Iron Maiden - Wasted Years (cover)

Everyone loves Iron Maiden. You, too.

No, it wasn't a question. It was an indicative sentence with a period at the end. I wasn't asking you. I declared it. Now keep yourself to it.

I don't even need to get into details about Iron Maiden. Generations grew up on their music. Each and every member is the top 10/top 5/top 3 most influential musician with his instrument, including Bruce Dickinson. Thousands if not millions of musicians were inspired by them ever since, millions if not billions of rockers hang on to their music every day, even today.

This is one of my most favorite songs from them. I was maybe 14 or 15 years old when I saw the videoclip of this song for the first time on Music Television.

Yes, at that time it still broadcasted music and it was still available in this sad little Eastern European country.

I remember wandering through Cygnus Rock Band's wonderful, epic, mouth-watering list of covers I was very happy to find this Iron Maiden song. Of course I immediately smashed on the PLAY button and I immediately got exploded away right there.

Yes, dear Reader. Better than the original. Much better. Even if the original is as epic as possible.

I swear before the recording of this song these amazing, beloved Colombians sprinkled radioactive power all over the studio, they even rubbed the walls all around with it.

I bet the entire staff of the Colombian Nuclear Energy Agency was there at the studio's entrance begging and crying for samples, because never in this life have they ever witnessed such a high content of plutonium and this amount of alpha and gamma rays. 

Well, ladies and gentlemen, be sure no nuclear catastrophe had happened, it's just Cygnus Rock Band making music ☢

Then they probably obtained some original Chernobyl stuff as well from somewhere and they spread it all on their instruments, generously sharing it with the Mexicans. 

The result is pretty much around the level of a supernova explosion. Get yourself ready, because you will get torn into microscopic pieces and you will enjoy every single moment of it and you're going to want more!

The greatest thing in Iron Maiden's music that none of the musicians are virtuosos. They barely do anything complicated - yet all musicians make you sure that they are the bosses around - and they completely trust in each other. They have a tight, absolutely reliable rhythm section, every instrument, guitars, bass, drum are at their place and it's all topped with Bruce Dickinson's very powerful, legato-rich vocals. We all know the result.

And Cygnus Rock Band made THIS into even much better!

Ruxx definitely has all my admiration and respect for playing all these rock/metal classics on a small studio drumset instead of a Himalaya-sized one. An absolute minimalism, two floor toms, a snare and a kickdrum with hi-hats and a few crash cymbals. 

A lesson to learn for all: it's not the size of your penis instrument that will make you a great musician. Only heart, soul and dedication.

Ruxx is accompanied by Blu for the legendary intro of the song, and Deneb quickly joins them, I guess after he poured the remainings of this nuclear power plant based secret material on the A string.

And you see on all of them how much they enjoy it. Blu and Ruxx have huge grins on their face, even the usually serious and collected Deneb allows himself to get carried away with the power and intensity of the song. Ruxx is singing, and finally he can let all the energy of his voice discharge. He doesn't hold himself back, all the rock/metal/blues rust and smoke flow from his throat and even though you think of Bruce Dickinson with the utmost respect, you will think that this, this thing, this is beyond that. Sorry, Bruce, you're great, you're even the greatest, but... but this is greatest-est.

Perhaps Ruxx somehow applied this nuclear substance on his vocal chords as well, who knows...

Here appears Reny giving some harmonies to the sound, while the radiating material starts to sprinkle all over from Deneb's bass, right in your ears, your face and you even swallow it.

That's the way! We join the radioactive club with our favorite musicians!!! 🔥 What's more metal? 🤘

It just flows around you, then it grabs you and you're already taken away by music. As if it was oozing right from these musicians' fingers.

Deneb joins Ruxx for the chorus and... well the truth is, it's a bit hard to say anything on it. Four great musicians jamming together, absolutely, shamelessly enjoying music and playing. The song is perfect, Ruxx, Deneb, Blu and Reny are all doing a perfect job. Blu is ruling the song and he knows that; Ruxx is having probably one of his best performances ever (after "Stargazer" - review coming soon - and the Judas aria) while showing up as Nicko McBrain's best student; Reny reliably brings the harmonies and Deneb, well, Deneb is like a rock in the middle of this amazing show, allowing it all to swirl around him, while he isn't bothered by the hustle and bustle, he keeps playing Steve Harris's solid yet powerful bass lines in his own steadfast, persistent and shockproof way.

The solo is also a masterpiece, everything is at its place and it's really that song where you don't need to add or take away anything, because it's just the best the way it is; creativity can rest now. 

And you just watch them, these 4 amazing men as they play, rock and share it all with you and you're wondering where they had been from your life. Then you want it all again, and again, you don't even notice but you have put this cover on repeat and allow it to soak you entirely with this beautiful contamination.