The Iron Maiden appreciation thread

[The Batlord]

Originally Posted by Trollheart

I agree wholeheartedly with this. BNW was the rebirth of Maiden, though some of the later albums went a little ... bloated? But then, I haven't listened to them all that much so I can't really make a judgement on them. But BNW: superb album, from start to finish. Not one bad track on it. And as Batty says, after the wilderness years with Blaze, it was like the sun after the rain.

I haven't given Dance of Death or The Final Frontier as much time as I should, but A Matter of Life and Death has really grown on me over the years. At first listen it's not all that great, but it gets better with every listen. It doesn't have as many obvious classics as some of their other albums, and it could do with a bit of editing, but it's still pretty great. And "The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg" is easily one of the best songs they've ever written. I don't know if I can think of a Maiden song that quite used that mid-paced, quasi-doom metal tempo, so it's very unique for them. Just a heavy-as-**** song. Too bad that Bruce's voice is only getting worse though.

Originally Posted by JustinJJustin

I have recently just discovered the awesomeness of Iron Maiden. Depressing really. I hate myself for not knowing them sooner. I am going through their whole discography and I ****ing love them. Literally just finished "The Number Of The Beast" 5 minutes ago, and that has to be one of the best heavy metal albums I have ever listened to. Somebody needs to give me a list of bands of this popularity, as I don't want it to end after Iron Maiden.

Judas Priest obviously if you haven't already. It's hard know what to recommend from them, as they've evolved so much over the years, but the obvious recs would be Sad Wings of Destiny, Screaming for Vengeance, and Painkiller.

70s


80s



90s




If you still need more of that kind of traditional metal sound, then Ronnie James Dio's first few solo albums are a must, especially his first two, Holy Diver and The Last In Line.







Along with his two albums with Black Sabbath just before, Heaven and Hell and Mob Rules.






And before that he was in Rainbow with the guitarist from Deep Purple.




There's Helloween, who were sort of a more poppier, goofier version of Iron Maiden. Keeper of the Seven Keys Part I and its sequel, Keeper of the Seven Keys Pat II, are required listening for any fan of eighties metal.




Crimson Glory are kind of obscure, but their first two, the self-titled and Transcendence, are pretty amazing.




And how could I have forgotten Queensryche? The catchiest prog metal band you could ever hear. Operation: Mindcrime is generally considered one of the finest metal albums ever made, and Empire is pretty amazing too.






That should keep you busy for a while.

[Plankton]

Originally Posted by The Batlord

Judas Priest obviously if you haven't already. It's hard know what to recommend from them, as they've evolved so much over the years, but the obvious recs would be Sad Wings of Destiny, Screaming for Vengeance, and Painkiller.

<snip>

That should keep you busy for a while.

You rec'd exactly what I was thinking, even the Sabbath/Dio era stuff. I'm kinda old and crusty so that doesn't say too much for your well being.

I'd throw some Motorhead and early Ozzy in there too. Just for an honorable mention.

[Holerbot6000]

Wow - a whole Metal education in one message. I am old too and only started listening to Iron Maiden in earnest last year (age 52). I thought at first I was going through a bit of a Metal Midlife Crisis but then I saw that 'Flight 666' movie and I realized, hell, all the guys in Iron Maiden are in their 50's and 60's too so why the hell shouldn't I listen to them? They're my people!!!

Seriously too, when you see how beloved they are in all these poor and oppressed countries, that is powerful stuff.

Thanks for all the recommendations, Maiden and otherwise!!!

[Chula Vista]

Originally Posted by The Batlord

And how could I have forgotten Queensryche? The catchiest prog metal band you could ever hear. Operation: Mindcrime is generally considered one of the finest metal albums ever made, and Empire is pretty amazing too.

Have you checked out their newest release? Pretty damn good album (albeit a bit short) and the new singer sounds exactly like Tate.

[The Batlord]

Originally Posted by Chula Vista

Have you checked out their newest release? Pretty damn good album (albeit a bit short) and the new singer sounds exactly like Tate.

I haven't really heard much that makes me want to dig past classic-era Queensryche, but I'll give it a shot.

[ronenklo]

Iron maiden are brilliant. A bit forgotten in the last few years.