SEVENTH SON OF A SEVENTH SON
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“If Bruce Dickinson wants more cowbell, we should probably give him more cowbell…”
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You’ve heard of movies based on books, but what about albums based on books? IRON MAIDEN’s seventh studio album, SEVENTH SON OF A SEVENTH SON, released on April 11, 1988, is inspired by Orson Scott Card’s 1987 novel “Seventh Son” and is their first official “keyboard” album, confirming IRON MAIDEN’s progressive metal mastery as one of the finest progressive metal albums of all time.
Released 4/11/1988
Studio Musicland (Germany)
Producer Martin Birch
Tracks
Side one
1 Moonchild
2 Infinite Dreams
3 Can I Play with Madness
4 The Evil That Men Do
Side two
5 Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
6 The Prophecy
7 The Clairvoyant
8 Only the Good Die Young
Singles:
"Can I Play with Madness"
Released: 3/14/1988
"The Evil That Men Do"
Released: 8/1/1988
"The Clairvoyant"
Released: 11/7/1988
Get ready to take on an army of “Roided up Roos” who are “boxing the trees” and always remember the following: “there’s no such thing as bad publicity”, “you can’t push a rope” and the odds of 2 different people asking the exact same question within a day or two is not just some “random coincidence”.
Understand why “Steve Harris with distortion” is almost as weird as “Slayer with keyboards”, find out “who’s the outfielder?”, discover the secret code behind “French Toast and Waffle Dust”, and tell all the Trans-Ams and Transformers you know that “I measure from my middle back” before you JOIN US for a dive into “the heart of prog Maiden” with IRON MAIDEN’s progressive metal magnum opus, SEVENTH SON OF A SEVENTH SON.
MOONCHILD
It almost sounds like medieval minstrels at the beginning before transitioning into a riff that is reminiscent of Van Halen’s “Cathedral”.
The riff is very 70’s, progressive rock style. Except for the synths and keyboards, it’s very similar to pre-Live After Death Iron Maiden.
BTW, this album is based on a book called “Seventh Son” by Orson Scott Card.
“And if you try to save your soul,
I will torment you - you shall not grow old
With every second and passing breath
You’ll be so alone your soul will bleed to death…”
INFINITE DREAMS
Sort of mellow, maybe a bit jazzy. Almost has a Somewhere in Time feel. Very progressive.
“But wouldn’t you like to know the truth,
Of what’s out there, to have the proof,
And find out just which side you’re on,
Where would you end, in Heaven or in Hell?”
CAN I PLAY WITH MADNESS
That music video really takes me back. Something about this just did NOT sound like Maiden when it came out, and that something was likely the liberal use of the cowbell during the verse. It’s LOADED with cowbell (cue the incredible irony of Christopher Walken’s character in that particular SNL skit).
Looking back, this album might have actually been well ahead of its time (at the time).
“Give me the strength to hold my head up,
Spit back in their face,
Don’t need no key to unlock this door,
Gonna break down the walls,
Break out of this bad place…”
THE EVIL THAT MEN DO
Sounds like a classic Maiden song right out of the gate with that melody.
Maiden were already a progressive metal band (in substance) before the release of this album, but this album certainly left no doubts that they are, in fact, a progressive metal band.
Honestly didn’t even know there was a video for this song either. The twin guitar harmony part before the solo…magnifique!
“Circle of fire my baptism of joy at an end it seems.
The seventh lamb slain,
The book of life opens before me.
And I will pray for you,
Someday I may return.
Don’t you cry for me, beyond is where I learn…”
SEVENTH SON OF A SEVENTH SON
Sort of has an “Alexander The Great” feel to it. The chorus is a bit repetitive, but it certainly drives the title home, although as descriptive as the verses are, the chorus just seems a tad bland, repetitive, and predictable.
The transition at 3:52 is well done, and the “on the boat” part that starts at 4:20 is exceptionally creepy. The spoken word part definitely harkens back to “Rime Of The Ancient Mariner”.
The way this entire section builds tension is unlike anything else they’d done before. It’s very gothic, very dark, and extremely visual & atmospheric.
When it breaks out at 6:53 right before the guitar solo section, it has a very frantic and urgent feel.
The outro harmony at 8:52 is just classic, beautifully sublime Maiden. There are no better dual guitar harmonies in metal than Iron Maiden.
“Here the birth from an unbroken line,
Born the healer the seventh, his time,
Unknowingly blessed and as his life unfolds,
Slowly unveiling the power he holds…”
THE PROPHECY
Mellow, clean guitars and harmonies, almost like waking up from a dream state (or a nightmare). It definitely conjures imagery of castles and dungeons, prophets, and sorcery.
Probably one of the lesser listened to songs on the album (for some of us). Although, to be fair, Maiden harmonies can make a “less than” song actually better.
It’s like riff polish…or riff flair. Or maybe riff seasoning…
“Now Lucifer laughs, hell awaits…”
The outro is just a beautiful cascade of multi-layered harmonies, fading into very minstrel, medieval, renaissance sounding guitar passages reminiscent of minstrels and lutes (kinda like the very end of Heaven & Hell by Black Sabbath).
“I’ll take your life in my hands,
Your fate your fortune’s in my visions,
Heed what I say and you’ll see what will be,
Please listen to me…”
THE CLAIRVOYANT
So apparently there’s a music video for this one too. It looks like a live version of the song from Donington in ’88, but it’s really just the studio track with some live crowd overdubs and concert magic.
Sort of sad that all the other videos on this album never got any airtime on MTV’s Headbanger’s Ball.
“There’s a time to live and a time to die,
When it’s time to meet the maker,
There’s a time to live but isn’t it strange,
That as soon as you’re born, you’re dying…”
ONLY THE GOOD DIE YOUNG
Sort of an optimistic, happy way to finish out the album, even though it’s one of the oldest yet “sad but true” tropes in all of human existence:
“Only the good die young, all the evil seem to live forever…”
That bass solo part is a bit of a changeup. But seriously though, how bizarre would Steve Harris’ bass part sound if it was all distorted out, Cliff Burton style?
The very end is why the repeat function on CD players was made…it’s like the story and the album ends as it began: for eternity.
“Is death another birthday?
A way to kiss your dreams goodbye?
Do the undead live within us?
And look through our eyes?”
Show Notes:
(00:01): “Buuuuuhhhhhhtttttt…” / #WTFHappenedASMR / “Technical Ecstasy and Never Say Die…” / #BlackSabbathReflectionsASMR / “Which is ‘code’ for drugs…” / #notourbill / #constantly (“We already know what we think about blackouts…”) / #completelymiss / “There’s no way…”/ “You can’t push a rope, honey…”/ #youcantpusharope / “It’s hard…it’s not…that’s why it’s hard…”/ “It’s all night and I’m never gonna finish…”/ #sorrybabe / #hiddentrackepisodes / #hiddentrackcast #hiddentrackpodcast / “We have nothing but #Docket today…”
(03:13): “We’re making up for #DryJuly because #MoistAugust is gonna be…” / #CFA #ChikFilAPostMealWrapUp / “It’s blessed, man…”/ ***WARNING: #listenerdiscretionisadvised *** / #motherfucker #NickoMcBrainASMR / “It’d be weird…you are now.” / “I feel a little dirty…”/ #wholehand / “Put your hand out like that…”/ #iclosedaroundit / ***WELCOME BACK TO THE METAL NERDERY PODCAST WITH ALL OF THE DELICIOUS AND APPLICABLE ANESTHESIA!!!*** / “You were wet during July and I was not…”/ #thinkaboutthis / “We should do another…” / #Chronicles #GlovesOfShame (“I didn’t say #KISS, I said #GlovesOfShame …”) / “Were they #GNR before #GNR?” / “People with #poons …” / #MetalHealthASMR / #PictureDiscReflectionsASMR / “You ever take a pitcher of a pitcher?” / #bassplayerASMR / #pitcherdisc / “Yes you do…”/ “The creepiest thing about #DiaryOfAMadman (the #albumcover)?” / #hulk #bookofspells #saintpetrinecross (“That probably f**cked some people up!”) / “You’ve gotta read it with your ears…”/ ***Go check out “I AM OZZY”, Ozzy Osbourne’s hilariously profound autobiography!!!*** Go read with your ears, your eyes, and your mind! ***/ NOTE: Two bottles…of Hennessy!? / #thepressLOVEyou / “Maybe, I dunno…”
(13:13): “No lube, no warm up, no reflections…it’s okay…” / #seepreviousepisode / METAL NERDERY PODCAST PRESENTS: SEVENTH SON OF A SEVENTH SON / “It was our #StAngerEpisode it was fine…”/ #doit / “I’m sure that’s what people say about…”/ #itwasourgarbagecan / #BruceMaiden / “Not to be confused with the #lastinline …” / #TopThreeIronMaidenAlbums #OldSchoolMetalNerderyPodcast / “It depends on what we’re calling prog…”/ “You weren’t, this was #PreRussell …”/ #conceptalbum #progressivemetal #progmetal / “It’s almost 5 years old!!!” / #OldMetalNerderyEpisodeASMR #Era #HodgesEra / “There is a story to it…but the #tourmerch back in ’88…”/ “Who opened for them on this tour?” / “I’m sure it was #TheOmni …”/ “Noooo….NO! That’s a weird…NO!!!” / #GnRASMR / “Which is weirder…?” / “See that makes sense…”/ “They had some #amazingopeners on that tour…”/ “Back…when you had to go…to a place…”/ “Which is sad…”/ Released April 11, 1988 / #stoppayment / “Just stop…send them a hand printed picture…”/ “I don’t know if y’all have seen that…” / #investigatethemselves
(21:55): “I’m sure it was that…” / #birthdaysoundtrack / “Something about it…”/ #onmicburp / “You sure?” / #youheardithere / MOONCHILD “Seven Holy paths to Hell and your trip begins…” / #youarenumbersix / “Yeah, exactly…#Cathedral …” / “Listen to those chords…”/ #readthoselyrics / #killeropener / “I had no idea…that this was a book…” / #OrsonScottCard #SeventhSon #booklearning #audiobooks #audible #ironmaidenwhispersASMR #DudeHaveYouHeardTheNewIronMaidenASMR? / “That singer must write all the words…”/ “It’s getting old, bruh…I said talent beyond their bass playing…” / INFINITE DREAMS / “That’s prog right there…all day…” / #whenitkicksin / #STFURussellASMR / #weirdtransition / “Yeah, you’re right…”/ “When this came out, I was already…and then I progressed…”/ “To be fair…” / #apparently #allegedly / “I wonder if he can pole vault?” / CAN I PLAY WITH MADNESS / “That’s a LOT of #cowbell …”/ “To be fair…” / #biggerthanballs / “Adam is to Maiden like I am to Sabbath…” / #theweirdyears / #commonground / “4,5,6,7…”/ #middleback / “Some people, this is #heavy to them…”/ #greatanalogy / “This was HIS heavy…”/ #thiswashisballs / THE EVIL THAT MEN DO #allthecokelines #killercloser #sideone / “This sounds like #OldMaiden …”/ #AND / “It’s the harmony part…”/ #IronMaidenDualGuitarHarmoniesASMR / “You can hear the clicks…”/ “It’s like #drumsteroids …”/ #strappedroo
(04:30): SEVENTH SON OF A SEVENTH SON #titletrack #killeropener #sidetwo #progmetal / “I could listen to a whole album of this…”/ #onandonandonandon / “We’ve gotta get to the #ontheboat part…” / #woetoyou #youarenumbersix #motherfucker #hahahaASMR / “Today is born the seventh one…” / “It’s not as long as you think, though…”/ #cantbeloudenough / “Here we go…this is almost #ThrashMaiden …”/ “That’s like a double dose of…” / “Did you see tits at that show?” / “I found some #oldtickets …” / “That had to be with…”/ April 24th, 1991 (#Pantera and #WrathchildAmerica ) / #Rathchild #Tikuhhhtmasstur #spellczech / “It wasn’t before #intelligence …”/ #unpopularopinion / “By ‘Wrathchild America’ I mean with a ‘W’…”/ “How many other metal bands do you know of?” / THE PROPHECY / “This is like clean #weedlywoos in a way…”/ #usethoseheadphones #misheardlyrics / “He’s done everything, dude…”/ “The flying thing is interesting…”/ “I feel like pilots get a shitload of #skypoon don’t you think?”
(53:06): “We’re not even 18 hours in…” / THE CLAIRVOYANT / “Dude, this should be your #favoritesong …” / #STFUASMR #WOEASMR / “That’s the good stuff, right there…” / “Does that keyboard help this song at all?” / “That sounds like #Styx … that sounds like #RockyIV …”/ “Where he’s boxing the trees…”/ “Dude, when we do #TheShroomChronicles again…”/ #SurvivorInsideTheMetal / “I’m now making up stupid shit and I apologize…” / “The album, not so much…”/ “I can’t believe we haven’t done a #RigorMortisBehindTheMetal …”/ “I know we did #Obscure and #1988 …” / ONLY THE GOOD DIE YOUNG #killercloser #sidetwo #albumcloser #lasttrack #untilthenext / “All the evil seem to last forever…”/ “It’s Russell’s favorite part…” / #bassbone / #basssolotakeone / “That’d be weird, dude…nahhh…”/ “It would be as weird as…”/ #SteveHarrisDistortedBassSoloASMR / “don’t even worry about it…” / “How do you think they fuck?” / “Have you ever in your life EVER…met someone…and the first thought out of your brain is…?” / #OMG #samequestion #whataretheodds / “I’m sorry for all the #bassplayerhate I give you…” / #synchronicity / “Who’s the outfielder?” / #oldcouple (“And now I’ve thought about it…”) / “Would you watch that?” / #attractiveatninety / “I’d still probably hit it…”/ THANK YOU TO IRON MAIDEN AND TO OUR ESTEEMED PATREONS!!! / #TransAms #TransFormers / “I don’t know, dude…” / “I tried to put myself in a box this morning…”/ “a little #waffledust on top…”/ THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND GO SUPPORT IRON MAIDEN AND BUY THIS ALBUM!!! / #Like #Subscribe #Comment #Notifications #SocialMediaConditioning #PodcastReview / “It numbs it up down there…”/ #untilthenext / #recordscratch / #preoutroreel / ***COME ON DOWN TO THE BUNKERPOON GIFT SHOPPE TO GRAB YOUR #METALNERDERYPODCASTMERCH !!!*** / metalnerdery.com/merch *** / “I kinda closed around it…”