20 Favorite Iron Maiden Songs
Continuing my trend of song listings for classic prog and metal bands. Only 80s Maiden, and rplease don't start with Fear of the Dark. It's good but not top 20. |
| 1 |  | Iron Maiden
The Number of the Beast
Hallowed Be Thy Name - Ominous intro...check. Philosophical lyrics about life and
death...check. Sweet riffs...check. Sick solo...check. Epic singing...oh yeah. Best
Maiden song? You guessed it...check again. |
| 2 | | Iron Maiden
The Number of the Beast
Run to the Hills - The chorus soars like no other. I love how the intro sets the
scene from the Native's perspective "oh will we ever be set free," and then the whole
band just gallops off. You play this at the gym and I'll involuntarily gallop away on
that treadmill like one of Pavlov's dogs. |
| 3 |  | Iron Maiden
Powerslave
Aces High - Now this is the perfect full-throttle power metal song. That pre-chorus
"diving...doing it again!" is so simple yet so awesome. More historical narratives that
rule, another classic Maiden chorus, and those riffs! How could you not love this? |
| 4 | | Iron Maiden
Powerslave
Rime of the Ancient Mariner - An early prog metal epic that is really unparalleled in
Maiden's discography. While it's not the catchiest tune in the world, it tells a tale
and it inspires awe like no other. That bass during the bridge oh man Steve Harris is
a genius. |
| 5 |  | Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Phantom of the Opera - There are great riffs, and then there's the intro of Phantom
of the Opera. It's like Maiden's 21st Century Schizoid Man, showing that they mean
business right from the start. Phantom has great drumming with a groove and off-the-chart technicality that still has chins
dropping to this day. |
| 6 |  | Iron Maiden
Somewhere In Time
Stranger In a Strange Land - Like Rush in Permanent Waves and Moving Pictures, Maiden moved into spacey synth territory
very well. This song has a very moody verse that is kept rolling with simple bass and keyboards to give it a very nice ambiance
until one of Maiden's crunchiest riffs introduces a soaring chorus about being...well..."lost and faaar from hooooome!" |
| 7 |  | Iron Maiden
Piece of Mind
The Trooper - That lyricless chorus is one of the most memorable sing-along lines in metal, and that dual riff is a shining
example of how the twin guitar attack can really come in handy. It also proves that a third guitarist is just for looks. |
| 8 | | Iron Maiden
The Number of the Beast
The Number of the Beast - Can't say I love the rest of the song as much as the intro...but what an intro it is! The odd time
signature gives an off-putting feel as Bruce introducing us to the nightmare of seeing evil. Bruce's blood-curdling scream
is...along with Angel of Death and Fast as a Shark...the most memorable in all of metal. |
| 9 | | Iron Maiden
Somewhere In Time
Wasted Years - Probably Maiden's best track with a strong commercial leaning, it's quite entertaining to hear a song with such
a positive message coming from a band that many had labeled as "satanic." |
| 10 | | Iron Maiden
Piece of Mind
Where Eagles Dare - Always thought this was an incredibly underrated track. It shows off Nicko McBrian's incredible dexterity at
the drum kit right at the start of his debut, and the riffs are as tasty as they get. You should probably check out the movie
"Where Eagles Dare" to find out what Bruce is singing about. |
| 11 |  | Iron Maiden
Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
Seventh Son of a Seventh Son - The proggiest track on Maiden's proggiest album. The chorus is kinda silly, but when that
instrumental after the spoken word starts up you will not believe your ears. |
| 12 | | Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Transylvania - Easily their best instrumental |
| 13 | | Iron Maiden
Piece of Mind
To Tame a Land - Another underrated Piece of Mind. This one became a personal favorite after I read the first three Dune
books which the lyrics are based on. The middle-eastern riffs foreshadow Maiden's Egyptian-themed Powerslave. |
| 14 | | Iron Maiden
Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
The Clairvoyant - Love the guitar melody on this one. |
| 15 | | Iron Maiden
Piece of Mind
Flight of Icarus - That chorus is one of the most imitated in all of power metal lyrically and sonically for good reason. |
| 16 | | Iron Maiden
The Number of the Beast
The Prisoner - One of Beast's catchiest songs gets overlooked because it's got Run to the Hills to compete with, but that riff is
so great and its sing-along chorus is the kind of stuff Maiden thrived on ever since Bruce took the helm. |
| 17 | | Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Remember Tomorrow - Maiden's first great ballad has a really epic flair to it. Di'anno does an exceptional job. |
| 18 | | Iron Maiden
The Number of the Beast
Children of the Damned - This reminds me of Beyond the Realms of Death by Judas Priest, and since that's one of my favorite
songs then how could I leave this off. Great mood and singing by Bruce. |
| 19 | | Iron Maiden
Powerslave
Powerslave - Some of Bruce's most aggressive vocals show off this great Egyptian-themed song about a pharaoh's struggle for
power. |
| 20 |  | Iron Maiden
Killers
Wrathchild - very nice dark tune. |
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