Iron Maiden

Artist: Iron Maiden
Label: Sony
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Format: Enhanced
Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1

UPC: 696998605121
EAN: 0696998605121
ASIN: B000063CP3

Release Date: 2002-03-26

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Tracks:

Prowler
Sanctuary
Remember Tomorrow
Running Free
Phantom of the Opera
Transylvania
Strange World
Charlotte the Harlot
Iron Maiden

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Customer Reviews:

Metal & Punk converge; Maiden IS running free!.......2006-02-26

[Iron Maiden-Iron Maiden-1980][Friends, 7 ALL-TIME FAVE TRACKS: Prowler, Sanctuary, Running Free, Phantom Of The Opera, Transylvania, Charlotte The Harlot, Iron Maiden]

Debut from the classic metal legends.......2005-08-12

Iron Maiden (1980.) Iron Maiden's first album.

INTRODUCTION:
In 1979, the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal took England by storm. Hundreds of hard-rocking bands emerged overnight, and every one of them was excellent. Unfortunately, very few of these bands found success in their music, and an even smaller number of them found success outside their native United Kingdom. Iron Maiden is a rare example of one of the genre's bands that achieved worldwide success. Through the course of the mid and late seventies, Iron Maiden had a number of line-up changes. They had recorded a demo collection and several tracks for compilations. Finally, come 1980 and the band was ready to release it's first full-length LP. With vocalist Paul Di'Anno, guitarists Dave Murray and Dennis Strattion, drummer Clive Burr, and bassist Steve Harris, their debut was recorded. How does their 1980 self-titled debut, recorded before legendary metal vocalist Bruce Dickinson joined the band, measure up? Read on and find out.

OVERVIEW/REVIEW:
The first thing I need to state about this album is that it is NOTHING like the material that the band recorded with their most famous vocalist, Bruce Dickinson. The Di'Anno era of the band differs from those days drastically, but that doesn't mean the musical quality from this era was any worse. One of the band's finest early songs, Prowler, kicks off the album. Fast-paced punk-metal rock never sounded better, and the rather comical lyrics only add to the experience. Remember Tomorrow comes next. It slows things way down in the verses, but the chorus is the kind of hard and heavy stuff you'd expect from Maiden. The instrumental interlude between the second and third verses is particuarly memorable. Next comes the classic mid-paced hard rocker Running Free. I think this song is overrated by a lot of Maiden fans, but I remain confident that it IS a good song. It was also released as a single. The best track of all, Phantom Of The Opera, comes next. This is a lengthy and heavy epic, which served as a premonition to what was to come for Iron Maiden in their future days with Bruce Dickinson at the helm. The guitar solo is particuarly excellent. Following that, we get the classic metal instrumental Transylvania. Although not my personal favorite instrumental that the band has ever recorded, it's solid nonetheless. It fades right into the ultra slow and melodic cut Strange World. This song is VERY different than what you're used to hearing from Maiden, but it's actually a very good song. Charlotte The Harlot, the next track, is the most punk-sounding thing on the album, and this serves the band well. The lyrics here are some of the band's most memorable of all. Closing out the album is the song Iron Maiden on the album Iron Maiden by the band Iron Maiden. That doesn't happen too often! This track is a bit repetitive as far as the lyrics go, but that doesn't keep it from being excellent. And this is the best version ever recorded, period (Dickinson never could do this one right.) In the end, the band's debut album is a damn fine punk-metal hybrid that is worth listening to.

EDITION NOTES:
As a die-hard Maiden fan, I AM SEVERELY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE 2002 REISSUES OF THE MAIDEN CATALOGUE. Sure, the sound quality is improved over the original CD issues and there is some cool enhanced CD footage (all the remasters before the X Factor have this), but this reissue is lacking the most important thing a remaster needs - BONUS TRACKS. We get one bonus cut (Sanctuary), but that just isn't enough. The total play time is about forty-five minutes, and you can fit eighty minutes on a CD. There were a plethora of rare tracks from this era that have never before been issued by the band (except for in the restrictively expensive box set. These rarities include demos, compilation tracks, B-Sides, interviews, BBC session tracks, and others.) Another problem is the alterations of the covers of some albums. The band's debut album has had two alterations - Eddie's eyes now glow, and the band's name has been removed from the top of the album cover. Likewise, the No Prayer For The Dying album cover completely removes the grave robber that Eddie was strangling! And don't get me started on the slipcases. Sure, they look cool, but it's a pain to take them off and put them back on every time you listen to the album. To put it simply, if you already own earlier issues of these albums on CD, it's really not necessary to get the new remasters. I personally recommend getting the mid-nineties import reissues, which have bonus discs of material. Unfortunately, those are almost impossible to come by these days, so you may be forced to settle for the domestic reissues.

OVERALL:
Iron Maiden's debut album was the start of something great. They hadn't yet found the sound that would bring them worldwide success, but their sound was still nothing short of excellent. If you're new to Maiden, take my advice and start with The Number Of The Beast, and stick to buying the albums with Dickinson on vocals. Even though this is a great album, I recommend the Di'Anno and Bayley albums to true fans only, as they don't really capture the band in its prime. Put simply, this is a great album, it's just not a great album to start with.

My copy does not not include "Sanctuary"..........2005-07-07

...but I have the single. Great Track. Great Album. I prefer this to what they do now because it doesn't sound as dramatic and high quality (i.e. "Brave New World" + "Dance Of Death").
The only complaint I have about this re-release is the new CGI cover. What was wrong with Derek Riggs' masterpiece which was reduced to the CD label? Disgraceful...

So long for Dennis Stratton...........2003-02-13

This debut by Maiden is simply fantastic. Energetic, a little bit punk, heavy, coming from the heart. The lyrics were to improve dramatically in their posterior albums, because here they are extremely silly.
This was the last album by Maiden featuring guitarrist Dennis Stratton. Because he was just a little bit older than the other guys, and because he listened to a lot of different musical styles other than metal, Dennis usually prefered to travel in the bus that carried the KISS road crew, when Maiden toured with Kiss along Europe, in 1980. THe boss Steve Harris did not like it, and that was the last straw for him: Dennis was fired and lost an once in a lifetime opportunity for glory and fortune...

In came Dave Murrayýs old pal, Adrian Smith, and the rest is history...

Awesome Debut.......2002-04-11

After years of line-up changing and a change or two in the band name, Iron Maiden went into the studio to record their debut album. Released in 1980, their self-titled debut CD started them on the road to success and legendary status as one of the pioneers of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal.

This album has a raw edge that is not seen on their later releases (maybe No Prayer For The Dying) and that makes it all the more better. With a more punk feel than the straight-forward metal they would come to write and record, this album is a classic and a great start for the band. Guitarist Dave Murray and Dennis Stratton deliver the songs wonderfully with the usual power chords and harmonic leads. Paul Di'Anno takes his spot before the microphone and belts out all the Maiden classics. While not being as powerful as Dickinson, Di'Anno is a great singer and his vocals mix well with the music. Steve Harris, yet again, has his way of making the bass heard and plays with the intensity that he has come to be known for. Behind the drums is Clive Burr, playing simple, solid and catchy beats that suit the raw power of each song.

The album begins with Prowler which is a really catchy song with some great guitar. Di'Anno's vocals are great on this song and Burr's drumming is wonderful. Sanctuary is a faster, more guitar driven track. Its got a punk feel with great rhythm and an awesome solo. Remember Tomorrow starts off slow and develops into a rocker. The vocals are great and the guitars are superb. Simply a classic song. Running Free is another awesome song because of the feel of the song. Each of the instruments are played incredibly well and the vocals are catchy. Phantom Of The Opera is another upbeat song, like Sanctuary. The guitar is great, the the overbearing presence of the bass midway through the track is amazing and the drumming is excellent. Transylvania is a fast-paced, guitar driven instrumental. The song is excellent with fast guitars and a well played rhythm. Strange World is a step away from the sound of the rest of the album and it soft and quiet straight through. Di'Anno's vocals shine and the solo is masterful. Charlotte The Harlot is punk-type song with a love-type theme. The song is fairly fast-paced until the song slows down and the guitar is more classical with the bass popping in and out. Incredible song. The last song, Iron Maiden, is a great closing song. Awesome guitars and bass with an extremely catchy chorus.

Iron Maiden's self-titled debut started their slow rise to the top, but they didn't really get started until Bruce Dickinson joined the band. But this is definitely an incredible start. Iron Maiden fans would be pleased and fans of punk-rock may like this as well. Its definitely something to check out.

Music CD:

Music CD

Music CD

Music CD

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