Reviews (page 8 of 14)
Ambitious and not the worst thing I've ever heard
(4/7) fine for my run but could do without the long instrumentals
Iron Maiden has never been my thing, but to be fair there are some good songs on this album.
Classic albums I didn't hear this for absolutely years, always strange to hear songs without brucey
yeah this sounds like iron maiden
Solid. I like the production on this more than some of its contemporaries.
Solid enough, but a little boring compared to my fav Iron Maiden albums. Not enough stands out to bring it to the next level.
In the summer of 1980, Iron Maiden were the hottest thing around. Their debut album had just come out and they were touring Germany with Kiss. I was 13 and too young to go to the concert at the Cologne Sporthalle. But we played the debut record over and over again. It really was a new form of hard rock... ‘Heavy metal’ was a new term back then, and indeed this music was faster, more aggressive, “harder” than what had previously been considered ‘hard rock’. Added to that was the eerie aesthetic of the artwork. Although I’m not really much of a fan of heavy metal, I do like the early Iron Maiden. I’m probably one of the few fans who lost interest in the band when singer Paul Di Anno left. Bruce Dickinson was certainly a stroke of luck for the band and fits better overall into the band’s musical concept, but I preferred Di Anno’s punk attitude – less cliché, more decadence. The contrast between his “un-metal” vocals and the band’s fast riffs and bass lines remains unique. Musically, the album isn’t quite on a par with their second album “Killers”, but that’s not down to the band’s performance, but rather the mediocre production. Nevertheless, you can’t help but be drawn in by the band’s raw energy. An album that set the tone in many respects for 1980s rock music.
An unfortunate case here where perhaps being too good and too prevalent hurts the score, because this album walked so Iron Maiden could run. This feels very spit-and-sawdust for the efforts of one of metal's most storied and beloved bands, and it's incredibly tough to fully appreciate what this album has to offer when you have tracks from Powerslave, Piece Of Mind, or basically any album where Bruce Dickinson is on vocals. Bless him, the vocalist here just cannot compete with that signature sound, and that's not to say this is a bad album or a bad effort, but it's certainly an unrefined one compared to the discography of the future Maiden they're competing against. In no way bad, but not a huge amount going on here, and anyone who recommends you the self-title as your first Iron Maiden album would be doing you a disservice. Influential in its era it may be, but today, when Iron Maiden are a household name (literally in my case, hazy family connections mean they're the outfit I have the most actual links to), this is not the signature sound or highest quality of their work. I really hope this list has more than just this album from them, because if the 1001 book authors just slapped this album down for being the first album by a big band I'll be sorely disappointed. Looking forwards to crossing paths with Maiden later on my list of albums, now that I have their weaker work out of the way. Good stuff, but a shadow of the Iron Maiden so many of us know.
Good but not my favorite.
🤘RAHHHHHHHHH
I think I liked this one slightly more than the other? But again, maybe because the bass is driving and interesting more so than anything else I'd actually remember
Songs were okay, but nothing that made me want to come back to this album
I’m never going to like this style of music, but I get why it appeals. It was a lot less histrionic and was more direct and raw than I’d expected, and there was a trace of punk influence which is unsurprising for the time.
3.5+
136. iron maiden
Fun to listen to these guys in their first album--I wasn't familiar with most of this stuff. You can kind of tell they are still a band finding their sound. Not having Dickinson yet kind changes the vibe as well. Paul Di'Anno sounds a little like Lemmy without being as good as Lemmy. Still, where would metal be if this album never came out. Transylvania is a cool song. 3/5
A good album that I would never choose to listen to on my own
Phantom of the Opera has a great intro that makes me want to drink Lucozade, but much of this album has too much widdly-diddly for me
Another album I've heard before. I don't know if I'd ever listen to it on my own though. Pleasant enough for a Sunday morning. 3/5
W Iron Maiden, not the greatest album they got though
I had friends who were into Iron Maiden but I never really listened to them much. This album is good, it’s just good fun heavy metal. 7/10
Heavy metal, little too heavy prefer Metallica
I love Iron Maiden, but they just aren’t Iron Maiden yet in this album. It’s still too Deep Purple and not enough over the top nerd metal.
i had high hopes but it didnt really stand out
Heavy but with melody. Not really my cup of tea, but passed faster than I expected
3,4/5 Mog i.
Their first LP. While I’m not a fan at all I do appreciate when music is played well. It’s ranked 8th overall in their catalog by their fans.
Звучит как пародия
Мой Топ 1 самых ужасных обложек в истории музыки. Плакать хочется от работ этого художника. Коллега, ну как так. Гитары прикольные, голос скучный. Что-то приколдесное есть в мире Iron Maiden. Но флер нормисности преследует такие группы. Наверное, из-за фанатов...
Любовь к хэви-металлу это музыкальный аналог ношения серьги в правом ухе у мужчин
в сравнении с последними альбомами даже неплохо, 3.5
I'm amazed at how tame this sounds in retrospect, kind of like Ozzy's albums from around the same time. It's very polite and well mannered and I sometimes wish it would get a little more gnarly and crazed. Still, great playing and songs like "Phantom of the Opera" and "Transylvania" are fantastic. I don't really know their later stuff but this is fine hard rock of its era.
I'd give this 3.5 if it were an option, but I guess I'm closer to 3 than 4. Never heard Iron Maiden pre-Dickinson actually. Di'Anno has the chops and is less melodramatic but also less interesting. Musically it has moments where it's absolutely stunning - Phantom of the Opera into the instrumental Transylvania was the high point for me, mesmerising guitars and rhythms. The rest here though - I can respect it, but it just didn't click with me much. Pretty run of the mill early heavy metal, which isn't a genre I care much about (outside of maybe Ozzy)
Phantom of the opera was good, so was Transylvania
I typically enjoy the bands that Iron Maiden influenced more than Iron Maiden but I found this pretty decent and way ahead of its time.
2.75 - I expected to really hate this, but I was into it a bit. Their sound caught me off guard in a few tracks. I might need to listen to more.
Another dip into last century's metal, I had no idea Iron Maiden would be my top pick. Speed and pop and better singing, what a combo.
It was good! But I honestly don't think I liked it as much when comparing to Metallica, and I gave that a 4. I really liked it, but it all sorta blended together a bit into just one big metal album. I mean I guess that what this is... doi. But like thats all it is, doesn't have much more to it. I'd be curious to dive into their later stuff like the Run to the Hills shit to see where they get to later on.
EI tää niitä Maidenin ykköslevyjä oo ja Dickinson taisi tulla vasta myöhemmin ruoriin, mutta kyllähän täällä ihan hyvääkin menoa on
hyvää rokkia
Liked this way more than I thought I would
as someone who isn't really a fan of iron maiden this album really surprised me with a less hardcore setlist and was super refreshing
Kult dette - men treffer nok ikke helt.
Det funka å trene til dette 💪
Pretty decent, all are pretty good songs but feel kinda similar until the last few with more calmer sounding melodies breaking up the tone. I like strange world, remember tomorrow and transylvania the most out of the album. Gonna give it another listen soon
Morning in Riga
Pleasantly surprised. Particularly enjoyed Phantom of the Opera. More heavy rock than heavy metal.
Fine.
Strange choice of Maiden albums. OK, but no real hits.
Not really a fan but was alright
Guitar: great Bass and drums: great Vocals: irritating Lyrics: annoying This is the kind of thing that convinced me that I don't like metal, even though you'd think I'd like it considering some of the other stuff that I like. I would give this record a 4 if it were all-instrumental, because it is headbanging-worthy. But then he starts singing again.
Surprisingly I liked it
Tasty
I enjoyed this album where I didn't enjoy Metallica's first album and it comes down to the listening experience. Audible vocals and solos beat the metal drone wall of sound. The lineage to hard rock is also more evident in this album.
Honestly better than expected
Iron maiden es iron maiden. Esta muy bien, pero no es lo mejor
Not bad at all, especially for a debut... but it's not as good as Number of the Beast. (and let's be real, it was never going to be)
Ba chiar I fost super ok
Venjuleg rokkplata? Er það ekki bara?
Great debut. Iron Maiden got a lot better though
When I was a kid I used to be obsessed with Iron Maiden. But unfortunately, as a got older, I started having less time for those lyrics and the whole cheesiness of their act and grew out of it. It's interesting to go back to it in my fifties. The first one is quite expressive and raw when compared to the theatricality that came after. It's quite hard rock-based as well, I guess the lyrical and operatic voice of Bruce Dickinson helped paved the way for the band to become more heavy metal inspired.
I really appreciate an album with some genuine variety in their sound and a clear definition between songs. I respect the artistry and passively enjoyed the album…not enough to revisit but can see why it was included in this list.
I’m a Bruce purist when it comes to Iron Maiden, but this has some good tracks on. Hope we get more.
in german we say: „das fetzt gottlos krass“
better than i expected
surprisingly didn't hate this
I feel like I get more on board in the Bruce Dickinson era, but the guitar work and the DNA of the band is all still here. Remember Tomorrow was covered by Opeth and that makes it most memorable for me
3.5
First two tracks are my favourites. Probably only need to listen to half of it to get my Iron Maiden fill for a while.
A bit screamy. Would try again in a different setting.
Pretty good. Some songs are nuts in a good way and some in a bad way. All of the songs that mention women are kind of stinky. “Prowler” is not good. “Phantom of the Opera” is awesome, love the speed. but I admittedly have not seen Phantom of the Opera. “Transylvania” and “Strange World” go hard! but then followed by whatever the fuck “Charlotte the Harlot” is… that gave me whiplash. “Iron Maiden” is classic. Overall I like the album and I will definitely listen to it again and just skip a couple songs…
I enjoyed this album a lot more than the other Maiden album on this list. Once I discovered they had a different vocalist for this album, I think that was the key difference for me. No disrespect to Bruce, but it’s just too operatic for me. Although, I’m sure that’s what people enjoy about him. But Paul Di’Anno has a good balance of not going too over the top. Also, this album had way more melodic moments than I expected. Good balance of beauty and rocking out. I’d actually give this album a 3.5 or 3.75
musical theatre for dumb guys. production's great, appreciably silly, overall good hang
I enjoyed this far more than I thought I would. I got two tickets to Iron Maiden, baby. Come with me Friday don't say maybe.
not for me but I liked this better than the metallica one
In this album, the songs were high energy, and you can tell that a lot of care and attention was paid to the instrumentals. I prefer this style of rock music to the 70s psychedelic and bluesy rock style that came before. It was a decent listen overall.
I thought it was a bit samey, but nice. 3/5
Not my cup of tea but refreshingly not what I expected. Cool album
fine.
Probably better than I remembered. IM has it's place and should be respected for longevity and some influence if not musicianship. I was expecting not to want to ever listen to another, but that's not the case. I'd see what the rest of their stuff was about before saying never. 2+
Kind of ineffectual for me, it’s interesting to compare to later Iron Maiden albums. A bit more bluesy, proggy perhaps with hints of what was to come. A band finding their feet. Prefer these vocals to Bruce Dickinson - I think? Or maybe it’s just different. Some pure shredding behaviour on this, love to see it. 3.0/5.0 Best Song: Remember Tomorrow
Is this the best iron maiden album? Is Bruce Dickinson the problem? I enjoyed this a lot more than i thought i would, it still wasn't great i think iron maiden are a bit crap generally, but this was the most enjoyable album ive heard from them, I definitely prefer this singer to BD. Best song: Running Free
Strong debut offering from the heavy metal pioneers. Sans Bruce Dickinson and with some longer experimental tunes, the album betrays some 70s prog rock influences and is all the more enjoyable for it
Those attentive to my reviews may think I love this album. And I do dig it in a cozy way. It’s just too soft for the genre.
The NWOBHM is one of those things that I occasionally enjoy, but usually in smaller doses than a full album. Having not heard any pre-Bruce Dickinson Iron Maiden before, this album made me realise how key he is to their classic sound. But anyway… These guys can clearly play, but a lot of the tracks seem really structurally messy and incohesive to me; loads of disparate sections with little tying them together. ‘Phantom of the Opera’ is a prime example of this. Also, some tracks are lyrically cringeworthy, especially ‘Charlotte the Harlot’ which is frankly embarrassing. Overall not bad though.
Wow, a heavy metal album I didn't hate! I am making my mom proud over here. I liked the vocals on this album, the guitar was radical, and it didn't just sound like noise. Good for what it is
Listening to this first album feels uninspired from the perspective of 2026; like every other 80’s heavy metal album. But Iron Maiden were trend setters, and it was the other bands who followed behind mimicking their sound.
i think i understand why this album is on the list, but it's not my fave. "phantom of the opera" is rightly heralded as a classic, but it's really the only one here that is. i'm not in the paul di'anno camp, and his vocals are partly why I don't like their debut that much.
I had fun!
fun stuff
It was fine, it didn't really do much for me but it didn't upset me either. I'm not sure if I was in the right frame of mind for it, but it seemed to go by rather quickly but without any malice or interest.
Standouts Prowler Phantom of the Opera
Solid debut 👍 do miss Di’anno’s vocals in the later entries.
Zawsze mnie zaskakuje, jak spokojne i nieinwazyjne są te wszystkie metalowe albumy z groźnymi okładkami. Spodziewam się czegoś ciężkiego, a dostaję psa, który sporo szczeka, ale nigdy nie gryzie. 6/10.
Interesting
Enjoyable early metal. Probably pretty groundbreaking at the time, but this sound would become a staple of 80s hair metal as the years go on. It's aight. I liked it fine, but nothing I would come back to. I liked that they had a song on this album called iron maiden. Artist: Iron Maiden Album: Iron Maiden Track: Iron Maiden
im so bored bro
Good stuff.
Don’t get me wrong, this album has some cracking tracks (Phantom of the Opera is fantastic) but overall it is the weakest of Maiden’s early albums. As a debut it certainly set the agenda, but is miles away from Number of the Beast or Piece of Mind. Was enjoyable to listen to again - and ended up propelling me into re-listening of a few of their classic 80’s albums - but doesn’t get beyond a 3 for me when I put my nostalgia aside.
I can hear later bands in this and can understand why it's popular
I have never listened to a Paul Di'anno Maiden album before, and it was quite surprising. An album of 2 halves for me. The first half was just standard heavy rock, whereas the second had the beginnings of the Iron Maiden sound. Which begs the question, how much input did Mr Harris have into the first half? Do I think they would have reached the heights they have without Bruce's vocals? To be honest, no I don't think they would. But as a debut album, with the seeds of future glories evident, it was good enough but not spectacular. A solid 3.
I approached this with trepidation, like I do with all Metal albums with shitty skull faces on the front. Its just so tacky. Do they think its scary or something? I worked witha chap who had a skull smoking a fag tattooed on his arm (in the 21st century the meaning has changed I believe) and was a massive Iron Maiden fan, I did ask if he like his tattoo, to which he replied 'yes'. He's now long dead after troubles with hard drugs, but I cannot connect that to his love with Iron Maiden,and nor should I. Who am I to judge? Ah back to the album. It was actually better than I thought it would be, no running to the hills for me with this offering. Plenty of was wah pedal, a pleasant surprise! No overly over the top operatic singing either. Reasonable tunes too. Difficult decision.
I'm not too averse to a bit of maiden. But couldn't really get into this today. One or two tracks on here felt almost close to hardcore in style, as much as metal. And given the era this was released in, maybe those genres aren't so different after all.
Good thing they found a new lead singer …
keeping the seat warm for Dickinson
Need Bruce!!! Glad they got heavier and faster in their later albums.
The prowler got me going every time I tried - but at times this album seemed lethargic
Not my taste but obviously great for someone
Maidens första. Intressant att få höra deras ursprung. Några bra låtar men inte lika bra som senare skivor. Kul att lyssna in mig mer på dom senare. Helhetsbetyg: OK
3.3
Without this album the more influential wouldn't have existed, but it's not top of the line for Maiden.
pretty good but not as distinctive as other heavy metal on this list
3.5 stars. Short (37 min) debut album showcasing their heavy metal style. Not bad but not their best work. Standout is "Transylvania".
Me pasa que solo por ser Iron Maiden me encantaria ponerle 5 estrellas, pero este álbum no es tan bueno como otros de ellos. Aun así es interesante y es una muy buena introducción a la banda desde sus inicios.
I remember why I never listened to them... because the cover was too scary. It's actually just some standard metal music.
3.5⭐️/5 02.23.2026
pluspunkt, weil innerhalb der songs teilweise dieselbe spontanität, wie innerhalb des albumzusammenhangs herrscht
Decent mix of metal and rock. Good but I don't know how often I will come back to it. Some of the slower stuff didn't land for me. 7/10
Not my cup of tea, but good for the overall genre
Background punk music?
I like when they play fast.
This was ... good? Did not expect that - do I now have to change my lifestyle, drink different beer, get new friends, etc.?
i liked strange world!
Does listening to this today make me a late-middle-aged dirtbag, baby?
Meddl leude
My youngest brother has always been a big Iron Maiden fan. I thought it was more of an attitude towards the band's mascot. Later, I listened to the band's music myself and really liked some of it. Well, maybe it was my mood that day, but somehow I couldn't get excited about it. To judge it better, I'll have to listen to it again. 3/5
Dede olunca dinlerim
almost a 4–seemed objectively great but wasn’t crazy abt it
Full of energy and super lively, I quite enjoyed this album. Some tracks, like Remember Tomorrow and Strange World, were more up my alley, but I didn't feel the urge to skip the others because of how fun they all were. I probably should listen to this again when I don't have a headache, though.
They have done it better, they‘ve done it worse. It‘s okay, I guess. Fav: -
That was better than I expected.
Liked it more than i thought i would, very punky actually. Never really gave them a chance before.
Pretty solid album here but there's other metal I'd much prefer.
It's amazing how melodic this album is.
A solid album, fun to listen to. I can see why people like it.
I understand Iron Maiden was a big deal in the rock/metal world back in the early '80's, but it's frankly just doesn't hold up. Later groups did it a lot better.
It's weird hearing Iron Maiden without Bruce Dickinson. This is a really solid prototype for their later work.
illustrative of just how much of a difference the right frontman can make. some of this is bad to mediocre (Charlotte the Harlot, Running Free) and some of it is fantastic (Phantom of the Opera) but there’s just something missing. Feels like Dio without Dio, Priest without Halford, AC/DC without the inexplicable two different guys who sound weird in the exact right way to make their band work still pretty good but man nothing on here makes me feel like Run to the Hills or Flight of Icarus
Eh.
recht laut, halt einfach iron maiden ...
Firstly, let's talk that production. Alot of the album, especially the first half, this sounds MIDI programmed, which I guess is also a testament to the rhythm section but still not nice to listen to. Secondly, these are genuinely very cool songs and some great song-writing and performance - but this album, & I guess this genre, is just constant electric guitar. And between those guitars, not a massive range of timbres/effects. It was a relief when "Strange World" came on and offered something different. If guitar's are your thing then this is an essential, but for me it feels quite sonically limited. These guys are terrified of anything that isn't a guitar. 6 / 10 Best track/s: Strange World
Samey halfway through
Average and a bit nothingy
It was ok
Coldplay left me well, cold
Enjoyed this more than I thought I would as someone who generally can't stand metal. There were a lot more prog elements to this record than I expected, but then again, it's apparent to me now that I never really knew much about Iron Maiden and their music in the first place. I'm pretty sure I've conflated them with other metal bands for my whole life. That said, this still isn't really my kind of music, but I didn't hate it like I thought I would. Favourite tracks: Phantom of the Opera, Remember Tomorrow,
it’s a classic, some songs are too heavy for me but i still like it
I don't think I've ever actually listened to Iron Maiden intentionally before! Their instrumentals are probably the best part of the album. The singing is fine, especially for the style. But I did find myself really enjoying the guitar solos and instrumental breaks. I don't think this album is *special*, but it is really good. Favorite Song(s): Phantom of the Opera
Not sure I've ever heard pre Bruce Dickinson iron maiden... It's definitely not as good, I think his singing is one of my favourite things about them (because I'm not a huge fan). But this is the debut so stands to reason it will sound a bit rougher. I think you can tell there is more about them than similar bands, music is a bit more interesting and it still has a fun vein to it, think you can tell it's not taking itself too seriously. Not as good as number of the beast but still alright, 2.5.
The Number of the Beast is better. Preferred the more aggressive stuff, Charlotte the Harlot, and the latter part of the album. Quite enjoyed the 7+ minute song, whichever one that was.
Identifiable as iron maiden, but not as distinctive sounding as what I'm familiar with. All sounds pretty rough around the edges and the sound quality isn't great. Was thinking that Bruce definitely hadn't found his style at this point, but it isn't him so that checks out! It's all pretty decent, but later maiden is better 3
It’s okay! Obviously very good guitar playing, GREAT riffs, and some fantastic drumming but the vocals don’t quite do it for me here. Phantom of the Opera and Transylvania are pretty dope though.
I’ve never heard to any other song that was not storm trooper, so it was a new album for me. There was a few interesting songs that I liked and some other that didn’t quite really catch my attention.
A total 180 from the last album released in 1980 (Kilimanjaro), evidencing a real dichotomy in early 80's music.
Mejor de lo que pensaba la verdad
Didn't listen to the whole thing, but overall it was nice?
Very enjoyable if you like this sort of music. They would eventually get much better over the next few years, but this is a solid start. 3.5/5
This is ok. Not a fan of the band or of heavy metal generally but its easier to listen to than I expected. 3 stars
Pretty good, not my jam
phantom of the opera and strange world are peak
Iron Maiden’s self-titled debut is a confident and gritty introduction that presents the band in its most raw and street-level incarnation. The album doesn’t aim for grand ambition or stylistic diversity; instead, it focuses on establishing a clear identity built around sharp, no-nonsense riffs, a punk-inflected sense of urgency, and an aggressive attitude that sets it apart from many of its contemporaries. From the very beginning, there’s a feeling of momentum and hunger, as if the band is more concerned with making an impact than refining every idea to perfection. In terms of songwriting, the record is a mixed but consistently solid package. There are several genuinely strong tracks that immediately stand out and hint at the melodic instincts and power that Iron Maiden would later develop in greater depth. Alongside these, some songs feel more “workmanlike” or transitional, serving the album’s flow rather than demanding attention on their own. That said, none of the material feels weak or poorly executed. The main limitation is a certain uniformity in tone: while the songs are clearly distinguishable, they often operate within the same sonic and emotional space, which can make the album feel less varied than later releases. Where the album truly excels is in its sound. The original master and vinyl pressing (EMC 3330) are outstanding, delivering a warm, punchy and dynamic listening experience that perfectly suits the raw nature of the performances. The production enhances the album’s rough edge without muddying the instruments, allowing the energy of the band to come through naturally. While Iron Maiden may not be as ambitious, epic, or diverse as the band’s future classics, it remains a strong and enjoyable debut, one that has aged surprisingly well and stands as a compelling first chapter in their discography. 7.5/10
Maiden's debut with Eddie on the cover from Day One.
Best - Transylvania Worst - Charlotte the Harlot
Decent metal- but not great.
C’est sympa mais la DA de ce groupe ne me touche pas du tout. Dans le même style, je préfère Black Sabbath
Normalement j'aurais dit pas trop ma came, mais j'ai bien aimé quelques pistes!
Not really my thing. So why am I rocking out so much!? Definitely something I'd pop in my earplugs for and embrace fully at.summerfest or such.
Oi oi, this is a real "Up the Irons" moment, innit? Listening to this album. you can tell that Iron Maiden had been through a lot before the making of their debut. The band is really in sync with each other, and it shows in the tight musicianship and how each band member will sync up with each other's parts to great effect. There are plenty of prog-like moments on this record where I'm able to see where the band will go from here, but they all just seem to be missing that final wow factor to make it a standout record for me. Not helping matters is the fact that Bruce Dickinson wouldn't arrive for a couple more albums; instead, the vocals are done by Paul Di'Anno, who does a fine enough job here, but lacks the power and charisma to push these tracks over the edge. Overall, a solid debut from Iron Maiden, even if I have a few reservations for it. If you consider it to be a must-hear classic, I won't argue with you. Standout Tracks: Prowler, Phantom of the Opera, Iron Maiden Score: C+
was never a fan, but it was ok
3/5
Liked this one more than I was expecting to. Not sure I have that much to say about it though. Good energy and a nice variation but I’m not sure I’m drawn to listen to it again. Fav song: Phantom of the Opera Least fav: Charlotte the Harlot
Some solid, almost punk type thrash metal here. I like the instrumentals.
Shockingly good
Fantastical Iron Maiden, love the riffs and shouts
Мейден з Полом Діано має таку майже панківську енергетику, але я більше люблю їхній "прог" період або класичні альбоми з Дікінсоном. І навіть з ери Пола я б обрав Кіллерс. Тому тут 3.5
Not my thing
i almost wanna give this four stars purely because of phantom of the opera, but the rest of their 80’s output really blows this out of the water for the most part
Lots of tasty 'Guitar Hero' riffs. This is a breezy and enjoyable quintessential Heavy Metal album. Top tracks: "Prowler," "Charlotte the Harlot," "Transylvania"
--Prowler...\m/. The guitar solo in the middle in fun. not much else to it --Remember Tomorrow...another sick solo bookended by tame melodic metal --Running Free...drums have a different feel here. straight forward bro rock but in a good way --Phantom of the Opera...eat your heart out, Andrew Lloyd Webber. this is the prog shit I came for --Transylvania...instrumental. hits real hard --Strange World...I like the bass here but, to me, this track kind of encapsulates a lot of the negative aspects of metal. this is moldy cheese where "Phantom of the Opera" is the top shelf Parisian shit --Charlotte the Harlot...an appreciated speed punk diversion. things eventually slow down. Di'Anno's voice shines here --Iron Maiden...nice, fat bass drives the track forward. dueling guitars always get the people (me) going
Hmmmm i really didn’t think i was enjoying this at the start there’s a genre that just sounds like school of rock music that i have not been able to take seriously but i’ll admit i was grooving by the end (does one groove to iron maiden?). Some of the guitar solos were pretty mental as well.
This album made me want to bust out the Guitar Hero. I don’t think I’ve ever listened to Iron Maiden but I was pleasantly surprised. I probably won’t reach for it but will be happy to listen again
Add metal to the list of genres that I’m not hugely knowledgeable about, but I was expecting this to be a lot heavier and harder to listen to. So enjoyed it more than I thought I would and can see why people might love it. I didn’t really know any of the songs but great tie in since I watched the new 28 Years Later film today and there was a great Iron Maiden moment
They’re no Wyld Stallyns
A pioneer that couldn’t be captured in a studio recording. I mean it is a lot of the same flavors but those flavors are delicious. The rawness in the voice is amazing.
A good first album. But not great.
Expected to hate it, but I got several tracks in before I got bored and started skipping tracks. I'd listen to it again in the background.
Surprisingly enjoyable
I feel like I should like this more than I do, with the prog elements and clear musical talent on display here. I felt strangely neutral while listening to this.
fun, veers a bit too close to hair metal for me. 3.5
I got 2 tickets to Iron Maiden baby, come with me Friday don’t say maybe. As far as debut albums go 👏🏼
Just cool, Prowler is an awesome song
Pales in comparison to their later albums when they dialed in the sound.
It's Iron Maiden, which is cool. But it's weird that this is the album for the list. I don't see the importance of this Maiden record versus Number of the Beast or Powerslave.
Love Maiden, but I don't feel the utter relevance of their sound.
actually pretty goood
I didn’t listen to this but I accidentally tapped a star and can’t undo it, sorry.
sounds like dad music 6/10
Assez sympa
You know it's early cuz the skeleton guy looks kinda derpy on the cover.
3. Surprised how much I liked a few of the tunes, look forward to hearing more of the discography.
Interestingly enough, as (at times) a metalhead, I never dived deep into Maiden's back-catalog. I started listening to them with "Live After Death" and almost all their albums that came after. That said, I was never a big Maiden fan either, although I do appreciate their later albums, leaning more towards a heavy prog-metal style. Even so, it turned out that this was my first listen to their first album. And, albeit without the legendary Bruce Dickinson, this was not bad. I can truly hear why they were heralded as pioneers of the NWOBHM (New Wave of British Heavy Metal). Sometimes a bit proggy, and mostly straightforward power metal - you can even hear how this inspired the later Bay Area thrash bands (Metallica, Megadeth, etc.). Still, it's not an album I would revisit often, unlike "Powerslave" or "Live After Death." 3/5
Meh
Review Score: 3.5/5 Good rock album, amazing instrumentals, lyrically it lost me the further the album went on, but i think it'll come to me the more I listen to rock albums.
Lizzie P this time. Loved stranger world song. Appetising. Not much range.
Solid
Second IM record of two, and this one is not as good as Number of the Beast. The OG lead singer was no Bruce Dickinson, who puts his pants on one leg at a time, then makes gold records He's kind of a weak lead esp in front of the great band behind him. This likely lands here as an influencer, esp on early Metallica. All in all, it's a solid record and definitely informed what followed, but Maiden surpassed this with all of the Dickinson records and I'd say it's non-essential unless you are a metal fanatic
5 Album cover is too scary!!
Yeah it was alright for 80s metal
I had never given Iron Maiden any listening time because I expected it to be hair metal but this wasn't actually bad or cheesy or anything. I think it aged pretty well. My son liked it when we were riding in the car and it might end up in a rockin' rotation at some point.
Iron Maiden - Len Houmous’ pet name for his 23rd wife. Margaret Thatcher. 2.9 5/8 Transylvania
It did grow on me a lot, still not quite my personal vibe but I’d listen again passively
Torture me back at your lair!
Pretty decent, never been a fan but I wasn't bored. I like that they have a song that's Iron Maiden by Iron Maiden on the album Iron Maiden
Favorite songs- prowler, running free, & Iron Maiden When I think of 80s metal- this is what I think of
3.4/5 Good generic metal to put in the background while caffeinated
necete verovati ovo je bio prvi put da sam ikad pustila mejdena svejedno ne znam sto al meni je ovo mid mozda je do toga sto nmg strani tekst (😭) ako me ne lozi bas uglavnom mislim ima dobrih pesama al uglavnom mi je smor
I didn’t hate it and I thought I would!
I went into this expecting to quite like this, given I've love a lot of the harder rock albums so far, but this didn't quite hit for me. It was good but I didn't like it as much as I expected to. A solid 3.5.
I’ve never really listened to much Iron Maiden. As you can tell from my ratings, hair metal and “hard rock” aren’t my favorite genres but this one was pretty good actually! Liked it more than I expected to. The bass was what really caught my attention, good stuff! 7/10 Favorite Tracks- “Prowler” “Transylvania” “Iron Maiden”
First time really listening to iron maiden and pleasently suprised. Love how there are also calm songs in the mix, like strange world. Could see myself listening to it again. toegevoegd aan bibliotheek
meh
Good to hear Running Free again
Decent but probably don’t need to listen to it again
Only 2 years before Number of the Beast but I was much less familiar with the debut and think I liked it significantly less. I don't think it's just not having Bruce Dickinson, although that is partially it - this just sounds a lot closer to 70s hard rock than 80s power metal. The guitar work is still excellent in places, but I don't like it as much when it's more boogie-ish (for lack of a better word?) and less driving/chugging. Being more like Thin Lizzy is not necessarily bad, but I came to like the more thoroughly metal later sound and this was just an adjustment. Phantom of the Opera is the standout track, but the first/last bookend tracks are also very good.
Wasn’t impressed then, less impressed now. Gimmicky more than artistic.
Not sure... It's okay
La primera canço bastant més chill del que m'esperava. En general aplica per tot s'album. Aixi i tot i ha bastanta guitarra, pero no em sembla tan heavy metal.
great guitar
not my cup of tea, but i liked it
3.5/5 not their best but still strong
This album hit me differently at 20 then it does now 45 years later. When Maiden and Def Leppard both released albums during the NWOBHM period, what stood out was the punk influences that colored the traditional metal. The songs had a different energy, an aggressiveness not found in the more popular bands of the period who were leaning into prog. Maiden, less so than Motörhead, tried to strike the balance and as Maiden’s popularity grew after this record they became less interesting to me because I was becoming more punk rock and far less metal. The guitar tone on this record also strayed into punk rock so as it sits today, there are still a couple of enjoyable tracks - Prowler, Remember Tomorrow and Iron Maiden but the other 5 tracks, except perhaps Charlotte the Harlot, are less memorable. It was a nice revisit but my memories of this record as being far more enjoyable, are misplaced. I saw this tour of Canada and met them in Vancouver, so that might be a factor. Not a horrible record in any way, but just not as exciting today.
3/5
нормалек, но без эмоций. некоторые песни напомнили лед зепелин, думаем...
Better than average metal
Honestly, as far as early 80s metal goes, this was pretty bland, it was good for a whole sit down listen, but really nothing memorable stood out to me.
Not as dirty/distorted/loud as j was expecting
Not being a real Maidenhead, I'd never listened to anything pre-Bruce Dickinson. It's pretty clear that Maiden made the correct choice in hiring one of the great voices in rock history. That said, this album is way better than it has any business being. Heck of a bunch of catchy grooves scattered across the tight 40 minutes. Worth a listen.
I don’t have whatever bone in the body makes someone like heavy rock or metal, but this wasn’t bad
Good, but not great. I enjoyed it well enough, though I feel that starting with their debut album is doing this band a disservice.
Liked! nice guitar
Wasnt bad at all. Im still not a fan of Iron Maiden’s sound
this is how i think whippits would feel like
I had to check that The Number of the Beast, the album where Iron Maiden became Iron Maiden, was on here, because if not, you are hailing the wrong Satan, friend. This a fun record, like Thin Lizzy in Halloween costumes, but why listen to them crawl when you can witness them running to those hills two years later.
I love Iron Maiden. I don't know a lot about them, and I'm not giving this album any more than 3 stars, but I still love Iron Maiden.
It is absolutely essential that there be a classic Maiden lp on the list, and there is: Number of the Beast. This one is pretty good for a debut but has the singer they ditched after 2 albums. I'll rate it for content and not for shouldn't be on the list.
It was ok. It sounds like a debut album. I like Number of the Beast better. Favorite songs:: Transylvania, Strange World
Solid metal album. I can hear how they influenced a ton of rock artists that came after them. Highlights: "Phantom of the Opera" and "Strange World"
7/10
Pretty good, nothing particularly stood out.
Didn't manage to listen to this properly but maybe I'll come back to it
I’m never in the mood for this sort of stuff but it was pretty decent.
Well, it is what it is. Not bad tho
I liked this way more than I expected. Running Free and Phantom of the Opera were favorites.
I enjoyed this a lot more than I expected to! My favorites were "Transylvania," "Phantom of the Opera," "Running Free," and "Strange World."
trademark galloping bass production wise, feels a lot rawer and more dirty than a normal iron maiden record the singing doesn't feel as enthusiastic as later records (i think that's a good thing) distinctive guitar solos, played quickly doesn't feel like heavy metal, more like early prog rock terrible cover art though surprisingly diverse songs (e.g. remember tomorrow v prowler)
I do like Iron Maiden, and even though this the first of the band might have historical importance, it is far from what the band achieved later on. 6/10
I'll admit I liked this more than I thought I would. It's not screaming metal...he actually sings, and doesn't sound half bad! I struggle to enjoy or even appreciate the vocalists who just yell words over loud guitars. These are proper songs, worth listening to! Still not my jam, but I get it.
As good a heavy metal album as I have heard.
Et av iron maidens kjedeligere album syns eg då, men eg syns generelt sett iron maden e ganske bra! ikkje alt for heavy, akk passe Beste sang: Iron Maiden
Since I was behind I was going to skip this one but saw the 5 stars from MitsFM so thought I had to listen. Metal is never going to be my favourite genre but this is one of the best metal albums I’ve heard and I imagine it’s pretty influential. Lyrics seemed a little less overtly demonic than the other Iton Maiden album on the list (or maybe I just couldn’t really understand them) so that made it an easier listen. While not my favourite style of guitar, there were spots where it just fuckin rips. Phantom of the Opera was the standout for me.
A lot softer than I expected, but still is doing well with what it is doing. Feels more like glam rock style than metal.
Pretty fun, didn't make a huge impression, but I'd listen to more from them.
I like it! From the perspective of 2025, it feels light pretty light metal but that does make it easy to listen to. There's great guitar and great bass and the vocals are only sometimes terrible. It's foundational for sure, not for a genre I love, but I can certainly respect it. The cover is iconic and grotesque, it's great for what it is, 4/5.
Im into it
I was sort of expecting more of a wall of sound but it was more...smooth? than I expected. I liked it. 👍Phantom of the Opera, Transylvania
Nothing really stood out to me
Solid metal album.
Honestly more punk inspiration on this than I expected. Not the best or heaviest Iron Maiden I've heard yet but very listenable and enjoyable. Never really went through an 80's metal phase but will probably revisit more of these. Transylvania is probably the standout as my favorite on this one.
I consider Iron Maider one of my favorite metal bands by far, but I don’t think I’ve ever listened to a full album. I really enjoyed the raw sound on this record, I just don’t think Maiden became Maiden until Bruce Dickinson took over. Best Track: Phantom of the Opera
Cool, but kinda funny that this was heavy metal. Seems tame compared, but i understand it was ahead of its time. 3/5
Did not like it as much as I rhought I would. I just find it a bit boring compared to newer rock/metal
It was alright. Middle of the road heavy metal.
Not my normally type of music but I was quite surprised! Good for a gym work out!
Charlotte the Harlot was misogynistic but overall good album. Had some nice melodic parts which were unexpected
some iconic songs, too many guitar solos lol
Soy una abuela? Aprecio el nivel de músicos de Iron Maiden pero no es mi vibra.
I'm not super familiar with Maiden, I know bits and pieces, I've heard the odd album but possibly nothing from this earlier iteration of the band. It felt like a slightly looser version of them than the Dickinson lead band that spawned many of their big songs. And it really works for me, it carries a trace of 70s blues oriented rock that just softens it out a little but the Maiden trademarks are still there too. I think I prefer it and so I may be checking out a little more of Di'Anno lead Maiden.
Nah
bra, men svakere enn de andre
Great cover artwork and interesting listen. Not as heavy as I had imagined and story telling not overly dominated by guitars. Surprised.
Liked this one, but I do prefer Iron Maiden’s later stuff. Favorite Song(s): Phantom of the Opera, Iron Maiden
Being a metal head in the ‘80s and early 90s meant that you knew and listened to Maiden, even if you didn’t want to. Every house party, car, smoking pad, etc. was playing Maiden. This earliest album is a debut of one of Britain’s and the world’s biggest bands. It’s also is unique and historical, though not their best. It was a first so it’s due respect. Steve Harris made a workhorse machine of a band. For me, there were three standout: the title track; Phantom of the Opera; and Remember Tomorrow as a 3-2-#1. Paul Di’Anno was a good Rainbow-esque glam singer with a helluva range but if you get the chance to listen Dickinson do the same songs on Live After Death, it’s obvious who was the better singer. The original drummer Clive Burr also is impressive and Think it’s awesome that Maiden does an annual show to raise money for this medical treatments. I don’t know if I would have put this Maiden on the Top 1001 but for historical reference I get why it’s here.
Random thoughts: * I don’t have much to say about this one. * Never listened to an Iron Maiden album straight through unless we already did that for 1001. * Iron Maiden always freaked me out because of the scary album covers and t-shirts. * I’m unequipped to properly rate metal albums. There was thrashing, there was speedy guitar licks and solos, there was shrieking vocals. It checked all the boxes! Rock on!
A fun listen. Good heavy metal rock
It's mostly good, but I wasn't in the mood for the extended shredding.
Pretty basic rock. I thoroughly enjoyed a few of the solo sections, but some of these are slog to get through the repetitive parts. Mixed bag for me. Hard to rate.
I could only think of the joke in Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure.
I really like Iron Maiden, but as this is their first album, I feel that it is a bit tame in comparison to later releases.
väldigt välskrivet, men känner att själva spelandet inte riktigt är helt där alltid, som att de har skrivit saker som är lite för svåra för dem. stundtals väldigt burkigt ljud, låter som att det kommer genom en konservburk, speciellt i basen. bra, men kunde varit mycket bättre
Fine album, but a band who clearly unlocked potential with bruce. Running free is the best song though.
Not huge on Maiden, but prefer the more 80’s leaning stuff which is weird.
Overall, great fun but you need to be in the right mood for this sort of thing - not really my comfort zone. Reckon my Iron Maiden collection will start and finish with The Number of the Beast.
This was better than I expected. Not as much of a metal hair band caricature as I thought it would be: decent songs.
Didn’t know they had another vocalist for the early albums. Pretty good!
I’ve finally listened to one of those albums with the scary (but very fuckin’ cool) ghoul on the cover! Hell yeah!!
5/10
Like many bands' first swing at bat, Maiden's debut doesn't exactly give the best idea of where they would go, but it has some solid rock tunes and great musicianship. It's unfortunate that Paul wouldn't be able to compete with Bruce, but thank God Bruce did eventually show up. Almost like your lead singer is important to the band's sound and direction.
A real theatrical album but not one of my favorites from Iron Maiden
Nice to revisit, never liked di’anno’s vocals as much but all the rough ingredients are there for the classic stuff.