Iron Maiden/Iron Maiden(1980)

Gotta Love The Maiden Backdrop! Good Ol Club Days!

Hey Folks! One of my good friends Aaron from the Keeps  Me Alive Site is gonna be catching Iron Maiden April 3/2016 in Toronto Ontario! So what better time than now to Bash out a few Maiden reviews!

Today it’s the self titled debut Iron Maiden! Maiden stormed out of the gates back in 1980 with this classic piece of Raw Metal N Roll!  For myself on the Maiden purchasing depth chart I did not get this album until the summer of 1982 when I was on vacation in Winnipeg Manitoba with my family and being 15 it was Maiden Maiden Maiden! The Maiden albums I owned where Maiden Japan,Killers and the recently released Number Of The Beast(with new vocalist Bruce Dickinson) but before Maiden did the vocalist switch a Roo Paul Dianno had that punk like attitude fronting Maiden! Rough N Gruff around the edges but the guy delivered the goods for two studio albums and a live E.P so I’m not gonna knock him!

I could though as a few years later in 1985 I bought his self titled Dianno album and it was a bunch of bad Journey like tunes! I got hosed on that one folks! Should have hyped it and  sold it to Tbone! Ha!

Anyhoo the first Iron Maiden had these cast of characters on it….Paul Dianno(vocals) Dennis Stratton(guitar) Dave Murray(guitar) Clive Burr (drums..RIP) and founder of leader of all things Maiden Mr Steve Harris (bass)

I know by reading past interviews that Harris and crew had some issues of the production on this album by Will Malone. For me though I like the live go for the throat feel on this one. All For One….One For All!

FYI- enjoy the pics of this album as my daughter Lexie bought me this Maiden album for my Bday last year! Great kid!

PROWLER-Stratton and Murray lead off and someone’s dabbling with a Wah like pedal and we’re off! Even on the this album Harris and his bass are not going to mixed down and its apparent within the first 30 seconds of Prowler! Clive slams the drums forward.  The song is a real good stomper of a track. Dig how the band just rolls up their sleeves and does an all out musical ramp up before the solo and what a great solo it is! Maiden 1980 start off a long career on the right foot with a ripper of a opener! Welcome …

REMEMBER TOMORROW-Whoah! Maiden shift gears and slow it down, well for a bit that is. Remember Tomorrow is a chill out not slow burn and  that’s due to Harris and Burr who keep the boat afloat while the guitars are in relax mode until the chorus where the tempos pick up and Dianno here sings for his supper. Maiden were smart as if this was your first time listening to them two songs in two different metal styles. More great guitaring and riffing and cool shuffle of the drums by Burr! Deadly tune!

RUNNING FREE-Burr does the opening and Harris and boys join in and this is one of many Maiden Songs that are now known as Classics! “I’m Running Wild …I’m Running Free Yeah!” You Betcha Paul! I also like the duelling lead guitars between Stratton and Murray. Early  Maiden belting it out! Another great track. The Live video posted features new dude Adrian Smith on guitar as Stratton got the Harris Boot out of the band! Of course Smith/ Murray became my favourite one / two guitar duo ever! No one touches what these guys did in the 80s….

PHANTOM OF THE OPERA-Well let’s make that 4 songs in 4 different style of  metal song structure. No 2 tracks soundalike. Phantom builds up and just goes wiggy all over the map with different music tempos and different horizons! How about some Clive Burr quick drumming with some more dual lead guitar ! And to boot how about 7 minutes of pure Maiden! Phantom would be the first of many signature past 6 minute song Maiden Workout Tracks!

TRANSYLVANIA-Musical Maiden no vocals allowed and the guitars carry this tune but don’t count out Clive and Steve as they hold down the fort and let Dennis and Dave do their thing. This Musical Maiden ploughs forward and toss in some tempo changes and we’re off!

STRANGE WORLD-Kinda of a trip tune here. Not really heavy and definitely not mellow it’s Maiden forging and boxing themselves into just a one trick metal pony! Nice use of guitars and Paul sings a different vibe as you don’t have to be giving it full throttle all the time.

SANCTUARY-Want a classic guitar riff to start a track. It’s all right in front of you. Sanctuary revs Maidens Musical Muscle right up and its a great foot stomper like if you were to stomp your boot thru the door that is. Adrenalin comes to mind. Dig the middle the part of the song where Steve and Clive lock up while the guitars playoff some real neat riffs. Paul ramps up and most tosses a lung by the end of the track.

CHARLOTTE THE HARLOT-Cool metal ditty here. By the way where is 22 Acacia Avenue? That was to come later but poor Charlotte The Harlot getting kicked around by life yet Steve writes a real good melody here. Catchy chorus and even some backing vocals make this song almost lite metal in some spots but don’t be fooled into that thinking as lurking around the corner is…..

IRON MAIDEN-Whoah! Wowzers! 36 years later and this is still the staple of every Live Maiden show and why wouldn’t! Love the creak of the guitars at the beginning and its a full out Maiden Ass Kicker Assault as Dianno brings it home as this song is almost Punky Metal with his attitude all over the lead vocals! Harris and Burr rock the ship and even Harris finally gets in a few bass riffs as Burr hits and runs all over his drums! A fantastic finish to a fantastic debut….

Check back tomorrow (Saturday Special) for another Maiden review as we fast fast forward 35 years!

UP THE IRONS!