THE NUMBER OF THE BEAST

A landmark album in the history of heavy metal. This album marks the arrival of the famous singer Bruce Dickinson, charactarised by the siren sounding screams he often lets out. I personally prefer the voice of the original singer, but Dickinson is still superior to most metal singers I know. The music in this album is somewhat heavier, helped by Dickinson's more powerful voice. The Number of The Beast features the galloping rhythms, tight songwriting, electric guitar riffs, and catchy choruses. Some of the most well-known Iron Maiden pieces are here, namely Number of the Beast, Run to the Hills, and Hallowed By Thy Name.

The most straightforward songs are Invaders, Gangland . Invaders is a typical Iron Maiden opener, being fast-paced and straightforward. Gangland is another typical fast-paced metal song, making it (as well as the opener) the least interesting songs in the album. 22 Acacia Avenue is longer, but it contains a tempo changing leading to a wonderful performance of double guitars in minute 4. Children of the Damned is similar and almost as good as the phenomenal "Remember Tomorrow" from their debut. Here, Dickinson proves to be an excellent singer, showing a lot of flexibility and power in his vocals. As in "Remember Tomorrow" the vocals and guitar riff of the choruses are extremely memorable. The second half is fast-paced but interesting, with a wonderful and virtuosic guitar solo. The Prisoner is an entertaining long song that unfortunately suffers from being a bit repetitive.

The remaining three songs I haven't mentioned yet are highlights here. The Number of the Beast opens with a nice electric guitar riff and vocals which go in a crescendo until Dickinson lets out a mighty scream that makes your hair stand up. The rest of the song is catchy with hooks on the choruses, making this a very accessible classic. Run to the Hills begins with an unforgettable guitar riff and catchy drum beat. The rest is more catchy music, with a sing-along chorus that sticks in your head for days. Hallowed By Thy Name is usually regarded as Iron Maiden's ultimate achievement. While I disgree, it is still an impressive song that begins with a dark atmosphere with bells and Dickinson's vocals at his best and follows with a display of technical musicianship recalling "Phantom of the Opera" from their debut.

OVerall, this is a good heavy metal album that should appeal to almost anyone interested in the genre. I recommend it, as us proggers sometimes could use of some break from the demanding genre of progressive rock/metal. Number of the Beast does not prog, but it metals!

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