4.5 stars - Life before Dickinson

Iron Maiden (1980.) Iron Maiden's first album.

In 1979, the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal took England by storm. Hundreds of hard-rocking bands emerged overnight, and every one of them was excellent. Unfortunately, very few of these bands found success in their music, and an even smaller number of them found success outside their native United Kingdom. Iron Maiden is a rare example of one of the genre's bands that achieved worldwide success. Through the course of the mid and late seventies, Iron Maiden had a number of line-up changes. They had recorded a demo collection and several tracks for compilations. Finally, come 1980 and the band was ready to release it's first full-length LP. With vocalist Paul Di'Anno, guitarists Dave Murray and Dennis Strattion, drummer Clive Burr, and bassist Steve Harris, their debut was recorded. How does their 1980 self-titled debut, recorded before legendary metal vocalist Bruce Dickinson joined the band, measure up? Read on and find out.

The first thing I need to state about this album is that it is NOTHING like the material that the band recorded with their most famous vocalist, Bruce Dickinson. The Di'Anno era of the band differs from those days drastically, but that doesn't mean the musical quality from this era was any worse. One of the band's finest early songs, Prowler, kicks off the album. Fast-paced punk-metal rock never sounded better, and the rather comical lyrics only add to the experience. Remember Tomorrow comes next. It slows things way down in the verses, but the chorus is the kind of hard and heavy stuff you'd expect from Maiden. The instrumental interlude between the second and third verses is particuarly memorable. Next comes the classic mid-paced hard rocker Running Free. I think this song is overrated by a lot of Maiden fans, but I remain confident that it IS a good song. It was also released as a single. The best track of all, Phantom Of The Opera, comes next. This is a lengthy and heavy epic, which served as a premonition to what was to come for Iron Maiden in their future days with Bruce Dickinson at the helm. The guitar solo is particuarly excellent. Following that, we get the classic metal instrumental Transylvania. Although not my personal favorite instrumental that the band has ever recorded, it's solid nonetheless. It fades right into the ultra slow and melodic cut Strange World. This song is VERY different than what you're used to hearing from Maiden, but it's actually a very good song. Charlotte The Harlot, the next track, is the most punk-sounding thing on the album, and this serves the band well. The lyrics here are some of the band's most memorable of all. Closing out the album is the song Iron Maiden on the album Iron Maiden by the band Iron Maiden. That doesn't happen too often! This track is a bit repetitive as far as the lyrics go, but that doesn't keep it from being excellent. And this is the best version ever recorded, period (Dickinson never could do this one right.) In the end, the band's debut album is a damn fine punk-metal hybrid that is worth listening to.

THE TEXT IN THIS PARAGRAPH REFERS EXCLUSIVELY TO THE 2002 STANDARD REMASTERED SERIES OF THE BAND'S ALBUMS. As a die-hard Maiden fan, I AM SEVERELY DISAPPOINTED WITH THESE REISSUES. Sure, the sound quality is improved over the original CD issues and there is some cool enhanced CD footage (all the remasters before the X Factor have this), but this reissue is lacking the most important thing a remaster needs - BONUS TRACKS. We get one bonus cut (Sanctuary), but that just isn't enough. The total play time is about forty-five minutes, and you can fit eighty minutes on a CD. There were a plethora of rare tracks from this era that have never before been issued by the band (except for in the restrictively expensive box set. These rarities include demos, compilation tracks, B-Sides, interviews, BBC session tracks, and others.) Another problem is the alterations of the covers of some albums. The band's debut album has had two alterations - Eddie's eyes now glow, and the band's name has been removed from the top of the album cover. Likewise, the No Prayer For The Dying album cover completely removes the grave robber that Eddie was strangling! And don't get me started on the slipcases. Sure, they look cool, but it's a pain to take them off and put them back on every time you listen to the album. To put it simply, if you already own earlier issues of these albums on CD, it's really not necessary to get the new remasters.

Iron Maiden's debut album was the start of something great. They hadn't yet found the sound that would bring them worldwide success, but their sound was still nothing short of excellent. If you're new to Maiden, take my advice and start with The Number Of The Beast, and stick to buying the albums with Dickinson on vocals. Even though this is a great album, I recommend the Di'Anno and Bayley albums to true fans only, as they don't really capture the band in its prime. Put simply, this is a great album, it's just not a great album to start with.

A Must-have for any self-respectful metalhead

I listened this album after listening some albums from the metal gods, Iron Maiden. When I listened this album first time I was enchanted, even when I found kinda weird the new vocalist (all of the albums I heard before this was in the Dickinson era) Iron Maiden is a very focused and talented effort made by such young musicians that by them they showed a very big maturity since their first release, something very rare to find in the rock scene even nowadays. Iron Maiden's self-tittled album is powerful, raw, headbanging inducing, sometimes sound a little bit punky but definitely years light above punk rock. I've lost and bought this album 3 times (which means that it must be very good and essential if I spend the money again for hearing songs I know by heart) Since the begginning of the album to the ending ALL the tracks are amazing, and you can appreciate it better if you listen it in the order that it has (that means without shuffling) The first track prowler is a very hard and rythmic rocker, with GREAT guitar sound that you can almost touch it, the solos, everything seems to make a conspiration for keeping you hearing it. Then comes Sanctuary which is basically a punk-metal rock song and one of my favorites specially live, then comes the more mellow, and melodic remember tomorrow which in some point rocks hard but basically is a melodic song which evokes a lot of nostalgia to me. Running free is a very catchy song, with a very nice drums intro. Phantom of the opera is the most elaborate of the songs, very ambitious, complex, that's up to me the song that shows the superiority of Iron Maiden above all the other debuting bands of their time, a band that can make such a delicious masterpiece in their first effort is something really extraordinary. Not many bands make a 7 minutes epic song in their first recording and do it so... well done as Iron Maiden, and believe me Phantom of the Opera is not a boring song, and has no fillers all the parts of that song are essential part of it. After that comes Transylvania, a shocking instrumental that shows again the prodigiousity of Iron Maiden, since their first stages. Transylvania fuses with the slow and sometimes Pink-Floydesque(?) Strange World creating up to me the most spiritual momentum of the album. Then comes Charlotte the Harlot, with very good lyrics, that talk about a subject that will be always vigent, prostitution. Charlotte is a very hard rocker that in some part becomes a little bluesy. And the closure is by the energetic Iron Maiden, which leaves you with the feeling of waking from a dream or something, definitely a very smart way of finishing an album. All of the songs of this album kick-ass, and they can be heared separately or between a various artist heavy metal set of songs, but I recommend you that someday take the time and hear it completely and in order, trust me you won't repent.

Warning: This album is not recommended for hip-hoppers, casual Iron Maiden fans, NU-Metal posers, Poppers, etc.

A scorching debut from pre-Dickinson Maiden

In 1975, bassist Steve Harris founded Iron Maiden and for the next five years with a revolving door of musicians, he struggled to get a record contract for his band. That happened in 1980 with the release of the band's self-titled debut.



I first got into Iron Maiden because of their albums "Powerslave" and "Somewhere in Time," so it was a bit of a throwback for me when listening to this album. It's roughly produced (and not by long-time producer Martin Birch... he would come aboard with their next album, "Killers") and it's largely punk-metal influence was vastly different from the more epic future albums. Also, Bruce Dickinson was not on board yet as lead singer, so hearing Paul Di'Anno's raspy and melodic vocals was definitely alien sounding at first. However, upon further listening, I became enthralled with their debut, especially with their Thin Lizzy, Deep Purple, and Rush influences that seem to dominate on the record. If anything, it is the band's birth, and even greater records would follow.



The album's opener, Prowler, is a galloping rocker about prowling for women (one of the songs that would make Maiden sound sexist in their early years) at night. This one's one of the more punk influenced tracks on the disc and also one of my top favorites. The next one, Sanctuary, is a fast track that Maiden STILL plays live. My personal favorite on here is the next track, Remember Tomorrow. A gloomy, melodic song that starts off melancholy but interludes into a midpaced rocker. Paul's vocals on this track really surprised me on how good he really is and I was also enthralled by the obvious Thin Lizzy and Rush influences heard throughout the song (it also sounds vaguely like Rime of the Ancient Mariner from "Powerslave"). The fourth track is the ever-popular Running Free. This one's just a good ol' fashioned hard rocker with an infectious chorus; you're guaranteed to walk away from the disc and still hear "I'm running free YEAH" in your head afterwards. Phantom of the Opera is my second favorite and also the longest track on the disc. Galloping guitarwork and fast solos make this one a fan favorite. This is the closest to sounding like later Maiden on the entire disc. Transylvania is an instrumental piece that's awesome, and so is the next track Strange World, a gloom-and-doom ballad with Paul in top form. Charlotte the Harlot (the only song guitarist Dave Murray wrote by himself) is the first of many songs about a prostitute. The final track is the infamous title track that's heavy and tightly structured.



Overall, being the Iron Maiden fan that I am, this is an excellent example of classic New Wave of British Heavy Metal rock. I found myself thrown back when I first listened to it, having been thoroughly enjoying Bruce Dickinson's years (and current) in Maiden. However, I eventually did find this one to be a strong debut for them, and even if you don't like the rough-punk edge of their beginnings, at least give it a listen for curiousity's sake. Maiden's debut is a 5-star effort, and they would only get better as both time and the entrances of guitarist Adrian Smith and vocalist Bruce Dickinson would come along.

Awesome Debut

After years of line-up changing and a change or two in the band name, Iron Maiden went into the studio to record their debut album. Released in 1980, their self-titled debut CD started them on the road to success and legendary status as one of the pioneers of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal.

This album has a raw edge that is not seen on their later releases (maybe No Prayer For The Dying) and that makes it all the more better. With a more punk feel than the straight-forward metal they would come to write and record, this album is a classic and a great start for the band. Guitarist Dave Murray and Dennis Stratton deliver the songs wonderfully with the usual power chords and harmonic leads. Paul Di'Anno takes his spot before the microphone and belts out all the Maiden classics. While not being as powerful as Dickinson, Di'Anno is a great singer and his vocals mix well with the music. Steve Harris, yet again, has his way of making the bass heard and plays with the intensity that he has come to be known for. Behind the drums is Clive Burr, playing simple, solid and catchy beats that suit the raw power of each song.

The album begins with Prowler which is a really catchy song with some great guitar. Di'Anno's vocals are great on this song and Burr's drumming is wonderful. Sanctuary is a faster, more guitar driven track. Its got a punk feel with great rhythm and an awesome solo. Remember Tomorrow starts off slow and develops into a rocker. The vocals are great and the guitars are superb. Simply a classic song. Running Free is another awesome song because of the feel of the song. Each of the instruments are played incredibly well and the vocals are catchy. Phantom Of The Opera is another upbeat song, like Sanctuary. The guitar is great, the the overbearing presence of the bass midway through the track is amazing and the drumming is excellent. Transylvania is a fast-paced, guitar driven instrumental. The song is excellent with fast guitars and a well played rhythm. Strange World is a step away from the sound of the rest of the album and it soft and quiet straight through. Di'Anno's vocals shine and the solo is masterful. Charlotte The Harlot is punk-type song with a love-type theme. The song is fairly fast-paced until the song slows down and the guitar is more classical with the bass popping in and out. Incredible song. The last song, Iron Maiden, is a great closing song. Awesome guitars and bass with an extremely catchy chorus.

Iron Maiden's self-titled debut started their slow rise to the top, but they didn't really get started until Bruce Dickinson joined the band. But this is definitely an incredible start. Iron Maiden fans would be pleased and fans of punk-rock may like this as well. Its definitely something to check out.

Classic

The birth of Iron Maiden. If you are a Maiden fan this is great to hear. Tis the birth of a great "Metal Band"

Great Multimedia CD!

This is my first Maiden enhanced CD. Unbelievable extras!! The multimedia studio did a top notch job. The menu system and layout are extremely well done and the graphics are everything you'd expect from a Maiden production. Derek Riggs would be proud!

I particularly enjoyed the video clips, though the resolution was a little low. Phantom has always been a personal favorite.

I also really appreciated that they included everything you need to view the multimedia portion of the disk, right on the disk. I only have dial-up access so it's painful when you have to wait a while to see something because the download takes forever.

Otherwise all the audio trimmings you'd expect from the original Iron Maiden album.

My only complaint, and thus the 4 stars instead of 5, is my old Sony Discman refuses to recognize this as an audio CD. So I can't listen to it outside of my computer. I haven't experimented further with that yet to see if it's the disk or my player, but I would guess it's my player. It's only 7 years old...

more punk than metal

ok..i know one of the best metal bands ever, but i hate metal.in the words of jello biafra"The music's OK when there's more ideas than solos".This is a pretty good cd prowler definitly being the best song on the disk by far.i bought this cuz i heared it was raw and its not terriable, go listen to some dead kennedys, bad religion or anti-flag though loud,fast, and not a lot of solos.

So long for Dennis Stratton....

This debut by Maiden is simply fantastic. Energetic, a little bit punk, heavy, coming from the heart. The lyrics were to improve dramatically in their posterior albums, because here they are extremely silly.
This was the last album by Maiden featuring guitarrist Dennis Stratton. Because he was just a little bit older than the other guys, and because he listened to a lot of different musical styles other than metal, Dennis usually prefered to travel in the bus that carried the KISS road crew, when Maiden toured with Kiss along Europe, in 1980. THe boss Steve Harris did not like it, and that was the last straw for him: Dennis was fired and lost an once in a lifetime opportunity for glory and fortune...

In came Dave Murray's old pal, Adrian Smith, and the rest is history...

this is meant to be a great debut album????

People say this band transcended the sound of metal with this album. Where as anyone who knows music knows that REAL metal did't come around until the 90s when bands like Korn and Limp Bizcuit emerged. This is just crap. This guy Harris or whatever the hell his name is can't play the bass to save his life, and these "guitar players" are just posers. (...)