Reviews (page 11 of 15)
Again, I went into an Iron Maiden album expecting to dislike it. And again they won me over. These songs rip. The lyrics definitely leave a lot to be desired. Especially the one that says “molest her”.
NWOBHM band with a new singer, a more polished album than the predecessors. Twin guitars blasting away.
Cool album, cool guitar, better played in the car then off your headphones
Not gonna listen first song sounds demonic
Holy shit had never listened to anything other than the hits, this was so awesome
more aluminum maiden than iron maiden, super weak
Metal not my favorite but can’t hate too much
This is Maiden at their best! Energetic, Melodic, lyrically epic and flat out metal.
A part of me always tries to argue that this isn’t my vibe when it comes to metal, that I’m not into bombastic, shreddy, operatic ‘80s Heavy Metal™️; another part of me loves the nerdy, DnD, socially conscious, head-banging nature of a lotttt of metal from this era, regardless of subgenre [e.g. Anthrax is my favorite of the Big Four]. Every time I put on Number of the Beast, I can’t help but love it. My head bangs. I get jealous of Steve Harris, and wish I could play bass like that. I dig into the themes. I air drum. I have a blast! But I keep trying to lie and say I only think this album is okay. Part of the issue is that my brain tries to tell myself that I prefer later albums [Piece of Mind and Seventh Son, specifically]. Part of my issue is that deep down, I’m still a teenager, trying to show that I’m not a poser for liking nerdy metal, that actually Death and Cryptopsy and Gorguts are soooo much cooler than this dorky, feminine, poser bullshit because *I’m* not a poser 🤢 But who the fuck am I kidding? This album is so fucking good! Honestly, without “22 Acacia Avenue,” which is only okay, it’d be a flawless metal album. This album makes me want to drive down the highway in the middle of July, windows down, blasting it, banging my head, hair obstructing my driving abilities. I don’t care if it’s entry-level poser behavior to like this album, because I really like this fucking album! *EDIT*: Nevermind, "22 Acacia Avenue" is good, just like the rest of this album. It's not my favorite metal album, but it might be one of my favorites on this list. It's dorky but it also kicks ass, and I definitely was still being guarded during my initial review. I just needed to see what other lesser-metal albums actually made it on this list to be reminded that The Number Of The Beast is really that good. (Re-rated from 4/5 to 5/5 on June 2nd, 2025)
Listenable overall and with good playing, but not particularly inspired. Catchy moments, but largely boring. Often feels generic, and gets repetitive. Not a huge metal fan usually, but I've heard better from the genre. Overall, just okay. ~2/5.
This is better than I expected/remembered. It made me reconsider my (negative) take on Iron Maiden. It’s still not my bag, but I realized it’s not that far off from—and likely influenced—stuff I like a lot, like early Motley Crue and Dokken. I still like those bands better, but this was better than expected. The closer, Hallowed be thy Name, is a standout for me.
Don’t usually listen to this style music but it was really good, for sure going to listen to it again
Perhaps THE defining New Wave of British Heavy Metal album. This is the album where Maiden began to embrace proggier sounds, but the tight, bass-driven songwriting remains. An all-time classic, and an easy five stars. 5.0/5.0: Iconic
3.5/5
Iron Maiden is often a go to for me, but I usually pick Poweslave, so it’s a nice change of pace to enjoy this again.
Are you kidding me? No.
really strong, maybe too much to listen it in normal days..
Ok. This is why I love this project. I am not a metal head. This album was very popular during my teen years but i has never listened to it because, again, not a metal head. But as I approach this list with an open mind, much to my disguise- I liked it! And people i am an oldish lady now. Trying to figure out why I like it so much more than other metal albums I’ve listened to through this. More rhythm maybe? More structure to the songs? Off to Google “what makes Iron Maiden so good” to get more insight.
relisten. great album
Yksi tähti puhdasta nostalgialisää.
Klassiker. Bin nicht der größte Iron Maiden Fan, aber ist n cooles Album - deutlich besser als viel Schrott, der in der Liste steckt..
En trea bara för att jag är snäll.
No estaba mal.
Not my normal rotation but a solid album
Hell yes, some real music finally!
so great
It was much more pleasant than expected. The singer really reminded me of other 80s hair band. Probably won't seek it out again but my ears aren't bleeding.
What 13 year old boy doesn't want a full size poster of the Eddie demon crashing through his door? I had the poster AND several t-shirts. Then I listened to the music and I was like WTF? Is this "rock opera"? This blows worse than Queensryche. And that's pretty much where my 13 year old self left this band. So listening to Iron Maiden 37 years later, do I have a difference of opinion? I can appreciate it a little bit more than I did back then. It's OK. The songs I like the best are actually the 2 longer ones: 22 Acacia Avenue & Hallowed Be They Name. I just like the riffs and song changes better and maybe the longer songs give them time to riff through more changes which falls in line with their vibe which is this sort of opera-metal epicness. I just want them to release a one song album that's 30 minutes long!
This isn’t as bad as I thought it might be, but just not my genre.
Not a huge metal fan but this wasn’t too shabby
The perfect metal album from start to finish.
Ok listen
\m/
Typical of its genre. Great angsty lyrics
Thought it was cool an album referenced my favorite numerical sequence...666. How these guys ever knew it was imprinted on top of my head is beyond me. I wanted to give this album a three and a half stars but the devil made me give it four. Also when I listened to it backwards it told me to help an old lady cross the street and drink my Ovaltine...that's wholesome shit, man!
Sounds like my third grade best friends older stoner brothers room. Never been an Iron Maiden fan but didn’t hate this one. It’s actually a decent album.
Passabler Heavy Metal.
To me, Paul Di'Anno is the voice of Maiden. As good as this album is, I started to lose interest in Maiden after this release. That said, listening to this made me remember when the album came out and dropping the needle. A nice trip down memory lane!
Not really my thing but I didn't hate it. I liked parts of it but I won't come back to this. Funny cover.
Decent classic metal.
Whenever I listen to run for the hills I’m somewhat bothered by the discrepancy between singing and drums, because they are not at the same time. Listening to the whole album I realised that the drummer is really bad. They don’t keep the same time as the rest of the instruments.
I have no intention of listening to this. I got partway through the first track and it's like...yeah, no. I don't need to force myself to listen to something that I don't like. I listened to a new Maggie Rogers song, then the earliest HAIM album available on Tidal. So that was my album today.
nothing special but pretty fun
3, mostly for Number of the Beast and Run to the Hills. Maybe if had memories of the time when this music represented the darkest of evils, I'd have more appreciation.
a pretty good album, but vastly overrated on the strength of two songs. i've never been a huge maiden fan, they are fischer price baby's first metal to me. some of the best song writers ever in the genre, i just don't like their sound.
Honestly way better than I was expecting! I loved the energy.
another metal band i expected to be less approachable based on it's cultural reputation. this feels like the musical equivalent of the satanic panic over d&d. maybe it would hit harder if i was a devout christian?? idk, i enjoyed it, 3.5
yeah sure. dad rock that mom says not to wear the t-shirt for out in public.
Classic
My least favourite of the first six Iron Maiden albums. Side 2 is what makes it.
could hit harder, like pls fuck my ears up. this album only tickles on his full potential. still good tho.
Iron Maiden sounds, those riffs, solos and Bruce’s vocals all at their peak here. Appreciated the story in each song for the first time too.
Iron Maiden is pretty fun! I honestly don't know why/how I had missed them before this 1001 albums thing. I didn't think of them negatively, I just didn't ever really think of them outside of being the Run to the Hills guys. 80s metal guys are really just a different flavor of theatre kid, is what I'm learning. It's a fun shtick and it seems they dont ever take themselves too seriously. Wild that conservatives tried to label them Satanists and whip up a panic when its so clearly a performance, but they'll pearl clutch over anything that moves the overton window to the right. There's a humor and drama to the whole thing, real escapism. Bruce Dickinson in his debut seems to have a bit more range and power than Paul Di'Anno did, with that almost operatic vibrato. I love the unhinged Prisoner Patrick McGoohan series, that sample was unexpected. They're great at putting out consistent quality on the two albums we've heard. No energy dips!
I haven’t really listened to Iron Maiden much before but I know how influential this was and I did enjoy it a lot. It’s good guitar and good rock
Another surprisingly good album from the band. I don't think it's quite as good as the "Iron Maiden" album but definitely better than expected. I guess I never gave them a chance because I always thought they were just loud thrash metal. Plus any album that uses the open of "The Prisoner" ("I am not a number, I am a free man") deserves some love. There is also an excellent documentary about this band that is worth watching. My opinion stands corrected!
I thought this was great, though not quite as great as the other Iron Maiden album I gave a 5 to. The guitar solo on “Run For The Hills” is otherworldly. I also loved “22 Acacia Avenue” and “the Prisoner” sample on the track of the same name. What an unexpectedly great band, though I am curious about what a slow song from them would sound like and after two albums I still don’t know.
I actually saw Bruce Dickinson when he was the frontman of a long-forgotten band by the name of Samson (who were supporting Robin Trower, FFS!) and, to be honest, I / we thought he was a bit of a twat. But still, here he is doing his best Ronnie Dio impression and helping take Maiden from the vanguard of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal to new heights of success and fan loyalty. And the album? Well, the double-whammy of "The Number of the Beast" and "Run to the Hills" is huge fun but there is no escaping the silly lyrics and general campness of the whole enterprise. Ferocious riffing? Sure. Pounding rhythm section? Check. Radical departure into new musical territory? Not so much.
I am not a heavy metal fan. I see the logical progression from Led Zep. Soaring guitar, pounding drums, operatic vocals, replace Gandolf with horror, jettison the soft parts and the blues. I was surprised how much I enjoyed it, fast, hard and complex. 3*
9/10, fantastic metal
It's Maiden. This album is great. Would I listen to it every day as a middle-aged man? Fuck it, sure. Let's go.
As much old school metal as I listen to, Iron Maiden has just never done it for me. Dickinson has a great voice. It's just a little too theatrical for my liking. It feels less like evil metal and more like Broadway. Album is full of bangers and overall a great listen.
Good
Loved it.
I actually liked this more than I expected to, but it's still not something I'd choose to put on just to listen to for the hell of it.
This is such a key album for the band. It is not my favorite of theirs, but I am more of a casual fan of Maiden than a hardcore fan. But without this album, so many more could not exist: "Powerslave," "Somewhere In Time," "Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son"... It has so many iconic songs: "Run To The Hills," "The Number Of The Beast..." But I never really liked the ending to that title track. It always felt like they weren't sure how to end it. Because of the limited time constraints, it feels like they just ended it, and if they had a little bit more time it could have ended more grandiosely. Songs like "Invaders" feel like Bruce would be straining for this nowadays. It's not the album I go to, that'd be either "Somewhere In Time" or "Powerslave". But you couldn't have gotten there without "Beast." And "Run To The Hills," man... it is such a great metal song.
This is a very good heavy metal album and while I'm not a metal fan, I recognize its importance in the genre. In some ways it almost generated a formula that was followed too closely. Like, because of the typical song progressions here, heavy metal bands felt the need to start a song with a simple, melodic, and catchy beat, and then amp up the tempo and frenzied beat after a brief intro, complete with mixes in of high-pitched or screaming vocals and a long bridge of the most frenzied yet intricate guitar (or drum or bass) playing. Don't get me wrong, Iron Maiden are one of the best at doing this and the addition of Bruce Dickinson is his vocal ability soared them to new heights, but sometimes this approach gets a bit tired or over-bearing. I do have to give them credit for their lyrics - whether dark, fantastical, or political they are quite intelligent. And while sometimes the heavy metal sound can be a bit much for my ears, they have some absolute classics here in Children of the Damned, the title track, Run to the Hills, and Hallowed Be Thy Name. The others are pretty good too - not a single bad track. I thought hard about a 5 given this album's place in the whole heavy metal genre.
The guitar playing is great, but the lyrics and singing are just too cheesy for me. Right from the start: "Many Nordic fighting men / Their swords and shields gleam in the sun." Ugh. It's a shame, because a lot of the music is really good. If I ignore the lyrics, I can almost enjoy the somewhat over-the-top singing. I'm going to go with a four mainly out of respect for its place in metal history, but for some reason Maiden just never worked for me. Favorite tracks: Children of the Damned, The Prisoner (probably more for nostalgia for an awesome show...which had cheesy effects, so I guess there are parallels here), Run to the Hills (very cool song - lyrics have good meaning, but I think part of the problem is they never learned how to write lyrics with any subtlety), Hallowed Be They Name.
I never really liked metal or hard rock so I’m biased in this but it just sounds like shit when the guitar and drums over take the singers voice and it’s all you can hear. None the less i can’t say it was bad, it was actually really good, singer is amazing makes me wonder why I don’t listen to Iron Maiden more often. Favorite song: The Prisoner Least favorite: the number of the beast 3.2/5
Loved this album! From the jump it’s an immediate energy booster as I share all the pain, anger and just general head banging of this album. It felt like the perfect album as I navigate my kids temper tantrum for the 42663636363 time and feel myself slowly turning insane like the shining
as classic as heavy metal can get, Iron Maiden knocks it out of the park with this timeless album. From start to finish its cool as hell.
Oh fuck yeah bud. Had a flag of this album on my bedroom ceiling when I was in high school and this album kicks as much ass now as it did then
I liked this! Some good tracks and I can see myself checking out more albums by them in the future!
Scream for me Donnington. Iconic British metal album, one of the greatest unique voices in music. Amazing.
this shit is corny
En håndfuld solide men GOOFY numre
glædelig fredag derude! Tror ikke jeg har hørt hele pladen før -- det var bedre end jeg havde regnet med, god energi, selvom jeg stadig synes Iron Maiden er lidt fjollede
Klassiker - synes at nogle af Iron Maidens bedste sange er på den her plade, men jeg tror bare at det hele bliver lidt for "episk" til mig... Jeg kommer sikkert til at fortryde min rating på et tidspunkt.. please don't hate 😬
🤘
eh kinda boring compared to megadeth or metallica
Kunetz said it all
They made this as if they knew guitar hero would be a thing
Yeeeeeaaaaaaahhhhhh ! Metall from the finest
Better than I expected. Respect!
Ah, a classic from my high school years! I actually still really like a few songs from this album--mainly "The Prisoner", "Number of the Beast" (naturally), and perhaps most of all "Run to the Hills"--which kind of surprises me, because I knew even at the time that this was never a particularly complex band. But they nailed the whole metal power chord thing well, I liked Bruce Dickinson's story, and as an aspiring rhythm guitar guy in high school, I was always challenged by the interesting pairing of Adrian Smith's and Paul Murray's guitar licks. I never realized until now (after reading the Wikipedia entry) that this was the only album containing both Bruce Dickinson and Clive Burr; it almost makes me want to listen to pre-Bruce Iron Maiden (almost). And the (likely apocryphal) story about the producer's accident with a bus of nuns and a repair bill of £666 is hilarious.
better than I thought it would be. some good guitar.
I think this album really stayed true to its sound all the way through. I personally felt Run to the Hills and Hallowed Be Thy Name were more impressive than the title song The Number Of The Beast. This isn't my favorite genre lyrically, but who doesn't love an awesome guitar riff?
Songs sound too much alike
Fun stuff
Opzich wel nice, was niet in de mood voor deze muziek vandaag.
Ergens wel vet, zeker voor zijn tijd. Snap wel dat ze zo invloedrijk waren en dat mensen ze zo vet vinden. Maar ben nooit echt een metalfan geweest en dit is ook wel een beetje te dramatisch voor mij.
Mooi, veel gitaren, te veel misschien wel, niet helemaal mijn ding, maar prima he
Mannen wat heerlijk Fantastische album cover ook De nachtmerrie van alle christelijke ouders in de jaren 80 Eerlijk is eerlijk, ook al luister je bijna geen metal is dit album toch echt een banger af en toe scheurende en jengelende gitaren luisteren is toch ook heerlijk
I was expecting something completly different than what I got. This was much more hard rock than metal which was a nice surprise. I was a little hesitant based on the album name but I didnt really notice anything offensive. (I was listening to it pretty quietly. Pretty enjoyable. 3.5 stars
Warum haben Metal-Alben oft so infantile Cover? Weil die Musik genauso... oder die Hörer? (Musik)-Geschmack mit 16 stehengeblieben? Wäre mal ein Thema für eine Dissertation. Egal, Hallowed Be Thy Name ist stark.
One of the early pioneers of heavy metal music. Thank you, Iron Maiden! \m/
Liked this more than I would have thought. Not as heavy as later music maybe? Favorite song: number of the beast, Least favorite: Invaders
Great sound
VERY COOL!!
This is THE iron maiden album, coincidentally the first album of theirs I'd heard.
ALL HAIL SATAN!!!!!
I can do all things through The Beast who strengthens me.
I did not have much expectations from this album, as I have never been a metal fan. But it was pretty good.
Still doesn't do anything for me.
Very good, I can see why it was such a movement back in the day.
This album is notable for being a pretty massive evolution in Iron Maiden's sound (and consequently the sound of heavy metal in general), and a lot of it holds up. The theatrics and extreme musical performances are impressive and engrossing, most notably the shredding guitar and Bruce Dickinson's operatic vocals. In terms of importance, this album is a 5. However, I think the songwriting is more hit or miss compared to later Maiden releases like Powerslave. Some of the tracks like Invaders and Gangland are weak, especially in the shadow of monster hits Children of the Damned and Number of the Beast. Others like 22 Acacia Avenue overstay their welcome. I still like this album a lot, but I don't think it's the best Maiden has to offer.
this is indeed show tunes
This is showtunes
Iron Maiden is best when the entire unit pulls out each other's skillsets on display through song structure mix ups like in Children of The Damned, maybe even Number of the Beast, but a lot of the songs feel a bit long. Also, growing up with Run to the Hills on rockband I thought I would have a nostalgic callback to it but...........idk! Just didnt hit!
3.75/5
What I can’t get over is the voice which is dynamic but lacking in true emotion. It all feels like a costume or role play. The ideas could create music with emotion but this feels like an imitation of emotion.
look, they are great musicians and the songs are well composed, but this is not my stuff
no nonsense metal. this album shreds.
could i write poetry to this? y i probably did
I mean….god damn. This album slays from the opening song to the last. I would give it 11 stars if I could
Every song on here is an absolute classic. It's funny, I actually think Powerslave is the better album, but 80s Maiden just didn't miss.
Played it backwards, killed a goat.
First time listening to Iron Maiden. Don’t ask me what took so long. This is hit or miss for me. Great guitar work but don’t love the slash metal. “Children of the Damned” was my favorite
It my thing
One of my all time favorite metal albums. Song 3-8 is probably some of the best metal ever. Great vocals and great cover.
it was a mild pleasure. hallowed be thy name
I like their first album better. Soft 4
\m/ MAIDEN
Not my favorite genre of music but I actually liked it more than I thought I would. Chock full of riffs and sick solos which are pretty fun. I'm a fan when bands have 3 guitarists so that they have one rhythm guitarist and two guitars that can harmonize on the solos.
This album was a blast! I like the opera style vocals and just kind of overall epicness of the album. I don't know if it always lands, but I love what they're going for. The whole album just feels like you're going on an adventure with the band. The guitar, bass, and drums all just gallup along as you journey through hell, prison, invasion. The guitar solos are a nice break up of the opera lyrics, and kind of keep it going. I totally get why people love this band. With 2024 goggles, it all feels a little cheesy, but there's a lot going on here and lot of craft. Songs of note: -The Prisoner (I just dig the whole journey and freedom thing going on here.) -Number of the Beast (so rad! And sinister. This song is cool.) -Run to the Hills (Definitely didn't have the right to write this song, but it still slaps.)
Iron Maiden's "The Number of the Beast," released in 1982, is a towering achievement in the heavy metal genre, showcasing the band's masterful blend of lush melodies, intricate guitar harmonies, and dynamic song composition. This album marked a pivotal moment in heavy metal, pushing the boundaries of the genre with its thematic ambition and musical complexity. Vocal Mastery: Bruce Dickinson's debut with the band on this album brought a new level of vocal prowess to Iron Maiden's sound. His wide range and ability to convey emotion, from the haunting whispers to the soaring highs, add a dramatic depth to the album's narrative. Dickinson's performance on tracks like "Hallowed Be Thy Name" and "Children of the Damned" is nothing short of iconic, offering a masterclass in heavy metal vocals. Lush Melodies and Harmonies: One of the album's standout features is its rich, melodic approach. The dual lead guitars of Dave Murray and Adrian Smith weave intricate harmonies that are both powerful and beautiful, creating a signature sound that has influenced countless bands. Songs like "The Number of the Beast" and "22 Acacia Avenue" showcase this melodic interplay, balancing aggression with melody in a way that is both engaging and memorable. Song Composition and Album Cohesion: The album's composition demonstrates a keen sense of dynamics and structure, moving fluidly from the breakneck pace of "Run to the Hills" to the more measured and epic "Hallowed Be Thy Name." The sequencing of the album enhances its narrative flow, taking listeners on a journey through varied emotional and musical landscapes. The attention to detail in the arrangements and the thoughtful placement of each track contribute to a cohesive album experience that is compelling from start to finish. Lyricism and Themes: Iron Maiden's storytelling prowess is on full display, weaving tales of history, horror, and heroism with skill and imagination. The band's use of literary and historical references enriches the album's lyrical content, inviting listeners to explore deeper meanings behind the songs. High Points: Beyond the exceptional musicianship and vocal performances, the album's production quality deserves recognition. Produced by Martin Birch, "The Number of the Beast" features a polished sound that allows each element of the band's music to shine, from the thunderous bass lines to the crisp and clear drumming. The production supports the album's ambitious scope, ensuring that its complex arrangements and detailed compositions are delivered with clarity and impact. While the album's exploration of themes related to satanic imagery has been a point of contention, it's worth noting that much of this is presented in a theatrical and storytelling context. The band has clarified that these themes are more about creating engaging narratives than endorsing any belief system. However, it's understandable that this aspect of the album might not resonate with all listeners, and some may find it off-putting or downright silly, or view it as a misstep in an otherwise stellar album. "The Number of the Beast" stands as a monumental work in the heavy metal canon, celebrated for its vocal range, lush melodies, guitar harmonies, and song composition. Despite the controversy surrounding its thematic content, the album's musical achievements and influence are undeniable. Iron Maiden's third studio album is a testament to their creativity, technical skill, and enduring impact on the genre, meriting a solid rating.
Great heavy metal album. Bruce Dickinson’s voice added so much to this album
I hope no more Iron Maiden between 1001 LPs!
Its ok.
Reminds me of high school
Felt like a CrossFit gym with less grunting
Way better than I expected. Didn’t realize Jack Black had a career before movies.
A little too heavy for my taste but I can understand why it’s well-regarded
Surprisingly really enjoyed. Great vocals and solid instrumentation
Has that classic metal sound. Good instrumentals. I like songs from other metal bands better (Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath) but I can respek
OK - I can see what all the fuss is about - some great solos in here, it created the formula for a lot of music to come. Hard though to take this seriously in a post Spinal Tap world. I'd rather listen to Tap and get some laughs too.
eh its alright, first metal album ive listened to all the way through its just quite intense listening maybe a 2.5
“number of the beast” marked the beginning of the bruce dickinson era of iron maiden after two albums with vocalist paul di’anno. after two albums, di’anno was struggling to fulfill band commitments due to excessive drug abuse issues. the addition of dickinson, already a proven commodity with british metal band samson, opened up new possibilities for the band. dickinson’s trademark screams and the band’s complex song structures led by legendary bassist and primary songwriter steve harris were the template for the band’s success from that point forward. many consider this as one of the most important albums in the history of metal music, and honestly it’s hard to argue with that assessment. due to the controversy surrounding the album title and artwork, this album launched the band into the mainstream and helped to kickstart the hysteria of the satanic panic in the 1980s. “hallowed be thy name” is one the greatest songs in the history of metal music and it showcases everything that fans love about the band. it’s been a while since i have listened to this album, and it still packs a punch. highlights: “22 acacia avenue”, “run to the hills”, “hallowed be thy name”
Metal’s not really my thing but I dig some of these songs pretty hard. Didn’t dislike anything, either.
Absolute classic album. Run to the Hills is such a good song and the album has so much power and set the stage for so many more Iron Maiden albums to come. Highly recommended and certainly a must listen for anyone looking for a very accessible metal/hard rock album.
Rock just really gets me going. This album got me feeling like I can take on anything.
Shreds
Thrash ma dick
Solid Metal Album
I respect what it means to others, but too hard for me. I liked getting to hear it though as I’ve always known the name but never listened to an album.
Classic rock!!!
Gotta love a bit of Iron Maiden. Hallowed Be Thy Name is still a great tune, although better live.
RUN TOOOO THE HILLLLLLLS
Dunno why the wheatus fella thought going to see these would impress that girl
- Bangers only - His voice is fantastic and the songs are all incredibly fun to listen to and jam to - Hallowed Be Thy Name is a perfect song
- really solid
Have to admit I am no Maiden fan, and though I bought a couple of their early singles I very rapidly moved away from this kind of stuff. Cartoonish album covers, ridiculous clothes (striped spandex!), songs about ancient Egypt, Civil War ghosts, the usual Satan stuff. And while I will never be convinced about them as a band, this is an absolute banger. The first side is solid, but the second four songs are just brilliant.
Goes hard but pretty
Its always a delight to hear another album from my favorite genre of music and The Number Of The Beast does not disappoint when it comes to giving a good album. The guitar work is always incredible and Bruce's singing is always a treat to behold. The songs while long, were still good enough to hold my interest throughout the whole thing. This is definitely a good metal album to add to the stockpile. Best Song: 22 Acacia Avenue Worst Song: Run To The Hills
Not for me but cool guitar!
I certainly dismissed these guys out of hand as a young adult. They weren’t my jam. Listening 40 years on, I have to give them their due. The playing is really good even if the songs don’t really transcend the genre. Certainly speed metal and Metallica probably don’t end up sounding like they do without these guys.
Album Nr. 46 Rockig.
Favorite Tracks: Run to the Hills Hallowed Be Thy Name The Number of the Beast
buen disco de heavy; no es mi estilo.
I'm not a metal head so usually end up reviewing these types of albums relatively lowly. There are a small number of metal albums that buck the tred - but this, sadly, isn't one of them. That's not to say it was awful, far from it, I made it through the whole album without wanting to switch it off. It's somewhere between 2 and 3 stars, I'll go with 2.
4.5 stars. This is a lot of fun. Very foot-tapping, air guitar inducing. High BPM, drum-driven, high pitched and drawn-out vocals over screaming guitars. The standout title track sounds Judas Priest-y combined with the good elements of AC/DC. Will be coming back for more.
What a pleasant surprise. Who knew that satanism rocked?
I loved this album. I am loving rock music lately, like this. Genuine. Rock. This rocks 🤘. If Wheatus asked me to go see them, I’d say yes.
3.5
I was only able to listen to 2 songs, but no worries, this is not my kind of music. Looking forward to my next album.
I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. This genre is not my cup of tea and feels dated if you didn't grow up with it but it's pretty badass. The guitar work, drums, vocals, and storytelling all stand out and the energy doesn't let up. The title track is a banger.
In the right mindset it can be really special
I still like it just as much as i did when I was in 5th grade in 2005.
This was Al Gore’s wives favorite album!!
I’ve been waiting to listen to Iron Maiden cause I know I will love their music so I was really excited for this album. I did know one song: Run to the hills which is still my favorite. I liked: The prisoner and Hallowed be thy name as well. Will definitely listen again!
This is...not what I thought Iron Maiden would be like. I was expecting to have my ears pummelled by the most artless noise since I got forced to listen to Metallica. But actually, they're really good! The band are tight as anything, and there's a lot of invention. The occasional samples are great fun and undercut the slightly 'take it too seriously' vibe. I especially love The Prisoner starting with the oh-so evocative sample from the TV programme. It loses marks because the singer is a touch grating for my tastes, and I feel like he doesn't match the funkiness and grove of the band basically. Get Jagger on vocals and you have yourself a rock band.
This is my first album suggestion here for me. Know IM since my early youth in the north of the Netherlands, living nearby a town called Meeden. It was really a no future part of the country where I grew up. Kids wore IM patches and listening IM on their Walkmans. It was the way to rebel against the establishment back then. Years later I drove in the US through a First Nation area in Montana when Run To The Hills was aired on the radio. It instantly clicked. This is a wonderful album!
For a metal album, it's actually solid
Got me going, some solid bangers in here but real repetitive, solid 7/10 album
Wish I had this during high school soccer warmups. That’s the only time I would ever listen to this.
Admittedly, New Wave British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) like Iron Maiden and Judas Priest is possibly my least favorite genre of all time. To me, it’s fast and loud but not much else. The devil iconography and themes sound like a 13yo goth kid who shopped at Hot Topic and drank red koolaid “blood” because their life is SO dark. But they’re so earnest about it, which is even sillier. I half-expected Spinal Tap to make a cameo, along with a 3ft dwarf threatening to knock down mini-Stonehenge. But, I’m trying to understand where this genre came from. Apparently, mid/late-70s Britain was shitty. Bad recession, high poverty, labor strikes, riots, etc. Young people kind of checked out, and the more nihilist movements were born, like punk and NWOBMH, to escape everyday life. So I guess I understand where the immature rebellion and escapism came from, and I wouldn’t be surprised if another similar movement sprang up today.
Sullivan was not a fan. Made him cry
Iron Maiden is the only band that can pull off having 3 lead guitarists and a giant animatronic skeleton. Number of the beast & run to the hills are both incredible. Come see maiden at ball arena this October with me & Paul 🤘 Anyways, I’m just here so I won’t get fined.
huge rock band 1 vibes
Dramatic with screeching guitars and vocals. High energy and very fun, I might have underrated Iron Maiden without really giving them a chance 6.2/10 I liked it
Surprised again. I knew the number of the beast but liked Hallowed be thy name more. Enjoyed that it wasn’t heavy metal.
Clásicos
Bangers
Sounds like if Charlie and Mac made a band. I was excited to listen and was disappointed. It all felt, flat. Vaguely comical. Not in a good way.
🤘🏻
Still not a fan of Iron Maiden
You know, these are actually pretty catchy. The general metal-narrative-song thing is a bit of a cliche now, but these still feel relatively fresh, not a parody of themselves. But to be honest, I'm mostly rating it 4 instead of 3 because "The Prisoner" has the opening narration from the show.
Hallowed be thy name: top tier
What can I say?? Oliver you almost made it?
Not as heavy as I was expecting, but high energy. Really enjoyed it and can't believe I'd not listen before
It was pretty fun
I had so much fun listening to this, I loved it
Not for me
Metal at its best. Great album.
Bruce Dickinson's first album with Iron Maiden. He's undoubtedly one of the best singers from the 80s metal bands. Not all of the songs on this album really showcase how great we was but he does shine through more often than not. The first half of the album is a little standard as far as early 80s metal goes and it does get a little repetitive, but all of side two is super strong, Gangland maybe less so than the others. Three songs that almost anyone would recognize is not bad for an album that's 40+ years old. I'll give this one a solid 3.5, rounding up because of the iconic album art.
It’s classic metal, you pretty much know what you’re in for
I enjoyed bits of this more than I expected.
Run to the hills. Run for your life! Such a great record. Riff city
Lots of memories linked to this album. Some better, some worse. That's what makes this album special, even though I won't listen to it often.
Is it cliche or just classic?
Great, classic metal album. Run to the Hills and Hallowed Be Thy Name are 10/5
Classic
Invaders - 8.5/10 Children of the Damned - 9/10 The Prisoner- 8/10 22 Acacia Avenue - 8/10 The Number of The Beast - 8.5/10 Run to the Hills - 8.5/10 Gangland - 8/10 Total Eclipse - 8.5/10 Hallowed by Thy Name - 10/10 TOTAL - 77/90
Never really listened to Iron maiden and this was a good opportunity. Couldn’t get over how much I liked the singers voice. Good rock rifts but not my cup of tea
Alright! some of the pioneers of thrash metal! I kinda need this in my life today. This is my favorite part of the Wiki The album was also controversial, particularly in the United States, due to the religious references in its artwork and the title track's lyrics. Sensitive jezus freaks! Which is so funny to me because there are so many more bands and music now that is 100 times worse in that regard. This is actually quite mellow honestly lol! Well definitely diggin this album. Not too fond of the operatic type vocals but it's a signature sound to Iron Maiden. It was good, not quite a 5 though. 4 stars!
The devil is alive and well!!!!
I don't know if I'm allowed to say this but The Number of the Beast has all of the melody and songwriting of a Queen record. The songs aren't all just riffs and verse / chorus / verse. Some songs are actually surprisingly melodic and are more Iommi than Mustaine.
I've heard OF Iron Maiden, but never heard them. If you ignore the insipid lyrics, the sound itself is really good. Reminiscent of Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, or Meatloaf. Great guitar work.
(Mai ascoltato prima) Carichissimo, ma al primo ascolto non mi è rimasto impresso molto. Sicuramente da riascoltare per avere un'opinione più chiara.
Good ol Maiden! These guys rock but I rarely listen to them. Fun to just hear shredding guitars and falsetto vibrato of a shrill scream. Not really my cup of tea but I’ll listen to this album again. Number of the Beast and Run To the Hills are the obvious standouts.
Wow. That was so much more than I thought it would be.
Yesterday I got Megadeth, who are better at every aspect of heavy metal. The singing on this record is very flat a lot of the time. The songs are OK. They stood the test of time. They're a spectacular live band. Favorite song: Hallowed be thy name
9/10, not my favorite maiden but a stone cold classic of the era. Probably in top 5 metal covers of all time though
The 2nd best Iron Maiden record.
This albums project is a trip because you’ll be listening to a record you enjoyed in your youth and then BAM the most misogynistic lyrics you’ve ever heard in your life. Steve Harris is a GOAT bassist, most of this album is really fun musically and the lyrics are about half good.
Some pretty heavy listening for my Monday morning. It definitely sets an energy level though. Solid guitar and pounding drums really elevate this album.
Auch wenn ich diese Musikrichtung kaum mehr höre, ist das einfach gut gemachte Rockmusik - kann man nicht anders sagen.
4.25
Dope album, never actually listened to it before. Goes hard - though IM’s singer’s voice has never quite landed with me.
Not my jam... It was funny to hear what everybody parodies, though.
So much nostalgia, great stuff
Lyrics are filled with white supremacy themes
Surprisingly tolerable. Couldn't stand the follow on.
I would have probably never picked up this album were it not for this site. It’s just not me. But I am so glad I did. I give every album a chance and this was really good. Love the guitar and drums through the whole thing. I will probably listen to more of their albums now.
Best Album and banda ever
I was pretty shocked by how much I liked this. I wouldn't normally listen to this kind of music often but I felt energetic listening to it which was a good feeling.
Meh, metal
better than I thought it would be. some good guitar playing
Another solid thrash metal album!
I like Iron Maiden, but it’s a band (for me) that once you’ve listened to some of their music, you’ve heard it all. Their sound signature is pretty unique and exciting. 3.5
This list is making me realize just how much I love rock, metal, punk, and any adjacent genre. They play fast, they play hard, the lyrics don’t really matter, and it rules. Number of the Beast in front of Run to the Hills is an all time back to back set of tracks.
Run to the hills is pretty good
album metal classico
I don’t really listen to classic heavy metal but enjoyed this. The guitar work is great and the lyrics are stupid, but all good fun 🤘
Like listening to a broken microwave talking about it's emotional problems! Just didnt engage or interest me on any level soz.
Lyrics are comedy gold, right up there with Spinal Tap. They didn't mean it, right?
See Anthrax,but with slightly better tunes. It's as if they just got a white board out and asked some 12 year old boys to write the nastiest stuff they could think of on there. Then they made songs about that. Two and a half stars, because Run To The Hills was good and 22 Acacia Avenue reminded me of Bananaman, who lived 7 doors up the road.
Classic British Heavy Metal, great, but in small doses.
Not for me.
It’s aight, but i just don’t love 80s metal like that. If I wanted something prog there are things that do it better, if I wanted something really hard, i much preferred the germs record I just got a couple days ago. 2 since we can’t be Mr nice guy
Not my cup of tea
p500. 1982. 2 stars. Well done of its type, but heavy metal leaves me cold, and Bruce Dickinson sounds like he has a hernia.
This is the second Iron Maiden album that has come up on my list, and again, I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. Yes, there is a heaviness to the sound, but the music is well-written and well-performed.
uhh it’s fine, it’s not for me
Metal is gar nicht meins.
Well, in the history of the time when I explored and delved into the world of heavy metal, this is a band that did not entice me to listen to them. I went more for obscure and more death metallic sounding bands. Hearing this now I hear a lot of anthem rock band sounds filled up with lyrics attempting to sound wicked. I can see how this could be entertaining to young rebels. Not particularly enjoying it ...
Not a metal fan
I forgot how stacked this album is! The last 5 songs are crazy good: 22 Acacia Avenue, The Number of the Beast, Run to the Hills, Gabgland, Hallowed be thy name! Just insane. This was the first 80s metal album that my uncle introduced me to. I thought it was so cool back then. What's not to like? Killer guitar riffs and solos, killer vocals, songs about Satan, Eddie. It's an adolescent metal fans dream band. After listening to this album, I watched the Rock in Rio concert. Seeing Eddie on stage was such a cool, new to me, thing. It's incredible how a mascot to a band really helped elevate their stage show. When I saw them live in 2005, it still blew me away. I remember having a grin on my face the whole show. I confidently say, if you're a fan of metal but do not like Iron Maiden... You're not a true metal fan.
Hard rock vibes
Hat Riffs, Melodien, Harmonien. Fein gemacht. Für mich etwas zu unruhig. Aber drei Sterne sollen es schon sein.
Favourite song - Run to the hills
OMG this was AWFUL ... just noise throughout.
Toch lekker,die gitaarsolo's boven dat paardrijbasje
C'est bon, mais c'est pas tant mon style.
4.5/5 rounding up to 5. I've heard songs off it before but never listened through. Captivating riffs, powerful vocals, solid rhythm section, great guitar harmonies, each song is a vignette. Hallowed Be Thy Name is a favorite, TNOTB and Run To The Hills are classics, but my favorite new song was probably Children Of The Damned or Invaders.
Esto sí es música de la que ha marcado nuestra adolescencia. Yo no soy la mayor fanática de Maiden del mundo, pero éste es sin duda un discazo, si no el mejor de Maiden, de los mejores
I realise I have given other Maiden albums short shrift. This is the one that contains their good songs. My advice is get this one and skip the other 10000 or so albums they've released (exception - that song they did for that Michael Douglas film where he gets angry about hamburgers).
Didn't expect to enjoy Iron Maiden and here we are, it's pretty good! Surprised to find out they're English
I can't help but love Maiden. The music is just fun to listen to and everyone in the band is so talented. But in the spirit of fairness, I do have to admit how repetitive the sound can be. I've never listened to this album end-to-end but the majority of the songs do just sound identical if you're not paying close attention to it. I'd never listened to "Children of the Damned" which I really liked because it was a ballad and different than most of the other songs. The title track is the best of the bunch for me, though. Overall, fun listen, but not one I'll listen to end-to-end again.
It almost feels novelty except that musically it's so well done.
This was a fun album. I kinda hated the last Iron Maiden album, but this one was alright. Much less excessively long songs. A lot more melodic, and of course some killer guitar solos. When I did pay attention to the lyrics I found they were okay, but still not bad. 3.5
Not terrible, but not great. A few of the songs were hype.
Last 4 songs were good - first 4 were kinda forgettable. I would listen again but Iron Maiden definitely not my go-to band.
Head banger. When do I hear good music in the 1001 list?
Long songs. Heavy metal that isn't that heavy.
Soft 5
Not a fan.
Well, one of the quitessential heavy-metal albums of all time, it has everything that made me listen to heavy metal. Vocals are on point, Bruce at it's best. Guitars are nearly perfect. The lyrics are not the best, I agree. But fuck it, the music is perfect. One of the best heavy metal work ever. Enjoy 5/5
Classic older metal. Still stands up today, but doesn’t have any edge to it.
Not really into rock but was a good relatively easy listen. -B
Brilliant. Solid rhythm all the way through. A real good time.
not an electronic fan but did find this entertaining and somewhat captivating
Awesome metal rock on dude
I thought it was good. Not amazing, just good. Metal has never really been my thing, and this didn’t change that.
Not my style
Sounds good
Solid metal. Not my thing, but I respect their place. The music is outstanding for metal. The voice is ok.
ok....so just not my "jam" so to speak :)
Not my type of music. Vocals are awful and most of the songs sounded the same? Never was a fan of "heavy metal".....
Other than "Run for the Hills" the whole thing is pretty ridiculous. Maybe in my younger days, but now it just seems a bit laughable.
Listen, I didn't dislike it. In fact I really enjoyed a lot of the riffs and solos on the guitars. Nothing really.... caught me though. Its like, if this band played live and my friend wanted to go, I'd go. It'd probably be stellar live. But I won't go out of my way to listen to this album again.
Bizarre lyrics
I listened to this album a lot growing up. My best friend even had a poster in his room (it was retro at the time; this was the early aughts). While I realize that metal as a genre had been forming for close to a decade at this point, I consider Iron Maiden to be the first true metal band. This record is full of genre-defining techniques you'll still find today. Nowadays it kinda all sounds the same and doesn't grab me the way it used to, but it's still a landmark of a record. Also the riff from Hallowed Be Thy Name is an all-time favorite of mine
Solid instrumentals, especially guitar riffs, and vocals throughout. Wish I could get more into 80’s rock.
I love heavy metal But Iron Maiden is mediocre especially lead singer’s style is not my cup of tea
Some cool guitar but kind of exhausting to listen through. Vocals were a bit much for me
Nice to listen to the classics again during a traffic jam in my mini. I had a training day in the BMW group revealing the new Countryman and Three doors. I liked The Prisoner and The Number of the Beast.
Unexpectedly enjoyable. I don't typically think of heavy metal as being so melodic or catchy.
Day3 - loud and fast. i’ve never been a huge metal guy but if you’re gong to listen to this kind of music it should be good and this is good ps. Iron Maiden should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Liked more than I thought
Not my cup of tea
Complex arrangements, cogent lyrics, and rapid pacing gives this album the ability to reach a broader audience. One of the best albums.
Better than I expected. More lyrical and meaningful than I knew.
hate metal
An album of endless guitar solos. Many songs felt the same / very formulaic. Didn't hate it tho.
Amazing
A bit satanic for my taste
Not for me. Disliked it in 1982, dislike it in 2024.
Good rock music. A couple of the songs were stand out, most of them seemed to blend together.
Hallowed Be Thy Name
On paper I shouldn’t like Iron Maiden as much as I do. I don’t really like heavy metal, their style isn’t really my style, and at a quick glance I’d think they are just trying too hard. But I really like them! Their songs are just fun and dark at the same time and they’re pretty dang good at what they do. The imagery is also pretty cool. The music makes me want to go workout, and I don’t usually workout. It just gets me so pumped.