IRON MAIDEN - Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son 12" Vinyl LP Album

- This is the Canadian release of Iron Maiden's "Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son".

Album cover of Iron Maiden's 'Seventh Son of a Seventh Son' featuring Eddie, their skeletal mascot, in a surreal icy landscape with floating icebergs, a glowing orb on his torso, a burning head, and a severed, chained hand holding a bloody heart. https://vinyl-records.nl

"Seventh Son of a Seventh Son" is the seventh studio album by British heavy metal band Iron Maiden, released in 1988 by EMI in Europe and its sister label Capitol Records in the US. It is the second Iron Maiden release to feature keyboards (played by Michael Kenney) and, along with "The Number of the Beast" and, later, "Fear of the Dark" and "The Final Frontier", debuted at no.1 in the UK charts.

Prophecy Unleashed in the Great White North: Iron Maiden's Seventh Son on Canadian Soil
Album Description:

In the frigid landscapes of Canada, Iron Maiden's "Seventh Son of a Seventh Son" resonated with a unique power, echoing through the vast wilderness and captivating the hearts of metalheads nationwide. Released in 1988, this ambitious concept album marked a significant departure from the band's earlier sound, embracing progressive elements and complex arrangements, while retaining their signature heavy metal power.

Historical Context and Musical Exploration

In the late 1980s, the heavy metal scene in Canada was thriving. Bands like Anvil, Exciter, and Voivod were making waves on the international stage, showcasing the country's diverse and vibrant metal scene. Iron Maiden, already established as global icons, found a passionate and receptive audience in Canada, eager to embrace their latest sonic adventure.

"Seventh Son of a Seventh Son" arrived at a time when the band was pushing the boundaries of their musical expression. Inspired by Orson Scott Card's novel _Seventh Son_, a tale of a young boy born with extraordinary powers and a destiny to shape the world, Iron Maiden embarked on a conceptual journey that would challenge both themselves and their listeners.

Music Genre and Controversies

The album's progressive metal elements, characterized by complex song structures, lush keyboard arrangements, and atmospheric interludes, sparked some debate among fans and critics. Some purists felt that the band had strayed too far from their roots, while others embraced the new direction and praised the album's ambition and creativity.

In Canada, the album was met with overwhelming enthusiasm. Fans were drawn to the album's epic scope, intricate storytelling, and powerful performances. The Canadian release of "Seventh Son of a Seventh Son" solidified Iron Maiden's position as one of the most beloved and influential heavy metal bands in the country.

Production Team and Recording Studio

The album was produced by Martin Birch, a veteran producer known for his work with Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, and Rainbow. Birch's experience and expertise were instrumental in shaping the album's sound and capturing the band's creative vision.

Recorded at Montserrat Studios, a legendary recording facility nestled on a Caribbean island, the album's production was steeped in a unique atmosphere. The studio's isolation and natural beauty provided the perfect backdrop for Iron Maiden to craft an album that would leave a lasting legacy.

A Canadian Metal Legacy

"Seventh Son of a Seventh Son" holds a special place in the hearts of Canadian metal fans. The album's Canadian release coincided with a period of immense growth and creativity in the country's metal scene, and Iron Maiden's music played a significant role in inspiring and influencing a new generation of Canadian metal bands.

Music Genre:

NWOBHM, Heavy Metal 

Album Production information:

The album: "IRON MAIDEN Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son Canada" was produced , Engineered and Mixed by Martin 'Disappearing Armchair' Birch.

  • Martin Birch – Producer, Sound Engineer Martin Birch was the steady hand behind some of the most powerful rock and metal records of the 1970s and 1980s. As an engineer and producer, he shaped the sound of Deep Purple and Fleetwood Mac before becoming the defining sonic architect for Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, and Rainbow. His productions balanced clarity with raw force, turning heavy riffs into timeless statements and albums into genre benchmarks.
    Martin Birch Wiki

    • Sound/Recording Engineer(s): Stephane "The Vardengrip" Wissner, Bernd Maier - Studio Boffin

    Mastered by George Marino at Sterling Sound, New York

  • George Marino - Mastering Engineer at Sterling Sound, N.Y.C. George Marino was a legendary mastering engineer whose expertise shaped the sound of countless iconic albums. Born in 1947, he honed his craft at Capitol Records before joining Sterling Sound in 1973. His mastering work on albums by AC/DC, Metallica, and Guns N' Roses defined rock and metal's sonic power. His legacy endures through his meticulous audio craftsmanship.
    Read about George Marion

    • This album was recorded at: Musicland Studios, Munich, Germany

    Sleeve Concept and Design: Derek Riggs and Rod Smallwood

    Sleeve Illustrations: Derek Riggs

  • Derek Riggs – Illustrator, Cover Artist Derek Riggs is the artist who gave Iron Maiden its visual soul by creating Eddie, one of the most recognizable mascots in heavy metal history. Since the band’s 1980 debut, his artwork fused sci-fi, horror, and dark fantasy into covers that were as confrontational and imaginative as the music itself. Riggs’ paintings didn’t just decorate records, they built a world that became inseparable from Maiden’s identity.
    Derek Riggs Wiki

    • Inner Sleeve Photograph: Ross Halfin >

  • Ross Halfin – Photographer Ross Halfin is one of the defining eyes of heavy metal, capturing the genre’s raw power on film since the late 1970s. His photographs of Iron Maiden, Metallica, and Led Zeppelin freeze live intensity, sweat, and backstage reality into instantly recognizable images. More than documentation, his work helped shape how metal looks and feels, turning fleeting moments into permanent pieces of rock history.
    Ross Halfin Wiki

    • Iron Maiden are managed by Rod Smallwood and Andy Taylor for Sanctuary Music

    Record Label & Catalognr:

    EMI Capitol Records C1-90258

    Media Format:

    12" Vinyl Stereo Gramophone Record
    Total Album (Cover+Record) weight: 230 gram  

    Year & Country:

    1988 Made in Canada
    Personnel/Band Members and Musicians on: IRON MAIDEN Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son Canada
      Band-members, Musicians and Performers
    • Bruce Dickinson vocals
    • Bruce Dickinson – Vocals Bruce Dickinson, born August 1958, is the powerhouse vocalist who propelled Iron Maiden to legendary status. Joining the band in 1981, his operatic range, sharp phrasing, and commanding stage presence reshaped the group’s sound and ambition, defining era-classic albums like The Number of the Beast and Powerslave. Beyond Maiden, he built a parallel career as a solo artist, commercial pilot, author, and broadcaster, giving his legacy a reach that stretches well beyond heavy metal.
      Bruce Dickinson Wiki
    • Dave Murray guitar
    • Dave Murray – Guitar Dave Murray, born 1956, is the melodic mastermind behind Iron Maiden’s signature twin-guitar attack. A founding member, his fluid, expressive solos and perfectly locked harmonized leads have shaped the band’s sound since 1975. His playing blends bluesy phrasing with precision and restraint, never flashy for its own sake, always serving the song. That balance made him a quiet but essential pillar of heavy metal guitar.
      Dave Murray Wiki
    • Adrian Smith guitar, backing vocals, synth
    • Adrian Smith – Guitarist, Songwriter Adrian Smith is one of those players I always associate with Iron Maiden’s classic sound and its later revival. Joining in 1980, leaving in 1990, and returning in 1999, his melodic solos and sharp songwriting helped define albums from The Number of the Beast to Brave New World and beyond.
      Adrian Smith Wikipedia
    • Steve Harris bass guitar, backing vocals, string synth
    • Steve Harris – Bass, Songwriter Steve Harris, born 1956, is the driving force behind Iron Maiden’s galloping bass lines and long-form, story-heavy songwriting. Founding the band in 1975, he defined their identity with ambitious compositions that mixed punk urgency, progressive structure, and pure metal muscle. Anthems like The Trooper and Hallowed Be Thy Name carry his fingerprints all over them, making him one of NWOBHM’s most influential architects.
      Steve Harris Wiki
    • Nicko McBrain drums
    • Nicko McBrain – Drums Nicko McBrain, born 1952, is the powerhouse drummer who has driven Iron Maiden’s thunderous engine since joining in 1982. His playing combines brute force with swing and pinpoint timing, giving albums like The Number of the Beast and Powerslave their unstoppable momentum. Before Maiden, his work with Trust and the Pat Travers Band sharpened his style, culminating in a career that redefined metal drumming.
      Nicko McBrain Wiki
    Complete Track-listing of the album "IRON MAIDEN Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son Canada"

    The detailed tracklist of this record "IRON MAIDEN Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son Canada" is:

      Track-listing:
    1. Moonchild (Adrian Smith, Bruce Dickinson) 5:39
    2. Infinite Dreams (Steve Harris) 6:09
    3. Can I Play with Madness (Smith, Dickinson, Harris) 3:31
    4. The Evil That Men Do (Smith, Dickinson, Harris) 4:34
    5. Seventh Son of a Seventh Son (Harris) 9:53
    6. The Prophecy (Dave Murray, Harris) 5:05
    7. The Clairvoyant (Harris) 4:27
    8. Only the Good Die Young (Harris, Dickinson) 4:41

    IRON MAIDEN - Vinyl Records Discography Home Page