Best of the Beast is the best

The 2 cd Best of the Beast is awesome. With this one 2 cd set, this is the only Iron maiden cd you'll need.

Unbelievable

Iron Maiden, for those who don't know, are the best British metal band ever! Steve Harris, the bass player and songwriter, is one of the most unbelievable musicians I have ever heard. The driving bass that plays as fast as the guitars (there are three now, Adrian Smith, Dave Murray, and Janick Gers), and the ripping guitar solos, along with the amazing voice of Bruce Dickinson, combined with Nicko McBrain's crazy drumming style make one hell of a memorable compilation. While lifelong Maiden fans may say that some of the songs should not have been put on this cd, I think it shows the different things the band has tried. While 34 tracks may be a bit much for the part-time metal head, songs like "Rime Of The Ancient Mariner" (which they do as well live as the recording) show why Maiden has lasted this long. If you own all of Maiden's other cds, WHY DON'T YOU OWN THIS ONE? It has tracks that don't appear anywhere else. For those of you who own no Maiden albums, this is one hell of a good start. Maiden is the best metal band still in existance, and it is my humble opinion that they could kick Metallica's [behind] (in music AND soccer) any day.

Very messy... but I rate this 5 stars anyway.

A very good introduction to the classic heavy metal band indeed, but I have a few complains, a major complain: This album is too messy. My first complain is: Why in all reasons in the world 'Virus' is the opening track of Maidens' greatest hits?! Don't get me wrong, 'Virus' is an excellent, creative song, and I also understand that it's a brand new song which only appears on 'Best Of The Beast', so maybe because of that they wanted to put it as the opening track, but come on, 'Virus' is too slow and too dark to open the album, and besides I'm sure all fans would be happier if any song by Bruce was the opening track and not the too slow-sung by Blaze 'Virus'.

Ok, when 'Virus' ends, 'Sign Of The Cross' is pumping up. Another bad way for the second track. 'Sign of The Cross' is another dark-sung-by-Blaze-song, and also Maiden's second longest song ever, so after the kinda dark and long 'Virus', it is obvious that a fast classic Maiden song should pump up. But no. We get 'Sign Of The Cross', but it's a good song anyway.

Ok, when 'SOTC' ends, 'Man On The Edge' is pumping up. Finally a fast song... but why is it on Maiden's greatest hits anyway?
Good fun song indeed but not a classic Maiden song in any way.

A few more complains: where is 'Infinite Dreams', or 'Children Of The Damned', or 'Invaders', or 'Killers', or 'The Prisoner, etc? Instead of unnecessary songs like 'SOTC' or 'Man on...' (they should've been selected one of these 2 songs) or 'Holy Smoke' which vocally, is Bruce's worst song ever, which is a shame, or 'Heaven Can Wait' which is unnecessary too, instead of this song for exampe they could've been put other song from "Somewhere In Time", like 'Stranger In A Strange Land'. I just don't understand the silly arrangement and why some unnecessary songs was selected to Maiden's greatest hits too. I just don't understand it.

...But, after all it's contains 2 cd's of Maidens' greatest hits, classic metal songs which will forever remain classic. And if someone is really interested in Maiden songs from all periods, he really should get this album, because it contains most prominent songs of Maiden through all years of Maiden's existance 'til 1996. Let's leave the bad things behind, 5 stars anyway. UP THE IRONS!