We have a winner [dramatic pause....] it's @Black Bart. Well done, your turn.
The Aftermath: Clues explained:
Clue 1:
Along with the name of a classic 70s record, this song's name is also the name of a literary work by a writer who plays a more prominent role elsewhere in Maiden's songbook.
Before joining Maiden on their Live After Death tour, Winston Churchill wrote a six-volume account of WW1 named "The World Crisis". One of these volmes was "Volume IV: The Aftermath." Obviously a big Sabbath fan as well, good old Winston.
Clue 2:
You are number 6... or 9.
"The Aftermath" is the sixth song on the X-Factor album, and was the ninth song in the setlist during "The X-Factour".
Clue 3:
Within the song lyrics, you will find song titles by Black Flag, AC/DC and Alice in Chains.
"Nothing Left Inside", "War Machine", "Dirt".
Clue 4:
More than you'll find in your average Maiden song, the lyrics to this song are significant for the writer on a personal level.
Blaze's great grandfather fought and died in WW1. Blaze had a photo of him that inspired this song, and Blaze has said that it is a very emotional song for him to perform.
Clue 5:
A solo album by a member of a band Maiden have covered, has a name and a title track that will guide you to the correct song in a relatively straight line. A musician who plays on this solo record has also recorded with a member of Maiden. This musician was also a member of another band Maiden have covered.
Gary Moore, who played with Thin Lizzy. Maiden covered "Massacre". Moore's 1989 album is named " After the War", which is a key line in "The Aftermath". Don Airey played on "After the War". He also played in Deep Purple, Maiden covered "Space Truckin'' (and Smoke on the Water, if I remember it correctly, at that Polish wedding).
Clue 6:
The song's lyrics are inspired by a literary work both in terms of subject matter, and at least to some extent, writing style.
Blaze read poet and WW1-soldier Siefgried Sassoon's works (Sassoon actually wrote a poem called "Aftermath"). His straightforward and plainspoken poetry is similar to that of "The Aftermath".
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