Iron Maiden - Number of the Beast
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Free Music Notes for Number of the Beast
Free Music Review: Groundbreaking
Hit: 5 Stars
Forget about the fact that in the United States the band has rarely received any airplay on commercial radio. 21 years after its initial release, this album holds up as being one of the best rock albums (not just metal) of all time.When this album came out in 1982, it quickly outsold the previous two Iron Maiden albums and confirmed that band leader, bassist Steve Harris & Iron Maiden had made the right choice in naming Bruce Dickinson as their new lead singer.
While many of Iron Maiden's albums are very good, if you can have only ONE Iron Maiden album, this should be it.
Producer Martin Birch has crafted a studio album that from beginning to end is flawless.
Invaders, which kicks off the album with its thunderous riffs, will have you snapping your neck and running for your guitar to try and play along. Children of the Damned is deceptively mellow at the beginning before speeding up and concluding with a wallop.
The Prisoner (based upon the 60's TV cult classic starring Patrick McGoohan) is a tremendous effort and a nod against conformity. 22 Acacia Avenue is the continuing saga of Charlotte the Harlot from the first Maiden album and features simple chords that wail.
The title track, which was supposed to be intro'd by Vincent Price (he was unavailable), to even the Maiden uninitiated is one of the best known of all the metal anthems. Dickinson's screams of six-six-six, the number of the beast, hell and fire conjure up the images seen on the cover artwork. With the following track, Run to the Hills, Maiden wrote a song that should have received a lot of US radio airplay but didn't. Never the less it is probably the most sing-along-able and memorable song on the album.
Gangland with its heavy drums rolls, is an underated, interesting song for two reasons; One, it is the only song drummer Clive Burr ever wrote for the band. Two, it has rarely been performed live. Total Eclipse which was originally a b-side has been added to this CD and is solid contender. The final track, Hallowed Be Thy Name is a mini-epic that features the dueling guitars of Dave Murray and Adrian Smith.
There are very few albums that TRULY deserve a five star rating. Number of the Beast is lyrically superior to others of the genre and musically brilliant. If you do not own this album, you are missing out on a classic that you should end up re-playing for many years to come. Hopefully it will start you on the road to Maiden fanaticism.
Free Music Review: The Number of the Beast
Hit: 5 Stars
Iron Maiden started off their recording career with the album Iron Maiden, followed by Killers. A man by the name of Paul Di'Anno sang on both of these albums. These two albums had both rock and punk influences. While The Number of the Beast has those two influences, it also goes to a new level of progressive metal while taking on new vocalist Bruce Dickinson. This is thought of as the beginning of Maiden's best line-up of albums, ending with Seventh Son of a Seventh Son.
Track Listings with Ratings:
1. Invaders - The album starts off with a very "Spinal Tap" type of song. This song is a straight-foward rocker. 4 stars.
2. Children of the Damned - This is one of the "epic" feeling songs on this album. Starts slow, then speeds up. 5 stars.
3. The Prisoner - This song is another rocker, but with more feeling, more aggression, more depth, and a great intro from the movie with the same name. 4 stars.
4. 22 Acacia Avenue - There's a neat breakdown towards the middle of this song that makes it all worth it. This song is about a prostitution home and all of the twisted ideals that go along with it. 5 stars.
5. The Number of the Beast - Of course the song with the most controversy. It's about a man witnessing a satanic ritual, not condoning it, but rather pushing it to the side to show how strange and inappropriate such acts are. 5 stars.
6. Run to the Hills - Probably the song that drug me into listening to Maiden, and into picking this CD up to start off my Maiden collection. On a side note, this probably is the best CD to start off listening to Maiden with. Anyways, this song is another song with a "Spinal Tap" feel to it. Very great chorus vocals by our very own, Bruce Dickinson. 5 Stars.
7. Gangland - Not a very interesting song, just doesn't do much for me. The drum part is fantastic, but that's about it. 2 Stars.
8. Total Eclipse - Has a neat riff in it, but also, one of the stinkers on this album, just not much to this song. Still, better than Gangland. 3 stars.
9. Hallowed by thy Name - The best song off of the album. Has a very epic feel to it, and you really do "feel" the song. Definately worth picking up the entire album for alone. If you aren't interested in this entire album, do yourself a favor, get this song.
So all in all, a great album. The great songs definately outweigh the stinkers. Pick up this album and enjoy!
Free Music Review: All time classic
Hit: 5 Stars
When I first listened to this album it was like opening the book of Revelations...and still is. Many people argue that "Invaders" is not a great song, and maybe it's true, but it hits you like a brick wall and its just the begining of a sensational album. The five (5) following tracks are ALL band favourites on their own and have been played live alternatively in all their tours. Enough said. The ride starts with "Children of the Damned" (one of the most beautifully constructed songs by Steve Harris) and then is followed by "The Prisoner" (based on the 60's TV series) a perennial stormer. On the L.P. format "22 Acacia Avenue" was the closing song for side A. This composition by Harris and Adrian Smith is the second part of the saga of Charlotte the Harlot, and if's not one of the best songs writen about the sordid world of prostitution it comes really close. Opening side B of the L.P. configuration was "The Number of the Beast" its intro still gives me the chills. Bruce Dickinson lives up to his nickname (Air Raid Siren) on this song but honestly his overall performance in his debut as the new Maiden singer is superb. "Run to the Hills" is next. The drum fill that opens the song has been instantly recognized all around the world wherever this song was played. This was the first I.M. top ten single for the group and one of the most popular singles of the British charts on that year. Its lyrics tell accurately the other side of the history on the American colonization. The next song "Gangland" wasn't meant to be included on this record, in fact, a great song called "Total Eclipse" was the original choice, but at the last moment the band decided to change it. Not an inspiring decision on an otherwise INSPIRING album it's undoubtly the lowest point of the record. The closing track is "Hallowed be thy name". Another classic. Another incredible performance by Dickinson. You can actually feel the despair of the condemned to die while their taking him to his final destination. This song alone is worth the price of the entire album. Although nobody can deny the fury and the power of Maiden's two previous efforts, with Dickinson on board is when they started to build the foundations of an outstanding reign in the metal kingdom. This album was the breakthrough, the key who opened the American market and the starting point of seven years of complete world domination. What are you waiting for? Buy it NOW.Free Music Review: First one with Bruce
Hit: 5 Stars
The Number Of The Beast is the first Iron Maiden album with Bruce Dickinson. This album had a large impact in the Metal community. There are plenty of songs that are classics and are still being played at resent concerts. The album starts out with the song "Invaders". Together with "Gangland" the least interesting tracks on the album. These songs are good, but not as good as the other tracks. "Children Of The Damned" is a mostly slow song with a haunting vibe. "Prisoner" is an up-tempo rocker. That song starts out with a sample from a movie. One of my favourite tracks on this album is "22 Acacia Avenue". The song contains the same lyrical content as "Charlotte The Harlot" from the album Iron Maiden. It is one of the more complex songs on the album. The instrumental part in the middle of the song really rocks.
The title-track is a fast song. I really like the gloomy intro, before the guitars get in and all hell breaks loose. It is one of Maiden's more intense songs. Run To The Hills was the first single from the album. It is a more "radio-friendly" song. The song is extremely catchy and is therefore an excellent song to play live. Gangland is a rather fast song, but is also an average song compared to the other tracks. "Total Eclipse" did not make it on the original version of The Number Of The Beast. The band said that they regretted not including "Total Eclipse" on the album. The song originally ended up as a B-side of a single. Fortunately, on the remastered version of the album "Total Eclipse" is included.
The last track on the album is "Hallowed Be Thy Name". That song is one of my favourite Iron Maiden tracks of all time. Unfortunately the studio-version is not as intense as the live versions. The song starts out with a gloomy intro. After the intro the band plays an excellent melodic part. Sadly the melodic part is played in a lower pace than the live-versions. Because I heard a live-version before I heard the studio-version, it was a slight letdown, for an otherwise excellent song. Furthermore, notice the different ending of the song compared to most live-versions. During most live-versions they play a short extra guitar lead, which is not played on the album.
Although I think that The Number Of The Beast is not Maiden's best work, I still give the album 5 stars.
Free Music Review: For the Devil sends the beast with wraith, because he knows the time is short
Hit: 5 Stars
There are only a handful of cds (if that many) where a review is pointless. Why? It is just so incredible you need to hear it for yourself. So do you wanna opinion on this cd? BUY IT. End of story. This is in my top three cds of all time. Cds like this don't come along very much in a lifetime, so when it does you must cherish them. The first with singer Bruce (who in my opinion is one of the best in metal) I could state about 10 other facts that everybody else has, so I won't waste your time. Even though a review for a cd this incredible is pointless, I will give my personal opinions on the songs for this album.
Invaders - 4/5 Definetly not one of the best songs on this album but still a great opener and only a taste for what is to come.
Children of The Damned - 5/5 One of the slower songs on the album. I love the vocals in this one. Not one you should skip over anytime soon.
THe Prisoner - 6/5 As with many songs on this album. The drumming is incredible, the guitars also shine in this one.
22 Acacia Avenue - 4.5/5 Seems like a song you will either love or hate. Not the best on here but definetly holds its own.
The Number of The Beast - 6/5 CLASSIC. Truly classic. With the spoken intro, you know you're in for a real treat. Doesn't let down. Song's are about a dream a man has.
Run to The Hills - 5/5 A well known Iron Maiden song, for good reason too. The Drumming and chorus blew me away when I first heard it.
Gangland - 4/5 The red headed step child of "The Number of the Beast" album. I don't really know why, sure it isn't great but not as bad as some people seem to think so.
Total Eclipse - 4.5/5 Not on the original version of "The Number of The Beast" a b-side, which is suprising because it is quite good.
Hallowed Be Thy Name - 50/5 The best track on this cd easily. Maybe the best Iron maiden song ever. This to me is what metal is all about, everything is perfect here. You could not ask for a better closing song. Cradle of Filth ( my favorite band) do an incredible cover of this song too, even if you don't like them I reccomend you check it out. Just so incredible.
So, to end this, this is metal at its best. A truly timeless cd. Enjoy.