By far their best.

Written by Maco on 12.12.2018 at 00:39

By far their best.

Haha, when I read this, I was really laughing out loud.
Why? Because I thought, how is that, please?
I mean, I consider this one of Maidens best albums, probably a classic, some 8.6 in my books.
And I have Powerslave somewhere around 9.3, and 7th Son, together with The Beast at 9.2. Then comes the debut.

Now, had you just said that the debut was their best album I would have said, yeah ok, you can see it that way, sure.
But saying that it is their best "by far" is hard for me to see. Why? Because this implies a huge gap in quality to everything else they have put out after their debut. And there was quite a lot over all the years of top quality in my eyes.
Can you elaborate in which terms you see a huge gap in quality to everything else they have put out after their debut?
I am probably extremely pedantic here. Sorry for that.

Written by Redel on 16.09.2019 at 23:50

Can you elaborate in which terms you see a huge gap in quality to everything else they have put out after their debut?
I am probably extremely pedantic here. Sorry for that.

Simple. All killer no filler, something all the following albums have unfortunately.

I also love Seventh Son and I think Killers is the closest to this album in quality terms, but like I said, the fillers kinda ruin the experience, Seventh Son has The Clairvoyand and Killers has the decent yet subpar compared to the rest Prodigal Son.

Written by Maco on 17.09.2019 at 00:01


Simple. All killer no filler, something all the following albums have unfortunately.

I also love Seventh Son and I think Killers is the closest to this album in quality terms, but like I said, the fillers kinda ruin the experience, Seventh Son has The Clairvoyand and Killers has the decent yet subpar compared to the rest Prodigal Son.

A filler is to be found on all their albums, unfortunately.
On the debut it is Strange World for me, Charlotte does not belong to my favourites either.
Even if you dont consider these two fillers, do they really contribute to a huge gap quality-wise (to all the other albums) for you?

Written by Redel on 17.09.2019 at 00:11

On the debut it is Strange World for me, Charlotte does not belong to my favourites either.
Even if you dont consider these two fillers, do they really contribute to a huge gap quality-wise (to all the other albums) for you?

Always regarded Strange World as an amazing ballad, and Charlotte is one of those songs that grew on me over time.

Https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-Clq0wSVHo

Recording of the entire concert at Beat Club in Bremen, GER, from the Killers World Tour in Feb 1981.
What I love in particular here is the audience.
How I wish I would have been there.
I could have, I was three years old at the time. My father could have taken me to the concert, we were living close by this place back at the time.
Well, he didnt take me.

At 15:30, right in the middle of Remember Tomorrow, there is an unforseen break, as apparently the speakers break down.

Written by Redel on 19.09.2019 at 23:32

Https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-Clq0wSVHo

Awesome. That video right there shows Iron Maiden at their peak.

Written by Maco on 07.02.2020 at 00:10

Written by Redel on 19.09.2019 at 23:32

Https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-Clq0wSVHo

Awesome. That video right there shows Iron Maiden at their peak.

Well, kind of early peak that'd be.
But, sure, as I said before, you can claim that the debut is their best album.

Written by Maco on 12.12.2018 at 00:39

By far their best.

Disagree, IMO its killer album, i remember old school bathery cd player, a hill top high in a hill, waiting midnight sun in 2005. It gave me high emotions, still love it, best where paul ever sung. Good album, love it means much to me. But Bruce era Killed, well i live all im

Happy 40 years to Iron Maiden's best and superior album.s

Written by Maco on 14.04.2020 at 21:22

Happy 40 years to Iron Maiden's best and superior album.s

Same might be said about Saxon's Strong Arm of the Law which I prefer very much from these two.

Written by JOPE OF STEELE on 18.04.2020 at 17:39

Written by Maco on 14.04.2020 at 21:22

Happy 40 years to Iron Maiden's best and superior album.s

Same might be said about Saxon's Strong Arm of the Law which I prefer very much from these two.

I'm sure I'm gonna regret asking, but why such a low rating?

Written by JoHn Doe on 18.04.2020 at 17:48

I'm sure I'm gonna regret asking, but why such a low rating?

It's hard to say why exactly as I dropped this vote in 2015 or 2016. I used to like this album a lot earlier, and nostalgia after that, as it was one of the first metal albums I listened to. Eventually the liking started to fade and many of the songs became meaningless to me. I think I wrote in my first comment that I only enjoy the song "Phantom of the Opera" anymore and I still do, I also like it with Bruce live. I'd say it's good album -- as a gateway album to the heavy metal genre it could be one of the best ones -- but subjectively I don't find very much from it to myself these days.

Still one of their best albums imo, despite it's flaws in the production, and slight cheesy moments, being Charlotte The Harlot and Running Free, which were still alright songs, and Phantom Of The Opera will always remain one of my favourite Iron Maiden songs.

For a debut this is a killer album, but knowing everything they have done since, it's really nothing that special. That's one problem with being awesome and releasing albums like Powerslave, Somewhere in Time and Seventh Son, everything that's not straight up masterpiece pales in comparison even if it's something really damn good.

Written by Metal Rasputin on 06.05.2021 at 01:08

For a debut this is a killer album, but knowing everything they have done since, it's really nothing that special. That's one problem with being awesome and releasing albums like Powerslave, Somewhere in Time and Seventh Son, everything that's not straight up masterpiece pales in comparison even if it's something really damn good.

Your right, this album is not a masterpiece for Iron Maiden standards, when you compare it with Powerslave, Number of the beast, Somewhere in Time, and Seventh Son, but I might consider it a classic album if I just compare it with what other Metal bands released in that era. In the 80's Iron Maiden were one of those bands that were dominating the heavy metal world, not many bands released anything near the same quality as Maiden.

Been listening to every Iron Maiden album in order and this is not a bad debut! The production definitely lacks the warm, muscular punchy sound that would come from the albums produced by Martin Birch after it, but a lot of the classic Maiden trademarks are here even without Bruce, Adrian, or Nicko in the lineup yet. Some of the ideas seem a bit undercooked compared to future albums and Paul is nowhere near what Bruce will eventually bring to the table but he does a pretty decent job here. Definitely shows the potential for what this band will become in a few years time.

All things considered, this is a pretty solid debut. The band sounds great, and the production is good enough, even if that would improve on succeeding albums. Love how the album kicks in with Prowler, which has some amazing riffs, another highlight is of course the Iron Maiden stable "Phantom of the Opera". The album isn't without it's flaws though, Transylvania is a pretty average instrumental. Having two ballads, also drags the pace of the album a lot.
And can someone explain to me why Iron Maiden insists on playing their self-titled song at every single show? As far as I am concerned, nobody ever gave a shit about that song, nobody ever requested it being played. You would think a song that gets played at every single show, has been included on every single live album, multiple compilation records, shares its name with the band and originates from their very first album would eventually become popular if it was great, yet it is nowhere near the most listened to of their songs on streaming platforms. That really shows how painfully average that song is. It is really impressive that the band still hasn't realised that people don't like that song.

This is better than Piece of Mind

Written by Jack_Torrance on 08.08.2023 at 11:55

This is better than Piece of Mind

Agreed, this is still my most listened to album by them. If all there great 80s releases this is the one I tend to go back to most, I always have a good time listening to it.

I don't tend to listen to Maiden very often these days but when I do, I tend to listen to either this or Killers. I just prefer DiAnno's vocals.

Critical reevaluation of an album I never gave a fair chance to once upon a time, but I'm glad I finally learned to separate the eras instead of unnecessarily comparing Di'Anno to Dickenson, instead appreciating their different styles. This is definitely, weird as it sounds, the most NWOBHM Iron Maiden ever sounded, with its punkishness and rawness. I wish IM did more trippy songs like Strange World.

Killers is pretty freaking boring though. This, on the other hand, is awesome. I'm def more of a Dickenson fan, but Di'Anno's vocals definitely made this album.

Someone needs a new pair of ears if Killers comes across as boring.

Written by Cynic Metalhead on 22.10.2024 at 23:13

Someone needs a new pair of ears if Killers comes across as boring.

Wrong again.
Just got them back from their yearly inspection so they’re both working perfectly. Going by your usual comments it seems like your own ears are due for inspection.

Great album..of course not the best but fucking great it is !!!!!