Megatropolis

Megatropolis returns to a more concept album approach than Battering Ram, though it only touches on the central Iron Savior story from the previous albums. Instead it focuses on a futuristic city on Earth, some time after the Thunderbird arrives home. Like all subsequent albums, no storyline section is included in the booklet. The mood of the album is particularly dark, with a greater slant towards heavy slow songs than on any other Iron Savior album.

The track list was altered between the original release and the remake Megatropolis 2.0 - this page follows the updated order.

Storyline Songs

Megatropolis

Megatropolis describes the thoughts and feelings of someone returning to their home in the titular city after a long adventure - the lyrics imply that this character was part of the crew of the Thunderbird which travelled to Andromeda in Battering Ram.

Flesh

Suddenly we're introduced to a much darker side of the city - a shadowy threat called Flesh that hunts during the night to kill and eat its victims! It's left unclear whether this thing is man or monster...

Cybernetic Queen

The Cybernetic Queen is another character of Megatropolis's night, described as a robot streetwalker with beautiful blue eyes who is on the hunt for willing victims. Many men have fallen for her seductive skills, even as she feels nothing for them.

Running Riot

Another citizen of the Megatropolis prepares to "run riot" over a night in the city - with the mention of taking his favourite gun, he might be painting the town red more literally than usual.

A Tale from Down Below

Describes a colony of diseased beings kept hidden below the city, the result of some terrible experiment that tainted its creators.

Farewell and Goodbye

This is the only song on the album to mention the Iron Savior, and it's a particularly dark one, with the Savior once again in distress at its immortality and perpetual longing for freedom. Frustrated by the memories of its past, it chooses to leave the Earth and search for answers elsewhere in the universe. For a long time, this song made me terrified that this would be the last mention of the Iron Savior and the end of the band itself - but both of them returned triumphantly in The Landing four years later!

Other Songs

The Omega Man

The Omega Man is based on the novel I Am Legend by Richard Matheson, which was adapted into several films - one that was itself called The Omega Man in 1974, and another I Am Legend which was released shortly after Megatropolis. It's an early example of a "zombie apocalypse" story, set in a future where a pandemic has killed much of the human population and left the others infected and mind-altered. The song references the setting of the 1974 film, where the cure for the disease is derived from the Omega Man's blood.

Cyber Hero

A tribute to computer games, and taking on a new personality to play in many stories and save many worlds!

Still I Believe

A hopeful message, describing the belief in the future of humanity and our ability to heal, despite the problems of the current world.

Hammerdown

A Judas Priest-style ode to freedom, cruising down the skyway and going wherever fate takes you!