SOMEWHERE IN TIME

Featuring the best album cover in the history of such things and a fresh new synthesized sound, Iron Maiden's 1986 album 'Somewhere In Time' finds the East London metal kings casting off the shackles of their constricting NWOBHM origins and writing much more expansive material influenced by bassist Steve Harris' youthful love of progressive rock. The group's first, fully-fledged attempt to integrate synthesizers and keyboards into their powerful sound, 'Somewhere In Time' can be counted as something of a surprise success. Whilst many rock bands would ultimately stain their once-proud resume's during the 1980's thanks to their attempts to 'stay modern'(just think Yes, Pink Floyd, Genesis...the list is endless) Iron Maiden actually managed to pull off the neat trick of enhancing their sound. The addition of slinky yamaha synths and hi-tech keyboards to the group's speed-metal-inflected brand of pumping heavy rock proves a bold departure for a group whose simple-but- effective formula had seen them conquer the globe. The anthemic hooks, rousing choruses and screeching guitar solo's are still in check, the glitzy electronic edge adding a real instrumental depth to such big-sounding tracks as 'Wasted Years' and 'Heaven Can Wait', the album's stand-out moments, and the powerfully-charged Steve Harris-penned epic 'Alexander The Great' becomes a kind of proto-progressive song-suite filled with atmospheric sound effects and some genuine musical grandstanding. It's all very far removed from the simplistic sound of 'Killers' and the early-eighties big-selling 'Number Of The Beast', and in some quarters is seen as a major influence of the burgeoning prog-metal scene(Just ask Queensryche). Figuratively speaking this is still heavy metal, yet the strong symphonic overtones brought about by the group's new approach shows that Iron Maiden are much more refined outfit than their blood 'n' thunder reputation suggests. As an album 'Somewhere In Time' still has it's flaws - 'The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner' drags it's feet and 'Deja Vu' seems forced and awkward - yet there is much here that will delight both die- hard fans of the group and those with more progressive tastes. Featuring a slick new direction, this is very much Iron Maiden at their most adventurous.

STEFAN TURNER, STOKE NEWINGTON, 2012