IRON MAIDEN

After the band had gained a fair bit of fame and had released their very fast selling EP The Soundhouse Tapes, the band had finally released their self titled debut after they first formed in 1975 and went through a few line up changes. The line up on this album consisted of Paul Di'Anno on vocals, Dave Murray and Dennis Stratton both on guitar, Steve Harris on bass and Clive Burr on the drums and a solid line up it was indeed for this album. The album cover itself is very evocative and just screams New Wave Of British Heavy Metal right at you.

The album is a bit inconsistent musically, but that isn't usually anything out of the ordinary for many band's debut albums. The album kicks off with Prowler, which is kinda catchy and has a cool tempo increase at 1:46, with an unfortunately somewhat sloppy guitar solo, which I'm guessing was Dave Murray as live performances around that time often show him bending out of tune. Even if the effect was intentional, which I hope it wasn't, it just sounds a bit off and unpleasant to the ears. Sanctuary is a pretty straight forward metal song, and like many of the songs off this album you can hear a punk influence going on. The next song, Remember Tomorrow is definitely one the more interesting songs on the album, featuring some of Maiden's progressive influences in the song writing. Excellent song, with great vocals and the rest of the band in shining form. Up next, is a pretty average and uninspiring track, Running Free.

But what comes next, is anything but uninspiring. Phantom Of The Opera. The opening riff is really cool and from there onwards, the track gathers steam, and the song feels much shorter than the 7 minute+ track length. There is a seriously cool harmony part after the 6/8 section, featuring all stringed instrument wielding guys playing a melody in the same rhythm. After that section is over, we get to hear what would become a signature sound for Iron Maiden. Yes, the galloping rhythm section just after the 4:30, and then onto a cool instrumental section which features some 2 great solos from Murray and Stratton. After following a fairly non linear path throughout, the band finally comes back to the B (second) section of the song form. An amazing song, with a cool progressive song writing path.

has loads of beautiful atmosphere and some very nice guitar work and oddly very touching vocals from Di'Anno, a stunning ballad-ish type song

Transylvania is the instrumental track on the album, with a slight progressive edge to it. Many cool guitar solos, nice emotive riffs and very well paced, never dull, never uninspiring, just very well executed.

Those 3 songs are definitely my favorite songs off the album and the most progressive, and to me are the sounds of proto-prog metal in action.

Charlotte The Harlot is another pretty straight forward song, although I really do like the calm section that beings towards the middle of the song, which has some really nice vocals and guitar parts.

I remember the first time I heard Iron Maiden and just being disappointed, because I was hoping the track that shared the name with the band would be something truly special, but it wasn't. It's kinda catchy and a good rocker, with a cool instrumental part, but otherwise just a fairly average song.

The production of the album is a little weak, somewhat thin, and although in a way I feel it suits the feel of the album, it could have benefited from a little more strength in the overall sound.

While the song writing was hit and miss, there is no denying the influence this album had, it's place in heavy metal history and the heart's of prog metal fans/rockers and metal fans alike.