SOMEWHERE IN TIME

On Powerslave Maiden had served a nice taste of prog metal, on Somewhere In Time they took another step forward and tried to evolve and develop their sound into synth-metallic directions, similar to what Judas Priest and Ozzy Osbourne were doing around that time, be it with varying degrees of success. At the moments where Maiden comes up with adequate songs it works successfully, but there's just too much filler and big sing-along choruses to make up a good album.

On the opening Caught Somewhere In Time everything they do is superb though, only the chorus is a bit grating to my ears. It's a pattern that returns in much of the songs. Only Stranger In A Strange Land fully convinces me. Most songs are average at best, featuring unremarkable verses and bridges and choruses that vary between inadequate and commercial. Also Alexander The Great doesn't speak to me.

I remember this album didn't click with the fans back in 1985 but going by the ratings that seems not to be the case for the prog crowd. One thing is sure, from the next album onwards, Maiden re-turned to the Powerslave formula and gradually became a self-derivative and irrelevant band. Here, at least they tried. It can't convince me a bit really. 2.5 stars