Things really started to roll with this album. A UK No. 1 and a top ten single. The line-up had been changed again. Out went Paul Di'Anno and in with ex-Samson frontman Bruce Dickinson. With him came a whole new sound to Maiden. Not that he wrote anything for the album, but his vocal range meant new possibilities for Maiden. SH had written most of the songs for the first 2 albums, but now other members where helping. This album is very much a Harris/Smith album. That is not the only reason that the album turned out so good. Their musicianship also got better as they constantly played gigs and recorded. But man, what an album.

Invaders: A very nice opener. Great riff and a great drive in the song. The chorus is a bit lame or at least it sounds a little lame. But that doesn't make it a bad song. There are too many good parts in the song, so it doesn't matter. All in all a killer opener!!

Children of the Damned: Maiden goes quiet .again. But this time with style. It's more a power ballad than an actual ballad. Classic Maiden solo. Smith's just brilliant on this album! Great vocal work by Mr. Air Raid Siren. Play the drums Mr. Burr if you please. Uh yeah.

The Prisoner: Great intro, taken from the TV-series the "The Prisoner". Killer riff and again a kick-ass solo! What can I say? Listen and learn all you Nu-metal fans!!

22 Acacia Avenue: Will this never end? Why do you do this to me? I don't deserve this? Please stop this classic Maiden track or my ears will bleed. Oh dear, here the solo comes. Shit. Soiled myself again. Classic Harris/Smith collaboration. Very bluesy yet very heavy. The song is actually the continuing saga of Charlotte the Harlot.

The Number of the Beast: A song about worshipping the devil. Not that the band do, but they wanted to make song about it. SH has some weird dreams once in a while. He turns them into songs. Hmm, song is not the right word here. Aahh here it is: ANTHEM!
Not my favorite track on the album, but this is still a classic track, with the spoken part in the start and the "your-hairs-going-off-your-head"-riff are.classic! (I wonder how many times I can write the word classic in this review.)

Run To The Hills: Their first top ten single and fine one at that. For some I guess. I don't like it. Maybe its because I heard it too much. Also when I say I dont' like it I mean, if I had to rate it, it would still get a 7-8. In my opinion!! Mind you there are a lot of fans out there that just loves this track. It starts with classic drum/guitar intro.
Great bass playing in the middle section though.

Gangland: I haven't met someone yet that liked this track other than myself. I like the drums and the solo. The solo is very simple, but very Maidenish. Twinlead! Also the drive in the song. Great!

Total Eclipse: Not on the original record. It was suppossed to be on the album instead of "Gangland". But somehow the 2 got mixed, so "Total Eclipse" ended as a B-side. A great B-side, but I think this mistake was the best that could have happened. The song ain't that great. I don't like the drive in the song. Except for the part where the they pick up the tempo. Now thats cool.

Hallowed Be Thy Name: CLASSIC! Nay a masterpiece! One of SH best songs ever! What an intro! What a riff! What a vocal! Cool drums! A Masterpiece! Nothing more, nothing less! (Maybe more!!) ;o)

As all of the remastered this album features loads of extra material. Hurrah!

The production has gone up a notch. That is nice to hear. I think it sounds like something from 1988-90 and not 1982. Great job Martin Birch. For all of you new Maiden fans, this is a very good place to start! It has it all. Vocals, drums, raunchy guitars and of course the easy to remember sing alongs and melodies!

But how to rate it! It sure has masterpiece written all over it, with "only" 2 weak songs on it. Actually only one since "Total Eclipse" wasn't on the original. But that's it. Something is weak. Or at least that is how I feel. That is why I will "only" rate it as a classic and not a masterpiece. But buy it/listen to it or even listen to it again and let me know if you disagree.

Written by Ulrick
Wednesday, July 10, 2002
Show all reviews by Ulrick

Ratings

Ulrick: 9.5/10

Members: 10/10 - Average of 1 ratings.

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Comments and member reviews

Comment by Saraswati (Anonymous) - Sunday, January 26, 2003

Decent but 22 Acacia avenue ruins the whole thing

Comment by Morten Hansen (Anonymous) - Wednesday, May 07, 2003

Ulrick! I can only say one thing to you about this review - YOU RULE !!!! Up the Irons forever brother. See you the 31th May - EXTRAVAMAIDEN at your place. The Number Of The Beast - Yes 9,5

Comment by Mick Øendal der... (Anonymous) - Thursday, May 22, 2003

What the hell is wrong with you... this album sucks major ass... no just kidding I like this album, it's just that some of the tracks sucks... a tracl like "run to the hill" is not one of my favourite track by maiden at all... and "The Prisoner" is also one of the tracks I dislike on this album... but I guess that's because I have heard it too many times...

Comment by SATANAS INTERIUM (Anonymous) - Sunday, June 15, 2003

PRISIONER IS AN EXCELLENT TRACK Mick Øendal der... AND THE SOLO TAKES ME HIGH AND THE REST OF THE ALBUM THERE ARENT WORDS

Comment by Teei (Anonymous) - Thursday, August 07, 2003

6!

Comment by kris s (Anonymous) - Friday, September 26, 2003

more classic cannot be 9.5/10

Comment by Unknown (Anonymous) - Friday, November 21, 2003

It is about a dream that eddie had... i left alone my mind was blank. i needed time to get the memmories from mind. what did i see. could i beileve that what i saw that night was real and not just fanatasy. just what i saw in my old dreams is a reflection of mind staring back at me. cause in my dreams its always there the evil face the twists my mind and brings me to dispair. TIT

Comment by tah (Anonymous) - Friday, November 21, 2003

666 you stupid dumbass

Comment by shinta (Anonymous) - Saturday, December 06, 2003

the number of the best is the BEST of iron^^.

Comment by SoWhaaat (Anonymous) - Friday, April 09, 2004

The Number of the beast is about the only Maiden song that I found a little catchiness in, along with the "Killers" CD.. thanks God for the Di'Anno era. The run-tooo-the-hiiills buzz could have been written by a six year old kid, as most Maiden choruses. The wiiicker-maaan.. A brave neeew-woooorld.. Please. And Dickinson is such an annoying prick. This band's popularity will always remain existence's biggest mystery. Get Deth, or even Manowar to give them songwriting lessons so they can finally come up with something decent.

Comment by Alex (Anonymous) - Friday, May 07, 2004

Simply the greatest album E V E R made.

Comment by i.Ron S. (Anonymous) - Friday, May 14, 2004

All songs are Great Children of the Damned is magnificent. Bruce Dickinson surely had a hand in this album(they couldn't credit him because he still had a contract somewhere else).

Comment by I Maiden (Anonymous) - Saturday, May 22, 2004

This is their most vital album, 666 is the song of the album, i only wish that the rest of the album was as powerful as 666, (tnotb) Hallowed is long, slow and sluggish (until they speed it up in Live after Death)Run to the Hills is too commercial, and Children and the prisoner lag on Gangland is ok Eclipse rocks and 22 sucks. I have spoken

Comment by Leslie (Anonymous) - Sunday, June 06, 2004

Who the hell are you wimpasses who give Maiden such ratings? 6??? Are you outta your freakin minds!!! 666!!!!!!

Comment by RIKI (Anonymous) - Friday, June 11, 2004

MUY BUENO

Comment by prem (Anonymous) - Sunday, June 13, 2004

though i am just starting to explore into the maiden songs, i can tell u the way i felt abt the greatest masterpieces of heavy metal - HALLOWED BE THY NAME. Starts with a great intro and bruce demonstrates his great vocal ranges.. and what guitar solo in the middle and in the end.. Though i havent even listened to the other songs in the album as half as much as this song.. i would give the album 9/10 for JUST HAVING THIS SONG AS A PART OF THE ALBUM

Comment by THE GREAT AND MIGHTY TSIPPO TSAR WANTS TO SAY SOMETHING. (Anonymous) - Saturday, June 26, 2004

AND NOW MY FELLOW IRON MAIDEN FANATICS, THE GREAT AND MIGHTY, TSIPPO TSAR (APPLAUSE) AHEM, THIS GREAT ALBUM WAS MY INTRODUCTION TO IRON MAIDEN AND WHAT A KICK-ASS ALBUM IT IS I HAVE ONE MORE THING TO SAY, 666-BAD 666 SUCKS ASS LONG LIVE CHRISTIANITY AND MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL! (APPLAUSE) THANK YOU MY FRIENDS AND OH UP THE IRONS!!

Comment by DANIEL WOLF (Anonymous) - Wednesday, July 14, 2004

BEATIFULL

Comment by J Leeson (Anonymous) - Monday, January 10, 2005

when you have a rating available of 666 on an album entitled fuken "THE NUMBER OF THE BEAST" wot rating are u gona giv it? hmm.... 3? no! 8? no! its fuken 666 dumass!!! this album is awesome. at this very moment i am listenin to hallowed be thy name and i feel so enraptured i can hardly fuken type. this album is awesome. run to the hills - the first maidne song i ever heard and now i am a huge fan - i went to see them at the NEC - awesome. wot can i say?.........UP THE IRONS \m/

Comment by Ulrick (Anonymous) - Tuesday, January 11, 2005

@J. Leeson Actually 666 was my first rating, but since its not a demo nor a live album, I decided to give it a rating like any other Maiden album. But i totally agree with you. 666 seems to be the only real rating for this album.

Comment by ashley (Anonymous) - Monday, April 18, 2005

Iron Maiden fucking rule on this album, perfect metal in every way. 'nuff said!!

Comment by amar M (Anonymous) - Monday, June 20, 2005

hi this is amar from nepal i well like to tell u something about yours fren i was carzy about yours band and i well lising yours all songs i dont have any comments about yours band keep in it Thanks

Comment by Alex13 (Anonymous) - Thursday, July 21, 2005

I only like the sound of number of the ebst (song) Lyrics were make catchy on puprpose in order to do what happened. Make this song something like a hymn to satan/metal fans. Other than that, this album is fantastic Run To The Hills is great, and especialy Hallowed by thy name that is my all time favorite maiden song (ok fear of the dark maybe i like litle more)

Comment by Jumblee (Anonymous) - Thursday, July 28, 2005

The Number Of The Beast Pros-Invaders, Children Of The Damned, The Prisoner, The Number Of The Beast, Hallowed Be Thy Name Cons-22 Acacia Avenue, Run To The Hills, Gangland, Total Eclipse 7/10

Comment by Luke (Anonymous) - Tuesday, August 16, 2005

You're right man. But their later stuff sucks, i mean fear of the dark gets very boring. They did'nt have as many strong songs on their later albums, wich means we have lots to skip on those ones. Not this one. Classic maiden masterpiece