Iron Maiden
Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son

THE REVIEW

Seven deadly sins
Seven ways to win
Seven holy paths to hell
And your trip begins

Seven downward slopes
Seven bloodied hopes
Seven are you burning fires,
Seven your desires...

This is the fourth review of this album, I had promised not to do duplicates (oh well, a couple slipped through, but one was necessary and the other unconscious...) but this is a special occasion...

I had also promised I wouldn't write reviews about Maiden (my favorite band), both because there were already too many and because, for the affection I have for them, to avoid exposing them (them, not me, I don't care much about exposing myself...) to the usual barrage of more or less gratuitous insults (I know my attitude seems pathetic, but I owed it to them)... but this is a special occasion...

In fact, this XV review of mine is also the last I will publish on DeB, let it be clear it is not an escape, but in the recent days after some discussions on this Wonderful Site, the hypothesis appeared to me that my function here is exhausted, I know I'll probably leave traces in few of you but I like to think that in these past months together I've managed to transmit something of mine, just as you (all, Editors, Users and even the Anonymous ones...) have managed to do with me, enriching me greatly.

I think this is the best way to discuss Music, Cinema, Art and ultimately ourselves, in full Democracy.

I thank everyone, without making lists, as the people I've interacted with the most will surely know they would have been present in any potential list and I know that we won't lose sight of each other (at least telematically).

The Review... then, much has been said about the Maiden.. many think that after '81 they haven't said anything good, that Dickinson is not a good singer, that by now they are ready for retirement... and many think the opposite of what was just said, I obviously belong to the second group and this membership has always pushed me to defend them but I would like to clarify that as a great Fan I have always also been their first critic, in fact I find it hard to save any of their '90s albums, I know very well that the '99 Reunion had mostly economic motivations, I know that in 30 years of career they have changed their sound very little, I know that their Iconography might seem tacky to many.. but having said this I would like to ask those who don't understand how they can still be appreciated despite the terrible flaws just mentioned whether Love for something must always be motivated by objective reasons or if more often it is precisely that unconsciousness due to almost mystical and subjective motivations that drives us forward with our passions, I would like to ask those who think that the importance of a band is derived only from technical and historical reasons if instead it would not be better for once to reason with a value absolutely intrinsic to our individual sensitivities and that is what arises from thoughts, emotions, memories...

That's what I want to say...

I can also tell you that the album in question, published in '88 is among those that most influenced the birth of Prog Metal (according to the musicians themselves) of the following decade, that it is produced in a refined manner by perhaps the last great producer of his generation, that Martin Birch, collaborator in "Made in Japan" by Purple for example, tell you that it is a Concept that narrates the story of a boy born to decide the fate of the world...

Or I could insist on the epic value of the compositions that, like a winding road, go from their legendary gallops ("Infinite Dream") to unusual guitar arpeggios ("Seventh son of a Seventh Son"), with Dickinson's voice always incredibly suspended between a shout and a whisper ("The Evil that Men Do"), ranging from very uncatchy sounds ("The Prophecy") to amazing references to a more easy-listening Metal ("Can I Play with Madness"), all in just over forty minutes, the duration of this arcane disc that has the magical power to open the doors (at least those of my house..).

Instead, I will tell you about a shy boy, who among his own walls and the bullies of the time (yes, bullying existed even in '88, only there weren't video phones to capture it), found refuge in the evening in a new world where he was introduced by five people so anti-star and so common in attitudes that to him they seemed similar to himself so much that they often seemed not RockStars but caring Uncles always ready to take him away from the ugliness.

Time has passed, the walls of then have been replaced by brand new ones, there are no more bullies (also because that boy is now a bearded man of 190 cm and almost 100 kilos), the shyness is still there but more controlled and still kept like a little jewel in a world full of Useless Shouts and with it I keep this album, powerful and reflective, epic and introspective...

To Be Listened to at high Volume...

Seven deadly sins
Seven ways to win
Seven holy paths to hell

Seven downward slopes
Seven bloodied hopes
Seven are your burning fires
Seven your desires...