Iron Maiden - The Number of the Beast (1982)
Genre - Heavy Metal
The Number of the Beast was the third studio album by Iron Maiden and was released on March 29, 1982. This was Iron Maiden's first album with vocalist Bruce Dickinson.
Invaders - Opening for the album is a song titled Invaders and it opens up with some pretty kick ass bass notes, which is followed by a riff. This song is obviously about what else um... Invaders. Bruce Dickinson does an awesome job with the chorus which Paul Di'anno wouldn't, because he could not reach the high notes that Bruce can. There is a solo in the middle of this song which by the way sounds awesome. The only thing keeping this song from a 10/10 rating is that it is the shortest song on the album. 8/10
Children of the Damned - Opening with an eerie acoustic riff is Children of the Damned. The rest of the instruments kick in soon as well as the vocals. This song doesn't really sound a lot like Iron Maiden until about midway through. It sounds a bit like Led Zeppelin actually. Once again the chorus shows Bruce's awesome vocal skills with his CHILDREN OF THE DAMNED!!! singing. After the second chorus the band gets into gear and now, it sounds like Maiden. There is a guitar solo on this song that is good but not as great as the others on the album. After some more guitar and drum playing, Bruce lets out a scream that sounds amazing. Bruce is a damn good vocalist and is one of the reasons Iron Maiden is so damn awesome. 10/10
The Prisoner - I AM NOT A NUMBER I AM A FREE MAN! A rather cool opening from a TV Show kicks off The Prisoner. The actually song opens up with some cool instrumental playing I mean the guitars and the drums sound like their in a fight to the death. The guitar matches the lyrics of this song which should be obvious what they are about. The pre-chorus has a pretty amazing bass line by Steve Harris. The chorus comes to a head with the drums, guitars, and bass. The bridge has a weird violin like sound to it. Now finally we have the solo to this song with sounds a lot like an Angus Young solo from AC/DC. All in all this song is pure Maiden. 9/10
22 Acacia Avenue - 22 Acacia Avenue opens with a simple guitar part that anyone should be able to learn rather easily. Nothing wrong with keeping it simple though is there. After a while a sweet riff kicks in with both guitars. Now back to the verse we are. Now we are back to a guitar riff and have some serious Bruce screaming. There is some unique drum work as it has a jazz like pattern to it. The lyrics to this song deal with meeting a prostitute that this person knows who is on 22 Acacia Avenue. The bridge changes up from what was before, now the point of view is on the things that you will do to her. 22 Acacia Avenue is a prime example of how a song can sound very good when the vocals match the instruments perfect. The solo here is pretty damn awesome and shows a solo does not have to be fast to be good. Another solo soon follows up after some more vocals by Bruce. There is a cool bass line during this solo. In total 22 Acacia Avenue is a damn good song. 10/10
The Number of the Beast - ... And now here we are at the album title track and it delivers. This is one of two songs that people who have not heard this album should know. The song is about Revelation in the Bible to those we are interested in knowing. A pure awesome rocking riff blends in well with the dark lyrics that this song has. Pretty soon in this song Bruce lets out a 20 second long scream, in other words purely amazing. The song picks up speed with the instruments and the chorus has a cool bass line too. The first chorus to this song just sounds amazing, and the second one sounds just as good too. I mean come on how can anyone not like the screaming SIX!, SIX!, SIX!? The Number of the Beast is not only one Iron Maiden's best but also one of the best in Metal period. 10/10
Run to the Hills - Here is the other song everyone knows. The lyrics here deal with the Native Americans view of people from Europe who came into the new world and took what they had for their own gain. The first thing noticeable about this song is the cool drum intro. An awesome riff matches the drums and Bruce's vocals here too. Going into the cut time we have some awesome fast drumming and a cool bass line. Next we have a simple chorus which contains two great drum fills. The solo to this song might be the best on the album I mean just listen to it and be wowed in amazement. There is even an awesome bass line in the solo with adds to this song greatly. The bridge is cool again with another cool bass line. The end of the song has a Bruce highlight with an awesome scream. While many consider this an amazing song, it gets boring after a while. 6.5/10
Gangland - In my opinion this has to be the weakest song on the album. The intro starts off great and gets the listener get ready for an awesome song. Now just what happens where is the awesome song? The guitar work here is rather poor and does not match the drums. The verse sounds a bit like Invaders but it is good. The chorus is average, and the bridge is to familiar like the rest of the song. There is a good scream in the third chorus which seems to save this song. The first solo is good but not great, and the second solo is better because it has more shredding. There is a mini solo before the song ends. Gangland would be better if it was less repetitive and cut down shorter. 6/10
Hallowed Be Thy Name - In the 80s it was almost an unwritten rule that a band most have at least one power ballad. This is Maiden's and it is actually good and does not sound a bit cheesy. This song has some powerful lyrics about a man in his final hour. The intro starts off with a creepy guitar that sounds interesting and unusual. The drums kick in with the main riff being played by the second guitar. The song gets faster but it still keeps the dark mood. After the break there is a verse with just awesome guitar and cool drum fills. Now we have an awesome and unusual sounding solo that has some pretty insane finger tapping. Then it goes back to the fast riff. By this point of this song I really don't think it can be called a power ballad, although the first four minutes could make that statement. Hallowed Be Thy Name is an excellent closing song to an excellent album. 10/10
Overall - This album is often hailed as a Heavy Metal classic, and it's kinda hard not to agree. Iron Maiden is a great band each member is pretty damn good on their instrument. The band also kept a hardcore image too which is a nice plus. Iron Maiden is a damn good Metal band and this is one of their best albums, if not their best. Any casual Hard Rock or Heavy Metal listener should easily fall in love with this album.
Genre - Heavy Metal
The Number of the Beast was the third studio album by Iron Maiden and was released on March 29, 1982. This was Iron Maiden's first album with vocalist Bruce Dickinson.
Invaders - Opening for the album is a song titled Invaders and it opens up with some pretty kick ass bass notes, which is followed by a riff. This song is obviously about what else um... Invaders. Bruce Dickinson does an awesome job with the chorus which Paul Di'anno wouldn't, because he could not reach the high notes that Bruce can. There is a solo in the middle of this song which by the way sounds awesome. The only thing keeping this song from a 10/10 rating is that it is the shortest song on the album. 8/10
Children of the Damned - Opening with an eerie acoustic riff is Children of the Damned. The rest of the instruments kick in soon as well as the vocals. This song doesn't really sound a lot like Iron Maiden until about midway through. It sounds a bit like Led Zeppelin actually. Once again the chorus shows Bruce's awesome vocal skills with his CHILDREN OF THE DAMNED!!! singing. After the second chorus the band gets into gear and now, it sounds like Maiden. There is a guitar solo on this song that is good but not as great as the others on the album. After some more guitar and drum playing, Bruce lets out a scream that sounds amazing. Bruce is a damn good vocalist and is one of the reasons Iron Maiden is so damn awesome. 10/10
The Prisoner - I AM NOT A NUMBER I AM A FREE MAN! A rather cool opening from a TV Show kicks off The Prisoner. The actually song opens up with some cool instrumental playing I mean the guitars and the drums sound like their in a fight to the death. The guitar matches the lyrics of this song which should be obvious what they are about. The pre-chorus has a pretty amazing bass line by Steve Harris. The chorus comes to a head with the drums, guitars, and bass. The bridge has a weird violin like sound to it. Now finally we have the solo to this song with sounds a lot like an Angus Young solo from AC/DC. All in all this song is pure Maiden. 9/10
22 Acacia Avenue - 22 Acacia Avenue opens with a simple guitar part that anyone should be able to learn rather easily. Nothing wrong with keeping it simple though is there. After a while a sweet riff kicks in with both guitars. Now back to the verse we are. Now we are back to a guitar riff and have some serious Bruce screaming. There is some unique drum work as it has a jazz like pattern to it. The lyrics to this song deal with meeting a prostitute that this person knows who is on 22 Acacia Avenue. The bridge changes up from what was before, now the point of view is on the things that you will do to her. 22 Acacia Avenue is a prime example of how a song can sound very good when the vocals match the instruments perfect. The solo here is pretty damn awesome and shows a solo does not have to be fast to be good. Another solo soon follows up after some more vocals by Bruce. There is a cool bass line during this solo. In total 22 Acacia Avenue is a damn good song. 10/10
The Number of the Beast - ... And now here we are at the album title track and it delivers. This is one of two songs that people who have not heard this album should know. The song is about Revelation in the Bible to those we are interested in knowing. A pure awesome rocking riff blends in well with the dark lyrics that this song has. Pretty soon in this song Bruce lets out a 20 second long scream, in other words purely amazing. The song picks up speed with the instruments and the chorus has a cool bass line too. The first chorus to this song just sounds amazing, and the second one sounds just as good too. I mean come on how can anyone not like the screaming SIX!, SIX!, SIX!? The Number of the Beast is not only one Iron Maiden's best but also one of the best in Metal period. 10/10
Run to the Hills - Here is the other song everyone knows. The lyrics here deal with the Native Americans view of people from Europe who came into the new world and took what they had for their own gain. The first thing noticeable about this song is the cool drum intro. An awesome riff matches the drums and Bruce's vocals here too. Going into the cut time we have some awesome fast drumming and a cool bass line. Next we have a simple chorus which contains two great drum fills. The solo to this song might be the best on the album I mean just listen to it and be wowed in amazement. There is even an awesome bass line in the solo with adds to this song greatly. The bridge is cool again with another cool bass line. The end of the song has a Bruce highlight with an awesome scream. While many consider this an amazing song, it gets boring after a while. 6.5/10
Gangland - In my opinion this has to be the weakest song on the album. The intro starts off great and gets the listener get ready for an awesome song. Now just what happens where is the awesome song? The guitar work here is rather poor and does not match the drums. The verse sounds a bit like Invaders but it is good. The chorus is average, and the bridge is to familiar like the rest of the song. There is a good scream in the third chorus which seems to save this song. The first solo is good but not great, and the second solo is better because it has more shredding. There is a mini solo before the song ends. Gangland would be better if it was less repetitive and cut down shorter. 6/10
Hallowed Be Thy Name - In the 80s it was almost an unwritten rule that a band most have at least one power ballad. This is Maiden's and it is actually good and does not sound a bit cheesy. This song has some powerful lyrics about a man in his final hour. The intro starts off with a creepy guitar that sounds interesting and unusual. The drums kick in with the main riff being played by the second guitar. The song gets faster but it still keeps the dark mood. After the break there is a verse with just awesome guitar and cool drum fills. Now we have an awesome and unusual sounding solo that has some pretty insane finger tapping. Then it goes back to the fast riff. By this point of this song I really don't think it can be called a power ballad, although the first four minutes could make that statement. Hallowed Be Thy Name is an excellent closing song to an excellent album. 10/10
Overall - This album is often hailed as a Heavy Metal classic, and it's kinda hard not to agree. Iron Maiden is a great band each member is pretty damn good on their instrument. The band also kept a hardcore image too which is a nice plus. Iron Maiden is a damn good Metal band and this is one of their best albums, if not their best. Any casual Hard Rock or Heavy Metal listener should easily fall in love with this album.
