SEVENTH SON OF A SEVENTH SON

Among progheads, this album is often considered as their best album. I don't know if I would go that far but this one is really great indeed. Again, we see Maiden at top performance and songwriting like featured on the "Somewhere In Time", including melodic songs ("The Prophecy") to more wild and complex epics (the title track). A very dynamic and well-balanced album in overall I would say. Continuing the epic and progressive steps left after 1986's "Somewhere In Time", though "Seventh Son of a Seventh Son" is a bit more earthly, you can clearly see here that Maiden has found a path which they would walk further on. Sadly, they didn't until after the "Fear of The Dark" album released in 1992, and thus with not so perfect results as this album was. "Seventh Son of a Seventh Son" also represents Maiden's first true concept album, inspired by Orson Scott Card's novel with the same name. The title track especially presents this fact well.

Of course, this is not a perfect album, some less good musical parts are present, but it still keep's up with "Powerslave" and "Somewhere In Time" with complete ease, this was my favourite Maiden album until I realized that those two were slightly better. But I would still strongly recommend this album to all who are interested. The album sold well and got supported with 4 singles, all being excellent musically, making this album to one of Maiden's most memorable albums from the 80's.

A near-masterpiece overall with the best tracks being "Moonchild", the excellent title track (one of Maiden's best tracks in their career) and "The Prophecy". Highly recommended. 4.55/5