I'll play, and try to be a little more detailed to encourage some discussion:
Iron Maiden -
Prowler - I choose
Prowler because I think the guitars in particular are really interesting and hint at the more progressive side of the band in a short and accessible package.
Honourable Mentions: Phantom Of The Opera, Remember Tomorrow
Killers -
Killers - I think this is the best track from the Dianno era. Whilst many songs from that era very much sound like it, I think that this one, more than any other, would easily fit in on any later album. To me it is the first song where the classic gallop is really done well, and the chorus and solos are great too.
Honourable Mentions: Purgatory, Wrathchild
The Number Of The Beast -
Run To The Hills - I personally think this song condenses everything great about the band into a short, accessible package. The song has an interesting structure, its got the classic galloping verses, and the chorus is sublime. Personally, I also think that the drumming in the chorus of this song is probably the catchiest bit of drumming the band has ever done.
Honourable Mentions: Hallowed Be Thy Name, The Number Of The Beast
Piece Of Mind -
The Trooper - Maybe it's a boring choice but it's still a bullet of adrenaline, especially live where it whips the entire crowd into a frenzy. This is probably the first song I play to people when introducing them to the band - not because I think it's their best song, but because I'd be surprised to see them like the rest if they don't like this.
Honourable Mentions: Flight Of Icarus, Revelations
Powerslave -
Powerslave - The solo is definitely the standout part of this song, but I think the rest of the song does a lot of interesting stuff too. In particular, I think there's a cool juxtaposition between the chorus, with its layering and chanting, and the verses, which feel very direct in comparison.
Honourable Mentions: Aces High, Rime Of The Ancient Mariner
Somewhere In Time -
Wasted Years - If we are honest, metal lyrics can be bleak at the best of times, so it's really refreshing when a metal band puts out a song as upbeat as this one. The solo isn't half bad either!
Honourable Mentions: The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner, Sea Of Madness
Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son -
Infinite Dreams - It's difficult to point to a single aspect of this song as the reason it's my favourite, but I'm going to go with the really cool bassline going on underneath. It gives the song a lot of groove and texture that makes it interesting even after many, many listens.
Honourable Mentions: The Evil That Men Do, Can I Play With Madness
No Prayer For The Dying -
Hooks In You - For a lot of people this would show up in the "least favourites" list, with the lyrics and the poppy chorus being cited as reasons. I think the former is exaggerated (Nobody puts
22 Acacia Avenue as the worst song off
TNOTB, and the lyrics there aren't any better) and I'm actively a fan of the latter. I think the song has some really cool bass as well.
Honourable Mentions: Bring Your Daughter..., No Prayer For The Dying
Fear Of The Dark -
Fear Of The Dark - I think this is the bands best song live, full stop. Being in a crowd of tens of thousands of people chanting along to the guitars in the intro is a special experience and I don't think I'll ever get tired of it.
Honourable Mentions: Judas Be My Guide, Afraid To Shoot Strangers
The X Factor -
Judgement Of Heaven - This song is a strangely upbeat, energetic song given the lyrics and the context of the album, but I think that it works here. I especially like the guitars in the middle section, which are refreshing bright on a very dark album.
Honourable Mentions: The Edge Of Darkness, Sign Of The Cross
Virtual XI -
Futureal - Another song with Blaze at his best,
Futureal is direct and energetic. The chorus is really cool and the verses are a direct precursor to
The Wicker Man. It's also refreshingly short for a band that was increasingly moving away from that direction.
Honourable Mentions: The Clansman, Don't Look To The Eyes Of A Stranger
Brave New World -
Blood Brothers - The Iron Maiden waltz is a really cool, unique moment in the bands catalogue, and I was really happy to see it played live in 2016. I vividly remember singing this arm in arm with a bloke I'd accidentally punched in the face a couple of minutes earlier during
The Number Of The Beast. Honourable Mentions: The Fallen Angel, The Wicker Man
Dance Of Death -
Dance Of Death - A lot happens in this song, and all of it is good, but the part that stands out to me above the rest is Janick's solo. There aren't too many songs where the band goes full guitar hero mode, and most of the time it feels like Adrian is the culprit, but in this song it's a wonderful climax to a beautiful song.
Honourable Mentions: Paschendale, Face In The Sand
A Matter Of Life And Death -
For The Greater Good Of God - I think this song can be excessive in places, but the introductory verse ("are you a man of peace, or man of holy war?...") is gorgeous, and the rest of the song is good enough to make it well worth sitting through to hear it revisited at the end. A really cool addition to the LOTB tour.
Honourable Mentions: Lord Of Light, Brighter Than A Thousand Suns
The Final Frontier -
Satellite 15...The Final Frontier - I'd omit
Satellite 15 if I could, but it's not actually bad - I just really like the title track. It's a cool little hard rock number with a catchy chorus, a great solo, and upbeat lyrics that wonderfully juxtapose the subject matter.
Honourable Mentions: Coming Home, The Talisman
The Book Of Souls - Empire Of The Clouds - Possibly my favourite Maiden song, even if it stands out like a sore thumb among the rest of the bands music. I don't care how technical the piano is or isn't - it sounds great, and that's all that matters to me. Bruce is fantastic here, and the middle section does a great job at telling a story with no lyrics whatsoever.
Honourable Mentions: The Book Of Souls, Shadows of the Valley
Senjutsu -
Writing On The Wall - Even in December it's early days, but the lead single has steadily grown in my estimation. The general vibe of the song helps it to always feel fresh, and the chorus is really, really good, but Adrian's solo is the highlight. It might just be my favourite solo the band have ever done.
Honourable Mentions: The Parchment, Darkest Hour
Please have a go at me for songs I have/haven't included so that people don't get upset that it's just a list.
