If one band has ever rocked anything, ever; that band would have to be Iron Maiden. Iron Maiden started out in 1975. The originally consisted of musical warriors Steve Harris, Tony Parsons, Doug Sampson and Paul Di'Anno.
When the band released their 1st Album, Iron Maiden, in 1980 they had re-worked their lineup and now featured Dave Murray as guitarist, removing Tony Parsons and picking up guitarist Dennis Stratton and replacing Sampson with Clive Burr on the drums.
Named after a medieval torture device, the band's heavy metal guitar riffs and enriching solos stimulate the senses and continue to inspire metal guitarists everywhere. The band originated in England, where the music scene was rich in punk culture, and musicians were hard pressed for originality. Maiden thrived during this time because of their energetic hooking walks and complicated lattice works of intense solo'ing.
The Self-Titled Iron Maiden album contained the crucial "Running Free","Remember Tomorrow", "Charlotte the Harlot", "Iron Maiden", "Phantom of the Opera", and "Strange World". This choppy and hard driven album rocked heads all over the world. It's energetic and up-tempo beats; rocked on this album harder than diamonds.
Their second album, entitled Killers is just a continuation of their metal saga released in 1981. It was with this album that the band ousted Stratton and picked up rocker Adrian Smith. Hits from this album include "Killers","Wrathchild", "Prodigal Son", "Drifter", "Innocent Exile", "Twilight Zone", and "Murders in the Rue Morgue".
For the third album, Number of the Beast, Di'Anno was replaced in the band with singer Bruce Dickinson in 1982. Heavy metal tracks on this album include "The Number of the Beast", "Hallowed Be Thy Name", "22 Acacia Avenue", "Invaders" and "Children of the Damned". The song "Number of the Beast" was later covered by band Powerfinger on a double A-side release in 2001.
1983, the bands forth album, Piece of Mind hit the airwaves. For this album, Nicko Mcbrain replaces Clive Burr as the bands drummer. It is on this album that the songs "The Trooper", "Sun and Steel","Revelations","Quest for Fire", "Where Eagles Dare", and "To Tame a Land" appear.
The next year the group debuts the infamous Powerslave album. Featured on Powerslave are "Aces High", "2 Minutes to Midnight", "The Duallists", "Powerslave" and "Rime of the Ancient Mariner". Powerslave can be considered one of Maidens more hard hitting albums. "Aces High" also appeared in the computer game "Carmageddon II" by SCi and Stainless games. Carmageddon II also featured "The Trooper", "Be Quick or Be Dead", and "Man on the Edge" by Iron Maiden.
Life After Death, the band's sixth album, was released in 1985 and was the first collection of Iron Maiden's musical masterpieces. Featured on this two disc set are "Aces High", "The Trooper", "The Number of the Beast", "Hallowed be Thy Name", "22 Acacia Avenue", "Revelations", "2 Minutes to Midnight", "Wrathchild" and "Die with your Boots on".
Following the release of Life After Death, the band debuts Somewhere in Time, their 1986 album.Tracks contained on this album include "Stranger in a Strange Land", "Heaven Can Wait", "Déjà Vu", "Sea of Madness," and "Wasted Years".
Seventh Son of a Seventh Son saw store shelves in 1988. This album featured the songs "The Clairvoyant","The Prophecy", "The Evil that Men Do", "Only the Good Die Young", "Can I Play with Madness" and "Seventh Son of a Seventh Son". After the release of this album guitarist Adrian Smith left the band and was replaced with guitarist Janick Gers.
1990's release of No Prayer for the Dying is heralded as the band's ninth album. Songs from this album include "Holy Smoke", "Mother Russia","Bring Your Daughter... to the Slaughter", "No Prayer for the Dying", "The Assassin", "Hooks in You", and "Fates Warning". It was during this time that singer Bruce Dickinson was replaced with singer Blaze Bayley.
Fear of the Dark was released in 1992.Contained within this album are the sound tracks "Judas Be My Guide", "Afraid to Shoot Strangers","The Apparition","From Here to Eternity", "Weekend Warrior", and "Fear of the Dark".
1993 the band released two albums; Live at Donington and A Real Live Dead One. Hits from these album include "Hallowed be Thy Name", "Prowler", "Be Quick or be Dead", "Run to the Hills", "The Number of the Beast", and "Fear of the Dark" as well with "Wrathchild", "The Trooper", and "Sanctuary" high-lighting these two albums.
The band's 13th album was entitled The X-factor and featured the hits "Sign of the Cross", "Fortunes of War", "Blood on the World's Hands","The Edge of Darkness" "2 A.M." "The Unbeliever", and "Lord of the Flies".
Best of the Beast was released in 1996. This import only album features a collection of Iron Maiden with the assortment of the different members of the band. Tracks on this album are "Virus", "The Evil that Men Do", "2 Minutes to Midnight","The Clairvoyant", "Hallowed be Thy Name", "Can I Play with Madness", "The Number of the Beast", "Aces High", "Fear of the Dark", "Bring Your Daughter... to the Slaughter", "Man on the Edge", and "The Trooper".
In 1998, the band releases a fifteenth album Virtual XI. "The Angel and the Gambler", "The Educated Fool","When Two Worlds Collide","Don't Look to the Eyes of a Stranger", "Lighting Strikes Twice" and "Como Estais Amigos" are featured on this work.
Ed Hunter is Iron Maiden's sixteenth album and is a two disc set. This is Iron Maiden's third collection of hits. Included tracks in this selection are "Powerslave", "Tailgunner", "Killers","Phantom of the Opera","Futureal","Wasted Years","Number of the Beast", and "Iron Maiden".
Iron Maiden then went on to release their seventeenth album amply titled Brave New World in 2000. "Dream of Mirrors", "The Mercenary", "Ghost of the Navigator", "Brave New World", "The Wicker Man", "The Thin Line Between Love and Hate", "The Nomad", "The Fallen Angel" and "Blood Brothers" are encased within this album.
After Brave New World there was Rock in Rio. Rock in Rio is the enhanced album of live shows from Rio. Tasty licks like "A Day in the Life" , "The Clansman", "The Mercenary",and "The Wicker Man" are included on this album.
Edward the Great was the fourth collection of Iron Maiden hits. "Holy Smoke", "Flight of Icarus", "Infinite Dreams", and "2 Minutes to Midnight" along with "The Clairvoyant", "The Trooper" and "The Number of the Beast" are sighted on this album with "Wickerman", "Futureal", and a live version of "Fear of the Dark" as well.
2003, Iron Maiden releases Dance of Death. Songs from this album include "Wildest Dreams", "Rainmaker","No More Lies", "Dance of Death","New Frontier","Paschendale",and "Face in the Sand" and included on this album. Also, with this albums release earmarked the re-uniting of former band mates Adrian Smith and Bruce Dickinson.
Two years later the band releases The Essential Iron Maiden Collection. All of Iron Maiden's hits are included on this must have collection.
2006, the band releases A Matter of Life and Death. "Out of the Shadows", "The Legacy", "The Pilgrim", "Brighter than a Thousand Suns", "Lord of Light", "The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeq", "For the Greater Good of God", and "Different World" appear on this album.
Somewhere Back in Time arrived in 2008 and showcased the bands heavy metal style like none other. For the most primal of Maiden fans, this album is crucial to your listening ear. It features the best of their music from 1980-1989.
When it comes to metal, you can't come close. You have to nail it every time. If Iron Maiden has ever taught anyone anything it would be just that. Their dedication to Heavy Metal Heads everywhere go beyond that of mere garage rockers. To listen to Maiden, you have to not punk out. Iron Maiden started on Punk so it's important to understand the fundamentals of the band before journeying down the path of no return. To say the least, this band is both energetic and no-nonsense in terms of picking style and adaptation. Songs like "Dream of Mirrors", "The Duelists", and "Powerslave" rock like church bells on Sunday afternoon.
Iron Maiden is one of those bands that doesn't ever stop rocking, they are true students in the art of rock and roll. With over a dozen members,(Don't forget Eddie),they have rocked the world in front of millions of fans. Their inspiring guitar licks, and passionate dedication to the world of music have helped many a misdirected individual rock that much harder.