When I first discovered Iron Maiden, I was initially drawn in by their powerful galloping riffs and melodic harmonies. I had never heard a voice as powerful as Bruce Dickinson’s or as raw as Paul Di’anno’s. I was hooked from the moment that I raided my brother’s tape collection and discovered the magic of Iron Maiden. However, it is the imagery invoked in their lyrics that I truly came to appreciate. In Where Eagles Dare you can envision yourself engaging in a fierce firefight as you infiltrate a nazi fortress. With the Flight of Icarus, you witness the demise of Icarus, first hand, as he arrogantly flies too close to the sun. To Tame a Land has a bunch of cool Dune shit.
But Quest for Fire takes on a subject that is seldom tackled in modern music. A time when the Earth was new, a mere 6000 years ago, when man walked among the dinosaurs. Imagine a time where life was cheap, food was scarce and, at any time, you could be ambushed by a cannibal tribe or tyrannosaurus rex. This was the way of life just a few short millennia before the birth of Christ.
There was but one element that could give you a great advantage in this uncertain era. That element was fire. With it, you could brave the bitter cold, defend yourself from cunning packs of velociraptors or fry some steaks. Loss of this precious tool could spell certain doom for your people. Who will restore the flame when the last ember dies? Who will return the life-saving warmth to the tribe? Who will embark on this quest for fire?
Ken Ham says that Quest for Fire is the most important song written, next to Amazing Grace. It details an important time in the truth of creation that is often overlooked. Iron Maiden brings it to us in a melodic package that helps us understand the struggles our distant ancestors endured in this savage time when the vigorous rubbing of sticks was taboo. Today, we take the element of fire for granted as It is the mere strike of a match or flick of a lighter away.
Have a seat, put on your headphones and listen to Quest for Fire. Witness the story of the dawn of our creation. Travel back in time by way of Iron Maiden’s greatest epic. Embark on your own quest for fire!
