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Welcome one and all. If you were around in early 2015, you might remember my journal called The Devil's Dancefloor. The concept was to review a different band each month, and each band was going to be a different genre of metal. Unfortunately, I didn't get that far because it was too big a workload, and I was exhausting myself. And I just wasn't as into it as I thought I would be. I made a load of promises that I couldn't keep (to be fair, this applies to all my journals really), and so I just stopped doing it. I didn't get that far anyway. Well, things have changed. I intend to do it properly this time around, and actually finish it. I've decided not to make a schedule like I did last time, as deadlines were my major problem, especially when I just couldn't be arsed. I've spent the last month writing as many reviews as I could possibly do, and still haven't burnt myself out, and I don't intend to. I'm going to keep it like this. So before we start, I'd like to note a few things.

So we begin our journey with Iron Maiden's debut. This was the first ever Iron Maiden album I listened to, and it's honestly still one of my favorites. A lot of people (including the band), criticized the production, which I never understood because it sounds perfect to me. And while most people prefer the Bruce Dickinson years, I always preferred Paul's vocals and how the band sounded on their first two albums. So, let's get going.

So we kick off with Prowler, and holy **** it's been a while. Great ****ing opener, with Di'Anno just spitting and snarling along. The guitar comes in, with an epic solo that just hypes me up. Great way to kick off an album. Remember Tomorrow is next, and this is pretty decent. I remember saying that I thought this was a forgotten gem and I still think that. It's certainly not a favorite, but it does it's job well, contrasting soft sung sections with top notch guitar riffing/soloing in the middle of the song. Admittedly I don't much enjoy when he sings softly like this, but it's made up for that instrumentally. Oh ****, next is Running Free. Technically, it's not all that good, but it's hella catchy. And you guys know my taste pretty well now. So I can't fault this song. Nothing much to say here, but a damn classic that never gets old. Phantom of the Opera next, which is where we get a taste of what Iron Maiden would transition into later in their career. Speaking of transitions, the song goes through numerous different sections, being almost progressive at times. Sweet little guitar solo's everywhere, building up, till it transitions into a thumping mid-tempo rhythm and a bad-ass riff takes center stage. And **** just speeds up, Di'Anno just snarling like a deranged madman.

Transylvania kicks of side two, their first ever instrumental. Not a huge fan compared to some others, but does its job well. Halfway through it just speeds up, and epic soloing commences and some sweet ass riffs here as well. And shout out to Steve Harris, for his wonderfully smooth bass playing, which dominates just as well as the guitars. And a nice little soft outro. Pretty cool man, I might just change my mind and say it's pretty damn awesome. And the song just transitioned so smoothly into Strange World that I didn't even notice. It all slows down for this one, very atmospheric as well. Gently sung, and Paul isn't half bad to say I don't like the slow songs on this album as much. Not a favorite, but admirable. Oh man, Charlotte the Harlot is next, and I love this one man. Charlotte reappears in the Bruce Dickinson era, but I will always prefer this song. The chorus is catchy as well, can recite it any day. The final track Iron Maiden is next, and I remember loving this finisher. Paul growls and snarls through the whole thing, speeding along with the drums. An exquisite little bass solo in the middle, and the drumming just thumps along like any classic heavy metal song. And it ends like a mother****ing boss. Great way to end their debut, and a great debut overall.

I'm not sure how to conclude a review, since I feel like I'd just be repeating myself. So I guess I'll just repeat myself, and say that I absolutely adore this album, maybe a tiny bit more than Killers (although I guess we'll truly find that out in the next review). Standouts for me include Running Free, the single that actually introduced me to Iron Maiden, although I didn't know who the band was at the time. But it's what happens when your uncle is a metalhead and you ask him to put some songs on your IPod. Other standouts were Phantom of the Opera, Transylvania, Charlotte the Harlot and Iron Maiden.

1. "Prowler"
2. "Remember Tomorrow"
3. "Running Free"
4. "Phantom of the Opera"
5. "Transylvania" (instrumental)
6. "Strange World"
7. "Charlotte the Harlot"
8. "Iron Maiden"

Originally Posted by _Violet_ (Post 1779690) 1. I'd like to thank TH for the journal logo at the top. He of course made it a long time ago, but I still want to give credit since I'm still using it.

Originally Posted by The Batlord (Post 1779757) I was about to ask if it was TH who made that piece of **** banner.

Moving on to Killers. Let's just get right into the track-by-track review.

The Ides of March sucks as an opener. Can we just get to Wrathchild already. Jeez. Ayyyyyy Wrathchild jumps right in, Paul sounds stunning on this track. I can't believe this is the last album with him. ****. Sweet ass solo halfway through, and then it starts getting groovy. Paul does a great scream, better than most screams today. Suck it. Dude, this is a classic. Next we have Murders in the Rue Morgue. This one is sick. The riff is ****ing ace, Paul delivering some sweet lines, it then breaks down into some ****ing epic soloing. Pretty badass. Moving straight into Another Life, and goddamn listen to that riff, heavy metal as ****. Halfway through, guitars take the stage, with the drumming coming behind it, racing along. I'll be honest I'm looking at the tracklist, and this **** needs to move onto Killers, that song is ****ing sweet. But nope, we still have Genghis Khan coming at us, with his mother****ing army. Halfway through, and it hurtles right the **** at you, dude that's pretty fast. Some nice soloing as we come to the end of the song. Just ****ing end already, Killers is one track away. Innocent Exile next, so far not that special. I don't remember this song very well, but it's not leaving me much of an impression. Killers is next and I'm totally just gonna zone out until then, unless this shakes me the **** up. Oh wait, this ****s getting epic, speeding right to the ****ing end. Pretty good to be fair, just wasn't digging the first half.

And finally, we move onto Killers. Paul sounds like a ****ing menace in this, just the way he ****ing snarls at you. Dude this is somebody you wanna avoid in the street. Nice little solo halfway through, skittering everywhere, but worth it. Back to Paul stalking your ass. Lyrics are metal as ****. Brilliant man. Things slow down a bit with Prodigal Son, and this **** is decent. Nice way to come down from Killers. Paul softens up a bit. This is 6 minutes though, and I'm not a huge fan right now. Guitars comes to the front, some really great guitar soloing, keeping me engaged. Just waiting for it to end now, I'm ready to move onto Purgatory. And so we do, racing out right from the start, Paul right with them. Obligatory guitar solo happens, and breaks down nicely. Paul sounds good as always, just in case I hadn't sucked his dick enough. Ends rather nicely. Now onto Drifter, and oh my god it's the last track. ****. Great little solo halfway through, then breaks down nicely. And Paul keeps singing his song, and then an epic mother****ing solo. And Paul keeps singing his song, until we're all singing along. And then "Paul drops the mother****ing mic". The end.

1. "The Ides of March" (Instrumental)
2. "Wrathchild"
3. "Murders in the Rue Morgue"
4. "Another Life"
5. "Genghis Khan" (Instrumental)
6. "Innocent Exile"
7. "Killers"
8. "Prodigal Son"
9. "Purgatory"
10. "Drifter"

Originally Posted by Qwertyy (Post 1779940) new record for most ****s and ****s in a single journal entry