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As an irrepressible Iron Maiden fan, I am prone to suspect even the slightest gesture of Iron-upping, so my first instinct upon taking in this Italian band’s moniker was to hearken back to the Seventh Son of a Seventh Son album [by Iron Maiden]. Sure enough, not only did Clairvoyants take its name from the aforementioned song, but they also began life as a full-on Maiden cover band. To wit, the last track on this debut is a damn excellent rendition of “Hallowed Be Thy Name,” yet, with all that said, Clairvoyants can hold its head high as being far more than a de facto homage. Influence, y’see, not derivation. Songs like “Journey Through the Stars,” “The Lone” and “Step Aside” boast able-bodied verses, choruses, melodic riffs and galloping, excited bass runs like those Steve Harris used to write before he felt the need to saddle them before, after and over every song with megalomaniacal largesse. Meanwhile, the mid-paced and slightly alt-leaning “The Pain of Sight” and “Back to My Dreams” sound like extractions from the unsung solo Bruce Dickinson albums, i.e., Balls to Picasso or Skunkworks, which is fine by me. If there is no signature tune here around which fans can rally and sing collective whoa-oh-ohs in a live setting (the title track comes close, though), then it should be duly noted that there ain’t a stinker in the bunch, either, making for a consistently enjoyable ride. Let’s see where these guys can go from here.
| Tracklist |
| 1. Journey Through the Stars |
| 2. The Lone |
| 3. Choose the Truth |
| 4. The Pain of Sight |
| 5. Sheer Hate |
| 6. Back to My Dreams |
| 7. Step Aside |
| 8. Closure |
| 9. Word to the Wise |
| 10. Hallowed be Thy Name (Iron Maiden cover) |
: 50:44
| Buy other Clairvoyants albums |
