The return of Iron Maiden's classic lineup (plus third guitarist Janick Gers) in 1999 led to an incredibly successful world tour, which saw the group commanding the stage with more power and authority than they had in over a decade. But would the British metal gods be able to carry this momentum into a studio setting and recapture the songwriting chops of their glory days? This question made Brave New World one of the most highly anticipated metal releases of 2000, and thankfully, the answer is a resounding yes.