Roktrospectiva: The Remarkable Epic Masterpiece "Senjutsu" Turns 5

Released on 3 September 2021 "Senjutsu (Japanese: 戦術, "Tactics") was the seventeenth studio album by English heavy metal band Iron Maiden, it was a critical and commercial success, praised for its ambitious epic scope. Two singles, "The Writing on the Wall" and "Stratego", were released to promote the album.

 

Senjutsu was the band's first studio album in nearly six years (although having been put on hold for well over two years), following 2015's The Book of Souls, marking the longest gap between two Iron Maiden studio albums. This was also their second studio double album, and their first studio album since 1984's Powerslave to have no songwriting contributions from guitarist Dave Murray in any way, as well as the first since 1998's Virtual XI to feature multiple songs written by bassist Steve Harris alone. The name of the album is rendered on the right side of the cover art by the actual vertical Japanese spelling of  "senjutsu" (戦術), and on the left side by a font reminiscent of Japanese characters 

The album's first single "The Writing on the Wall" was released on July 15, 2021. Prior to the song's release Iron Maiden held a promo campaign which included multiple clues and hidden messages, hinting at the song and a possible new album. The song was accompanied with an animated video created by Blinkink. The second and final single "Stratego" was released on August 19, and also had a animated video created to coincide with its release.

In promotion of the album Iron Maiden partnered with British supermarket brand Asda to launch a pair of products celebrating the arrival of the album. Including a Senjutsu edition of Trooper’s Sun & Steel Japanese lager, and a t-shirt featuring the album cover.

In the comparison of sales of physical albums in the UK, the double-disc release took the first position, also noted on the European Album Chart Top 200. The album was ranked second on the world music charts. 17th studio effort also gave the band its highest chart position in the US debuting at number three on Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart and number one on Billboard's Physical Albums Chart. Senjutsu was also in the Top 3 bestsellers in the USA (the highest in the group's history so far), Australia, Ireland, Great Britain (first on the lists in Wales and Scotland), Singapore, Israel, UAE, Japan, the Netherlands, France, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Montenegro, Poland, Estonia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Nepal, Honduras, Uruguay, Cyprus, Latvia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Luxembourg, Taiwan, Malta and Ukraine. 

In South America and Africa, the album went on sale only one week after the official release date. In total, the group's seventeenth album reached the top three bestsellers in 55 countries around the world and the Top 5 bestsellers in 63 countries. Senjutsu turned out to be a tremendous achievement, strengthening the group's brand on the global music market. It was eventually certified gold in their native U.K. in July 2023, and has since been certified gold and 9 other countries.

Senjutsu marked the second use of the band's original logotype (with the extended letters R, M and N) on a studio album cover since 1995's The X Factor, the previous one being for 2015's The Book of Souls. The album cover by Mark Wilkinson presents Eddie dressed up as a samurai and holding a katana. Harris sent Wilkinson reference material of Oni creatures and kabuki paintings and masks, and the artist spent a day seeing the Japanese exhibits on the Victoria and Albert Museum for further inspiration. 

The album received an universal acclaimed, several called the epic Senjutsu as another distended late-career triumph, albeit one that requires multiple spins to set up camp in your Homeric metal-craving cranium. with some interesting songwriting, an ambitious, eccentric master piece and a remarkable album from a band that still has plenty to say and to offer". an electrifying, cinematic masterpiece and so far is regarded as a modern gem from one of the greatest heavy metal bands ever, if not the absolute greatest".

Senjutsu Track List: 

 

1. Senjutsu 

2. Stratego

3. The Writing On The Wall

4. Lost In A Lost World

5. Days Of Future Past

6. The Time Machine

7. Darkest Hour 

8. Death Of The Celts

9. The Parchment

10. Hell On Earth