OVER THE EDGE
1986-1988

This is the shortest and brightest era of all

eras. During these two albums the band reached their creative peak, and recorded their ultimate masterpiece; it almost seemed they would get the keyboards in permanently (Michael Kenney as a sixth member?).
We're standing on the edge of heavy metal, or so Hawkwind would say.

simply do it out of sheer class, and record two of their best albums, in a row if that wasn't enough.
"To dare" is a word you can easily relate to this albums, where the classic sound of the band changes and evolves, making me ask myself where it could have reached were it not for the attacks about selling out. While we are on the subject, let me say that "selling out" is something with which

never had anything to do. Just think about it: is Somewhere In Time, or even Seventh Son, easy listening? Don't think about the less cutting sound, just think about the word that means "commercial music": is this "easy listening"? No way, my friends.
Yes, I truly miss this era, and even more I am sorry of having discovered the band (also for a matter of age) only in 1990, when this age had just faded away. But the music is still there, with some luck. So am I, as long as I can.

SOMEWHERE IN TIME

Bruce Dickinson
Steve Harris
Dave Murray
Adrian Smith
Nicko McBrain

SOMEWHERE IN TIME	Caught Somewhere In Time - Wasted Years - Sea Of Madness Heaven Can Wait - The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner Stranger In A Strange Land - Deja-Vu - Alexander The Great
Wasted Years	Wasted Years - Reach Out - Sheriff Of Huddersfield
Stranger In A Strange Land	Stranger In A Strange Land - That Girl - Juanita

This album bears one mark: the mark of Adrian Smith. It's little more than a feeling, to be true, and there was a decision of all the band to try something new, to the extent of playing synth'. Everything is leaded with attention by the never-too-wise Martin Birch, still at the peak of its qualities. And Bruce? He too seems to be caught somewhere in time, since he doesn't write anything for this album, despite his great vocal performance. So this time we lack the legendary clash of the titans with Steve, and I can't say if this is really a good thing. Anyway the songs are good, and the band seems to be still at its best, and the cover is just the best work ever by Derek Riggs.
In many ways this album is a flag of the change from the past, and it is a pity thinking that maybe the change as been killed in 1990; if you want to be sure about the will of change, just watch all the sings of the "past" on the cover, like it had to be a greatest hits, or maybe a "all of this before, and now?".
And now there's great music, better than before, and in many ways a different one. Is this still heavy metal? Is this still

? If you will listen to your humble scribe, my friend, the answer is yes; much more metal and much more

than ever before.

SEVENTH SON OF A SEVENTH SON

Bruce Dickinson
Steve Harris
Dave Murray
Adrian Smith
Nicko McBrain

SEVENTH SON OF A SEVENTH SON	Moonchild - Infinite Dreams - Can I Play With Madness - The Evil That Men Do Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son - The Prophecy - The Clairvoyant Only The Good Die Young
Can I Play With Madness	Can I Play With Madness - Back Bart Blues - Massacre
The Evil That Men Do	The Evil That Men Do - Prowler '88 - Charlotte The Harlot '88
The Clairvoyant (Live)	The Clairvoyant - The Prisoner - Heaven Can Wait
Infinite Dreams (Live)	Infinite Dreams - Killers - Still Life

So it shall be written a concept album, so it shall be recorded.
I think this is, until now, the best work of the band. First point: I really love concept albums that tell a story with their music. Second: production is nearly perfect, maybe there are just few tweaks possible on the guitar sound. Third: Bruce does his ever best interpretation of

songs, and listen to Only The Good Die Young if you want to understand what I mean. Fourth: songwriting reaches out of our best hope, with an really high rate of team-writing.
You are taken into the dark world with Moonchild, and the feeling is nightmarish, as the struggle for the seventh son starts; after the nightmare the Infinite Dreams, but can you be really quiet as you face eternity? Can I Play With Madness is an answer, with his video that is all about metal in the late 80s. The Evil That Men Do is sad, and great, and fast, and as some degree of romance; life and death, that is the question, maybe... Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son, as the story comes to his peak, and good and evil struggle, desperately, in the hope to change the world, or maybe just a few souls. The seventh son is on his own, in the end, and must face his powers, with The Prophecy and The Clairvoyant, and learns much about life. Yes, you can call it introspection, and it somehow relates in my wild thoughts to Streets by Savatage, just turned to the dark side. The last statement is Only The Good Die Young, part of the "masterpiece ever" collection, if there will ever be one.
Bruce once said they started with a concept, but never reached the end. I say that the end of the story is the less, the end of the concept was reached. And this work is a work of passion, belief and will. Remember this my friends, a work of passion, belief and will.

OVER THE EDGE 1986-1988

SOMEWHERE IN TIME

SEVENTH SON OF A SEVENTH SON

OVER THE EDGE
1986-1988