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October 11, 1986, the Maiden released a very special album on the market, different from its predecessor ("Powerslave") and full of new experiments. The lineup was the classic one from "Piece of Mind" to "Seventh Son of a Seventh Son" and included: Steve Harris (bass), Bruce Dickinson (vocals), Adrian Smith (guitar), Dave Murray (guitar), and Nicko Mc Brain (drums).
This work brought many innovations to the sound of the Iron Maiden; for example, the guitar and bass synthesizers. This was criticized by some fans who preferred the rawer sound of "Killers" or "The Number of the Beast," but it is certain that we are talking about an album that made history and from which an equally spectacular world tour was derived.
The first track is "Caught Somewhere in Time," which immediately catapults us into a futuristic universe with the intro of keyboards and synthesized guitars that perfectly integrate with the fantastic rhythmic base of the Harris-Mc Brain duo; then the explosion and Dickinson's harsh voice that literally transport us inside these six minutes of pure power and precision of execution. One of the best tracks on the album is the next one, "Wasted Years" (the first single extracted from the album), which, through its melancholic lyrics, invites us to reflect on the time wasted every day. Truly a concentrate of emotions, with choruses wonderfully sung by a Dickinson in top form. The third track is the powerful and energetic "Sea of Madness," which takes us through its powerful riffs to the absolute masterpiece of the album: "Heaven Can Wait." A space-themed song (to stay on theme), perfect in every part. The intro with the keyboards, then the two guitars running fast over Mc Brain's rhythm and Dickinson's voice convincing us that heaven can wait another day.... The lyrics of "The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner" are very beautiful, evocative and well crafted, and they indeed talk about the loneliness of the long-distance runner.
"Stranger in a Strange Land" is the second single extracted from the album and fully impresses with Dickinson's superb performance. "Deja-Vu" starts with a very calm guitar intro and explodes into a fast and catchy melody, with lyrics that talk about the strange sensations that sometimes plague our minds when it seems like we are doing something we have already done or engaging in a conversation we have already had.... The closure is left to a historically-themed song: "Alexander the Great (356-323 B.C.)." The song opens with a speech by King Philip of Macedonia and then kicks off with the slow snare drumming, like in a march, followed by the epic guitars of Smith and Murray. Then the sound opens up into a typical Maiden melody, with Harris' galloping bass, Dickinson's beautiful high notes, and the awe-inspiring solos of the two guitarists.
In conclusion, an album that brought many innovations to the Maiden's sound, and which definitely ranks among the top works of the most beloved heavy metal band.
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
01 Caught Somewhere in Time (07:25)
If you had the time to lose,
An open mind and time to choose,
Would you care to take a look,
Or can you read me like a book?
Time is always on my side,
Time is always on my side.
Can I tempt you, come with me,
Be Devil may care, fulfill your dream,
If I said I'd take you there,
Would you go, would you be scared?
Time is always on my side,
Time is always on my side.
Don't be afraid, you're safe with me,
Safe as any soul can be ... honestly,
Just let yourself go.
Caught somewhere in time
Caught somewhere in time
Caught somewhere in time ... oh oh
Like a wolf in sheep's clothing,
You try to hide your deepest sins,
Of all the things that you've done wrong,
And I know where you belong.
Time is always on my side,
Time is always on my side.
Make you an offer you can't refuse,
You've only got your soul to lose...
Eternally...Just let yourself go!
Caught somewhere in time
Caught somewhere in time
Caught now in two minds!
02 Wasted Years (05:07)
From the coast of gold, across the seven seas
I'm travellin' on, far and wide
But now it seems, I'm just a stranger to myself
And all the things I sometimes do, it isn't me but someone else
I close my eyes, and think of home
Another city goes by, in the night
Ain't it funny how it is, you never miss it 'til it's gone away
And my heart is lying there and will be 'til my dying day
Chorus:
So understand
Don't waste your time always searching for those wasted years
Face up... make your stand
And realise you're living in the golden years
Too much time on my hands, I got you on my mind
Can't ease this pain, so easily
When you can't find the words to say, it's hard to make it through another day
And it makes me wanna cry, and throw my hands up to the sky
[Repeat chorus x 2]
Face up... make your stand
And realise you're living in the golden years
04 Heaven Can Wait (07:21)
Can't understand what is happening to me,
This isn't real, this is only a dream,
But I never have felt, no I never have felt this way before,
I'm looking down on my body below,
I lie asleep in the midst of a dream,
Is it now could it be that the angel of death has come for me?
I can't believe that really my time has come,
I don't feel ready, there's so much left undone,
And it's my soul and I'm not gonna let it get away.
Chorus:
Heaven can wait,
Heaven can wait,
Heaven can wait,
Heaven can wait til another day.
[Repeat chorus]
I have a lust for the Earth below
And Hell itself is my only foe,
'Cause I've no fear of dying,
I'll go when I'm good and ready,
I snatch a glimpse of the light's eternal rays,
I see a tunnel, I stand amazed,
At all of the people standing there in front of me,
Into the paths of rightness I'll be led,
Is this the place where the living join the dead?
I wish I knew this was only just a nightmare.
[Chorus *2]
Take my hand, I'll lead you to the promised land,
Take my hand, I'll give you immortality,
Eternal youth, I'll take you to the other side,
To see the truth, the path for you is decided.
Oh Oh * lots.
My body tingles, I feel so strange,
I feel so tired, I feel so drained,
And I'm wondering if I'll ever be the same again,
Is this in limbo or in Heaven or Hell?
Maybe I'm going down there as well,
I can't accept my soul will drift forever.
I feel myself floating back down to Earth,
So could this be the hour of my rebirth?
Or have I died or will I wake from dreaming?
[Chorus]
05 The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner (06:31)
(Harris)
Tough of the track,
With the wind,
And the rain that's beating down on your back.
Your heart's beating loud
And goes on getting louder
And goes on even more till the sound
Is ringing in your head,
With every step you tread,
And every breath you take,
Determination makes
You run,
Never stop,
Gotta win, gotta run till you drop,
Keep the pace,
Hold the race,
Your mind is getting clearer,
You're over halfway there but the miles
Just never seem to end
As if you're in a dream,
Not getting anywhere.
It seems so futile.
Chorus:
Run, on and on,
Run, on and on,
The loneliness of the long distance runner.
I've got to keep running the course,
I've got to keep running and win at all costs,
I've got to keep going, be strong,
Must be so determined and push myself on.
Run over stiles, across fields,
Turn to look at who's on your heels,
Way ahead of the field,
The line is getting nearer but do
You want the glory that goes,
You reach the final stretch,
Ideals are just a trace,
You feel like throwing the race,
It's all so futile.
Chorus:
Run, on and on,
Run, on and on,
The loneliness of the long distance runner.
07 Deja-Vu (04:56)
(Murray/Harris)
When you see familiar faces,
But you don't remember where they're from,
Could you be wrong?
When you've been particular places,
That you know you've never been before,
Can you be sure?
'Cause you know this has happened before,
And you know that this moment in time is for real,
And you know when you feel Deja vu.
Chorus:
Feel like I've been here before,
Feel like I've been here before.
Ever had a conversation,
That you realise you've had before,
Isn't it strange?
Have you ever talked to someone,
And you feel you know what's coming next?
It feels pre-arranged.
'Cause you know that you've heard it before,
And you feel that this moment in time is surreal,
'Cause you know when you feel deja-vu.
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Other reviews
By velvetunderground
Iron is like a sea, an ocean of sounds, of shivers, and the swimmer has no choice but to dive in and swim, swim, swim...
Alexander The Great, (just to name one)... a hard rock, dark, (grotesque) a crystal-clear tunnel, horrid... (fortunately pieces like this exist in music, in history, in life)
By MetallAro
The album offers many and original experimentations, starting from the introduction of background keyboards.
I sing, or rather shout the chorus at the top of my lungs, while my parents worriedly call 911.
By juve in B
'Wasted Years' washes away any bitterness: a masterpiece written in collaboration by Adrian Smith.
'Alexander the Great' ... the best song on the album, unfortunately never played live.
By Kirk89
It’s like living in this futuristic world, and one has the sensation of not being able to get out.
Each label you see, even the most insignificant ones, makes you invent an event of history that has nothing to do with it or that has not yet occurred.
By Adrian
"This is it. This is the thought I have matured after listening... they made 'Somewhere In Time'."
"One of the reasons why I consider this album the group’s most successful is precisely the eighth and final track: 'Alexander the Great.'"
