Iron Maiden - Somewhere In Time review
| Band: | Iron Maiden |
| Album: | Somewhere In Time |
| Style: | New wave of British heavy metal |
| Release date: | September 29, 1986 |
| Guest review by: | Spyroid |
Disc I
01. Caught Somewhere In Time
02. Wasted Years
03. Sea Of Madness
04. Heaven Can Wait
05. The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner
06. Stranger In A Strange Land
07. Deja-Vu
08. Alexander The Great
Disc II [1995 reissue bonus CD]
01. Reach Out [Dave Colwell cover]
02. Juanita [Marshall Fury cover]
03. Sheriff Of Huddersfield
04. That Girl
I wouldn't really like to talk about underrating when it comes to a band like Iron Maiden, but a band with such a wealthy discography full of classics will unavoidably have overlooked albums. I would say 'Somewhere In Time' is one of those for sure.
And yes, this album really is a jewel in Iron Maiden's discography, and the only reason it's not a classic is probably that the songs are not that stunning, and tend to fall in the shadows of the great amount of famous Maiden songs. Which is strange, because in my opinion some songs from this album are better then a lot of songs considered as mandatory live tracks. The problem might be that the material is not complex enough compared to the follower 'Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son' and not catchy enough compared to its predecessor 'Powerslave' if you want to split the material of Iron Maiden in those two categories.
But even if the album might lack classics and complexity, it still gives me a very special atmosphere that the other considered 'filler albums' by Maiden lack. I can't really explain this atmosphere with words but it has a lot to do with the keyboards and the production. It actually feels very spacey, and it makes me think of starlight and vast nothingness, which probably is the purpose according to the theme of the album. But if you aren't a sci-fi fan I won't scare you away, barely any song on this album has lyrics on that theme. I don't even know if I need to mention the originality, the great songwriting and the perfect performance - as we are used to from Iron Maiden.
There are lots of unknown but great songs here like the beautiful 'Sea Of Madness' or the fast 'Déjà Vu'. Unavoidably though, as on every Maiden album there is one filler - 'Loneliness Of A Long Distance Runner' isn't really a track that would fit on a best of album. Still I'm sure a lot of people like it. I don't have much more to say, especially nothing negative - a great album worth checking out if you missed it. And if it had had one or two more songs I would've rated it even higher.
Rating breakdown
| Performance: | 10 |
| Songwriting: | 9 |
| Originality: | 10 |
| Production: | 9 |
Written by Spyroid | 24.07.2008
Guest review disclaimer:
This is a guest review, which means it does not necessarily represent the point of view of the MS Staff.
This is a guest review, which means it does not necessarily represent the point of view of the MS Staff.
Comments
Comments: 29
Visited by: 181 users
| pdepmcp Posts: 141  |
nice, this record deserved such a review. too bad I am one of those who like The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner  this is the first record with noticable keyboards, and they sound a bit too '80s (electro-pop,you know) for my taste. that's the only thing I personally don't like in SIT.
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| Elio Red Nightmare Posts: 4920  |
This is a great album! All of the songs are good...and yes, I like the Loneliness...:D
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| Spyroid Rosetta Stoned Posts: 1023  |
Written by Elio on 30.08.2008 at 15:26 I've realised that a lot of people like it  After their last show in Sweden, I read a review of the concert in one of the biggest Swedish newspapers. The reviewer was mad because they hadn't played "'Loneliness of a Long Distance Runner' or some other unknown surprise" 
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| Elio Red Nightmare Posts: 4920 |
Written by Spyroid on 30.08.2008 at 15:29 Yeah...very underrated song.
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| Baz Anderson Staff Posts: 13254  |
Very underrated album in general I think - this is one of my favourites.
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| BloodTears ANA-thema Elite Posts: 11835  |
Absolutely. Actually, this might be my favourite, but it's hard to pick just one, naturally. The songs are more intricate in a way, they are more complex.
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| Spyroid Rosetta Stoned Posts: 1023 |
Written by Baz Anderson on 30.08.2008 at 15:35 I've always claimed it as one of my favourites since the first time I heard it. I remember nobody agreed with me except from a friend of mine's mother I easily think this album is better than 'Number of the Beast' - much more even and simply better atmosphere.
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| Elio Red Nightmare Posts: 4920 |
Written by Spyroid on 31.08.2008 at 14:37 Definitely. TNOFT is fuckin overrated.
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| Spyroid Rosetta Stoned Posts: 1023 |
Written by Elio on 31.08.2008 at 14:57 Well, Run to the Hills and the title track isn't bad although I'm bored to death by them. And there's a couple of fillers. But I really like Children of the Damned and Halloweed be Thy Name, some of my favourite Maiden songs. Anyhow, not as even as this album and not as good either 
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| Elio Red Nightmare Posts: 4920 |
Written by Spyroid on 31.08.2008 at 19:46 I've always considered TNOTB made of 4 masterpieces and 4 fillers...the masterpieces are 22 Acacia Avenue, Children Of The Damned, Hallowed Be Thy Name and the titletrack...the rest is forgettable.
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| Spyroid Rosetta Stoned Posts: 1023 |
Written by Elio on 31.08.2008 at 22:49 Aah, totally forgot about 22 AA... but I agree. Invaders is quite okay aswell. Anyway, masterpieces don't have fillers!
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| Elio Red Nightmare Posts: 4920 |
Written by Spyroid on 31.08.2008 at 23:06 Exactly, in fact I don't consider that album a masterpiece. Well, stop now, we are off topic
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| BloodTears ANA-thema Elite Posts: 11835 |
Well, I like The Prisoner. So I think that is arguable
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| Spyroid Rosetta Stoned Posts: 1023 |
Written by BloodTears on 01.09.2008 at 23:18 Haha really of topic, somebody should start a thread in the forum if there isn't one already TNOTB is a very good album, but it doesn't qualify to my favourite Maiden album top 5.
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| BloodTears ANA-thema Elite Posts: 11835 |
Written by Spyroid on 01.09.2008 at 23:33 Sorry I know we should be talking about somewhere in time. I was just saying that I don't think the prisoner and run to the hills are fillers at all. But other than that I agree, it's not perfect. And it's not on my top 5 eihter.
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| IronBlackZepp Posts: 180  |
This is a great album, I love the entire theme of it, its very chilling. All of the songs are great, no filler. It is hard to say that any of the albums from Number of the beast all the way to Seventh Son are any better then one another. They all have great themes and are filled with great songs.
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| Nicko's Nose Posts: 490  |
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| Uirapuru Liver Failure Posts: 2955  |
What a cool song ''Alexander the great'', an epic.. and amazing lyrics on Heaven can wait.. very good album.
----  ---- member of the true crusade against old school heavy metal, early 80s thrash, NWOBHM, traditional doom, first and second wave black metal, old school death metal, US power metal, 70s prog rock and atmospheric doomsludgestoner. o/
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| Powerslavex Alexskywalker Posts: 777  |
This album is underrated allof the 8 songs listed are unique my favourite is Caught Somewhere In Time the way bruce screams it is great
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| Greydan Account deleted |
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| Nosurper Stinky Lips Posts: 442  |
Pretty much spot on rating and a great review to boot. Underrated is right, "Caught Somewhere In Time" is probably my second favorite Iron Maiden song behind the almighty "Hallowed By Thy Name". Personally, I find "Stranger in a Strange Land" the ONLY weak song on this album. The synthesizers give the songs extra depth and atmosphere. The album cover is great with the "computer" font spelling out Somewhere In Time. Not to mention the lyrical focus on themes relating to time in nearly each and every song...AHH such a great album.
---- 
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| Ellrohir Heaven Knight Posts: 8669  |
I think i really gotta pay more attention to this album...
---- My rest seems now calm and deep Finally I got my dead man sleep 
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| tea[m]ster Au Pays Natal Contributor Posts: 5266  |
This is my favorite Maiden album...seriously. Maybe it has alot to do with the introduction of guitar synths in Maidens music.
---- rekt
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| Ellrohir Heaven Knight Posts: 8669 |
Well i paid more attention, but still i prefer other albums more (SSOSS and Powerslave from 80ties)
---- My rest seems now calm and deep Finally I got my dead man sleep
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| BORT Posts: 98 |
Omg The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner is soooo good. One of my favorites on this album. Not filler at all
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| x-avier Posts: 46  |
The atmosphere of this album is just amazing. Each song is incredible and fits perfect to to albums theme. Sea of madness and alexander the great are my favorite ones. The riff guitars are just so catchy so 80´s. Is the best Steve Harris album performing the bass. Is just not just the typical galoping, you have riffs that goes with the guitars, solos, some good scales I mean is just a masterpiece. The syntheziser is just the perfect way to complement the atmosphere not only SPACE TRAVEL but also a lot 80´s which is a combination with the heavy metal they are performing just amazing. My favorite Iron Maiden album, far away from any other.
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| Lord_Regnier Posts: 1469  |
Probably my favorite Maiden album. Though I've never been really able to decide between Powerslave, SIT and SSOASS.
---- "Why would we fear death, when life is so much more frightening?"
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| BeastOfMetal456 Account deleted |
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| Bad English Tage Westerlund Posts: 62002  |
Only Maiden can pull this one, in some way its different, some say let down, you put it on, start listen ehh, when its end, you cant get enough... I like ebery Maiden albums, unless latest what does suck ,...
---- I stand whit Ukraine and Israel. They have right to defend own citizens. Stormtroopers of Death - "Speak English or Die"  I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
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