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Iron Maiden - Somewhere In Time
1986 EMI
 Iron Maiden - Somewhere In Time

Track Listing:
1.  Somewhere In Time
2.  Wasted Years
3.  Sea Of Madness
4.  Heaven Can Wait
5.  The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner
6.  Stranger In A Strange Land
7.  Déjà Vu
8.  Alexander The Great

Line-Up:
Vocals:  Bruce Dickinson
Guitars:  Dave Murray, Adrian Smith
Bass:  Steve Harris
Drums:  Nicko McBrain

Website:  www.ironmaiden.com

Horatio's Rating:  B+
Average Album Rating:  B+

Horatio's Review:
Following the conclusion of the massive year long 'World Slavery Tour' of 1984/5, Maiden were quite rightfully burned out.  The tour comprised a staggering 190 shows, testing the bands endurance.  Steve Harris once recounted how he found Bruce Dickinson cowering in a corner before a show, the frontman so drained he was terrified to perform.  You can't blame him, imagine forcing yourself to sing 'Run To The Hills' night after night for a year straight.  The band took some time off before recording 'Somewhere In Time', but even when they reconvened Dickinson was still burned out and contributed no new songs.  Adrian Smith took his place, writing three tracks solo, one of which, 'Wasted Years', he was scared to present to the band at first, fearing it was too commercial.

Maiden altered their sound, including synthesizers for the first time, although they took their place as guitar synths rather than the traditional instrument.  It gave their galloping metal sound a high tech edge, and in no way removed any of Maiden's usual heaviness.  Some weren't convinced by this new approach, probably the staunch metalheads who feared Maiden were going to do a Saxon type AOR crossover.  That never happened although the potential was there musically and in the bands choice of clothing in the sleeve photos (Dave Murray's shades and nice shirt).  Ludicrously, Dickinson wanted the album to be an all acoustic affair, something he claimed upon leaving the band in 1993.  While many still believe Maiden lost it in 1984, it really wasn't until 1992 when that happened.  With only two ordinary tracks in 'Déjà Vu' and 'Alexander The Great', 'Somewhere In Time' secured Maiden's position as the worlds number one metal act, the album sounding as fresh and inspired as it did eighteen years ago.

Song summaries include...

  1. Caught Somewhere In Time - Following a brief melodic intro, things kick in, a nice surging pace maintained throughout, featuring heavy use of Harris' frenetic bass rumblings.  It's sad that Maiden disregard tracks like this for their modern live set, instead relying on stale old duffers like 'Iron Maiden' and 'The Trooper' and more recent rotters like 'Brave New World'.  In its way a lost classic.  A
  2. Wasted Years - While this was commercial by Maiden's standards, it bridges the gap nicely between metal and accessible hard rock with a made for radio hook.  Anything with Maiden's name on it was never to going to hit the airwaves despite their amazing run of British top ten singles.  B
  3. Sea Of Madness - Another Smith gem, given a tremendous atmosphere by the guitar synths.  The riffs contain a savage edge yet remain harmonic at the same time.  B+
  4. Heaven Can Wait - One of Maiden's most loved tracks and one of Harris' best moments as a songwriter.  Remarkably upbeat for Maiden, almost jubilant in tone.  Memorable hook by all means, a definitive piece of melodic heavy metal.  A
  5. The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner - Maiden up the speed with drumming that verges on thrash from McBrain although this in no way compares with what Slayer or Megadeth were doing in '86.  Vintage Maiden harmonies, galloping all the way.  Great lyrics from Harris as he describes the runner, 'turn to look at who's on your heels....the line is getting nearer, but do you want the glory that goes...ideals are just a trace, you feel like throwing the race, it's all so futile'. Anyone who's ever run competitively would agree with those thoughts.  B+
  6. Stranger In A Strange Land - Smith must have been inspired as this is his third excellent contribution.  Once again Maiden make excellent use of the synthesizers, using them to create a sense of imagery benefiting the lyrics regarding the stranger lost 'in a land of ice and snow'.  Superb lead break from Smith also following good buildup.  A
  7. Déjà Vu - Maiden save the filler for last, this track competent in its speed and melody but just missing that extra something that is needed to captivate the listener.  Having said that it's streets ahead of '2AM'.  B
  8. Alexander The Great - Harris once again inflicts a long winded historical lesson upon the fans, in lengthy detail naturally at eight and a half long minutes.  Very accurate lyrics in relation to detailing Alexander The Great's exploits, but musically just your average Maiden epic with few thrilling tangents that blow you away.  C+ 

Horatio's Rating:  B+

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