You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Following on from this thread ( http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/whats-the-best-iron-maiden-album) I thought I'd offer an update while listening to 7th Son.
After listening to Killers and Beast yesterday, I still rate this as the finest [i]complete[/i] Maiden album; I say [i]complete[/i] because there are arguably better individual tracks on other albums. However, as a complete aural experience, I still think it's utterly brilliant. Experimental, boundary-pushing, story-telling, and some great metal rifts, not to mention Harris' galloping bass lines and McBrain's incredibly technical drumming. If I were to pick fault I'd say 7th Son and The Prophecy are the let-down tracks of the album, but otherwise - superb!*
*And I freely admit not really listening to much post Prayer For The Dying, although [i]Wickerman[/i], [i]When the Wild Wind Blows[/i] and [i]These Colours Don't Run[/i] are pretty fine. I should probably listen to Book of Souls again too.
Whilst I love Maiden (seeing them in May), I really didn't really get any of their later offerings (anything after Powerslave – the first two DiAnno albums/NOTB still clear favourites for me). Of the later stuff the only tracks I really love are Falling Down and Fear of the Dark.
McBrain's incredibly technical drumming.
Drummer was Clive Burr on Killers and Beast.
Best drummer, I have ever seen live by far.
Drummer was Clive Burr on Killers and Beast.
But OP was referencing the drumming on 7th Son.
Best drummer, I have ever seen live by far.
Hmm, I wasn't particularly impressed. Back in the day I liked Tommy Lee and Peter Criss. Just seen Sabbath and Tommy Clufetos was brutal.
oh yes re-read apologies 😳
I reckon 7th Son's pretty much the perfect Maiden album, partly because it's just genuinely fantastic and partly because it's so definitively, ridiculously Iron Maiden. Musically I prefer Fear of the Dark tbh, but it doesn't have the completeness or dementedness.
Really need to listen to the new stuff though!
So anyway, is it time for some Lego Metal?
And funnily enough, Doug Samson (the original Maiden drummer) was replaced by Clive Burr (who was then playing for the band Samson). Burr was fired from Maiden not long after Bruce Dickinson joined the band from Samson himself although the two never played together.
Drummer was Clive Burr on Killers and Beast.
He was indeed. Dickinson apparently rates him as the best drummer Maiden ever had.
I was genuinely upset when he died: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/clive-burr-ex-iron-maiden-drummer-dead-at-56-20130313
I'll always go for the 1st Maiden album. It turned my little teenage NWOBHM world upside down when Di'anno got replaced by the air raid siren. Having said that I really like The Book of Souls and it's had me listening to more of the Bruce material and starting to appreciate it.
It turned my little teenage NWOBHM world upside down when Di'anno got replaced by the air raid siren.
It did me too – being very young at the time I wasn't that up to speed with news (I just liked the music). I saw them on the Beast on the Road tour in Bradford aged 14 (my first ever gig) and was gutted when I found out that Di'Anno wasn't on vocals anymore. Still, that was short lived as I thought NOTB was an amazing album and I actually wore out my first copy of it on vinyl (well it was so scratched and stuff, not sure if it was physically worn through) 🙂
No love for Piece of Mind? Always my favourite, although Killers comes close second.
Had a great fold out cover on vinyl too...
Live After Death is the best Maiden album 😈
NotB, Powerslave, Piece of Mind, Stranger, 7th, BNW, A Matter..., BoS are all superb, although my faves of that lot are probably NotB and Powerslave.
They all have at least one or two classic tracks on, regardless of how well, or poorly, they are thought of.
It's gotta be...
[img] 
[/img]
Possibly, but you can't argue with an album that has [deep breath]:
Hallowed be Thy Name
Number of the Beast
Children of the Damned
22 Acacia Avenue
The Prisoner
Run to the Hills
Yes, yes, I know you could do a similar list for Powerslave.
Got into metal in 1982 listening to Number of the Beast, I virtually wore my copy out too. For me Soundhouse tapes, Killers, NOTB, Piece of mind, Powerslave and some of the first one. Tried to listen to stuff after but don't get very far.
I'm a proper fanboi as I can find songs I like even on the albums we don't speak of. I love the new stuff and the old.
Highly recommend checking out their later stuff as well as the classic maiden.
Can't wait till May!!
I was giving Somewhere in time a listen just the other day, some belters on there, I think that along with 7th son have always been my favourites.
I know what you mean aboue harris' bass style, sea of madness is great.
This can be my "I've never seen Star Wars" item I've finally realised
I've never listened to an Iron Maiden album. Any of them, ever.
Yes, yes, I know you could do a similar list for Powerslave.
I can't, hence my love for 7th Son.
Aces High is probably my favourite Maiden track of all time (or maybe Killers, or Purgatory - but anyway...), 2 Seconds is brilliant and I like Losfer Words, but the rest of the album is pretty average IMHO. Great cover art though.
I'm a proper fanboi as I can find songs I like even on the albums we don't speak of.
😆
There's some good tunes! Just take some digging out...
They all have at least one or two classic tracks on, regardless of how well, or poorly, they are thought of.
Absolutely. A lot are what is better than what appears on 7th Son. But as a [i]complete album[/i], I'm still arguing 7th Son is the best.
Am loving the punkier side of Iron Maiden this morning tho.
I've never listened to an Iron Maiden album. Any of them, ever.
Don't they're awful! 😛
First band I saw live was Maiden at Birmingham Odeon on the NOTB world tour at the tender age of 13. Loved all the albums up to Powerslave which I still find average at best, missed a lot of the later stuff. One track that I have an unknowing penchant for is Women in Uniform from the Dianno era and the Maggie Thatcher sleeve artwork 😀
After listening to Killers and Beast yesterday, I still rate this as the finest complete Maiden album; I say complete because there are arguably better individual tracks on other albums. However, as a complete aural experience, I still think it's utterly brilliant. Experimental, boundary-pushing, story-telling, and some great metal rifts, not to mention Harris' galloping bass lines and McBrain's incredibly technical drumming. If I were to pick fault I'd say 7th Son and The Prophecy are the let-down tracks of the album, but otherwise - superb!*
[img] 
[/img]
One track that I have an unknowing penchant for is Women in Uniform from the Dianno era and the Maggie Thatcher sleeve artwork
Thatcher with a Sten gun?I know the art, don't know the song...