Iron Maiden

The Number of the Beast- i always felt funny telling people that i listened to supposedly "evil" bands like Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath or Slayer. i mean, it's hard to tell someone "i love GOD and i'm not a satanist!" while singing along to lyrics like "666/ the number of the beast" or "Jesus knows your soul cannot be saved/Hell awaits!" There comes a time, though, when one needs to realize that it's entertainment, showmanship, etc. i mean, Tom from Slayer is a Catholic, Alice Cooper is a born-again Christian, and Iron Maiden uses Bible verses on the sleeves of some of their records. It took me awhile to be mature enough to realize that just because a band sang about satan does not mean that the band or artist in question is endorsing satan or occult practices. To me, it is the same as a straight-edge person listening to a band like the Rolling Stones; one does not need to agree with a band or artist's beliefs in order to appreciate his or her art.
With all that said, Iron Maiden is awesome. The Number of the Beast is the first Maiden purchase i made on vinyl, and i would say it is my favorite. Some people might say that this is their most mainstream album, but i say that if that is so, it is for good reason. Songs like "the Prisoner," "the Number of the Beast," "Run to the Hills," "Gangland," and "Hallowed be Thy Name" are all standout tracks which help to cement this album's legendary status. If you are not into Maiden, from a fellow newbie, i'd suggest starting here first.

Piece of Mind- The second piece of Maiden wax i bought, and a pretty good follow-up to "Number of the Beast" in my Maiden voyage (lol). My favorites include "Where Eagles Dare," the legendary "The Trooper" and "Flight of Icarus." To me, the second half of the album is not as memorable, but perhaps i need more time with the songs.

Powerslave- i'll readily admit that i expected this album to be bad due to the strange album artwork (it's not black?! "Iron Maiden" isn't in red?!), but thank GOD it failed to meet those expectations. i dig "2 Minutes to Midnight." "Aces High" is alright, although i'll admit that i don't particularly care for the lyrics. My favorite song on the album is closer, "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner," based on the epic poem. An awesome song and probably one of my favorite metal songs of all time.


The vinyl itself is all black, fitting for the band and the time period. i go back and forth on the issue of colored vinyl, but i think for the album art, black is a good match. And it all sounds the same when you're singing along anyways.