Best Ever Albums

Re: Best Iron Maiden Album?

911Turbo — Fri, 17 Nov 2017 22:56:29 GMT

Author: 911Turbo

Posted: 11/18/2017 03:56

for me its "seventh son of a seventh son".
it beats out "the number of the beast" by a small margin.

Re: Best Iron Maiden Album?

AAL2014 — Tue, 14 Nov 2017 11:52:29 GMT

Author: AAL2014

Posted: 11/14/2017 16:52

Fischman wrote:

Agree with all of the above... but must add Can I Play With Madness as a standout. Killer riff, biting vocal, melodic but metallic chorus, fantastic instrumental interlude--and some seriously excellent drum work from Nicko McBrain. It's one of the all time metal classics IMO.

Link

Yeah sometimes I overlook Can I Play With Madness simply because I listened to it so much even outside of the context of the album. But it is great. Proof that Maiden had a pop sensibility mixed in with their heavier nature.

Yep, Seventh Son in general is a great and often overlooked album drum wise. Nicko was a huge influence on me growing up.

Re: Best Iron Maiden Album?

Fischman — Tue, 14 Nov 2017 00:33:01 GMT

Author: Fischman

Posted: 11/14/2017 05:33

AAL2014 wrote:

After a bit of evaluation I completely agree. It doesn't have bangers like Revelations, Powerslave, or Hallowed Be Thy Name, but it doesn't make sense to skip a track on 7th Son because a.) the concept and b.) they are all just fucking good songs. Not to say there aren't standouts because Moonchild, Infinite Dreams, and The Evil That Men Do are some of my favorite Iron Maiden songs. I've never heard anyone mention the Prophecy when talking about Maiden but I love that song too. Probably one of my most listened to albums ever when I think about it.

Re: Best Iron Maiden Album?

AAL2014 — Tue, 14 Nov 2017 00:24:31 GMT

Author: AAL2014

Posted: 11/14/2017 05:24

DJTommy wrote:

At least they’ve not ended up like Deep Purple.

True true. Although I haven't listened to a ton of newer Deep Purple, I agree that they've lost something along the way. Aside from Richie Blackmore and Jon Lord. Dickinson's voice is holding up way better than Ian Gillan's. Even if Bruce is a bit younger than Ian, Bruce still has a great voice. I saw him post-cancer treatment and he didn't miss a beat. What a legend.

I think Maiden will know when it's time to hang it up, as I think Deep Purple (and Kiss) missed the boat a long time ago. Maiden has a global audience which includes very few casual fans. They'll know when it's time so to not fuck with the band or the brand (unlike Kiss).

Re: Best Iron Maiden Album?

AAL2014 — Tue, 14 Nov 2017 00:15:31 GMT

Author: AAL2014

Posted: 11/14/2017 05:15

Daydreamer wrote:

Although it doesn't have that many classic tracks like the albums from 1982-1984, Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son gets my vote as their most consistently enjoyable record.

Re: Best Iron Maiden Album?

Repo — Mon, 13 Nov 2017 19:27:02 GMT

Author: Repo

Posted: 11/14/2017 00:27

Tha1ChiefRocka wrote:

Might be a bit contreversial to pick an album without Dickinson, but seeing these songs performed live by him makes this my top pick. Di'anno's voice lack the theatricality of Dickinson, but these songs are so tight and punchy, because they still had that punk edge to them. Plus, Phantom of the Opera has one of my favorite riffs of all time.

That riff at 4:30 in that song is absolutely killer when the other guitar part goes over it

Nah. i'm right there with you. there first two r the best. Although I like all the 80s Dickinson stuff too. But Killers & s/t easily the ones I listen to the most.

Re: Best Iron Maiden Album?

Daydreamer — Mon, 13 Nov 2017 17:58:59 GMT

Author: Daydreamer

Posted: 11/13/2017 22:58

Although it doesn't have that many classic tracks like the albums from 1982-1984, Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son gets my vote as their most consistently enjoyable record.

Re: Best Iron Maiden Album?

Anonymous — Mon, 13 Nov 2017 17:11:27 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 11/13/2017 22:11

AAL2014 wrote:

I normally just like to have the whole catalog up in case there are those who prefer a more out of left field choice in these polls, however I agree. The 4 albums that follow Seventh Son are spotty at best. There are some horribly low lows on Fear of the Dark even if it is in my opinion the strongest of the 4. No Prayer For The Dying has a couple songs I return to now and again, but they aren't special, well written gems that you could find in the midst of Maiden's most aggressive era of output. Janick added nothing.

I think they found a good, newer formula when Bruce and Adrian came back, but for me the formula became a bit tiring by AMLOAD. I really like The Final Frontier and The Book of Souls though. Are they as good as Powerslave and the Number of the Beast? No, but I think they are the best albums since the reunion.

For sure. Though the 1990’s were quite the midlife crisis for the band, I think they’ve been solid ever since Bruce and Adrian returned, and have aged well. But I don’t think their 2000’s/10’s stuff hold anything against their classic 1980’s output (maybe with the exception of Killers, which I’ve never been that much a fan of). But that’s too much to expect of veterans TBH. At least they’ve not ended up like Deep Purple.

Re: Best Iron Maiden Album?

AAL2014 — Mon, 13 Nov 2017 16:01:40 GMT

Author: AAL2014

Posted: 11/13/2017 21:01

DJTommy wrote:

I really don’t see how anyone would think anything they’ve made post-1980’s is their best. Anyways, Powerslave takes the cake for me.

Re: Best Iron Maiden Album?

Anonymous — Mon, 13 Nov 2017 15:44:15 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 11/13/2017 20:44

I really don’t see how anyone would think anything they’ve made post-1980’s is their best. Anyways, Powerslave takes the cake for me.

Re: Best Iron Maiden Album?

AAL2014 — Mon, 13 Nov 2017 14:44:49 GMT

Author: AAL2014

Posted: 11/13/2017 19:44

Fischman wrote:

As always, I still have to list Piece of Mind as my fave. By I have tp say Senenth Son and Powerslave are just a hair behind with The Beast and Somewhere in Time just a hair after that.

Very similar to my taste with Maiden. I've always gone with Seventh Son and Powerslave as my top picks, but Piece of Mind has always been a dark horse even though it probably shouldn't be viewed as such. Piece of Mind boasts arguably their best bookends to an album, as well as the Trooper, Still Life, and maybe my favorite Maiden song, Revelations. I don't mind Sun and Steel as the vocals in the hook are brilliant, but Quest For Fire should have been burned. It's one of the few first Dickinson era tracks I can't stand.

Re: Best Iron Maiden Album?

Fischman — Mon, 13 Nov 2017 14:33:54 GMT

Author: Fischman

Posted: 11/13/2017 19:33

As always, I still have to list Piece of Mind as my fave. By I have tp say Senenth Son and Powerslave are just a hair behind with The Beast and Somewhere in Time just a hair after that.

Re: Best Iron Maiden Album?

AAL2014 — Mon, 13 Nov 2017 13:55:09 GMT

Author: AAL2014

Posted: 11/13/2017 18:55

Tha1ChiefRocka wrote:

Nothing wrong with picking either of the first 2 Maiden records as your favorite. They are legendary and set the standard of things to come. You're absolutely right about two things, the punk nature being one. The first Iron Maiden album is a great mix of Steve Harris' love of prog mixed with Dianno's punk attitude. I also agree about the way Bruce sings them live. Shows just how great of songs many of them really are. Phantom, Remember Tomorrow, Running Free, great stuff.

Re: Best Iron Maiden Album?

Tha1ChiefRocka — Mon, 13 Nov 2017 13:08:39 GMT

Author: Tha1ChiefRocka

Posted: 11/13/2017 18:08

Might be a bit contreversial to pick an album without Dickinson, but seeing these songs performed live by him makes this my top pick. Di'anno's voice lack the theatricality of Dickinson, but these songs are so tight and punchy, because they still had that punk edge to them. Plus, Phantom of the Opera has one of my favorite riffs of all time.

That riff at 4:30 in that song is absolutely killer when the other guitar part goes over it

Best Iron Maiden Album?

AAL2014 — Mon, 13 Nov 2017 12:38:48 GMT

Author: AAL2014

Posted: 11/13/2017 17:38

The 4th installment of this series of polls coincides with a European tour announcement (damn it I live in the US). I want to check in with you all on a band that I've loved for a long time and one who I consider to be in the running for greatest heavy metal band of all time, Iron Maiden.

I've seen Maiden live 3 times (2010, 2012, 2016) each time different and in ways better than the last. Although, this is a thread about their records (which are great), the stage is where Maiden truly dominates. There are only a handful of artists who I've seen live that can be put in the same conversation as Iron Maiden. If you've seen them live, what did you think? What tour did you see them on?

From 1980-1988 the band was on an almost unstoppable run of classic studio material and now classic tours, a couple the band has revisited for historical purposes in the past few years (what other band does that in between putting out new albums of quality material?). Records like the Number of the Beast, Powerslave, and Seventh Son of a Seventh Son were on repeat throughout my high school days and I revisit them and a lot of their other material once in a while. They remain for me an all time favorite. They became a band I would measure others up to. The legendary guitar work from Smith and Murray, the trademark bass of Steve Harris, the flawless single kick from Nicko McBrain, and of course Bruce Dickinson's air raid siren voice.

With all of this fanboying on my end over, let's get to it. What's the best Iron Maiden record?