Spaldron
Posts: 10487
Joined: 6/10/2006
From: Chair
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# 7
Title - Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
Year - 1988
UK Chart - # 1
Line Up
Bruce Dickinson – vocals
Dave Murray – guitar
Adrian Smith – guitar
Steve Harris – bass
Nicko McBrain – drums
Tracks
1. "Moonchild"
2. "Infinite Dreams"
3. "Can I Play with Madness"
4. "The Evil That Men Do"
5. "Seventh Son of a Seventh Son"
6. "The Prophecy"
7. "The Clairvoyant"
8. "Only the Good Die Young" 
Maiden's last classic album for at least a decade would be a bitter-sweet affair, representing both Maidens creative and commercial peak for the era and also signalling the end of the classic line up and the sharp decline that was to follow. It was also their first and technically only concept album to date (although later albums contained various running 'themes' none were officially named as concept pieces). Dealing with the folklore of the Seventh Son (more or less) and themes of mysticism, alchemy, good and evil and the supernatural, this baggage could have easily dragged the album down into Genesis-like prog territory. However it is saved by some of the best hooks and melodies of Maidens career, to the extent that it is probably their most commercial sounding album so far.
Martin Birch outdoes himself in the production stakes bringing a clean and shiny sound to the songs while not sounding overproduced. Recorded in Munich instead of their usual Nassau studio probably helped, you can practically hear that efficient German engineering in the mix, the drums and vocals in particular sound crisp and precise (and quite 80's in could be argued, there's a lot of reverb in there). The band also add to their sound by employing full keyboards this time around as opposed to its predecessor which only use guitar synths. It definitely brings a new depth to some of the more epic tracks although whether of not this dates album is up for debate. Derek Riggs does his last truly great cover artwork on this, evoking a vast Arctic wilderness which the band would fully incorporate into their (biggest yet) stage show on the 7th Tour of a 7th Tour.
Moonchild opens the album brilliantly, a fantastic track on full throttle with a great intro and some superb drum work by Nicko McBrain. Infinite Dreams, a semi-ballad and the albums first epic has some classic Maiden time and key changes and Steve Harris inspired rhythms. After this were into the hit singles territory with the double whammy of Can I Play With Madness? and The Evil That Men Do, both instant and all time classics. The former could technically be considered Maidens first proper radio friendly single, at just over three and a half minutes long and featuring a big sing-along chorus it made it all the way to # 3 in the UK singles chart. The latter has the more traditional Maiden gallop with the duel guitar attack bringing with it another massive chorus that has continued to ring around stadiums ever since.
The title track is probably Maidens best epic of the 80's, excluding Mariner obviously. Nearly ten minutes long and featuring some superb vocal work by Bruce Dickinson (just listen to chorus to see why) and an entirely instrumental second half with some mind bending time signatures and rhythms courtesy of Harris, it really stands out as not only an album highlight but Maidens highpoint of musical skill and technical ability for years to come. The Prophecy could be considered as a bit of a filler, its definitely the weakest track of the album but compared to some of the stinkers they would write in the coming years its virtually a classic and at least has some great guitar work in the intro. The Clairvoyant makes up for it with a great bass intro and some rather upbeat guitar work from Murray/Smith this would be the third of four top twenty singles released from the album, a record Maiden have never topped since.
Closing on the awesome Only The Good Die Young the album definitely goes out with a bang. With some magic harmonies and drumming what we're left with is, in my humble opinion, Maidens finest album. To me this tops Number of the Beast as being their definitive album of the decade and ever since, having just the right mix of classic material, sound production, tracklisting and musicianship as well as being their last album the 80's having some significance. The band would go on one of their biggest world tours on the back of this, culminating in a triumphant (and tragic) headlining show at the Donington "Monsters of Rock" festival to a record crowd. After the tour Adrian Smith would quit the band to pursue a solo career and be replaced by the energetic Janick Gers. Their follow up to Seventh Son.... would be the bands first duff album and the beginning of the bands long downhill slide that was the 90's.
Highlights - Moonchild, Can I Play With Madness, The Evil That Men Do, Seventh Son of a Seventh Son.
10/10
_____________________________
And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts
And I looked and behold, a pale horse
And his name that sat on him was Death
And Hell followed with him.
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RE: Spaldy's Iron Maiden Album Rundown. - 
Great write-up, Seventh Son is my favourite Maiden album.
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