(1982)
Steve, Dave, Bruce, Adrian and Clive.
2. Children of the Dammed (Harris)
3. The Prisoner (Smith/Harris)
4. 22 Acacia Avenue (Harris/Smith)
5. The Number of the Beast (Harris)
6. Run to the Hills (Harris)
7. Gangland (Smith/Burr)
8. Total Eclipse (Smith/Murray/Burr)
9. Hallowed By Thy Name (Harris)
NotB was the first album with Bruce, and it's a bloody masterpiece. It spawned three of Maiden's best ever songs - songs which have virtually been in every setlist since '82; NotB (the song that is) is utter brilliance - great lyrics (Satanists? Fuck off! It's a dream!), stunning solos and Bruce's best vocal performance ever - don't tell me that scream didn't send shivers down your spine the first time you heard it.
Run to the Hills is fucking mental - pure energy, through-and-through. It may sound like pure cheese to some, but fuck 'em, they don't know what they're on about. It's this and Aces High that repaired my voice after the last CuntFace recording!
Then there's Hallowed Be Thy Name, which we'll come to later.
But first...the rest of the album!
Invaders does what it needs to: opening the album with a sharp burst of noise, and Bruce's vocals on the chorus are superb.
Children of the Dammed (based on the '63 UK horror classic) is another haunting song; it's one of Maiden's softer songs...for a while, anyway, until the chorus with Bruce deliviering some fine screaming.
The Priisoner and 22 Acacia Avenue (which is the best of the Charlotte the Harlot series, by the way) stand out as the best of the non-classics (although for my money, they're both better than Run to the Hills, except they don't do what that song does live) on the album. Dave's solo in 22 is beautiful (one of those slow greats, like Powerslave) but it builds into a speedy little bastard as well. The lyrics, about sex for the most part, don't come across as imature or anything like that (as you'd expect a song about a prostiture to come across as). And the chorus in Prisoner is one the most uplifting things you'll ever hear. Great drum intro by Clive as well.
Next up is Gangland, which has the distinction of being the least excellent song on the album (pity, because it, along with the next track, is the only songs co-written by Clive), which seems strange because Clive's intro is great and the cntral riff is good too, as are the vocals.
Lastly, before Hallowed is Total Eclipse, which is a very good song, with a really nice riff.
Now...the last song of NotB, and by fuck, what a song. I'm going to go out on a limb here and proclaim Hallowed Be Thy name as not just the best song on NotB, not just the best album closer ever, not just Maiden's best song...but the best song ever written. Ever. I mean, I'm listening to it right now as I write this (for what is probably like the eighth time today) and I'm telling you this is it. This is fucking metal. This is what music was made for. It starts slow, with some awesome singing by Bruce, and as he holds "running low" it's as if someone's got you by the throat and forcing you to hold that note with him. And then there's both Dave and Adrian rocking together and then the two verse's come in. It ain't just the music which is superior to anything else ever here, it's the words as well. And then you're into the phenomenal instrumental section, a equally phenomenal solo by Adrian and then Bruce screaming his lungs out and once again you're forced to hold that last "Yeah! Hallowed Be Thy Name!" with him, even if it fucking kills you.
And then it's over. This is fucking heavy metal right here folks. Iron Fuckin' Maiden. There you have it. Considering this beast was made waaaaay back in 1982, and it's still one of the best albums ever...and it isnt even Maiden's best album, well...it says something.
And let's not forget Clive Burr. This was his last album with Maiden, and the guy was a fucking brutal rummer. And now, sadly, is suffering from multiple sclerosis. Maiden have set up a trust fund, so please give what you can. Details here. Sorry to end on a somber note, but hey, up the irons and all.