The Number of the Beast

This album cover makes me lol. I don't know if I've ever heard an Iron Maiden song before this. They sound a lot like a lot of other bands, some of whom are on this list (Rush, maybe?). But are they the leaders or followers? (Probably leaders?) Anyway, it's not doing anything for me, but it's not actively offensive. Like Muse, while there are a lot of guitars, the guitar is so constant that it doesn't upset me. Very even coverage with their noise-making. The lyrics are just silly. I never know how seriously I'm meant to take this kind of stuff. It feels kind of like the music they'd put in the English dub of a sports anime. Actually, after framing it like that, I like it a bit more. But I would simply never sit down and listen to this, so it's a 2.5 rounded down for me.

Highlight: 'The Prisoner' (would fit right in to Sonic Adventure as a Sonic or Knuckles track!)

Much better than Coldplay

My generator summary says that metal is my worst genre but I thought this was fun. Admittedly, I probably won’t listen to it again but at least I can now appreciate that Iron Maiden had the tunes as well as a knack for branding.

Top 3 Maiden records for me. This is non-stop bangers from start to finish. Band is in its absolute prime here!

I understand exactly why the debut and this one were picked to represent Iron Maiden on the list, but it doesn’t mean I can’t be mad that Powerslave didn’t make the cut. It’s hard for me to think about this as being metal given how far it’s come since this. Bruce Dickinson has more of a voice for Prog than for metal to me so I’m glad they decided to go in the direction they did. Invaders is probably my least favorite song here, but the back half is so great it makes up for most flaws.

Powerful, if a little bit tiring by the end

I could really see mounting an epic D&D campaign to this if I was born in 1972.

Let's get a few personal nitpicks I have out of the way.

Could this album have been sequenced a bit better? My answer is yes. I can imagine the album would have improved if they had included "Total Eclipse" instead of "Gangland" and had the title track open the album instead of "Invaders". That doesn't change how much I thoroughly enjoy these tracks, but yes, the album order would have better reflected what the band was going for.

Would it have been preferred if they had chosen a later Iron Maiden album for inclusion on this list? I would also say yes. I consider Nicko McBrain's role as drummer on Piece of Mind onwards as the final key in unlocking the band's full potential. That said, Clive Burr was no slouch behind the kit, as his drumwork on this album is still top notch. Plus, I can recognize that The Number of the Beast was the album that broke Iron Maiden into a more global phenomenon, and thus, its inclusion in this list is warranted.

With those nitpicks out of the way, The Number of the Beast still holds up remarkably well today. All the other trademarks of Iron Maiden are present on this release - Steve Harris’s galloping bass, the dual melodic guitar work of Dave Murray and Adrian Smith, and Bruce Dickinson’s operatic vocals. The songs they wrote and composed with all these elements in play sounded grandiose and epic. Whether it's the encounter with the devil in one's nightmares on the title track, the genocide of active Americans by the hand of European settlers on "Run to the Hills", the plight of the "The Prisoner" in an adaptation of the British TV show of the same name, the slow-burn ballad "Children of the Damned" that crescendoes as the telepathic children are killed, or the gloom final hours until one's execution captured on the closing "Hallowed Be Thy Name", there's a rich dramatization that purveys throughout this album with the stories told.

I love The Number of the Beast as an Iron Maiden fan, and it was such a joy to hear it again on this journey. Up the irons!

Amazing music and an even better album cover. Unreal

Accessible heavy metal. Rocks hard but doesn't grate on your nerves. I dig it.

Я дуже люблю цей гурт.

Gutes Heavy Metal Album, mit allem was das Eisen braucht. Glut, Gefühl und Gitarre. Top Titel sind „Children of The Damned“, „Run To The Hills“ und „Hellowed Be Thy Name“.

I forgot how good this album was/is. Some bangers from NWOBHM. But I think both the debut Iron Maiden album or Killers (with Paul Di'Anno) were better and either should have been on this list instead of TNOTB. Di'Anno was a 'character' and so got the boot. LIke Van Halen and AC/DC who changed frontmen (of course AC/CD had no choice) I think Iron Maiden were poorer for it.

Worth an occasional spin, but not my favorite form of metal.

Exactly what metal should be. A little bit angry, a little bit silly, soaring vocals and bass that feels like it's going to rearrange your intestines.

5 stars for the sheer power of the vocals on "Run to the Hills" followed by the terrific drum breaks

I've always liked Iron Maiden, usually for their bass lines, but have never listened to an album by them.

Having finished the album now, have to say it was pretty good. Didn't completely blow me away but still enjoyable. Think I prefer their later songs.

Secret prog rock

Surprisingly joyous. Never listened as a kid due to the Satanic Panic - but will certainly be listening to more IM this year.

I think I'm becoming immune to hard rock riffage, pounding drums, aggressive guitar onslaughts, wild solos, etc. from doing this project.

But I cannot forgive the ridiculous vocals and lyrics.

This was fun, and perfect for speeding through some work, but I don't think it's that good. Sounds a little cheesy, I think he's doing a little too much on the guitar and yea, but still I enjoyed listening to it. Strong 3