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Somewhere in Time, in other words, far away in time.
So let's go far back in time, let's go back 20 years, and it's 1986: Metallica releases Master of Puppets and establishes thrash metal along with Megadeath and Slayer, Manowar and Virgin Steele lay the foundations for epic metal, and Helloween does the same for power metal, while the glam rock of Def Leppard and Mötley Crüe is selling like crazy. In short, heavy metal is experiencing the most prosperous period in its history.
Confirming the popularity of heavy metal, there's also a band reaching the peak of its career during this period. After over 300 concerts in two years (between '84 and '85) followed by millions of fans, Iron Maiden is about to shake up the metal scene once again. After extremely hard, solemn, and epic albums like Powerslave and Piece of Mind, the "Iron Maiden" releases an extremely controversial album: it abandons the pharaonic scenarios of the recent past and dives headlong into the future. Already on the cover, we see a completely flayed Eddie among skyscrapers and flying spaceships. The cover also hides many peculiarities and memories of Iron Maiden, like a clock showing 23:58 (2 Minutes to Midnight) and bars with famous names like the Rainbow and the Marquee where they performed in their early years.
The shock comes with the first listen of the album: synthesizers and keyboards come in full force, but Harris's frenzied gallops, the long cross solos of the Smith-Murray duo, and Dickinson's usual high and powerful voice make it clear that the basic characteristics of Maiden remain intact.
After listening to the first song, "Caught Somewhere in Time", there's a bit of disappointment: a beautiful song, but we were used to intros like "Aces High, Prowler" and "Where Eagles Dare" as album openers, while listening to this song, no matter how nice it might be, remains anonymous. But the following "Wasted Years" washes away any bitterness: a masterpiece written in collaboration by Adrian Smith, featuring beautiful solos and keyboard orchestrations. "Sea of Madness" has a nice chorus, but otherwise, it's the same story as the first song, whereas with "Heaven Can Wait" we are left speechless. The bass intro is beautiful, as is Dickinson’s song part which recalls ‘Number of the Beast’ to be sung at the top of your lungs with the stereo at maximum volume. The solos part is also very beautiful, but the pinnacle is reached in Dickinson’s chorus (oooohooohohoooo).
The following "The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner" initially seems nonsensical, but as the minutes pass, you are swept away by McBrain's pulsating rhythm and the guitar riffs, ending up singing the chorus at the top of your lungs. The splendid "Stranger in a Strange Land" is another great point for the band, while "Déjà-vu" stands out as the only filler on this album. It concludes with the legendary "Alexander the Great", a track initially very dark and mysterious that builds up to the apotheosis of the two lead guitars: the best song on the album, unfortunately never played live.
This CD brought the band a total of two platinum records, and the tour that followed was exceptional, although some fans were upset by the change in sound with the introduction of synthesizers and keyboards. It is said that in '87, Maiden is the band with the most supporters in the world...
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 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 pepozzo
The first track 'Caught Somewhere in Time' catapults us into a futuristic universe with keyboards and synthesized guitars.
'Wasted Years' is a concentrate of emotions, with choruses wonderfully sung by a Dickinson in top form.
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.'"
