Iron Maiden - Piece of Mind (1983)
Genre - Heavy Metal
The band's previous album The Number of the Beast featured the band's new vocalist Bruce Dickinson. The album was very successful charting number one in the United Kingdom and several other countries. Now known well to the world of music people awaited their next album which would be titled Piece of Mind. Piece of Mind would be the band's first album to feature new drummer Nicko McBrain who has stayed with the band since. Piece of Mind ended up being another successful album release for Iron Maiden charting number two in the United Kingdom, the only reason it was not number one was because Michael Jackson's Thriller held that spot.
Where Eagles Dare - Opening the album right off the start comes new drummer Nicko McBrain who does a cool drum intro, which continues throughout the track. McBrain's drumming is the highlight of this song for certain. Bruce's vocals are great here as well. The guitars here sound melodic but the song itself I feel drags on too long. Where Eagles Dare is a good opening song but Iron Maiden has done better. 7.5/10
Revelations - Playing next is the first work that Bruce Dickinson has contributed to the band as well as one of the few songs he takes full credit for. Revelations is a slower song and at track number two it might remind some folks of Children of the Damned from the band's previous album. Most of the spotlight throughout this song is on Bruce, his vocals deliver well on this track. The song's music has a slow pace while Bruce sings faster during the various bridges. Four minutes into this song Bruce yells and the song picks up again. Revelations contains some enjoyable guitar solos by Dave and Adrian as well as a great harmonic section. Overall, Revelations is a great song and also an Iron Maiden classic. 9.5/10
Flight of Icarus - At this time Piece of Mind was the band's most successful album, so you could expect a couple of hit singles and Flight of Icarus is among one of them. Flight of Icarus is another slow song however it contains a heavier based sound by the standards of Iron Maiden. The guitars on here simple and enjoyable but not the highlight, that would go to Steve Harris' bass playing. The thing that will keep you interested in this song is Bruce's vocals. Flight of Icarus is an okay song and a good one to have been chosen as a single. 8.5/10
Die With Your Boots On - Not the fastest of a song by Iron Maiden, however it does help set the pace for what is to come. Die With Your Boots On has an upbeat feel to it and solos by Dave and Adrian. The solos by them are nothing bad however at the same time they are nothing incredible. Die With Your Boots On is enjoyable. 8/10
The Trooper - Just wow this song has a lot of nice things to be said about it. The Trooper has some faster playing by Iron Maiden and some cool harmonized riffs by Dave and Adrian. Nicko's drumming is just awesome here he plays and never lets down throughout the song. Throughout this song Steve Harris' basslines can be heard very clearly which adds a totally different world to The Trooper. Dave and Adrian both have some great solos here which are arguably the best solos on the album. All in all The Trooper is one of the best songs on the album.10/10
Still Life - Opening the song come the sound of mellow guitars and some soft singing by Bruce. After some more singing by Bruce the song picks up and gets heavier from there. The solos on this song are great, the second solo by Dave Murray is among the most impressive. Still Life is one of Iron Maiden's best songs but it is often neglected. 9.5/10
Quest for Fire - Every band has at least one song that is forgotten and would be classified their worse or one of the worse the have put out. Quest for Fire is that forgotten song for Iron Maiden. The song is not really as bad as people make it out to be in my opinion. The lyrics by Bruce flow well together here and Dave and Adrian have some memorable solos. While not as bad as people have made it out to be it is not going to be winning any awards for best song. 5.5/10
Sun and Steel - Another song that seems to have been forgotten in the band's catalog is Sun and Steel. The chorus is memorable and will have one singing along to it in a matter of seconds. One problem though is the lyrics their-selves have little variety. Another problem would be there are only two verses. The riffs are nice although other than that nothing memorable here. 6/10
To Tame a Land - I will describe this song the same way I describe Hallowed Be Thy Name, To Tame a Land is just epic. The lyrics to this song are exactly based on the science fiction novel Dune. If you are like many people who haven't read the novel like myself you are not going to understand the lyrics much. The music itself however is the best thing about this song. This song is powered by Spanish-influenced sounding riffs, these same riffs build up the epic feeling of the final verse on To Tame a Land. Bruce's vocals fade out right here. Next is now a long instrumental section highlighted by the solos of Dave Murray and Adrian Smith. Piece of Mind ends with an epic song, To Tame a Land is very good. 10/10
Overall - I shouldn't have to tell anyone who is an Iron Maiden fan to get this album ASAP if they do not already own it. This might not be on the level of The Number of the Beast or Powerslave, however Piece of Mind is still very good and needs a listen given.
Genre - Heavy Metal
The band's previous album The Number of the Beast featured the band's new vocalist Bruce Dickinson. The album was very successful charting number one in the United Kingdom and several other countries. Now known well to the world of music people awaited their next album which would be titled Piece of Mind. Piece of Mind would be the band's first album to feature new drummer Nicko McBrain who has stayed with the band since. Piece of Mind ended up being another successful album release for Iron Maiden charting number two in the United Kingdom, the only reason it was not number one was because Michael Jackson's Thriller held that spot.
Where Eagles Dare - Opening the album right off the start comes new drummer Nicko McBrain who does a cool drum intro, which continues throughout the track. McBrain's drumming is the highlight of this song for certain. Bruce's vocals are great here as well. The guitars here sound melodic but the song itself I feel drags on too long. Where Eagles Dare is a good opening song but Iron Maiden has done better. 7.5/10
Revelations - Playing next is the first work that Bruce Dickinson has contributed to the band as well as one of the few songs he takes full credit for. Revelations is a slower song and at track number two it might remind some folks of Children of the Damned from the band's previous album. Most of the spotlight throughout this song is on Bruce, his vocals deliver well on this track. The song's music has a slow pace while Bruce sings faster during the various bridges. Four minutes into this song Bruce yells and the song picks up again. Revelations contains some enjoyable guitar solos by Dave and Adrian as well as a great harmonic section. Overall, Revelations is a great song and also an Iron Maiden classic. 9.5/10
Flight of Icarus - At this time Piece of Mind was the band's most successful album, so you could expect a couple of hit singles and Flight of Icarus is among one of them. Flight of Icarus is another slow song however it contains a heavier based sound by the standards of Iron Maiden. The guitars on here simple and enjoyable but not the highlight, that would go to Steve Harris' bass playing. The thing that will keep you interested in this song is Bruce's vocals. Flight of Icarus is an okay song and a good one to have been chosen as a single. 8.5/10
Die With Your Boots On - Not the fastest of a song by Iron Maiden, however it does help set the pace for what is to come. Die With Your Boots On has an upbeat feel to it and solos by Dave and Adrian. The solos by them are nothing bad however at the same time they are nothing incredible. Die With Your Boots On is enjoyable. 8/10
The Trooper - Just wow this song has a lot of nice things to be said about it. The Trooper has some faster playing by Iron Maiden and some cool harmonized riffs by Dave and Adrian. Nicko's drumming is just awesome here he plays and never lets down throughout the song. Throughout this song Steve Harris' basslines can be heard very clearly which adds a totally different world to The Trooper. Dave and Adrian both have some great solos here which are arguably the best solos on the album. All in all The Trooper is one of the best songs on the album.10/10
Still Life - Opening the song come the sound of mellow guitars and some soft singing by Bruce. After some more singing by Bruce the song picks up and gets heavier from there. The solos on this song are great, the second solo by Dave Murray is among the most impressive. Still Life is one of Iron Maiden's best songs but it is often neglected. 9.5/10
Quest for Fire - Every band has at least one song that is forgotten and would be classified their worse or one of the worse the have put out. Quest for Fire is that forgotten song for Iron Maiden. The song is not really as bad as people make it out to be in my opinion. The lyrics by Bruce flow well together here and Dave and Adrian have some memorable solos. While not as bad as people have made it out to be it is not going to be winning any awards for best song. 5.5/10
Sun and Steel - Another song that seems to have been forgotten in the band's catalog is Sun and Steel. The chorus is memorable and will have one singing along to it in a matter of seconds. One problem though is the lyrics their-selves have little variety. Another problem would be there are only two verses. The riffs are nice although other than that nothing memorable here. 6/10
To Tame a Land - I will describe this song the same way I describe Hallowed Be Thy Name, To Tame a Land is just epic. The lyrics to this song are exactly based on the science fiction novel Dune. If you are like many people who haven't read the novel like myself you are not going to understand the lyrics much. The music itself however is the best thing about this song. This song is powered by Spanish-influenced sounding riffs, these same riffs build up the epic feeling of the final verse on To Tame a Land. Bruce's vocals fade out right here. Next is now a long instrumental section highlighted by the solos of Dave Murray and Adrian Smith. Piece of Mind ends with an epic song, To Tame a Land is very good. 10/10
Overall - I shouldn't have to tell anyone who is an Iron Maiden fan to get this album ASAP if they do not already own it. This might not be on the level of The Number of the Beast or Powerslave, however Piece of Mind is still very good and needs a listen given.