The MASTERPIECE that almost BROKE Iron Maiden forever
Iron Maiden released Somewhere in Time 40 years ago, with it getting rather mixed responses back in the day… and to this very day, remaining one of the most unique albums in the band’s catalog
In the mid-1980s, Iron Maiden conquered the globe with the most relentless tour in metal history, and it nearly broke them, pushing the band to total exhaustion. And what followed wasn’t just a band fighting burnout, it was a creative battle that may have actually laid the foundation for the band’s future breakup.
So today, in honor of its 40th anniversary, let’s take a look at why Somewhere in Time is actually the most pivotal album of the band’s golden years. Here you go.
00:00 – Intro
00:50 – Somewhere after tour
04:00 – Adrian in a Strange Land
07:20 – Synth it up
10:50 – Verdict
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Background music: “Uberpunch” Alexander Nakarada (serpentsoundstudios.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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@Racoughydoughy
October 2, 2026 at 8:42 pm
Caught somewhere in times intro harmony awakens something in me
@xBoomstick
October 2, 2026 at 8:42 pm
I can't believe people were up in arms about Iron Maiden using synths back in the day. It's not like it didn't add an element to the music they never would have hit otherwise.
@hieinh
October 2, 2026 at 8:42 pm
It's one of my favorite Maiden Albums musically and lyrically. I prefer it over Seventh Son for Nicko's Drumming
@ParanormalFun-i1i
October 2, 2026 at 8:42 pm
Not this band again😂
@pierreteller
October 2, 2026 at 8:42 pm
great video! totally agree, somewhere in time has always been one of my favorite maiden's album
@catmus1506
October 2, 2026 at 8:42 pm
The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner…. Enough said! 😻
@AndrewSavitskyi
October 2, 2026 at 8:42 pm
It was always my favourite album from the 80s and it still is and #3 in all discography. This album is simply amazing in all senses. Thanx for the great review! 🤟💪
@Clammy69
October 2, 2026 at 8:42 pm
I'm with you on Deja Vu. That song would kick ASS live!! 🤘😈🤘
@ThatCaymanGuy
October 2, 2026 at 8:42 pm
Somewhere in Time is a fantastic album and i saw them at Madison Square Garden in 1986.
@MB-wj6vr
October 2, 2026 at 8:42 pm
Sea of Madness is my favorite song of all time!!!
@Osteady-now
October 2, 2026 at 8:42 pm
I prefer their earlier albums. Powerslave and Somewhere in Time have a couple of great songs each though. It all went downhill from there, IMHO.
@rabbidbabies4094
October 2, 2026 at 8:42 pm
Seeing Déjà vu live would be dream come true.
@NickTaylor-hx7ps
October 2, 2026 at 8:42 pm
One of my favourite songs: Sea of Madness……..Up the Irons.
@k.h.1587
October 2, 2026 at 8:42 pm
I regret not going back to see maiden in the early 2000s when Bruce and Adrian came back and Janick stayed. But by that time I was trying so hard to make it in a period where metal was not the best route for new bands to gain success other than nu metal. So I abandoned maiden having never heard my favorite songs live because all my shows were in the post Adrian, pre blayze era, no prayer and fear of rhe dark.
Somewhere in time is my favorite album and wasted years was the song that got me into maiden, as well as the first thing I learned that made me sound like I knew how to play.
@SPW-h7x
October 2, 2026 at 8:42 pm
Idk but Somewhere, 7th Son, and Piece of Mind are my Number one … and the two diAnno albums my Number two… 🤷♂ And I'm awfully strong in making decisions 😎
@alexmanne
October 2, 2026 at 8:42 pm
I had Somewhere in Time on cassette when I was 7 years old. I love it. Listened to it everyday.
@justabill5780
October 2, 2026 at 8:42 pm
This is actually one of my favorite Maiden albums.
@mcdrumlessons
October 2, 2026 at 8:42 pm
For my own taste they should be a two guitarist and one keyboardist band.. the keyboard would give them such beautiful harmonies knowing their symphonic style.. they did great albums/tours with two guitarists, the quality of composition didn’t improve with three.. and they’re using Kevin Shirley as a mixing engineer not a real producer just bcz Steve’s stubbornness.. if they allow a Rick Rubin, Bob Rock, for example to produce their records they’d have a fresh new sound while preserving their own identity.
@markd2209
October 2, 2026 at 8:42 pm
All you did was summarize the Wikipedia page about the album.
@dennisfox8673
October 2, 2026 at 8:42 pm
This has been my favorite Iron Maiden album since its release. There isn’t really anything that’s even close to being a clunker. And it truly is the album where Adrian Smith stepped UP.
I’d be okay with any song off it being added to the set list, but I’m going to say Alexander the Great
@ronbroadfoot279
October 2, 2026 at 8:42 pm
The songs that Bruce had suggested for the album were likely rejected by Steve Harris for not being Maiden worthy. Bruce admitted that he didn't take the rejection well.
@snuffleplatypus2028
October 2, 2026 at 8:42 pm
Could listen to Iron Maiden songs or stories all day every day
@k2vaja00
October 2, 2026 at 8:42 pm
SiT and Seventh Son are my favorid Maiden albums. It seems I cannot get bored of them at all and both still feel fresh after all these years.
@UnoDos-v2e
October 2, 2026 at 8:42 pm
9:54 you either listened to heavy stuff or synthie stuff in the early eighties. Clear hard divide. Completely different days.
Kiss took alot of flak for ’going disco’ with 'I was made for lovin you’ in 1979.
@YourDeletedComments
October 2, 2026 at 8:42 pm
That CD and Seventh Son was their best work.
@Shadefecator
October 2, 2026 at 8:42 pm
Im just gonna say one thing: Adrian’s solo on Stranger in a strange land is one of the greatest solos ever.
@paulhunt1879
October 2, 2026 at 8:42 pm
Bought the cassette and the poster when it came out
@joecieplinski9516
October 2, 2026 at 8:42 pm
I'm with you. Somewhere in Time, along with Seventh Son of a Seventh Son, are my two favorite records from the band, all these many years later. I think it's the perfect blend of Adrian Smith and Steve Harris, writing-wise.