Heavy Maytal - Iron Maiden's " Seventh Son of Seventh Son"

 

This album is where some old-school Maiden fans begin to cast doubt on how well it holds up with their classic material. I like it because it is a darker album. "Moonchild" is a great opening song; it's uptempo, and Bruce carries a balance of grit and operatic croon. Lyrically, this album is loosely based on Orson Scott Card's book "Seventh Son." It studies more mystical topics. "Moonchild" is more influenced by Crowley. Despite being a power-ballad of sorts, "Infinite Dreams" might be the album's best song. It finds Dickinson singing in a more nuanced lower register in the verses, and soaring back up on the chorus. 

Where a point of contention on this album is that this is where the band switched from using Roland GR-700s to actual keyboards. I think it's done tastefully, and it's not like they turned into Yes. However, I do remember thinking when this came out that  "Can I Play With Madness" was too happy-sounding with the being harmony vocals on the chorus, felt like a nod in a more commercial direction, but when you sit down and really pay attention to the lyrics, it's clearly not the case. I think if they were trying to stay relevant, they would have gone heavier, as that is where metal was heading in 1988 with bands like Slayer breaking big. Some of the album's most memorable guitar solos are also on this song. 

"The Evil That Men Do" is another great tone with a darker tone and Bruce finding more interesting places for his voice to go than the most predictable belting. Not sure how you think you can get a more epic gallop than what they do on the title track.  Everyone is on point here, though you expect no less from these guys. There is a cool atmospheric breakdown that builds tension well for the guitar solos to explode out of. In some ways, it reminds me of the middle section of "Hallowed Be Thy Name." They bring more bite and a refined take on their classic sound to "The Prophecy". You can hear how this influenced today's power-metal bands. 

"The Clairvoyant" works of a pretty powerful tension that, when coupled with Bruce's intense vocal performance here, works wonders. The guitar harmonies on this album seem to have their own cohesive personality that sticks to the mood of the album. Despite being warned that a demon is going to rape you in your bed at night , the chorus has an upbeat feel to it. This is the band finding a new pinnacle, and it also deserves an 11. Despite its naysayers, it stands toe to toe with the band's best work.