know you’ll enjoy If eternity should fail, the great unknown, the red and the black, 100000% The book of souls, shadows of the valley, and tears of a clown. Also Empire of The Clouds does seem daunting cause of the length, you’ll have to hear it to know for sure but it’s a musical journey. If any song in their discography was gonna be 18 minutes they did it perfectly

Yeah can't wait to see what you make of Book of Souls, some songs on it are quite brilliant, And of course the wonderfull Tears of a Clown written about and in tribute to the late great Robin Williams.

You ignored my expert tip 😁 You're gonna pay for this 😃

Scary fact, this song perfectly describes the state of the world today

Love your input on what the moral of it is : never conclude the worst

Check out the live version on, En Vivo!! Fire!!

Empire of the clouds is about the R101 it’s is 18 minutes long but it’s a great 18 minutes long when you listen to it the 18 minutes will fly by

Masterpiece....

A Maiden love story song

You better be looking forward to the long songs.... On Book of Souls there's a 10min, 13min and 18min song. And on Senjutsu there's a 9min, 10min, 12min and 11min song.

Tres conciertos en chile,tres conciertos vividos,iron maiden es chile,tengo 63 años ,el metal no muere

Guys, I can't wait for the next album reaction. OMG. But, Empire of the Clouds is a Masterpiece. Is just epic! IMO is the best reunion album.

Empire of the clouds is one of the best songs Maiden have ever made

Love it it’s great live

I really like this song. It has beautiful vocal melodies, great riffs, great solos, a great story! It really doesn't feels like it's as long as it actually is. I agree that this is their weekest album since their reunion with Bruce and Adrian. Doesn't mean it's bad as you said. There are some great songs on this album. I can't pick my favourite but I think the Talisman still is my favourite, this is my second or the previous one. Important note about Book of Souls: Bruce Dickinson recorded the whole album with one tumor on his throat and one tumor at the back of his tounge. He didn't wanted to do a surgery before the album was finished. Just keep that in mind everytime you're listening to any track from Book of Souls. It'll make the album so much better. "If Eternity Should Fail" is one of my favourite tracks from the album. And on the album you'll hear Bruce play the piano for the first time. Up the Irons! ❤

Concierto en chile ,este tema ,alucinaras

The Red and the Black next!

Could not wait for this. Well done. The story is really creepy, and the end is deeply tragic. I find the music "typical Maiden", at least the sound and the changes of the melodies. By the way, the live version is even better! 🙂

For me Mother of Mercy , Starblind , WTWWB , stand out on this album

you should react to the live version of this one on En Vivo DVD

I wasn't excited about empire of the clouds the first time I saw it was 18 minutes long but after giving it a listen it'd really really good. Also you definitely should check out the lyric video which also tells the story of the airship.

This one is great, and a grower! Now check the live version from En Vivo! Cheers For the next album If Eternity Should Fail, The Red and the Black, The Book of Souls and Death And Glory, that’s that album’s top songs to me!

Hi bro How about that solo at 7:04 I specials love the slide he does towards the end of it 7:24 going into that riff

Empire of the clouds is kinda unique for Maiden, you'll see why. On the whole though, a bloody great album

I told you... Next album only Red and Black....🤔

I really enjoy this song and it's great live! Book of Souls is great. Empire of the Clouds is a masterpiece: just pull up the lyrics, have a patient mind and immerse yourself in the story.

I'd have to list my favorites on this album in no particular order as: El Dorado(Just for the lyrics along besides the music), Mother of Mercy, The Man Who Would Be King, When the Wild Wind Blows. A couple others would have been up there if they hadn't been so long and drawn out. Not excited for the next album. It will be kinda a revisit. Listened to once and never went back.

This is the best song on the album by far. Hurm can I make a suggestion for Book Of Souls? Before you listen to the album, watch the Book of Souls Tour 2017 intro video that’s on Maiden’s KZfaq page… it’ll help set the scene I think. Watching that intro video and then hopping straight into the first song on the album will hit the spot perfectly and would make a great all round reaction video🔥…. Can’t wait for you to start the next album, Book of Souls is much better than Final Frontier 👍👍

Top 3 on the album for me, in no particular order: Starblind, Talisman and Isle of Avalon

Dave's solo is crazy. Storytelling is awesome. The album has weak sides but not a great one. The next one is the Book of Souls. It has very cool moments. Maybe there are one or two weak fillers but it has many powerful songs. Most importantly it kicks ass as the first song begins which is unusual for 2000 era. Album begins with if eternity should fail. I am sure you will like it. Book of souls is powerful and raw. One of the best reunion along with A.M.O.L A.D

Hi Hurm, Ok, so "the book of souls" is double album but I always consider it as album + really big EP or something. Songs on the second cd are ok (also Empire of the clouds is beautiful but a bit too long) but if album had only the the first cd it would be strong 11/10 imo. My second favourite after "brave new world" in the current era (still havent listen to "senjustsu") Cheers!

The next album is way better than this one(final frontier Is not bad at all tough)can't wait to see what you think about Empire of the clouds. A few people doesn't like it but I tell you most of maiden fans love it, I think it's one of their best song EVER

💎💎💎💎💎💎💎

Are you planning to listen/react to the rest of Bruces Accident of Birth album?

Empire of the clouds is amazing! But, they could have shaved about 6 minutes off and it would have been top 5 maiden song.

The best of the album for sure, and I'll make the hot take to say it's the best song of the 2nd Bruce era... I know it might be a controversial opinion but I really mean that...

Incredible song!...I agree not the strongest album, i actually play Blaze era more . If you like this song your going to like the album Senjutsu i feel. Empire of the clouds is 'different' , bring up the lyrics as its good story telling.

This is an interesting song for Maiden! I like the moody intro that bookends the song! Not the biggest fan of the first third of the song but it’s ok. The remainder of the song is solid! Heats up as it goes. More nice guitar work! That bluesy section is heavy as F! I love it!!!! Not a fan how they come out of it though. Tempo turns into air exiting a balloon. Still cool interesting tune! Its hard for me to pick a fav on this album. I like the album but don’t love it! We’re just friends!! The album in general is odd. Track listing feels off. Its all standard shorter songs the first half and then the long dynamic songs shoved into the second half. I’d say in general the guitar leads are a bit on the weaker side compared to the albums around it. For me this album and Dance of Death wrestle for weakest album of the later era! Next album hits the gas a little harder. I find it to be a bit clunky of a ride but an improvement over this album!

Book of Souls is a mixed bag. Stand outs for me are The Red and the Black, title track and opener If Eternity Should Fail. I’m not a big fan of Empire of the Clouds, just too drawn out and should be a lot shorter in my humble opinion. 👍🏼

Book of souls is great

Empire of the Clouds is a wonderful composition by Dickinson; it's just too long. If it were trimmed to 11 - 12 min. from 18, might make it into my Maiden top 10. It's ambitious with some great sections and worthy of a close listen. By no means is it a weak song.

Glad you at least liked a couple of songs from The Final Frontier. I basically like the same ones, + the awesome Isle Of Avalon. From The Book Of Souls the songs you should get excited about are the the fantastic opener If Eternity Should Fail, the epic The Red And The Black and Tears Of A Clown. It’s the weakest album of the modern era (to me), but those three songs and the title track are all worth it.

It's a great song... a good record overall. 'The Book of souls' to me is much better... Bruce Dickinson truly did well, writing the opening epic "If eternity should fail'... I recall seeing Iron Maiden live in 2017, and they opened w/ 'If eternity should fail'... It was awesome 🤘🤘 'Empire of the Clouds' was also written by Dickinson... this was a long song because he depicted the true-life events of the R101, a massive British airship that was built in 1929 and was actually bigger than the Titanic. They believed this was a marvel of British aviation of the time. The R101 was planned to connect Britain to India by flight... it's maiden voyage was underway in 1930. They were hoping to challenge the superiority of Germany's airship Graf Zeppelin (which had flown around the world)... However, there were numerous issues that had never been resolved in the ship's design & structure... The R101 made it over France, but crashed there after being damaged in a storm and losing altitude as a result. All 48 on board were killed as a result of the Hydrogen gas used igniting. The Hindenburg disaster came years later in 1937, when that airship crashed in the US... Unlike the R101 disaster, this one was caught on film. Airships switched to Helium gas, which was more stable and not flammable, in the aftermath.

This isn't my favorite song on the album. I like it but I do tend to skip it. As for long songs... wait until Senjutsu. They are long but the album is phenomenal. Book of Souls is good. I would rank it lower out of all the Maiden albums if they were ranked, but there are major highlights like Book of Souls, Empire of the Clouds (one of my favorites despite the length) and If Eternity Should Fail. Tears of a Clown is also excellent and it's about Robin Williams, as you probably know. Death or Glory is much better performed live, as you'll eventually find out!

You listen to commmenters wayyy too much lol 😆

Mate .. live version on this song !!! come on ..

Why aren't you excited for the Empire of the clouds?! It is one of the greatest masterpieces(not just a song) of Maiden ever.

Greetings and Love from Germany again. Great reaction as always, buddy. When it comes to 'Empire of the Clouds' you can go with the lyric video from 'Sciryl Lyrics'. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/iNl9adqhrqeXg5c.html It's very well done, it includes original photo material and some background Informations of the 'R101'...its again one those outstanding history masterpieces from Maiden that I love so dearly. And Bruce 'Almighty' on the piano, damn, what more can i wish for..have a peaceful weekend, my friend PEACE & UP THE IRONS 666 ✌

It’s a great story. The song is good instrumentally but not great. 6/10album

I think you've already forgotten how bad it was during the Blaze era if you think this album is close to that level.

Live version is better imo

The only worthy song of this album From the Book of Souls I like If eternity should fail, Man of sorrows, Book of souls and Empire of the clouds. The rest is kinda meh. The red and the black is not bad but the vocals are unbearable to my ears.

To me this is the weakest album of Bruce’s both era. I do like No prayer, it’s a hard rock album, different, and this is why I enjoy it. To me it’s not cool keep doing the same all the time and this album came to modify the stuff a bit. About wind blows, the live version is far better. About book of souls, you’ll enjoy far more, because it’s a stronger album comparing with FF. And yeah, empire isn’t my favorite, to tell you the truth, the least favorite of the album. 🤘🏼

Definitely there weakest post reunion album....

The 18min song on the next album for me is bloody boring as hell lol. A lot of people say it's a masterpiece, YOU may think it's a masterpiece, for me it's a disasterpiece and a waste of minutes, just my subjective opinion :). The title track(book of souls) i think wipes the floor with Empire of clouds.