Iron Maiden

When you look back to Iron Maiden’s long career it’s interesting to see how far Maiden has come and how much the band has evolved since those early days. Nowadays I feel the debut and sophomore album is more or less overlooked by the albums that quickly came after but that doesn’t change their respective qualities and the influence these albums had. Iron Maiden’s self-titled debut exhibits all their distinct sounds and rhythms that they would evolve as they went along but what makes this album, and their second, really different is the huge punk influence seeping through all that galloping rhythm. A big thanks to the more punk influenced sound is the addition of Paul Di’anno with his raspy, rougher voice.

Speaking of Paul, I feel like he’s the perfect fit for this album. His guttural singing adds power behind the more punk fashioned songs such as “Running Free” and “Prowler”. Paul isn’t all rough and tough though as he can still show a more gentle singing style in “Remember Tomorrow”, “Strange World”, and parts of “Charlotte The Harlot” as those songs change up the tempo so it isn’t a constant speed fest with some slower melody’s to add variety to the overall record. “Iron Maiden” is an excellent showcase of Paul’s talent and range but I feel as though his performance in “Killers” is overall a more fully realized performance.

Really, all the performances from the band are fantastic here which is surprising how tight the band was, especially for a debut. Dave Murray and Denis Stratton are able to interchange between punkish speed and the slower melodic tunes greatly influenced from early NWOBHM (early Judas Priest is a good example). Clive Burr is a excellent drummer as he offers some dynamic and tight drumming in songs such as “Transylvania” and “Phantom Of The Opera”. Finally we get to the big man Steve Harris utilizing his galloping bass lines that has influenced and still influences generations of bassists all over the world. Just listen to “Phantom Of The Opera” or “Iron Maiden” and tell me that he doesn’t have a distinct sound all of his own because it is nearly impossible to come to that conclusion, especially with this album.

Some say that the drums and guitars what really defines Iron Maiden’s trademark sound but I feel without Steve and his progressive rock influenced bass lines that their distinct gallop wouldn’t have as much of a punch and it certainly does punch here on “Iron Maiden”. Everything that would later be refined and expanded upon in future releases is all found here on this debut while also giving us more punk influenced song structures and vocal performances not found much on following albums after “Killers”. A highly influential and classic release that still holds up to this day, “Iron Maiden” is distinctly Iron Maiden that offers Maiden lovers, Metal lovers, and music lovers enough to satisfy all.