THE NUMBER OF THE BEAST

"The Number of the Beast" is a notable album for the band showing off the new vocalist and for many fans it was a favorite. I'll be brief: much of the album has that punkish energy and is able to merge that energy into often infectious grooves, certainly fare for getting those neck-muscles loosened up. But even if I look past Dickinson's oft-silly howling and the sometimes juvenile themes/imagery there is trouble in Beast-town. While the songs possess that important energy most of them ultimately slip into this repetitive, mid-range buzz, which begins to blow the boredom spores in your direction. Add this to the thin-sounding guitars and the less-than-soulful sections and it doesn't grip often enough. There are some cool moments: the title track is a punchy classic and there is a moving solo during "22, Acacia Ave" which has this nasty-good early Rush-like backing part behind it....more moments in this vein would have helped overall. Some of those slower Dio-ish styled fantasy sections are nice as well, a needed break from the "Beast" treadmill pace.

As an aside, hopefully the album has turned on some people to the excellent "The Prisoner" television series from the 1960s. "Number" is decent album, a bit under 3 stars for me, but one that admittedly has a large following who love it.

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