(Rated this album with 10 out of 10) Reviewed by
A music fan
from Sevenoaks
I took "Best of the Beast" out of the library to give myself a reason not to like Iron Maiden (don't ask me why) and with tracks like "Run to the Hills" and "Rime..." I was just staggered at the energy and musicianship of this outfit - I will gladly defend them on these grounds to anybody. Oh, the Wasted years I've had not knowing this group. I am further amazed at their consistency. But this album is the most solid of the lot - it gives you that thrill you get to be able to enjoy a whole album at a sitting and it's that effect which sets it apart. Each track builds as it goes along. Yet it is beautifully understated. For the record, I hate "Bring your Daughter" and had long been put off the band by macabre album covers or subject matters. But call this fun and shock value if you like, I know it's no laughing matter and evil often has a fair face. "Somewhere in time" is however, in some strange way, free of this stuff for the most part. I'm not trying to be judgmental but nor am I letting myself be non-judgmental - at the end of the day Iron Maiden aren't wise to joke or play around with the spirit world as a subject (see Seventh Son) but the vast majority of their repertoire in their hey-day is on good subject matters and is exceptionally briliant and great fun music. Buy this. Buy it. Go On. Go on go on go on!
