Bruce's Solo Discography Ranked - The Complete List

[Jer]

48: Devil on a Hog

We won't see its face no more
Its machine has left the floor
Its rivals left it in the dirt
It saw our world and it got the shirt
Before it leaves and goes its way
We loathed it so it couldn't stay
There's nothing left for us to feel
So don't remember it...​

 

[Diesel 11]

We won't see its face no more
Its machine has left the floor
Its rivals left it in the dirt
It saw our world and it got the shirt
Before it leaves and goes its way
We loathed it so it couldn't stay
There's nothing left for us to feel
So don't remember it...​

Some o' that is a bit o' a stretch, y'knoo...

 

[Diesel 11]

47: The Magician
Average Score: 7.48
Accident of Birth 3/12

Story time! After a while of listening to selective Bruce solo stuff, I finally went through the discography again, starting with The Chemical Wedding which completely blew my mind, then went on to TOS, then BTP, and then came again to Accident of Birth. I thoroughly enjoyed the album, but completely forgot this song existed. When it came on, I was confused for a little until it clicked in my brain. Somehow during that listen and the following ones, I fell in love with this track. Is it as outstanding as some of the other songs on AOB? No, it's merely a standard rocker. That said, it's better than all of the other standard rockers on the album, IMO, and it's ultimately become my fourth favorite song from the album. Really, really cool stuff. I get why it's ranked so low, though, and I won't complain about it, but for me, it's just awesome. Speaking of awesome, the final album that has not yet had any songs off it in the list will spill forth one of its tracks for us next - anyone able to figure out which track that'll be?

Choice comments:

Maiden-esque

I find it a bit simple, and I clearly enjoy it less than others.

I have a huge soft spot for The Magician.

silly+cliché, worst song on the album

It's basically yet another standard rocker but my god is it a fun song. I adore it.

I would say The Magician is not that great, but I find it much more interesting than those songs off Tyranny of Souls you have mentioned (Soul Intruders, Devil on a Hog).

Much sillier than the rest of the album. Vocal lines before the chorus feel a bit forced.

Votes:

Spoiler

10 - 2
9 - 4
8 - 2
7 - 9
6 - 2
5 - 2
4 - 0
3 - 0
2 - 0
1 - 0

Overall:

Spoiler

47 - The Magician
48 - Devil on a Hog
49 - Acoustic Song
50 - Welcome To The Pit
51 - No Way Out... Continued
52 - Gods of War
53 - Faith
54 - No Way Out... To Be Continued
55 - Sacred Cowboys
56 - 1000 Points of Light
57 - Bring Your Daughter... To The Slaughter
58 - Hell No
59 - All The Young Dudes
60 - Inside The Machine
61 - Real World
62 - Winds of Change
63 - Meltdown
64 - Gypsy Road
65 - Fire Child
66 - Shoot All The Clowns
67 - Octavia
68 - Dreamstate
69 - Hell On Wheels
70 - Fire
71 - Believil
72 - I Will Not Accept The Truth
73 - Mars Within
74 - Armchair Hero
75 - Toltec 7 Arrival
76 - God's Not Coming Back
77 - Darkness Be My Friend
78 - Confeos
79 - Headswitch
80 - Dive! Dive! Dive!
81 - Rescue Day
82 - No Lies
83 - Re-Entry
84 - Midnight Jam
85 - Over And Out
86 - Dracula
87 - Cadillac Gas Mask
88 - Tibet
89 - Elvis Has Left The Building
90 - Americans Are Behind
91 - Lickin' the Gun
92 - R 101
93 - Ballad of Mutt
94 - Zulu Lulu
95 - The Post Alternative Seattle Fall Out
96 - I'm In A Band With An Italian Drummer

Albums:

Spoiler

Tattooed Millionaire 7/10
Balls To Picasso 6/10
Skunkworks 7/13
Accident of Birth 3/12
Tyranny of Souls 3/10
Bonus Tracks 24/31

 

[Jer]

47: The Magician

Awesome live track, but I understand why it fell here. I still like it better than "Road To Hell".

Speaking of awesome, the final album that has not yet had any songs off it in the list will spill forth one of its tracks for us next - anyone able to figure out which track that'll be?

Almost certainly "Killing Floor", but if there's any justice it'll be "Trumpets Of Jericho" instead.

 

[Diesel 11]

if there's any justice it'll be "Trumpets Of Jericho" instead.

If there's any justice, "Trumpets of Jericho" will make the Top 5.

 

[Number 6]

If there's any justice, "Trumpets of Jericho" will make the Top 5.

If there were to be any justice, The Chemical Wedding would be in the Top 10.

 

[Diesel 11]

46: Killing Floor
Average Score: 7.55/10
The Chemical Wedding 1/10

SATAN - has left his killing floor!
SATAN - has left his killing floor!

The Chemical Wedding, my friends! This behemoth of an album finally makes an appearance in our list, with its lowest ranking song coming in at #46. You guys rock! I don't think many would be surprised that this has appeared in last place from that album, and it was one of three I didn't care for at first - though it's a 10/10 for me now. It's definitely a weirder track, some would accuse Bruce of lazy writing, but others would point out that there's a ferociousness and heaviness here matched by few others. Bruce screaming "Satan!" is the closest his ever come to utilizing a death growl. Cool song, but understandably in last place from TCW.

Choice comments:

I could do without Killing Floor

I'm also a fan of Killing Floor from that album. Nothing like hearing Bruce scream "SAAATAAANNNN!!!"

Killing Floor was easily the weakest song on The Chemical Wedding

I listened to CW a couple of times now and I love it! I'm obsessed with Killing Floor right now. SAAAAATTTTTAAAAANNNNN!!!!!!!!! IM GONNA listen to CW again right now.

Someone said before that they found The X Factor to be really consistent and I agree with that statement, but I find Chemical Wedding especially to be more consistent at an even higher level. The only song I could really think of taking out is Killing Floor (even Machine Men is quite good) and replacing it with Return Of The King, which for me would mean it would beat all of Maiden's albums except for 2!

worse than anything on AOB.

meh song

doesn't click with me just as much as the others

I used to laugh my ass off at the "Killing Floor" video

Another very heavy song, by Bruce’s standards at least. Parts of it, like the pre-chorus, are a bit strange, but they work, something not uncommon on this album.

Votes:

Spoiler

10 - 5
9 - 1
8 - 5
7 - 6
6 - 3
5 - 1
4 - 0
3 - 0
2 - 1
1 - 0

Overall:

Spoiler

46 - Killing Floor
47 - The Magician
48 - Devil on a Hog
49 - Acoustic Song
50 - Welcome To The Pit
51 - No Way Out... Continued
52 - Gods of War
53 - Faith
54 - No Way Out... To Be Continued
55 - Sacred Cowboys
56 - 1000 Points of Light
57 - Bring Your Daughter... To The Slaughter
58 - Hell No
59 - All The Young Dudes
60 - Inside The Machine
61 - Real World
62 - Winds of Change
63 - Meltdown
64 - Gypsy Road
65 - Fire Child
66 - Shoot All The Clowns
67 - Octavia
68 - Dreamstate
69 - Hell On Wheels
70 - Fire
71 - Believil
72 - I Will Not Accept The Truth
73 - Mars Within
74 - Armchair Hero
75 - Toltec 7 Arrival
76 - God's Not Coming Back
77 - Darkness Be My Friend
78 - Confeos
79 - Headswitch
80 - Dive! Dive! Dive!
81 - Rescue Day
82 - No Lies
83 - Re-Entry
84 - Midnight Jam
85 - Over And Out
86 - Dracula
87 - Cadillac Gas Mask
88 - Tibet
89 - Elvis Has Left The Building
90 - Americans Are Behind
91 - Lickin' the Gun
92 - R 101
93 - Ballad of Mutt
94 - Zulu Lulu
95 - The Post Alternative Seattle Fall Out
96 - I'm In A Band With An Italian Drummer

Albums:

Spoiler

Tattooed Millionaire 7/10
Balls To Picasso 6/10
Skunkworks 7/13
Accident of Birth 3/12
The Chemical Wedding 1/10
Tyranny of Souls 3/10
Bonus Tracks 24/31

 

[Diesel 11]

If there were to be any justice, The Chemical Wedding would be in the Top 10.

You mean the entire album should be the Top 10?

 

[Number 6]

You mean the entire album should be the Top 10?

Precisely.

 

[Diesel 11]

Precisely.

The Chemical Wedding is my favorite album ever, and allow me to tell you that I disagree. In doing so, one would leave out monsters like "Kill Devil Hill", "Tattooed Millionaire", and "Darkside of Aquarius". And that would never do....

 

[Number 6]

Like, I didn't even give all of the Chemical Wedding songs a 10, but I would have if I were voting today. That album immediately clicked with me, and the 3 songs I gave a 9 to have finally finished growing on me, to the point I now consider each and every one of them to be the very best of Bruce's entire discography.

 

[Diesel 11]

45: Machine Men
Average Score: 7.55/10
The Chemical Wedding 2/10

Back-to-back with "Killing Floor" is this TCW track which comes in as the second worst from the album. Doubt that'd surprise many people. Actually, "Killing Floor" and "Machine Men" tied; both had a 7.45 repeating, but "Machine Men" edges over it because it has more 9s than "Killing Floor" does (well, one more). If I recall correctly, there's another pair of songs that tied which we'll get to later on, but they showcase just how great the album is - it's very tight. This song could be about the creations of alchemists, or it could be another anti-war song. Either way, it's pretty cool, but according to you all, there are 8 better songs...

Choice comments:

I really really love this one. The chorus and guitar leading to it are pure gold, and so is the solo. It’s fairly weird but it’s still a fantastic song to me.

Votes:

Spoiler

10 - 5
9 - 2
8 - 2
7 - 9
6 - 2
5 - 0
4 - 1
3 - 1
2 - 0
1 - 0

Overall:

Spoiler

45 - Machine Men
46 - Killing Floor
47 - The Magician
48 - Devil on a Hog
49 - Acoustic Song
50 - Welcome To The Pit
51 - No Way Out... Continued
52 - Gods of War
53 - Faith
54 - No Way Out... To Be Continued
55 - Sacred Cowboys
56 - 1000 Points of Light
57 - Bring Your Daughter... To The Slaughter
58 - Hell No
59 - All The Young Dudes
60 - Inside The Machine
61 - Real World
62 - Winds of Change
63 - Meltdown
64 - Gypsy Road
65 - Fire Child
66 - Shoot All The Clowns
67 - Octavia
68 - Dreamstate
69 - Hell On Wheels
70 - Fire
71 - Believil
72 - I Will Not Accept The Truth
73 - Mars Within
74 - Armchair Hero
75 - Toltec 7 Arrival
76 - God's Not Coming Back
77 - Darkness Be My Friend
78 - Confeos
79 - Headswitch
80 - Dive! Dive! Dive!
81 - Rescue Day
82 - No Lies
83 - Re-Entry
84 - Midnight Jam
85 - Over And Out
86 - Dracula
87 - Cadillac Gas Mask
88 - Tibet
89 - Elvis Has Left The Building
90 - Americans Are Behind
91 - Lickin' the Gun
92 - R 101
93 - Ballad of Mutt
94 - Zulu Lulu
95 - The Post Alternative Seattle Fall Out
96 - I'm In A Band With An Italian Drummer

Albums:

Spoiler

Tattooed Millionaire 7/10
Balls To Picasso 6/10
Skunkworks 7/13
Accident of Birth 3/12
The Chemical Wedding 2/10
Tyranny of Souls 3/10
Bonus Tracks 24/31

 

[Diesel 11]

Like, I didn't even give all of the Chemical Wedding songs a 10, but I would have if I were voting today. That album immediately clicked with me, and the 3 songs I gave a 9 to have finally finished growing on me, to the point I now consider each and every one of them to be the very best of Bruce's entire discography.

So are there any albums you'd consider better, or is this the pinnacle of musical creativity?

 

[Diesel 11]

44: Solar Confinement
Average Score: 7.6/10
Skunkworks 8/13

Solar confinement! Solar confinement! Solar confinement! Solar distress flares - solar distress flares - solar distress flaaaaaares!

We return to Skunkworks for this next song and it's a pretty good one. Love the chorus and everything else is great too. Still... it's a Skunkworks track, so expecting it to be any higher seems to have been all in vain... The "lonely boy" bit reminds me of Queensryche's "Anybody Listening?"

Choice comments:

Solar Confinement is a very fine uptempo track with stimulating bass line.

Solar Confinement is one of my favorites.

Love the energy on that track.

Also good! One part reminded me of Queensryche.

Solar Confinement is a decent tune

superb

Votes:

Spoiler

10 - 4
9 - 3
8 - 6
7 - 2
6 - 3
5 - 0
4 - 1
3 - 0
2 - 0
1 - 1

Overall:

Spoiler

44 - Solar Confinement
45 - Machine Men
46 - Killing Floor
47 - The Magician
48 - Devil on a Hog
49 - Acoustic Song
50 - Welcome To The Pit
51 - No Way Out... Continued
52 - Gods of War
53 - Faith
54 - No Way Out... To Be Continued
55 - Sacred Cowboys
56 - 1000 Points of Light
57 - Bring Your Daughter... To The Slaughter
58 - Hell No
59 - All The Young Dudes
60 - Inside The Machine
61 - Real World
62 - Winds of Change
63 - Meltdown
64 - Gypsy Road
65 - Fire Child
66 - Shoot All The Clowns
67 - Octavia
68 - Dreamstate
69 - Hell On Wheels
70 - Fire
71 - Believil
72 - I Will Not Accept The Truth
73 - Mars Within
74 - Armchair Hero
75 - Toltec 7 Arrival
76 - God's Not Coming Back
77 - Darkness Be My Friend
78 - Confeos
79 - Headswitch
80 - Dive! Dive! Dive!
81 - Rescue Day
82 - No Lies
83 - Re-Entry
84 - Midnight Jam
85 - Over And Out
86 - Dracula
87 - Cadillac Gas Mask
88 - Tibet
89 - Elvis Has Left The Building
90 - Americans Are Behind
91 - Lickin' the Gun
92 - R 101
93 - Ballad of Mutt
94 - Zulu Lulu
95 - The Post Alternative Seattle Fall Out
96 - I'm In A Band With An Italian Drummer

Albums:

Spoiler

Tattooed Millionaire 7/10
Balls To Picasso 6/10
Skunkworks 8/13
Accident of Birth 3/12
The Chemical Wedding 2/10
Tyranny of Souls 3/10
Bonus Tracks 24/31

 

[Number 6]

So are there any albums you'd consider better, or is this the pinnacle of musical creativity?

I'm not sure yet; I meant that taking a look at Bruce's solo career only. It's very hard for me to relate separate artists and rank my favorite albums that way. I can do it inside an artist's own discography, but I hardly can rank more than one artist at a time. So, all in all, I try not to go there that much. I think I'd rank Seventh Son higher than The Chemical Wedding, but that's about the only certainty I've got.

 

[Diesel 11]

43: Space Race
Average Score: 7.6/10
Skunkworks 9/10

Tying with "Solar Confinement" but receiving an extra 8 vote, "Space Race" is the fifth best Skunkworks song according to this list. Personally, it's probably my second favorite (bested by the song that comes directly after it on the album). Very great way to begin the record, and I wish it was a little higher up. Oh well.

Choice comments:

The opening guitar line of Bruce Dickinson's "Space Race" sounds very likely to that famous guitar melody in Rush's "Xanadu" - especially, check out the 09:13 mark, at this time, it's almost the same, it has the same tone too. Rip off or just similarity?

a fine track

awesome.

Space Race is an amazing song

Space Race is solid but it is not one of my favorites from that album.

a great opener

"Space Race" is consistently good, but never quite finds its way to greatness, IMO.

Votes:

Spoiler

10 - 4
9 - 3
8 - 7
7 - 1
6 - 2
5 - 1
4 - 0
3 - 1
2 - 1
1 - 0

Overall:

Spoiler

43 - Space Race
44 - Solar Confinement
45 - Machine Men
46 - Killing Floor
47 - The Magician
48 - Devil on a Hog
49 - Acoustic Song
50 - Welcome To The Pit
51 - No Way Out... Continued
52 - Gods of War
53 - Faith
54 - No Way Out... To Be Continued
55 - Sacred Cowboys
56 - 1000 Points of Light
57 - Bring Your Daughter... To The Slaughter
58 - Hell No
59 - All The Young Dudes
60 - Inside The Machine
61 - Real World
62 - Winds of Change
63 - Meltdown
64 - Gypsy Road
65 - Fire Child
66 - Shoot All The Clowns
67 - Octavia
68 - Dreamstate
69 - Hell On Wheels
70 - Fire
71 - Believil
72 - I Will Not Accept The Truth
73 - Mars Within
74 - Armchair Hero
75 - Toltec 7 Arrival
76 - God's Not Coming Back
77 - Darkness Be My Friend
78 - Confeos
79 - Headswitch
80 - Dive! Dive! Dive!
81 - Rescue Day
82 - No Lies
83 - Re-Entry
84 - Midnight Jam
85 - Over And Out
86 - Dracula
87 - Cadillac Gas Mask
88 - Tibet
89 - Elvis Has Left The Building
90 - Americans Are Behind
91 - Lickin' the Gun
92 - R 101
93 - Ballad of Mutt
94 - Zulu Lulu
95 - The Post Alternative Seattle Fall Out
96 - I'm In A Band With An Italian Drummer

Albums:

Spoiler

Tattooed Millionaire 7/10
Balls To Picasso 6/10
Skunkworks 9/13
Accident of Birth 3/12
The Chemical Wedding 2/10
Tyranny of Souls 3/10
Bonus Tracks 24/31

 

[Jer]

44: Solar Confinement

Aargh, my first 10/10 track bites the dust!

Everything about this song is incredible, and apparently only 3 of you out there know what I'm talking about. Whoever rated this a 1/10 is smoking crack!

 

[Diesel 11]

I gave Dive! Dive! Live! a viewing. Really awesome. I know there was a lot Bruce didn't like about it, but man, everyone's in fine form and they seem to be enjoying themselves. The setlist is awesome (they played all of Tattooed Millionaire!!), and "Ballad of Mutt" is much better not in studio.

Top tier concert, one of the best live vids I've ever seen.

 

[Confeos]

Machine Men over Killing Floor? Justice! I'd personally rank it even higher, but oh well - just beating the overrated Killing Floor is fine with me.
Also happy that the only two great tracks from Skunkworks made it to the top 50
I suspect I'm one of the biggest fans of Balls to Picasso on this board, but its entire collection of bonus tracks almost rivals the album itself in greatness (and weirdness, in a good way!). Now that I think about it, it could've (and should've) made an awesome double album

 

[Number 6]

overrated Killing Floor

If anything, I think it's underrated. It gets kicked around as "just another short rocker" and "the weakest track on the album". It's actually far above that.