Iron Maiden

My favourite band along with GN'R, caught them live at Nottingham Arena a few weeks back, one of the best shows i've seen, even beats seeing them at Twickenham Stadium back in 2008 (of course being 4th row for the whole show and having the physical stamina of a 20 year old body rather than a meek 17 year old one and thus being able to survive the whole show probably helped this time around.)

Bruce is easily one of the best frontmen around, he's still got an awesome set of pipes, and stage-wise he has more energy than most singers i've seen. Nicko is a formidable drummer, Steve is probably the best bass player I know, and the 'three amigos' on guitar are just fantastic



Any fans? Thoughts on the new album? (Or other albums).



To get started, my album ranking:



-Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son

-Brave New World

-Powerslave

-Somewhere In Time

-A Matter Of Life And Death

-The Final Frontier

-The Number Of The Beast

-Iron Maiden

-Dance Of Death

-Piece Of Mind

-The X Factor

-Virtual XI

-Killers

-Fear Of The Dark

-No Prayer For The Dying

Not a huge fan myself, although I don't know why. I have listened a lot to a live version of ''Hallowed Be Thy Name". Great stuff.

Another live recording:

Loved them when I was a teenager waaaay back when. Still buy their albums when they come out but I haven't really enjoyed anything since Seventh Son. The Blaze Bailey albums sucked major major ass and I think all the albums since Dickinson's returned have been weak. I know when every new album is released it's termed "a return to form" or some bullshit but in reality, they aren't very good. Over long songs that go nowhere. Choruses that are laughable. And lyrically, I've always found Maiden to be the ultimate in cheese. BUT, when you're a teenager, they rule!!

That is all.

Meh, each to their own, I think the reunion albums are some of the best work they've ever done. Brave New World is probably my favourite album along with Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son.



The Blaze albums were decent, but Blaze has gotten to be MUCH better on his own since leaving Maiden, I have all his solo albums and seen him live a few times, he always puts on a great show, comes down to meet the fans after each gig, and his voice has improved tenfold since his tenure in Maiden.

His solo albums are good.



I think with bands like Maiden, Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax, Overkill, Exodus, Megadeth, Manowar....I'm old enough and remember when all of their debut albums and early classic albums were released and I guess I have a fondness for the older stuff although I still do and will continue to listen to anything they release and try to listen objectively. The only metal band of that era that I continue to really enjoy are Testament. Exodus though has released some solid work the past few years.

For what it's worth....and that could very well be nothing...but...



Here's my ranking...



1. Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son

2. Piece Of Mind

3. Iron Maiden

4. The Number Of The Beast

5. Powerslave

6. Killers

7. Brave New World

8. A Matter Of Life And Death

9. The X Factor

10. Virtual XI

11. Dance Of Death

12. The Final Frontier

13. Somewhere In Time

14. Fear Of The Dark

15. No Prayer For The Dying

Virtual XI ahead of Dance of Death and TFF? Interesting...

To be fair, I haven't given The Final Frontier much of a chance. I think I've listened to it 3 times total.

Though I can see what you mean about being fonder of the old stuff seeing as you were around at that time, whereas I've grown up with the newer stuff (though only been a Maiden fan since 2007 or so) and some i'm more partial to that...

seely wrote:Though I can see what you mean about being fonder of the old stuff seeing as you were around at that time, whereas I've grown up with the newer stuff (though only been a Maiden fan since 2007 or so) and some i'm more partial to that...

I do try to be as subjective as I can and always look forward to new music from bands I've loved forever.

The last studio Rolling Stones album A Bigger Bang, for instance, is one of my favourite Stones albums.



I happen to be shit fucking lucky to have grown up with ground breaking metal being released constantly.

Mercyful Fate, Venom, Slayer, Bathory, Celtic Frost, Metallica, Queensryche...it was a great time and everyone was trying to one up each other.



I feel a lot of those older bands rest on their laurels to an extent although Iron Maiden have really embraced their prog side these last few years.

Whether that's good or bad is up for debate.