Iron Maiden

Two things I must say about this one. First, it's a very good example of heavy metal from the late 70s early 80s. Second, I hate heavy metal from the late 70s early 80s.

Man I have been so wrong in my assumptions of Iron Maiden for way too long after listening to this album. Perhaps it’s the hideous character used in all their art work or the millions of 80’s tragic bogan followers but I had always viewed their music the same as a lot of average metal from the same era. These tracks are so much more defined and ‘musical’ than expected. The fact I can also hear where early Metallica gained their inspiration also gives this album a huge amount of credit and respect. Never judge a book by it’s horrible cover art. 4 Stars!

Doubtlessly one of heavy metal's all-time most influential albums (with this release, Iron Maiden helped Judas Priest to plant the seeds for speed, thrash, and progressive metal.) It's also one of the finest debuts ever recorded by any band in the history of heavy metal. The band's vocals would become more memorable and expansive on later releases (especially after Bruce Dickinson replaced Paul Di'anno as singer in 1982), but musically, Iron Maiden were in top form on this 1980 album. There's just so much to enjoy on every one of these songs, and man, do they rock! They're fast, exciting, catchy, and super infectious. From front to back, this disc has palpable energy, irresistible hooks, impressive guitar work (including wailing solos) from Dave Murray and Dennis Stratton, prominent bass notes, and bouncy, toe-tapping drum beats galore!

This album sounded like the backing track to an awesome training montage in an 80s action movie. I'm pumped, point me toward the bad guys.

You can only trust yourself and the first seven Iron Maiden albums. An all time classic and one of my favorites. Paul dying straight up bummed me the fuck out. Every song on this and Killers are absolutely perfect. This album is in the top 25 albums from the book for me. UP THE IRONS!!!

Guitar masturbation with a touch of prog

UP THE IRONS

Okay, as a hater of heavy metal in general, I am surprisingly in love with this music. Cheerful and energetic shit.

Prowler is a great opening track and made me immediately rethink Iron Maiden. The drums on Running Free are gloooorious; the sheer rock and roll release that is Phantom of the Opera defines classic rock. The whole album does, if I could bottle classic rock for someone this is it. I'm not a huge Iron Maiden fan but the musicality and muscularity of this album is nothing if not hugely impressive.

Когда меня просили назвать 5 альбомов, чтобы въехать в митол, я среди прочих называл этот. Да и ща бы назвал, наверное. Даже несмотря на осознание ностальгии. Стив Харрис вроде говорил, что мол первый альбом ты пишешь всю жизнь, а второй - когда скажет лейбл. Если бы у Iron Maiden вышел только этот альбом, его уже можно было бы считать нехуёвым делом жизни, в самто деле. Prowler врывается, своей энергией будто открывая новую эпоху роцка и митола, 80-е. Объединяя в себе черты пунка и существовавшего хард-роцка с митолом прокладывает путь всей последующей митольной годноте, спид-митолу, трэш-митолу и иже с ними. Sanctuary звучит немного инородно, слишком прямолинейно, роцк-н-ролльно шоль, митолу не хватат. Не особо мудрено, что трек был присобачен к альбому лишь опосля, а отродясь являлся синглом. Remember Tomorrow разъёбывает просто своей прогрессивной структурой, разнообразными и гармонично сплетёнными партиями и переходами. Хуки просто за яйца цепляют. Running Free звучит как марш, как гимн. Лаконичный и красивый. Даже фрагменты, где просто удары ту, ту-ду, ту-ду ту-ду не напрягают. Вокальная партия - просто блядоход. Phantom of the Opera... то, как я хотел бы видеть прог-митол тех лет. Или арт-митол, не ебёт. Хотел бы побольше такого, чтобы там агрессивные моменты менялись мелодичными и немного шутливыми, это всё отдавало нотками классической музыки, да ещё соляки заставляли позабыть, что вообще-то тут и вокалист есть, менялся доминантный инструмент, они друг друга поддерживали и развивали мотив, не уходя далеко от изначальной темы, и чтобы это было одновременно и доступно, и комплексно, как 2112 от Rush... но подобного саунда, сука, почти больше то и нет! Ни в последующем творчестве Iron Maiden, ни в чьём-либо ещё. Разве что проблесками в качестве отдельных треков, инструменталы Метлы чем-то подобным веют. Transylvania - сильнейший инструментальный трек, балдёжные темы, балдёжные партии, балдёжная структура, разнообразный, энергичный, красивый. Кайфово переходит в следующюю композиуцию. Strange World если врубить левому, он задумается над тем, митол ли это. Впрочем, на то они и баллады. Эта может показаться немного наивной и прямолинейной. Я всё же полагаю, что в меру. Всё на месте, мелодишно, красиво. Charlotte The Harlot уводит баланс альбома назад к пунку и хард-роцку, для разнообразия норм трек, но, как и Sanctuary, выкинь - хуже бы не стало особо. Iron Maiden. Ну в этом треке прекрасно всё, название, наличие в соответствующем альбоме, исполнение одноимённой группой. Барабанны, гитары, вокальные партии, соляки, переходы. Главный мотив разъёбывает, простой, запоминающий и мелодичный. Конец трека прекрасно обрамляет и весь альбом. Фух, выдохнул. Ну бля, это было охуенно. Уж вуз три года, как закончил, а до сих пор альбом школьного времени щеновий восторг вызывает. На самом деле, как никакой другой альбом Iron Maiden, несмотря на то, что главный фронтмен, Брюс Дикинсон, ещё даже не пришёл. Пол Ди’Анно меньше на себя одеяло перетягивал, от него больше веяло молодостью и энергией, а от Дикинсона больше театральщиной будет веять. Всё же с высоты прожитых лет дебютник могу назвать любимейшим альбомом в дискографии Iron Maiden. Продуманный, лаконичный, мелодичный, разнообразный, запоминающийся. Тупа эталон пиздатого музла. И вроде бы въехал в него изначально быстро, а до сих пор не отпускает. Вот чего-то подобного и ждал от списка 1001 альбомов. А этого, сука, не завозят. Была бы воля, поставил 10 из 5, тупо чтоб когда остальные мой энтузиазм не разделят, средняя вышла бы пиздатой всё равно. Ну да ладно, похуй, просто буду морально готов, что пятёр боле не будэ. Главное, что я сам вроде пояснил, чё по чём.

Not quite the personality of the later Maiden, but you can hear them slowly developing their signature style. Great rock album!

I honestly wanted to hate this but it wasn't so bad and I actually liked a couple songs

This is such a 5 it’s not even funny. They did this in 13 days??? And they now think the production and recording was garbage? Well fuck me then. Fuck me for LOVING this sound, this dry, raw, band in a dead little room sound! It’s incredible! Every song seems to outdo the previous one. I had my music stank face on, for this epic 20-minute run, straight from Remember Tomorrow into Strange World. I can only assume that, if they recorded this in 13 days, and they were given as little guidance as they supposedly had, it was immaculately rehearsed beforehand. This kind of music isn’t accidental or thrown together. Now I’m happy I just gave that Motörhead album a 3. This is adjacent but far, far superior. Always got turned off by their gaudy covers so never gave Iron Maiden a shot. A fool I was! A fool! If my friends start wondering about me and why I like heavy metal now apparently, I’ll just put this album on because it’s self-explanatory. An EXTREME hell yes 5/5, made me purchase an electric guitar.

Honestly this is my jam. I’m not sure what it means that Iron Maiden speaks directly to my soul but - hell yes!

Iron Maiden’s brutal debut is a classic. It’s just raw energy captured in 8 tracks of brilliance.

1001 forces you to listen to records that you'd never willingly subject yourself to. I've never actually listened to Iron Maiden in my life and I'm happy to say I didn't miss anything. I can handle some metal, but this is just Pop Metal with some corny guitar riffs in a formulaic style. Meh.

80s metal ain't really my vibe...If Wheatus asked me to go the Iron Maiden gig on Friday, I wouldn't even say maybe

One of the all-time debut albums. So much energy, so much tension. The bass is so so good. Really puts the punk-metal "divide" into focus -- like, if you took out all the guitar solos, this would be ur-punk.

One of my favorite albums so far with plenty of songs I have added to my regular playlists. Prowler and Phantom of the Opera especially hit home with me.

First things first - I am unfamiliar with the music of Iron Maiden, although very familiar with their artwork, essentially from older brothers of friends who plastered their room with Eddie posters and would not let us use their ZX Spectrum to play Manic Miner as frequently as we wanted. In that respect, the music here is a huge let-down, not nearly as loud or intimidating as I had hoped. Once I had re-calibrated my expectations, it's actually quite good; a more-proggy Groundhogs, but with a guitarist that might have had too many music lessons. An enjoyably tight sub-40 minutes rock out, if one you can share with your parents afterwards. Did they get more "hardcore" later?

Can we just look at the cover and make comments on that? I don't think I've ever heard this entire album. Through a long backward lens it sounds like an amalgam of Motorhead (although less badass), Deep Purple (although less talented), and Status Quo. Yes, Status Quo: There are in fact little bits of high-energy boogie in here. Can't help but feel that with the timing, Rob Reiner had to have been aware of Iron Maiden when he made "This Is Spinal Tap" over the next couple of years. (Released in '84) Not that the film was all about just I.M., but the genre was definitely hitting its fix-your-hair-and-crank-everything-to-11 stride after a slow build all during the 70s. YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

Alright, I have to admit I didn't listen to the whole thing., I just could not do it. And this is no aging arsehole being smug thing, I could not cop it back in the day. This is literally, and I mean literally, Spinal Tap. As I dropped the Youtube clip onto the first track I immediately started thinking about the Tap scene with the lowering of the tiny Stonehenge sarsen onto the stage, and I'll leave you with that thought.

Hated this stuff when I was young and music was my everything. Time has not dimmed my dislike.

Wow…I wasn’t expecting this. I’ve never really given these guys a fair shake because I’m not incredibly partial to metal but I was blown away. It’s not what I was expecting in the best way possible. Lots of melodic movements and themes, coupled with heavier riffs and shredding at times but not overdone. Really enjoyed this a lot! Standout tracks: Prowler, Phantom of the Opera, strange world

It's amazing how the bass almost takes the lead over the album. Prowler is a great fast-paced song to start the album, and while it's fast, it doesn't mean the other songs are also like that; while there are some slow and calm ones, and even some stranges I can't explain, there are also the instrumental, wich is really good.

Classic metal album. Really does everything I want an 80s metal album to do.

A great record! I like the singers voice a bit more then Bruce Dickinsons it is more aggressive and the album in general is more aggressive. Good stuff!

Previously rated: The Number Of The Beast (5/5) ********************************** First time listening to a pre-Bruce Dickenson Iron Maiden album, and I liked it a lot more than I thought it would. This singer's voice isn't as unique, but it's not bad. A couple of songs gave me Deep Purple vibes. I liked everything here, no duds. I will listen to this again. It rocks!

I’ve tried to get into Iron Maiden in the past, and have always been put off by the faux-operatic vocals, partly because nobody ever did it as well as Glenn Hughes from Deep Purple. Maybe I should have started with this album because Paul Di’anno’s voice is really doing it for me. Outside of the vocals, the music is enjoyable. I especially like the noteless riff in Runnin’ Free and the mid section of Charlotte The Harlot

I always thought I didn’t like Iron Maiden apart from some songs. This album with Paul Di'Anno on vocals took me by surprise. Later on I realised Bruce Dickinson needed some getting used to, but he’s also great.

Very raw Iron Maiden. Some songs really stood out but yeah solid 3.5

Arguably the better of the two Di’Anno albums and a reliable ‘go to’ album that will always deliver the goods. Running Free, Phantom of the Opera and Iron Maiden are still highlights in any Maiden set. N.B. Paul Di’Anno is just a bit of a twat

Finally a metal album on this thing, but it's the crappy end of maiden. The first album is alright, there are a few good songs on it but the singing is shithouse. Still, even the crappy end of maiden is pretty good. The guitar and bass is fuckin great, and Transylvania is one hell of a tune. 4/5.

Expected to hate it, didn’t! Still not a fan though

Really dreaded listening to this album as my partner is a huge fan and I’ve never understood the draw. I also was slightly put off by the album artwork. Decided to go in with an open mind though. Enjoyed the guitars on this album a lot but found the vocals a tad lacking (especially in comparison to Bruce Dickinson). Favourite songs were “Phantom of the Opera” and “Prowler”. Would listen to Iron Maiden again but likely later albums.

The vaudevillian bangers I was expecting - “Prowler”, “Running Free” and “Charlotte the Harlot” - are toffee chunks in a doughy mass of earnest prog. But I like this record for this earnestness, and for the revelation that with roots in Leytonstone and Chingford they’re practically locals to my old manor - it’s homemade East London-Essex baroque. But why does so much heavy metal sound so thin?

I’m sorry, but this band was cooler without Bruce Dickinson.

I hear a lot of Led Zeppelin in this album, but I can't tell if that's because I listen to only Led Zeppelin in this genre, or if they are that influential. Either way, I like Led Zeppelin and therefore I like this album.

Phantom of the opera was my favourite

Metal is gay

Status Quo after too many beers.

No Bruce. No interest.

Iron Maiden's gonna get ya! Maiden is my favourite band (possibly thing) of all, and every second of this landmark debut album has been seared into my brain for decades. This wasn't "just" Judas Priest, UFO, Deep Purple and Montrose - this was the turning point, after which heavy metal could never be the same again. It's the most important metal album outside of Black Sabbath's genre-creating debut, as every form of metal which has come since can trace a direct thread back to the music on this album. It's not just an artistic milestone, but a cultural one as well - by this point, Maiden had been living on a bus and relentlessly gigging to working class fans across Britain for years. This is both the music of an otherwise unsung underclass and the standard bearer for the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal - the single most important movement in heavy music. From a musical perspective, you can feel the road-tested nature of the material as the songs are tight and honed, blending complex technical ideas and big melodies with a refreshing energy and aggression. That said, the production is a mess (Martin Birch coming in for the second album was a match made in heaven) and a couple of the songs fall flat - ranked in the context of all Iron Maiden albums, this gets 2.5 stars. Ranked in the context of all the music ever made, it's an easy 5. This may not be Powerslave, Seventh Son or A Matter Of Life And Death but without this album, we wouldn't have any of those! Favourite tracks: Prowler, Phantom Of The Opera (the song that made me want to be a bassist), Transylvania, Charlotte The Harlot

Classic. Started playing bass along with this album. Takes me back

It's a great record. I want to see the 5s from the people who gave this one a 1. Pathetic.

Good stuff

Peak iron maiden and maybe the peak of the new wave of British heavy metal

One of the best albums ever

Straight banger

- Phantom of the Opera - Transylvania - Strange World - Iron Maiden

I’m all in. One of my top 5 bands of all time. I prefer the Bruce Dickinson era… but IM was one of the leaders of the second British heavy metal invasion. 🤘🏻✊🏻👍

Album fav: Strange World

Still holds up to this day. You can’t take this out of the Maiden cannon with want it meant to a generation!

Not my favorite album by them but it is still Iron Maiden

Banging album! Classy early metal, riffs for days!

A good romp from early Iron Maiden, what a way to get into the band.

Really groundbreaking and influential stuff here. As one of the seminal bands of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, Iron Maiden's sounds can be found in every single metal band since this album debuted. Bands such as Metallica's whole mission statement was bringing the NWOBHM sound to the US and we all know how that turned out. Iron Maiden's self-titled debut is far more punk sounding than the galloping, wailing Iron Maiden they eventually become known as. That may be due largely to this album not featuring Iconic singer "Air Raid Siren" Bruce Dickinson's touch. All the past stuff aside this album holds up. It's such a piece of music history that it's hard to dislike it. This album is still influencing bands today. Ghost even recently covered Iron Maiden's version of "Phantom of the Opera" for their Phantomime covers EP earlier this year. It may not be as theatrical as one might expect but it's importance stands tall. 5

First listen ever, was a little nervous because the album art looks off putting to me but the music absolutely blew me away.

Fantastic debut album by one of the greatest hard rock bands. Starts strong with Prowler, a great riff. Slow down with Remember tomorrow before punching into Running free followed quickly by another classic track Phantom of the opera. A couple of "album tracks" follow before the great Charlotte and finale with the title track. A great album, well put together, it all flows smoothly. It was clear, with this album, in 1980 that Iron Maiden were going to be big.

The new wave of British Heavy Metal was gathering unprecedented speed, largely emboldened and reawakened by the bulldozing power of punk and one of the bands that became synonymous with not only the movement but the heavy metal genre as a whole started a decade of decadence that would rival any others. Iron Maiden MK 1 started out with the sounds that gave many a listeners a hair raising, corpse like jolt as though they were the mascot on the cover (his name is Eddie, by the way). They haven't gotten the numbers of the beast in their disposal and they weren't the iconic juggernauts they'd later become but this is still a solid effort and a great debut from one of heavy metal's all time greats. Shout out to Paul Di'Anno, the inaugural lead singer of Iron Maiden, his performance is nothing to sneeze at.

This is an album that must be experienced by all music fans, regardless of music genre. It is the first of several must-have recording by one of the premier metal bands.

Very catchy riffs, fantastic ballads, very solid debut album.

One of my all time favourites and one of the first albums I grew to truly love. Underrated work of genius!

Hell yes!! Iron Maiden is my favourite heavy metal band!! I've listened to this album many times before, but that won't stop me from listening again! This is Maiden's self titled debut album. This was before the legendary Bruce Dickinson became the lead singer of the band, and gave them that signature sound of vocals soaring overtop of amazing heavy metal! Paul Di'Anno was a great singer as well, but his voice didn't have that strength that Bruce is known for. Paul is well suited to singing metal though, because he has a gravelly voice to match the hard hitting heavy music that accompanied him. Prowler and Phantom of the Opera are classics still to this day! Even though this album pales in comparison to some of the rest of Maiden's vast catalog of music, it isn't as bad as The X-Factor or Virtual XI (two albums made in the middle of Maiden's career when Bruce took a hiatus), and it is a super strong debut album! Iron Maiden are one of the originals in the heavy metal genre, and they have influenced so many!! This is a phenomenal album, and a hell of a talented band! Steve Harris has a vision, and ran with it, and thank God for that, because what we got out of it was this stellar band making this amazing music! Steve's bass work, especially in Transylvania is fucking amazing!!!! UP THE IRONS!!! Favourite songs: Prowler, Phantom of the Opera, Running Free, Transylvania, Iron Maiden Least favourite song: Remember Tomorrow 5/5

I used to think of Iron Maiden as super heavy metal but having listened to this is just fun fast and melodic. I listened to this album twice through today because I enjoyed it so much

Wow! Absolutely perfect album! Iron Maiden delivers again. Solid 5! T3B 1. Prowler 2. Phantom of the Opera 3. Remember Tomorrow

UP THE IRONS!

Never listened to Iron Maiden, I liked the album a lot, was pleasantly surprised.

Absolute banger!

Iron Maiden is metal

Amazing. Didn’t realize how the band started and kicked so much ass.

Okay Iron Maiden officially has moved from "they're pretty good" to "damn I've been sleeping on one of the greats" Every. Single. Track on this bad boy.

I fucking love Iron Maiden, this album kicks ass! Shred on my friends. Favorite song: Phantom Of The Opera

"Prowler" "Remember Tomorrow" "Running Free" "Phantom of the Opera" "Transylvania" "Charlotte the Harlot" "Iron Maiden"

first song is absolutely amazing, not a single thing i can say bad about it really, love the solo in remember tomorrow, so far have really great thoughts on this album. next few tracks have absolutely not disappointed, amazing skill on the guitar has been shown coupled with amazing vocals unlike anyone else ive heard (at least at the level theyre at) and for this to be a debut record? an insane start to an insane career iron maiden has. very positive experience overall. amazing record

Damn this is so good. I've never heard this album before, and clearly I've been missing out.

Iron Maiden's powerhouse debut quickly establishes them as heavy metal gods.

Fantastic album. Can definitely see the influence that they expand on in later albums.

A fantastic album very entertaining from start to finish and a bunch of really good songs

Another stone cold classic

perfection!!! A true metal classic!!

9/10

-Something about 'Prowler" -"Remember tomorrow" is a pretty cool ballad-type song -"Running Free" is a great, anthemic-type song. Great to, like, chant along to -"Charlotte the Harlot" is a great jam, and the vocal rhythm of the chorus is pretty cool -"Iron Maiden" from "Iron Maiden" by "Iron Maiden" -Great bass that is pretty high in the mix for metal across the whole album -Whole album is great

This is perfect

I never gave Iron Maiden a chance before, maybe it was the cover art. It's not too bad

Really great musicianship all around here. It's hair metal without (most of) the hairiness. Not quite on the level of the best the early 80s have to offer, but a damn good showing. A high 4. The opener, Prowler, establishes a couple of great melodic phrases and punctuates them with strong guitar, bass, drums, the whole shebang. An instantly approachable, intense, high-energy sound that I definitely see myself returning to. And, with the slower, more introspective mood of Remember Tomorrow, we discover Iron Maiden is actually capable of performing several distinct moods. (The bar is on the floor.) Tempo changes are almost invariably excellent if they're placed tastefully, and the band certainly accomplishes that here. Reminiscent of Led Zeppelin's The Lemon Song in that regard. The faster guitar solo sections are exciting as heck. I'm not sure the song quite warrants such an extended, dramatic ending, but I bet it kicks ass live. We move onto the fast shuffle Running Free, a fairly simple chart that leaves plenty of room for solo hits. Again, another song that sounds born-and-bred for live performances. Cool high harmonies in the repeated chorus lyric, "I'm runnin' free, yeah yeah, ooh yeah [etc]". I don't remember hearing the next song performed in the Phantom of the Opera musical, which is a tragedy in its own right. Just incredible, heart-stopping energy. That rapid drumming, blurring the line between 3/4 and 6/8 time, leaves little to be desired. Excellent riffs, excellent solo and group vocals, several abrupt tempo changes. This may well be the best Iron Maiden song. Transylvania switches between 6/8 and fast 4/4 a couple times, as well as emphasising key changes over a couple of simple, effective riffs. The guitar solo halfway through is class. And a song transition! You don't see those every day, especially not in post-70s "mainstream" music. Another vaguely psychedelic chart akin to the slower part of Remember Tomorrow but (in my opinion) a much smoother and more enjoyable listen. It also features the best vocal on the album thus far. Charlotte the Harlot is exactly as goofy as you'd imagine a hair metal song with that title would be. Fun, simple, a little repetitive, definitely gets its message across (whatever that message consists in). Iron Maiden (Iron Maiden, Iron Maiden) is the best song called Iron Maiden from Iron Maiden Iron Maiden ever released. Plenty of fakeout semi-endings to keep you on your toes squeezed into just three and a half minutes, and the energy is unbeatable. 4/5 Key tracks: Prowler, Phantom of the Opera

I generally like my metal more extreme but solid nevertheless vs other stuff on the list

I’m not sure if this is a hot take or not, but I love Iron Maiden way more than Metallica. They take themselves way less seriously and just make better music as a result. It’s whimsical metal. I’m here for it.

Any thrash is too much thrash in my opinion and there is definitely some here. However, the rest of the album is so melodic, the musicians are so prolific and the guitar solos are so soaring to more than make up for it. Most reviewers suggest that Iron Maiden got better when they replaced this lead singer. I'm actually somewhat excited to hear their later album when it comes up to see if I agree.

Sure, within the metal scene Iron Maiden might be a basic, accessible choice, but goddamn did they make metal sound catchy as hell.

I like this one. Especially musically. 4 stars

Långt över förväntan! Jag kan ha missuppfattat metal.

Definitely a high 4, especially as it came up on the day Paul Di'Anno passed away. RIP.

Hell Yeah! There's a reason why metal is probably my favorite genre. It's just so cool, and bands like Iron Maiden are proof of that. I've always wanted to get into Iron Maiden, but I haven't really had the time. Now I have an excuse to listen to one of their albums, and their first one at that! So, do I like Iron Maiden's self-titled debut? Yeah! I like it a lot! The most notable thing about the first two Iron Maiden albums is the difference in lineup. The sound is a bit different on here from what I normally think of when Iron Maiden comes to mind, largely because Bruce Dickinson wasn't the vocalist until their third album. For the first two albums, we get Paul Di'Anno on vocals instead. While I love Bruce Dickinson's vocals, Paul Di'Anno absolutely deserves praise as well. He's a strong vocalist that makes these songs work. Other than that, the core of Iron Maiden is still here in full. The guitar style, fantastical writing, and sheer energy are present right from the very beginning. There are slower parts that also work pretty well in songs like "Strange World." Overall, while I'm sure Iron Maiden has made better albums since this one, their first album is still a strong debut. Unfortunately, it was announced earlier today that Paul Di'Anno passed away at only 66 years old. Damn. At least he will always have an important place in metal history. This album is a High 4/5. RIP Paul Di'Anno.

I was expecting more dissonance and noise. Pleasantly surprised it was just a solid rock album.

Courageous!

It’s always a shock loading up some Iron Maiden and not getting Bruce on the mic, but this record holds its own as a debut. The biggest draw is the playing; top notch across the board. Even Paul bring his on style that really feels his own. I see why this really ushered in NWOBHM. The biggest drawbacks here are the production and songwriting. The rawness really makes it sound more thin than aggressive; not fitting for their style IMO. And while the songwriting isn’t bad per se, it doesn’t reach the heights that many of their later masterpieces showcase.

Up the Irons! Definitely a bigger fan of Bruce’s output with the band but still some great songs on here

I think it's pretty funny to think this was considered heavy in 1980. It's pretty light by today' standards and more than a bit prog at times. But I like it.

Well, this was a lot more listenable than I anticipated, though I would prefer not to have to ever see the cover art again. Some really fun, uncluttered prog rock with harmonized snaking guitar lines, prominent galloping bass runs and enjoyable tempo and feel changes in the middles of songs. Fascinating to hear how prog and punk combined to make what would become metal.