Well it all begins here. Maybe it is taking my mouth full to say that ALL metal starts here (he he he), but at least its the start for Maiden and the start of the NWOBHM along with Saxon and Samson.

But Maiden had the luck and the talent to make it big. Really big. They had been offered several record deals, but band leader/founder and bass-player Steve Harris (SH) turned them down. They had to play punk, and Steve wanted to do his own thing. After the recording of the Soundhouse Tapes things moved fast. In 1980 they released their first album, the self titled Iron Maiden.

Prowler: A classic track which "started" their rise to the top. Also featured on "The Soundhouse Tapes", and was often requested from that release. A really easy/catchy intro riff. Easy to remember as "Paranoid", by Black Sabbath, and "Smoke on the Water" by Deep Purple. A very powerfull track, with time changes, that later proved to be Maidens trademark, alongside the twinlead guitars.

Sanctuary: Not on the original european version of the album. Released as a single in Europe and put on the album for overseas release. Put on the remastered version. (The single artwork was the infamous Maggie Thatcher cover) Also a powerfull track, with weird lyrics though. "I've never killed a woman before, but I know how it feels" Weird. But nevertheless still played live. A great track, but not their finest hour in my opinion.

Remember Tomorrow: Great track, with a nice bass intro. I think that Paul Di'Anno's vocals suits this track. Nice middle part, with a cool time change and and a couple of furious solos. (The bassplaying is easy to learn on this track)

Running Free: Classic! What can I say?! A Maiden anthem and regarded as the anthem for NWOBHM. Nice drums, but no actual solo bit. "Only" some twin lead!
Easy lyrics.

Phantom Of The Opera: Now this is music! One SH's trademarks, along with the other trademarks of course, is to write long epic songs, based on a book, a film, or just some good idea of his. This is the first of many classic tracks. A great riff. Vocals sounds a bit daft. Sad, because of the strong track. This song is filled with time changes. The middle part with the bass-"intro" , twin-lead guitars and solos is pure genius!! My favorite track on the album.

Transylvania: One of 4 instrumental numbers in Maidens carreer. This is by far the one with most power and edge to it! A kick ass song and great to headbang to!

Strange World: This track really proves that Maiden has a lot to offer. After a kick ass song they slow down to this amazing track. What a feeling in the guitar solos. The vocals sucks though. Di'Anno has his moments, but not good enough.

Charlotte The Harlot: Killer intro with bass and guitar. I love the chorus. Awesome middle part. The track is a bit different from the rest of the album. Maybe its because axe-man Dave Murray (DM) wrote it himself.

Iron Maiden: Classic riff. First one guitar, then the next. Oh my God its good. Closes EVERY Maiden concert. (before the encores that is). A very powerfull track. Almost punk like.

In addition to this remastered album there are video clips, tour history, exclusive photo galleries and much more for your viewing pleasure. Nice with all the extra material.

Well to sum up this album I have to regard it as a classic. A masterpiece it is not becuase of the poor production and the vocals I'm not impressed with. But a classic thats for sure. Great tunes and a very agressive album. BUY! (or listen to it again if you already have it!) :o)

Written by Ulrick
Wednesday, July 10, 2002
Show all reviews by Ulrick

Ratings

Ulrick: 9.5/10

Members: 9.75/10 - Average of 2 ratings.



Member ratings

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Stuart (Staff) Rating: 9.5/10 Apart from the fact that the production is very "of its era" Maiden's first album stands t... · Read more ·

notrap Rating: 10/10 No review was posted

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Comment by MOHD.HIDAYAT (Anonymous) - Monday, May 5, 2003

I LOVE IRON MAIDEN. THE ONE AND THE ONLY BAND. I AM THE DIE HARD FAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Comment by Ulrick (Anonymous) - Tuesday, May 6, 2003

You're right about that one.!!

Comment by Cristóbal (Anonymous) - Thursday, August 7, 2003

Hmm!! I like Maiden, but I think it´s a bit overrated band, they do well, but I personally prefer other groups. Prowler is an ok song, with a cool solo, all tracks from Remember tomorrow to Strange world are great, and that´s when the band shows his talent. The end song Iron Maiden is good too, it has a nice riff. The singer? Could be better, but he isn´t bad. The production is defective, although it is an 1980 album!! Well, this is not a masterpiece, but it has some interesting things to offer. Rating: 8/10

Comment by kris s (Anonymous) - Friday, September 26, 2003

i give 8.5/10.prowler kills

Comment by matt hopkins A.K.A. THE SON OF THE BEAST (Anonymous) - Friday, October 10, 2003

IRON MAIDEN RULES 4EVER NEVER STOP

Comment by IRON MAn (Anonymous) - Wednesday, October 15, 2003

What the fuck is NWOBHM ?

Comment by Mads "Metalian" Jørgensen (Anonymous) - Wednesday, October 15, 2003

To IRON MAn! NWOBHM means New Wave Of British Heavy Metal and was a term used to describe the new wave of metal that flourished in Britain in the early 80's. By this time Heavy Metal, by many, were considered as a dead genre as bands such as Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin and others had lost a lot of the popularity they had had in the early 70's. Then all of a sudden a spring of new bands (such as Iron Maiden, Saxon, Samson, Tygers Of Pan Tang, Angel Witch etc.) gained a lot of popularity among the rebellious youth in the then very conservative Britain, and together with Punk, that also had its heyday in the early 80's e.g. Sex Pistols, became a way of rebelling against the conservative ideals that had left the country in economic ruin... The term NWOBHM was invented in 1980 by Sounds-journalist (an English music magazine) Malcolm Dome, who later left Sounds in disappointment of the mag's weak coverage of Heavy Metal and formed his own - Kerrang.

Comment by the chillmaster (Anonymous) - Tuesday, November 18, 2003

nothing comes close to the dank factor of maiden

Comment by Maximus (Anonymous) - Wednesday, December 10, 2003

Even though the production is well ropey, this is still one hell of an ass kicking album. Blows all this new metal shite outa the water. On a side note, why the hell do people to refer to alternative music as such? Alternative to what??

Comment by Miguel Angel (Anonymous) - Sunday, February 1, 2004

The only thing that I can say is that Iron Maiden is the best Heavy Metal Band than all those proclammed themselves "the Bests", for me they are "the Worst" only garbage of rock.... Greetings to all of you... From Panama...Enjoy Iron Maiden!!

Comment by Leslie (Anonymous) - Sunday, April 18, 2004

Overrated????? Alright, Cristobal, whoever you are, if I get my hands on you, it's the penalty of death for Iron Maiden slighters... Death... Personally though, I wouldn't mind dying in an iron maiden listening to this album. prowler and sanctuary - excellent. iron maiden? great. but the best? Phantom of the opera - worth buying the album just for this one. UP THE IRONS! ('cos no other wimp-ass band comes close!)

Comment by i.Ron S. (Anonymous) - Wednesday, May 19, 2004

a classic worth 10/10.

Comment by i Maiden (Anonymous) - Friday, May 21, 2004

Phantom kicks all, and di'anno rules, not DICKinson

Comment by Darren "Daz" Cox (Anonymous) - Monday, June 14, 2004

yeah, still a great metal album, i jam "Running free" in my pick-up truck and feel 16.... www.99daz.com

Comment by Jonathan (Anonymous) - Wednesday, June 16, 2004

Iron Maiden kicks ass.

Comment by DI'ANNO IS THE NEXT PIGPEN!!!!!! SAYS THE GREAT TSIPPO (Anonymous) - Sunday, June 27, 2004

Yes, my friends, you've heard right Paul Di'Anno is the next Pigpen. Who is Pigpen? you may ask. Well, Pigpen (1945-1973) was one of the greatest rock singers of all time and pretty much was the founder of the Grateful Dead along with the Late, Great Jerry Garcia (1942-1995)Oh but Tsippo has rambled on about how great the Grateful Dead is. This album kicks some serius ass and so does Paul Di'Anno Tsippo personally thinks that he is better than Dickinson because alcohol is the voice enhancer because it makes the voice raspier and better It enhanced the voices of Pigpen, Janis Joplin (1943-1970), Jim Morrison (1943-1971), Bon Scott (1946-1980) of AC/DC and many others. This is where it all started for Iron Maiden and if you pick up this gem you'll see why it is one of the greatest metal albums of all time! So Long my friends and UP THE IRONS!!

Comment by EDDIE IS MY ONLY FRIEND (Anonymous) - Monday, July 12, 2004

This is one of the greatest albums I have ever heard. This classic blends punk and metal perfectly and the Dennis Stratton/Dave Murray guitar duo is just awesome. I must say that Paul Di'Anno is better than Bruce Dickinson. Of course Dickinson is an awesome singer, but Di'Anno is so cool. His raspy vocals are perfect and fit the songs like a glove. I only wish that he was still in the band.

Comment by PAUL DI'ANNO RULZZZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Anonymous) - Wednesday, July 28, 2004

Oh yeah, Maiden's first album kicks seriuous ass! This was originally released in 1980 as most of you know and had Paul on lead vocals. He's better than Bruce Dickinson and he's definatly better than Blaze Bayley. Why? Because his raspy vocals and stage prescence which reminds me of the late great Pigpen. He wore leather and studs and looked so cool. This album is their most punk sounding much because of Di'Anno's rough vocals, Dennis Stratton's sole album prescence and the fast and furious sounds which helped lay the blue print for speed/thrash metal. This is the greatest heavy metal debut of all time and definatly a classic Get it and Up the Irons!!!!!!!

Comment by killer (Anonymous) - Wednesday, February 16, 2005

there is no maiden without dianno, man just listen to killers, he kills all

Comment by Ron Davey (Anonymous) - Saturday, February 19, 2005

I can never get enough of this album....i may have heard it a thousand times, but i never get tired of it...and i will never, Prowler is 1 of my all time fav songs of Maiden, 2 bad maiden don play them anymore...and Di'anno kicks *$$ and stratton also put in his greatest performance....2 bad he left...otherwise he would hav been guitarist # 4, now that would hav ROCKED!!!

Comment by Ashley (Anonymous) - Sunday, May 8, 2005

This is where it all started and boy does it sound good. 'Iron Maiden' is one of the finest metal albums ever made. Even after all these years it still stands as high as any othet album the band has released. Paul Di'anno, is without a doubt just as superb as Bruce Dickinson even if the latter was more suited to the eventual sound Maiden would produce. But this is fantastic metal, 'Running Free' 'Phantom of the Opera'... well every track is just first class. Di'anno you're the man, Harris hats off to you, both of you made this album the masterpiece it is, and the rest of the band, you all excelled yourselves. CLASSIC in everyway, and the beginning of a legend!!!

Comment by Chubs (Anonymous) - Friday, January 19, 2007

Maiden Fuckin ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Comment by Chubs (Anonymous) - Friday, January 19, 2007

Its me again Im FUCKIN NUTS FOR IRON MAIDEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Comment by Chubs (Anonymous) - Tuesday, January 23, 2007

i Maiden is right I like Paul Di Anno better than Dickenson but that doesnt mean that Dickenson sucks because hes pretty good on his first three albums.

Comment by Koxa The Beast (Anonymous) - Wednesday, February 14, 2007

IRON MAIDEN FUCK ALL THE REST

Comment by notrap (Member) - Friday, November 14, 2008

View Profile Comments: 55 Ratings: 66 Along with the 1970's Black Sabbath, Deep Purple's Machine Head and Master of Puppets..The first Maiden its probably the most important Heavy Metal release of all time (if we put Sab and Purple on this). I know that Number of the Beast was and will be a Metal trademark, but this one was the first. Steve Harris&Co create something really new and fresh. The 2 guitar sound and harmonies were already explored by bands like Thin Lizzy, however never with a Bass sound like Harris and never with this rock energy. Phantom of the Opera is, in my opinion, the most important Heavy song of the early 80's. The lead section on this music was fallowed by thousands of bands all around the world: Metallica, Overkill, Helloween, Slayer, Anthrax, Running Wild (Transylvania was for sure very important for Rolf...)..and the list goes on and on.. heard this album over and over. Bruce gave later what's missing on this record (however Paul did a good job). After this Album the world was never the same. Just imagine the parents face after meeting Eddie... Definitely 10/10! A true Masterpiece Up the Irons! Posted by notrap Friday, November 14, 2008

Comment by Stuart (Staff) - Wednesday, April 15, 2009

View Profile Comments: 116 9.5/10 Apart from the fact that the production is very "of its era" Maiden's first album stands tall as an all time classic. Posted by Stuart (Staff) Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Review by Stuart (Staff) - Wednesday, April 15, 2009

View Profile Comments: 116 Apart from the fact that the production is very "of its era" Maiden's first album stands tall as an all time classic. Rating: 9.5/10 Posted by Stuart (Staff) Wednesday, April 15, 2009