Iron Maiden Album: “Iron Maiden”

This is the album that started it all. Iron Maiden's fantastic debut. It's not exactly the Maiden we all know and love today, but it's still a solid debut, one of the best ever. Paul DiAnno has a much different vocal delivery than Bruce, more rough and aggressive, but it still works. And, he's also an excellent singer, as you will see on such tracks as "Remember Tomorrow" and the surprisingly soft "Strange World" (one of the few Maiden songs that never gets heavy).

The musicianship is excellent here. The music itself sounds like a cross between 80's punk and Deep Purple. However, the technicality is taken up a notch. Even without Adrian Smith, the guitars still blaze like a wildfire. Steve Harris puts on what may be his best performance to date. He is truly one of the best bassists in rock. He even gets a couple of brief solo spots. Nice drumming from Clive Burr. He's not as techinically proficient as Nicko, but he may be a bit faster.

The music is generally not as epic (most of the songs are under 4 minutes), but they're still great. Standouts would have to be "Prowler", "Phantom of the Opera", the aforementioned ballads, the awesome instrumental "Transylvania" (check out Iced Earth's album "Horror Show" for their incredible cover of the song), and of course "Iron Maiden". But I don't think there's a bad song here.

I don't think this album can stand up to the later work with Bruce, but it's still great stuff, one of the best albums of 1980. I personally think it destroys "British Steel" and "Back in Black", even if those two (great) albums were much more commercially successful. While it would have been alright (or as Paul would say, "olroight") if they had kept Paul and made a bunch of albums like this, I for one am glad they got Bruce. But, it's a shame that Paul never really did much after this. He's very talented. Anyway, this is a great album, and every Maiden fan needs to hear where it all began.

UP THE IRONS!!!

Iron Maiden's debut disc was released in 1980. That year was a huge year- Judas Priest, ACDC, Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne released classic albums. However, Iron Maiden arguably is the best of the bunch. All of the songs are classic, and have a very rock n' roll feel to them. Paul Di'anno is a rough vocalist, and makes songs like Prowler, Sanctuary and Running Free very fun to listen to. Phantom Of The Opera is the best song; it is a 7 minute epic that hints at the band's larger than life albums later in their career. The recording is rough around the edges, but like Metallica's Kill 'Em All, it makes it more fun to listen to.

I recommend this album to all Iron Maiden fans. However, if you are new to this band, you should start with Number Of The Beast or Powerslave.

To some Iron Maiden are a joke, well because to them heavy metal itself is a joke (whereas other bands like for example Coldplay, U2 are the modern day Beatles) and there's not much point in trying to convince them how incredible something like Seventh Son of a Seventh Son is.

But this album is a whole different thing, before Maiden evolved into a more "traditional" metal sound. This is before the time of Bruce Dickinson and Number of the beast, when Paul Di'anno with his shorter hair, more raw, slightly punk style vocals was the leader. There is simply no way you can dislike this album, no one sang with that much feeling and sincerity, no one more determined than Steve Harris (who wrote nearly all the songs here) to lead his band to true greatness. This comes from a time when Iron Maiden had SOUL, not something that metal music in general is associated with. The Maiden signature sound is present from day one, but the song writing and playing is of a higher standard, whether it's Harris bass lines, Clive Burr's (one of rock's most criminally overlooked drummers) grooves or Dave Murray's Hendrix influenced, unstructured soloing. When Paul Di'anno sang no one listening to it is left in any doubt that he felt how he sang. If you can't feel the being of Remember Tommorow and Strangeworld you have no soul. Dennis Stratton's opening solo on the latter track (atleast I think that's him) is out of this world and should rank as one of the best guitar solo's written for it's emotion if not complexity. Sad he was fired after the first Maiden album because his evolving music style was at odds with the bands.

Then there's the rockers Prowler, Running Free, Charlotte, Sanctuary. Any album with a string of songs like these could only be called classic. A band nowadays could build their career with just one of these songs. And ofcourse there's the first of their long epics, Phantom of the opera which despite it's subject is not a cheese fest like Webber's awful music. This is one of Maiden's definitive moments one that would influence scores of musicians worldwide in the decades since.

This is an incredibly powerful album, there has been no rock/metal album that has mattered as much as this since that time (all due respect to people like Nirvana, Radiohead, Metallica, but sorry you never stood a chance against Maiden circa 1979-88. Maiden's debut stands at the pinnacle of greatness, it's as essential listening as Led Zeppelin I & II.

Here is the album that introduced the world to Iron Maiden. They were a new band. A different band. One that dared to enter a world that was peppered with punk rockers and play a completely different style of music. They would later grow into one of the most sucessful bands in history. But in this album, they are captured only as a new band struggling to compete with the other bad boys. None of them knew what was to come.

The album kicks of with the ever popular (and catchy) Prowler, which is an absolute masterpiece in itself. The next song, Sanctuary, was not originally released with the album, but this first attempt still charted at # 4! Iron Maiden's first singer, Paul Di'anno and, of course, Steve Harris team up to create the third tune entitled Remember Tomorrow. It starts out quiet and serene, but bursts into a wild frenzy as only Iron Maiden can do. Track 4 is possibly one of Maiden's greatest songs called Running Free. It is an incredible song that displays all of Maiden's talent. The next song is the perfect, the awesome and amazingly astounding Phantom of the Opera. No words can describe the sheer power and flowing rhythm of this one. It starts out in a rather common way, but launches into a full and ecstatic whirlwind of music. Paul Di'anno is not needed for the next song because it is Transylvania, which happens to be instrumental. It focuses purely on the musical abilities of Maiden, which are demonstrated so well in this tune. Then comes a different side of Iron Maiden. A calm and quiet song named Strange World. Light taps on the cymbals and gentle fills on the drums make for a perfect background for the painstaking guitar work. Charlotte the Harlot has a touch of uniqueness, possibly because it was written by Guitarist Dave Murray. It, like Porwler, is quite catchy and a smashing piece of work. Then comes the anthem of the band and the title track. Iron Maiden is so simple, yet it doesn't compromise the song at all. In fact, Iron Maiden is still one of my favorite tunes. Iron Maiden can't be fought. Iron Maiden can't be sought. You have to listen to it. Do no hesitate to buy the only album that includes Iron Maiden's first guitarist. Get the album that came before Bruce and Nicko, when Paul Di'anno had the microphone and Clive Burr controlled the beats.

And just when you thought it couldn't get any better, guess what? It actually gets better!! If you have the capabilities to access the CD extra, you can view exclusive footage of Iron Maiden playing live at the Rainbow in London in 1981. The two clips are of Phantom of the Opera and Iron Maiden. The video from which they are taken is called Live at the Rainbow. It is very rare (I found a copy on eBay) but this CD gives you the unique opportunity to see Iron Maiden in one of their first concerts. It's to cool not to get!!

Note that THIS is the Iron Maiden CD that I started with. No Number of the Beast, folks. It took a little bit to get used to the Maiden sound, but it was an absolute grower and now I can't get enough of it.

After a much-requested (by the fans) Soundhouse Tapes release, Maiden knew they had their work cut out for them to make their debut LP. So they did, recording it in 1979 and making it ready for release by early 1980. It was an awsome fusion of melodic rock, punk, and heavy metal, and it certainly showed what was to come for Maiden- if their debut was this good, what could come next? This lineup was one of Maiden's earliest album-wise, it had the rough and tumble Paul Di'Anno vocals (no high pitched stuff here- well, maybe a little, hehe) and original guitarist Dennis Stratton and drummer Clive Burr. Sadly this would be Stratton's last LP with Maiden. I usually don't do track-by-track reviews, but since this album is so good, I think I will.

Prowler- An awsome opener! Wouldn't think of anything else opening off this terrific CD. It's fast, tough, and has good guitar licks courtesy of Dave Murray and Maiden's old guitarist Dennis Stratton. Features some ripping solos in the middle. Funny but questionable lyrics, has a good song title though. Maiden hooks you with this song, and sets the tempo for the rest of the record. Greatness. 5/5

Sanctuary- Originally released shortly after this album as a single, Sanctuary is sometimes cut down by fans, but I, for one, love it. It just chugs along with some good backbone by drummer Clive Burr and bassist (our man!) Steve Harris. I like the lyrics alot- ("Out of the winter came a warhorse of steel, I'd never killed a woman before but I know how it feels"). Don't know why this song is so cut down by some people. The only bonus track on this reissue CD. 5/5

Remember Tommorow- Whoa. This is a knockout- you just have to hear it! Sometimes melodic, sometimes hard, but it rocks like no other. Memorable track. 5/5

Running Free- Don't like this too much- I think it is overrated, but that's just my opinion. It just dosn't rock that hard to me and dosn't go along at nice pace. Sort of boring too me, but still OK. Live staple, still to this day. 2.5/5

Phantom of the Opera- Best song off the album, and with good reason. Unbelieveable composition by Harris, it goes through alot of tempo changes and also features some firing and melodic guitar solos by Murray, plus the mean intro riff. Essential listening- you just have to hear the live version on Live After Death- awsome! 5/5

Transylvania- Fairly memorable instrumental track- it's great and I think the album wouldn't feel complete without a burning instrumental. Follows up Phantom of the Opera very well. 4/5

Strange World- MOST UNDERRATED TRACK OF THE ALBUM! Simply love this song- just because it's not heavy dosn't mean it isn't great- full of beautiful solos by Murray, great singing by Paul Di'Anno and solid bass by Harris. One of my favorites off the album. 5/5

Charlotte the Harlot- The sole Dave Murray composition off the album- he did the lyrics and the music. Starts off heavy and fast with funny lyrics, then has a tempo change, and what- back to the original opening riff! Can't help but like this song. 5/5

Iron Maiden- Pretty overrated too, but it's Maiden's signature track, and they do it at almost every concert. It is very memorable with the chorus, but not a very good long term song. Good, but not great. 3.5/5

As for the new 2002 remaster/reissue, well, I haven't heard the old one but as far as sound quality (it was remastered by Simon Heyworth at Chop 'em Out in 1998, and he, with Robert Fripp, also remastered the entire King Crimson catalogue in SACD and they sound unbelieveable. He does an excellent job) and packaging, it is great. It comes with some slightly informative notes (major dates in for the band in 1980) and full lyrics, plus some great photos. Also contains original album and singles artwork and comes with a slipcase. No complaints. It is well done and the Enhanced CD portion comes with two live videos (from 1981 I think- Live at the Rainbow, with Adrian Smith) plus complete tour dates and some more rare photos and info.

I would say this Maiden CD is simply essential and will be in my head (and CD player) for a long time. It is certainly one of metal's all-time best debuts.