SEVENTH SON OF A SEVENTH SON

Iron Maiden close out their classic period with this one last shot at glory, a stunning 44 minute accidental concept album about forseeing the future. If it sounds pretentious and ponderous, it is, but gloriously so, unabashed at its own self-importance, and why not? The music here is phenomenal, the band coming up with another set of progressive metal with expert lyrical sophistication and spartan instrumentation. The album is bookended with a creepy little ditty which accurately reflects the relatively dark songwriting, the lone exception being the happy-sounding "Can I Play With Madness," which is dismissed from charges because of how catchy the damn thing is. Elsewhere, the thumping "Moonchild" is a personal favorite, "Infinite Dreams" is a textbook example on how to properly execute a ballad, and the lengthy title track (here placed right in the middle of the album instead of the end) perfectly summarizing the thematic elements on display. Prophecies, clairvoyants, religious musings, nightmares and love-forelonged all figure into this dizzying collection, neatly wrapped up with the glistening synth production carried over from the last album, only this time they've perfected the style.