SEVENTH SON OF A SEVENTH SON

Although it was surrounded by controversy at the time it was released, this is clearly Iron Maiden's biggest achievement. The reason it was not that well greeted in the 80's is basic because it was such a groundbreaking album, it was hard to predict how much it would affect the course of the music scene. This was the truly first "prog metal" album ever. Somewhere In time hinted much a couple of years before, but Seventh Son Of a Seventh Son was really the one that proved progressive music and heavy metal were not incompatible at all. More than that it proved that both genres could combined to from a whole new style. Up till then no band had gone as far as Maiden to develop their sound so much in such a short span of time. Some did changed a lot, but as far as going commercial, or maybe more aggressive, but Maiden did outgrow their style boundaries.

But enough of history here. The album is remarkable not only for its novelty at the time. It's the sheer quality of the songs that really makes this a enjoyable, timeless, piece of music. All tracks are strong (varying from classic to very good) and definitely it marked the peak of the creativeness of all band members, but specially Steve Harris. No wonder this LP is one of his favourites. Songs like Infinite Dreams, The Evil that Man Do and The Clairvoyant are as relevant today as they were back then. The band is playing better than ever and the very good Maiden England video showed that on stage.

The only bad feeling about this album was the fact that never again the band could match this feat. Adrian Smith would soon leave the band and all would go downhill from that point on. But, after producing some of the finest HM albums of the entire 80's and pointing the future more than once, I guess they did more than most bands ever dreamed of. It would be asking too much for anyone to be forever leading trends. Their latest albums may not have the power and freshness of Seventh Son... or even the ones that came before it, but they´re still Maiden albums and the progressive elements only increased after Brave New world (which always sound to me as a kind of progression of the Seven Son... music).

A classic, a trendsetter, one of my favourites albums of all time.