Blaze Bayley
Infinite Entanglement

Let's be honest with ourselves for a moment. How many people in 2000 would have expected Blaze Bayley, former frontman of Iron Maiden, after the blow he received with "The X Factor" and "Virtual XI" and the subsequent threat of leaving the band, to disappear into the darkest depths of the underground, surviving only on concerts with songs from the two albums with Iron Maiden? I think many had this thought. Instead, album after album, tour after tour, Blaze has managed to build a name for himself, with consistently excellent and never trivial records, with lyrics that are always reflective and intriguing. He didn't get lost in endless works with tedious prog influences (did someone say post-Brave New World Iron Maiden?). After the well-received "The King Of Metal" in 2012, an album that marked a sort of decline in the band's tone, Blaze returns after 4 years with an admirable project. A trilogy of albums centered around the character of an astronaut named William Black, who is sent to investigate one of the planets discovered by the Kepler mission, where he questions his existence, human life, and his condition. According to Blaze, a book will also be released from this trilogy. The first chapter of this compelling work, "Infinite Entanglement," represents the first chapter, where you can immediately hear a greater increase in Blaze's voice and a slight decrease in the guitars, strange I must say, but it doesn't damage the product in any way.

"Infinite Entanglement" opens with the title track, where the drums introduce us to a female voice that narrates how 7 men have been chosen for the longest and most important mission in human history. Blaze comes in, with a voice in excellent shape, accompanied by a truly great bass. Two verses before reaching the chorus, full of pathos and showcasing a Bayley in great form. Already in the second track, "A Thousand Years," one of the hits of the album. Simple in its course, characterized mainly by a superb rhythmic section that gives the song a very linear structure. "Human" left me puzzled the first time I listened to it, not so much because of the song itself, which is very enjoyable, but because of Blaze's voice, which seems dragged in some parts, if not strained. I think it's more of an effect he wants to give to the piece, but I don't particularly appreciate it. Let's be clear, I don't find it a bad song, on the contrary. "What Will Come" is a very emotional ballad, not included because "hey, putting a ballad on an album is cool! It feels like going back to the late '80s!", but to explain to the listener the protagonist's feelings, who asks himself various existential questions about his condition day by day, passing at the speed of light. "This is my life, there's no awakening, is all this real?" It continues with "Stars Are Burning," where a male voice introduces the song by telling the protagonist that all actions are predictable, as is William. Supported by an excellent bass line and one of the best choruses on the album, in my opinion, it earns the title of best song. "Solar Wind" continues along the same line but with more energy and a fantastic solo. "The Dreams Of William Black" is an instrumental interlude, where the phrase "Where are you?" is heard many times, where William's friends, daughter, and wife ask what happened to him, where he is, but all this is overshadowed by the orders of the scientists and William's chiefs, responsible for the space operation, warning him that if he dares to interrupt the mission, he will die. "Calling You Home" is a beautiful piece where Blaze's voice is what guides everything, with a chorus that will hardly leave your head, as in "A Thousand Years." If I were to play "Dark Energy 256" for a die-hard Maiden fan, I think they would immediately recognize the intro, taken from "Futureal" from Virtual XI. Personally, I consider this one of the best tracks on the album along with the already mentioned "Stars Are Burning," featuring a really beautiful pre-chorus. "Independence" and "Work Of Anger" are two sides of the same coin, starting slow before exploding into a typically heavy piece. Notable for two things: the beauty of Blaze's voice in the early parts, and the phrase said by the male voice at the beginning of "Independence": "It will always be your fault, no matter how much you try to run away, you will not survive." The awareness of death terrifies William, who wants to give up to end this torture, but he wants to continue fighting, fighting to prove to himself that he is stronger than all of them. "Shall We Begin" is a second instrumental, where the female voice from the beginning reappears, seemingly giving orders to William, but interference makes it unclear what is being said. It is supported by very beautiful and moving female/male choirs. With the phrase "Stand up! You're not dead," it seems like someone is awakening William, and the following "Shall we begin?", the album closes, leaving an aura of mystery around William's future. We will know more with the second chapter.

Decidedly convincing, this "Infinite Entanglement" leaves us both with a half-smile and the desire to know how the story will evolve. Blaze has returned, and unlike some of his English compatriots (ahem...), he has managed to make an impression with a stunning album. Well done, Blaze.