DJMayes' Complete Ranking Of Maiden Songs

Which song will win?

  • Run To The Hills

    Votes: 10 62.5%
  • Empire Of The Clouds

    Votes: 6 37.5%

  • Total voters
    16
  • Poll closed .

DJMayes

Ancient Mariner
Hi all,

On request I've decided over the course of this summer to post my complete ranking of Iron Maiden songs. This will be done broadly in 5 song installments, as I'd like to say something about each song rather than just post a list of them.

The list consists of every studio album, plus the following B-Side songs:

- Burning Ambition
- Invasion
- I Live My Way
- Justice Of The Peace
- Judgement Day
- Virus

The Ides Of March and Wrathchild will be counted as one song for the purposes of this as I view the former as an intro to the latter.

If this is in the wrong forum mods, I apologise.

Complete Results:

List:

160 - Mother Russia
159 - Blood on the World's Hands
158 - The Duellists
157 - Look For the Truth
156 - Gangland

http://forum.maidenfans.com/threads/djmayes-complete-ranking-of-maiden-songs.39940/#post-595777

155 - Loss Fer Words (Big 'Orra)
154 - The Nomad
153 - Invasion
152 - Fortunes Of War
151 - Virus

http://forum.maidenfans.com/threads/djmayes-complete-ranking-of-maiden-songs.39940/#post-595920

150 - Innocent Exile
149 - Quest For Fire
148 - The Prophecy
147 - Back In The Village
146 - Running Free

http://forum.maidenfans.com/threads...king-of-maiden-songs.39940/page-2#post-596182

145 - Holy Smoke
144 - 2 A.M.
143 - Isle Of Avalon
142 - Another Life
141 - The Mercenary


http://forum.maidenfans.com/threads...king-of-maiden-songs.39940/page-3#post-596336

140 - Run Silent Run Deep
139 - Fear Is The Key
138 - Tailgunner
137 - The Unbeliever
136 - The Legacy


http://forum.maidenfans.com/threads...king-of-maiden-songs.39940/page-4#post-596524

135 - Burning Ambition
134 - Drifter
133 - These Colours Don't Run
132 - I Live My Way
131 - Total Eclipse


http://forum.maidenfans.com/threads...king-of-maiden-songs.39940/page-5#post-596825

130 - Childhood's End
129 - Sun and Steel
128 - Invaders
127 - Como Estais Amigos
126 - Twilight Zone


http://forum.maidenfans.com/threads...king-of-maiden-songs.39940/page-5#post-596998

125 - New Frontier
124 - Justice of the Peace
123 - When Two Worlds Collide
122 - Public Enema Number One
121 - Starblind


http://forum.maidenfans.com/threads...king-of-maiden-songs.39940/page-6#post-597159

120 - Strange World
119 - The Fugitive
118 - Genghis Khan
117 - Lord of the Flies
116 - Fates Warning


http://forum.maidenfans.com/threads...king-of-maiden-songs.39940/page-6#post-597351

115 - Gates of Tomorrow
114 - Judgement Day
113 - The Pilgrim
112 - Remember Tomorrow
111 - The Angel and the Gambler


http://forum.maidenfans.com/threads...king-of-maiden-songs.39940/page-6#post-597815

110 - The Aftermath
109 - The Man Who Would Be King
108 - The Educated Fool
107 - To Tame A Land
106 - Different World


http://forum.maidenfans.com/threads...king-of-maiden-songs.39940/page-7#post-598049

105 - Prodigal Son
104 - Alexander The Great (356 - 323 B.C.)
103 - Brave New World
102 - The Man Of Sorrows
101 - El Dorado


http://forum.maidenfans.com/threads...king-of-maiden-songs.39940/page-7#post-598218

100 - The Assassin
99 - Transylvania
98 - Stranger In A Strange Land
97 - The Apparition
96 - Man On The Edge


http://forum.maidenfans.com/threads...king-of-maiden-songs.39940/page-8#post-598401

95 - Still Life
94 - Journeyman
93 - Out of the Shadows
92 - Sanctuary
91 - Be Quick Or Be Dead


http://forum.maidenfans.com/threads...king-of-maiden-songs.39940/page-8#post-599105

90 - Heaven Can Wait
89 - Speed Of Light
88 - Out of the Silent Planet
87 - Chains Of Misery
86 - The Longest Day


http://forum.maidenfans.com/threads...king-of-maiden-songs.39940/page-8#post-599169

85 - Charlotte The Harlot
84 - Hooks In You
83 - Mother of Mercy
82 - From Here to Eternity
81 - Deja-Vu


http://forum.maidenfans.com/threads...king-of-maiden-songs.39940/page-9#post-599382

80 - When The River Runs Deep
79 - Weekend Warrior
78 - Age Of Innocence
77 - Sign of the Cross
76 - When The Wild Wind Blows


http://forum.maidenfans.com/threads...ing-of-maiden-songs.39940/page-10#post-599638

75 - The Ides of March / Wrathchild
74 - 22 Acacia Avenue
73 - Don't Look to the Eyes of a Stranger
72 - Caught Somewhere In Time
71 - The Thin Line Between Love And Hate


http://forum.maidenfans.com/threads...ing-of-maiden-songs.39940/page-10#post-599803

70 - The Great Unknown
69 - Iron Maiden
68 - The Alchemist
67 - Where Eagles Dare
66 - The Clairvoyant


http://forum.maidenfans.com/threads...ing-of-maiden-songs.39940/page-10#post-599956

65 - No Prayer For The Dying
64 - Lightning Strikes Twice
63 - Die With Your Boots On
62 - The Wicker Man
61 - Death or Glory


http://forum.maidenfans.com/threads...ing-of-maiden-songs.39940/page-10#post-600142

60 - Bring Your Daughter... ...To The Slaughter
59 - Murders In The Rue Morgue
58 - No More Lies
57 - The Reincarnation Of Benjamin Breeg
56 - Brighter Than A Thousand Suns


http://forum.maidenfans.com/threads...ing-of-maiden-songs.39940/page-11#post-600253

55 - Montsegur
54 - Sea Of Madness
53 - Futureal
52 - Flash Of The Blade
51 - Only The Good Die Young


http://forum.maidenfans.com/threads...ing-of-maiden-songs.39940/page-11#post-600623

50 - The Prisoner
49 - Wildest Dreams
48 - Dream Of Mirrors
47 - Can I Play With Madness
46 - If Eternity Should Fail


http://forum.maidenfans.com/threads...ing-of-maiden-songs.39940/page-11#post-600806

45 - Rainmaker
44 - The Clansman
43 - 2 Minutes To Midnight
42 - Wasting Love
41 - Ghost of the Navigator


http://forum.maidenfans.com/threads...ing-of-maiden-songs.39940/page-11#post-601063

40 - Children Of The Damned
39 - Coming Home
38 - Afraid To Shoot Strangers
37 - The Book Of Souls
36 - For The Greater Good Of God


http://forum.maidenfans.com/threads...ing-of-maiden-songs.39940/page-12#post-601323

35 - Moonchild
34 - Purgatory
33 - Tears Of A Clown
32 - Phantom Of The Opera
31 - The Trooper


http://forum.maidenfans.com/threads...ing-of-maiden-songs.39940/page-12#post-601531

30 - The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner
29 - The Evil That Men Do
28 - Rime Of The Ancient Mariner
27 - The Fallen Angel
26 - Prowler


http://forum.maidenfans.com/threads...ing-of-maiden-songs.39940/page-12#post-601782

Top 25:

25 - Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son ( http://forum.maidenfans.com/threads...ing-of-maiden-songs.39940/page-13#post-602347 )
24 - The Edge Of Darkness (http://forum.maidenfans.com/threads...ing-of-maiden-songs.39940/page-13#post-602622)
23 - Revelations (http://forum.maidenfans.com/threads...ing-of-maiden-songs.39940/page-13#post-602806)
22 - Judas Be My Guide (http://forum.maidenfans.com/threads...ing-of-maiden-songs.39940/page-13#post-603089)
21 - Lord of Light (http://forum.maidenfans.com/threads...ing-of-maiden-songs.39940/page-13#post-603354)
20 - Judgement Of Heaven (http://forum.maidenfans.com/threads...ing-of-maiden-songs.39940/page-14#post-603546)
19 - The Red And The Black (http://forum.maidenfans.com/threads...ing-of-maiden-songs.39940/page-14#post-604146)
18 - Blood Brothers (http://forum.maidenfans.com/threads...ing-of-maiden-songs.39940/page-14#post-604339)
17 - Wasted Years (http://forum.maidenfans.com/threads...ing-of-maiden-songs.39940/page-15#post-604548)
16 - Face In The Sand (http://forum.maidenfans.com/threads...ing-of-maiden-songs.39940/page-16#post-605004)
15 - The Number Of The Beast (http://forum.maidenfans.com/threads...ing-of-maiden-songs.39940/page-16#post-605388)
14 - The Talisman (http://forum.maidenfans.com/threads...ing-of-maiden-songs.39940/page-16#post-605638)
13 - Shadows of the Valley (http://forum.maidenfans.com/threads...ing-of-maiden-songs.39940/page-18#post-605896)
12 - Killers (http://forum.maidenfans.com/threads...ing-of-maiden-songs.39940/page-19#post-606237)
11 - Aces High (http://forum.maidenfans.com/threads...ing-of-maiden-songs.39940/page-19#post-606420)
10 - Paschendale (http://forum.maidenfans.com/threads...ing-of-maiden-songs.39940/page-20#post-606638)
9 - Flight Of Icarus (http://forum.maidenfans.com/threads...ing-of-maiden-songs.39940/page-20#post-607120)
8 - Satellite 15...The Final Frontier (http://forum.maidenfans.com/threads...ing-of-maiden-songs.39940/page-20#post-607226)
7 - Infinite Dreams (http://forum.maidenfans.com/threads...ing-of-maiden-songs.39940/page-21#post-607629)
6 - Powerslave (http://forum.maidenfans.com/threads...ing-of-maiden-songs.39940/page-21#post-607812)
5 - Hallowed Be Thy Name (http://forum.maidenfans.com/threads...ing-of-maiden-songs.39940/page-22#post-608085)
4 - Fear of the Dark (http://forum.maidenfans.com/threads...ing-of-maiden-songs.39940/page-23#post-608290)
3 - Dance Of Death (http://forum.maidenfans.com/threads...ing-of-maiden-songs.39940/page-24#post-608500)

2 - Run To The Hills
1 - Empire Of The Clouds


http://forum.maidenfans.com/threads...ing-of-maiden-songs.39940/page-25#post-608853

By Album:

1980 - Iron Maiden

1 - Prowler - 26/160
2 - Sanctuary - 92/160
3 - Remember Tomorrow - 112/160
4 - Running Free - 146/160
5 - Phantom of the Opera - 32/160
6 - Transylvania - 99/160
7 - Strange World - 120/160
8 - Charlotte The Harlot - 85/160
9 - Iron Maiden - 69/160

1981 - Killers

1 - The Ides Of March / Wrathchild - 75/160
3 - Murders In The Rue Morgue - 59/160
4 - Another Life - 142/160
5 - Genghis Khan - 118/160
6 - Innocent Exile - 150/160
7 - Killers - 12/160
8 - Prodigal Son - 105/160
9 - Purgatory - 34/160
10 - Twilight Zone - 126/160
11 - Drifter - 134/160

1982 - The Number Of The Beast

1 - Invaders - 128/160
2 - Children of the Damned - 40/160
3 - The Prisoner - 50/160
4 - 22 Acacia Avenue - 74/160
5 - The Number of the Beast - 15/160
6 - Run To The Hills - 2/160
7 - Gangland - 156/160
8 - Total Eclipse - 131/160
9 - Hallowed Be Thy Name - 5/160

1983 - Piece Of Mind

1 - Where Eagles Dare - 67/160
2 - Revelations - 23/160
3 - Flight of Icarus - 9/160
4 - Die With Your Boots On - 63/160
5 - The Trooper - 31/160
6 - Still Life - 95/160
7 - Quest For Fire - 149/160
8 - Sun And Steel - 129/160
9 - To Tame A Land - 107/160

1984 - Powerslave

1 - Aces High - 11/160
2 - 2 Minutes to Midnight - 43/160
3 - Losfer Words (Big 'Orra) - 155/160
4 - Flash Of The Blade - 52/160
5 - The Duellists - 158/160
6 - Back in the Village - 147/160
7 - Powerslave - 6/160
8 - Rime of the Ancient Mariner - 28/160

1986 - Somewhere In Time

1 - Caught Somewhere In Time - 72/160
2 - Wasted Years - 17/160
3 - Sea Of Madness - 54/160
4 - Heaven Can Wait - 90/160
5 - The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner - 30/160
6 - Stranger In A Strange Land - 98/160
7 - Deja-Vu - 81/160
8 - Alexander The Great (356-323 B.C) - 104/160

1988 - Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son

1 - Moonchild - 35/160
2 - Infinite Dreams - 7/160
3 - Can I Play With Madness - 47/160
4 - The Evil That Men Do - 29/160
5 - Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son - 25/160
6 - The Prophecy - 148/160
7 - The Clairvoyant - 66/160
8 - Only The Good Die Young - 51/160

1990 - No Prayer For The Dying

1 - Tailgunner - 138/160
2 - Holy Smoke - 145/160
3 - No Prayer For The Dying - 65/160
4 - Public Enema Number One - 122/160
5 - Fates Warning - 116/160
6 - The Assassin - 100/160
7 - Run Silent Run Deep - 140/160
8 - Hooks In You - 84/160
9 - Bring Your Daughter... To The Slaughter - 60/160
10 - Mother Russia - 160/160

1992 - Fear Of The Dark

1 - Be Quick Or Be Dead - 91/160
2 - From Here To Eternity - 82/160
3 - Afraid To Shoot Strangers - 38/160
4 - Fear Is The Key - 139/160
5 - Childhood's End - 130/160
6 - Wasting Love - 42/160
7 - The Fugitive - 119/160
8 - Chains Of Misery - 86/160
9 - The Apparition - 97/160
10 - Judas Be My Guide - 22/160
11 - Weekend Warrior - 79/160
12 - Fear Of The Dark - 4/160

1995 - X Factor

1 - Sign of the Cross - 77/160
2 - Lord of the Flies - 117/160
3 - Man on the Edge - 96/160
4 - Fortunes of War - 152/160
5 - Look for the Truth - 157/160
6 - The Aftermath - 110/160
7 - Judgement of Heaven - 20/160
8 - Blood on the World's Hands - 159/160
9 - The Edge Of Darkness - 24/160
10 - 2 A.M. - 144/160
11 - The Unbeliever - 137/160

1998 - Virtual XI

1 - Futureal - 53/160
2 - The Angel And The Gambler - 111/160
3 - Lightning Strikes Twice - 64/160
4 - The Clansman - 44/160
5 - When Two Worlds Collide - 123/160
6 - The Educated Fool - 108/160
7 - Don't Look to the Eyes of a Stranger - 73/160
8 - Como Estais Amigos - 127/160

2000 - Brave New World

1 - The Wicker Man - 62/160
2 - Ghost of the Navigator - 41/160
3 - Brave New World - 103/160
4 - Blood Brothers - 18/160
5 - The Mercenary - 141/160
6 - Dream Of Mirrors - 48/160
7 - The Fallen Angel - 27/160
8 - The Nomad - 154/160
9 - Out of the Silent Planet - 88/160
10 - The Thin Line Between Love and Hate - 71/160

2003 - Dance Of Death

1 - Wildest Dreams - 49/160
2 - Rainmaker - 45/160
3 - No More Lies - 58/160
4 - Montsegur - 55/160
5 - Dance of Death - 3/160
6 - Gates of Tomorrow - 115/160
7 - New Frontier - 125/160
8 - Paschendale - 10/160
9 - Face In The Sand - 16/160
10 - Age Of Innocence - 78/160
11 - Journeyman - 94/160

2006 - A Matter Of Life And Death

1 - Different World - 106/160
2 - These Colours Don't Run - 133/160
3 - Brighter Than A Thousand Suns - 56/160
4 - The Pilgrim - 113/160
5 - The Longest Day - 86/160
6 - Out Of The Shadows - 93/160
7 - The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg - 57/160
8 - For the Greater Good of God - 36/160
9 - Lord of Light - 21/160
10 - The Legacy - 136/160

2010 - The Final Frontier

1 - Satellite 15... The Final Frontier - 8/160
2 - El Dorado - 101/160
3 - Mother of Mercy - 83/160
4 - Coming Home - 39/160
5 - The Alchemist - 68/160
6 - Isle Of Avalon - 143/160
7 - Starblind - 121/160
8 - The Talisman - 14/160
9 - The Man Who Would Be King - 109/160
10 - When The Wild Wind Blows - 76/160

2015 - The Book Of Souls

1 - If Eternity Should Fail - 46/160
2 - Speed of Light - 89/160
3 - The Great Unknown - 70/160
4 - The Red and the Black - 19/160
5 - When the River Runs Deep - 80/160
6 - The Book of Souls - 37/160
7 - Death Or Glory - 61/160
8 - Shadows of the Valley - 13/160
9 - Tears of a Clown - 33/160
10 - The Man of Sorrows - 102/160
11 - Empire of the Clouds - 1/160

Assorted B-Sides

1 - Burning Ambition - 135/160
2 - Invasion - 153/160
3 - I Live My Way - 132/160
4 - Justice of the Peace - 124/160
5 - Judgement Day - 114/160
6 - Virus - 151/160
 
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#160 - 156

160 - Mother Russia

As a general rule I don't skip Maiden songs, but this track is a big exception. If I listen to No Prayer for the Dying, I either force myself to listen to it or I end the album a song early. Whilst No Prayer will likely never climb the lists of my favourite Maiden albums, I feel that for the most part that is due to a lack of standout songs rather than genuinely bad songs. This said, if a new band came out with any other song from this album, I'd put them on my list of ones to look out for.

Mother Russia is the exception. It chugs along for nearly 3 minutes, before the instrumental section breaks into my favourite part of the song at 3:13. I don't really have a bit to criticise about the solo section. It's cool, fits the song and is a highly redeeming feature, but it's not enough to break through the monotony of the rest of the song for me.

159 - Blood on the World's Hands

From the start, BOTWH doesn't feel like too bad of a song. The bass intro is cool, and the verse riff is interesting enough. Unfortunately, the song never really feels like it moves on from that. The chorus is one of the weakest Maiden have ever produced in my opinion, and the solo section doesn't grab my attention. The vocal section in the middle provides a nice break from an otherwise monotonous 4 minutes of playing, before diving back into another riff and chorus that feels extraneous.

I don't have too much to say about this song, but I do think it illustrates a feeling I have with the entire X Factor album - a distinct lack of energy that characterises all bar a few of the songs that is very atypical of Iron Maiden. For this reason you'll see X Factor doing fairly badly in this list. It has a couple of definite standouts but all in all it ranks as my least favourite Iron Maiden album.

158 - The Duellists

I have always been one of the Fillerslave people, and to me The Duellists is the prime example of this. To be fair to it, I don't have specific objections to make in certain parts of the song, and I don't think it's lower quality than, say, the songs from No Prayer For The Dying. However, I'd say it suffers from three main problems:

1) This song is much longer than most other filler of that era
2) It has no particular section I love
3) There is a much better song on the same topic in the same album

Combined, this makes for a song that I don't necessarily reach for the skip button every time but that will never make any playlist of mine.

157 - Look for the Truth

X Factor strikes again! Compared to Blood on the Worlds Hands, this song starts off slightly weaker, with a more standard soft intro before launching into the main portion of the song. This is broadly similar to BOTWH to me, suffering from the same chug and lack of energy the album has. The problem is compounded due to the lack of a strong instrumental section to break up the song. This said, I still much prefer the chorus, which serves to make the song slightly more distinctive to me overall.

156 - Gangland

This is perhaps the first "obvious" choice that people would guess for the bottom of a Maiden list, and with (in my opinion) good reason. This said, the song is not without redeeming qualities. Its main weakness lies in a comparatively dull chorus that drags down the rest of the song, but I have always felt that if the intro were not immediately recognisable as the Gangland intro, it would be decent. I'm a fan of the start of the solo section as well, though it seems to stop far too abruptly for my liking.
 
May I enquire who requested this?

I always find these things so tedious, like why do I care what a random stranger on the internet thinks of every single iron maiden song.

Sorry to be knob head but it seems like a big undertaking on your part and for what?
 
May I enquire who requested this?

I always find these things so tedious, like why do I care what a random stranger on the internet thinks of every single iron maiden song.

Sorry to be knob head but it seems like a big undertaking on your part and for what?

Out of boredom as much as anything else, my friend. But it's fine - you don't need to read it. It gives me an excuse to listen through their entire discography again, and realistically I am not too busy that I can't spend half an hour each day on this for a month or so.
*Looks at first three mentioned songs...* These?? At the bottom, of all Maiden songs?? :bigsurprise::nuts:

Out of curiosity, which do you consider the worst?

A quick look at your list suggests to me you are perhaps a fan of their more "progressive" (in some sense) songs, which is fair. At least based on the survivor it's a view a lot of the forum share. I think there's a lot to love in their longer work but I am also a big fan of the "classics" people are tired of here. I also have a few less popular opinions in that Fear of the Dark and Dance of Death are two albums I rate very highly and I am more fond of Virtual XI than a lot of people seem to be which you'll see reflected in the list as it goes on.
 
Not sure. No More Lies, Face in the Sand, Don't Look to the Eyes of a Stranger, When Two Worlds Collide, The Talisman and The Red and the Black are among my least favourites.
 
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I think Face in the Sand is among the very best reunion songs and The Duellists is likely in my overall top 25-30. And yet here we all are at Maidenfans.

On with the list, DJ!
 
I'm not a fan of No More Lies. The chorus in particular really drags it down for me. Face In the Sand, The Duelists, and Blood On the World's Hands are all great though. BOTWH in particular doesn't get enough credit for its dramatic buildup.
 
Interesting start - the only one of these that would probably be in my bottom 5 would be Look For the Truth. But it's still a decent song.

I'm always curious with lists that are different than mine though. My bottom would start at Angel and the Gambler and go from there.

No More Lies is great aside from the chorus which I feel let's it down a bit. I wish it had a more creative chorus at the very least.

Looking forward to reading more!
 
Not sure. No More Lies, Face in the Sand, Don't Look to the Eyes of a Stranger and When Two Worlds Collide & The Talisman are among my least favourites.

That's fair. I don't think any of those rank particularly low for me but where's the fun without a bit of discussion?

I think Face in the Sand is among the very best reunion songs and The Duellists is likely in my overall top 25-30. And yet here we all are at Maidenfans.

On with the list, DJ!

I love Face In The Sand. It took some time to click but it has become one of my favourite reunion songs too. Only 3rd on the album it comes from but that is more a statement of how good the album is rather than about this song.

I intend on posting 5 songs a day. Next 5 will probably go up tonight as I'm out tomorrow.

Interesting start - the only one of these that would probably be in my bottom 5 would be Look For the Truth. But it's still a decent song.

I'm always curious with lists that are different than mine though. My bottom would start at Angel and the Gambler and go from there.

No More Lies is great aside from the chorus which I feel let's it down a bit. I wish it had a more creative chorus at the very least.

Looking forward to reading more!

I expect my list to be quite a lot different - I have a soft spot for some popular "stinkers" (The Angel and the Gambler, Weekend Warrior, The Apparition) whereas there are other songs (The Legacy, Starblind, Isle of Avalon) worshipped on this forum that I have never really got my head round.

Worst Maiden song of all time is Mother Russia? I'm already against this list but OK I'll follow the thread... :p

I should qualify that if I ever say something like worst I am speaking solely from opinion. :p

I don't think it's a "bad" song persay. In my completely non-expert opinion there's nothing wrong with the composition - I just know that, more than any other song, this is the one I skip to move onto other things.
 
2 of those songs (BOTWH and Duellists) are great, and Gangland isn't bad either :/.

And no Apparition or Weekend Warrior yet?
 
Your three lowest songs are all in my top 20 and one of them even in my top 10. That aside, you get praise for not having The Apparition very low. I forgot if I have turned your attention to the review I made, thought you might like it (sorry if I did).

When Two Worlds Collide (Blazes vocals at the the end; When Two Worlds Colliiiiiiiiiiiide; repetitive and not very nice)
Don't Look to the Eyes of a Stranger (Muppet drums, not a huge fan of that humpty-dumpty type of guitar harmonies in fast part)
Wildest Dreams (not a big fan of the chorus)
No More Lies (most predictable Maiden song)
Face in the Sand (at some point it gets too tedious and repetitive, and not a big fan of the chorus (esp. at end) and who hoo hoo-part)
The Talisman (I can't put this in one sentence; see review)
The Red and the Black (has least diverse section in history of Maiden; more here: click)
 
2 of those songs (BOTWH and Duellists) are great, and Gangland isn't bad either :/.

And no Apparition or Weekend Warrior yet?

Not for a while yet. I like both of those songs and don't consider either even the worst on their own album. The Apparition did take a while but I do find it genuinely quite catchy now and I've always thought Weekend Warrior was a decent song. It's definitely got more of a hard rock vibe but I like it and find the lyrics that most people hate quite enjoyable.

Your three lowest songs are all in my top 20 and one of them even in my top 10. That aside, you get praise for not having The Apparition very low. I forgot if I have turned your attention to the review I made, thought you might like it (sorry if I did).

When Two Worlds Collide (Blazes vocals at the the end; When Two Worlds Colliiiiiiiiiiiide; repetitive and not very nice)
Don't Look to the Eyes of a Stranger (Muppet drums, not a huge fan of that humpty-dumpty type of guitar harmonies in fast part)
Wildest Dreams (not a big fan of the chorus)
No More Lies (most predictable Maiden song)
Face in the Sand (at some point it gets too tedious and repetitive, and not a big fan of the chorus (esp. at end) and who hoo hoo-part)
The Talisman (I can't put this in one sentence; see review)
The Red and the Black (has least diverse section in history of Maiden; more here: click)

I remember having read it before. My main feeling is that, independently of the lyrics (which I've never really considered whether or not they're upbeat, but I can see where you come from) the song is enjoyable to listen to. It might not have spectacular instrumental parts but I do think it's got a genuine groove which I like listening to.

I did always used to skip it, but made a conscious effort not to do so and it eventually clicked when I wasn't really paying too much attention to it. I would certainly never think of skipping it anymore.

Yup. Particularly the latter just kicks ass musically.

At the bottom I would expect to find meh songs like The Final Frontier....Wildest Dreams...Different World...etc ;)

The Final Frontier is a personal favourite of mine. I like the Satellite 15 part for what it is but the main part of the song is an absolute gem. I adore the lyrics; upbeat songs in general are always fun but when said upbeat song is about dying alone in space? Fantastic contrast. Moreover I think the solos are great and, kind of like Weekend Warrior, I like the hard rock vibe in the verses.

Another thing that will become apparent but I may as well state now is that I don't so much mind repetitive lyrics in choruses, which I think is the biggest criticism of the song. Even The Angel and the Gambler doesn't break me because I enjoy what's going on underneath it.

I think Wildest Dreams is good enough fun even if it's nothing ground-breaking. Different World is the one of those three I rate the lowest but has a great solo section.
 
Time to round off the bottom 10...

#155-151

155 - Losfer Words (Big 'Orra)


Losfer Words is a difficult one for me to place, and I think it's because I don't have a huge appreciation for songs that are entirely instrumental. That's not to say I dislike them, but more that I would always prefer an extended instrumental interlude in the middle of a song. The rare exceptions tend to be instrumentals which mimic a song structure, which I often find myself enjoying. In Maiden's case, this is Transylvania, which I consider their best instrumental due to its memorable refrain. In wider music my favourite instrumental is probably Eric Johnson's Cliffs of Dover.

In this song, there isn't a particular section I dislike. Any of the instrumental parts I would (and do, in the case of The Book of Souls) enjoy in the context of an overall song. However in this case the instrumental doesn't really feel connected, and the total is less than the sum of its parts.

154 - The Nomad

The Nomad is a song I've long had mixed feelings for. Overall, this is one of the few Maiden songs where I can't really see the justification in the songs length, because it feels like it drags already - the first 3 minutes of this song seem to take longer than many songs twice its length! On the whole this is because I'm not enamoured with the verses or the chorus, which I have always found particularly grating (and in places difficult to understand).

The song does have a redeeming part, of course, with the big instrumental interlude. It's unfortunate, then, that this is the section oft accused of ripping off another artists work. Whilst I don't have strong opinions on it, it is a bit of a damper.

153 - Invasion

I was initially unsure as to whether to include this song, given that it has always felt like an early version of Invaders. However, the love of multiples of 10 and the fact this song definitely has its own flavour lead me to include it.

Unlike many of the surrounding songs, you won't hear me complaining about the energy of this song. Indeed, I've always felt the Di-Anno era was an energetic one and the songs don't get rated quite as harshly as the Blaze era because of it. This song is no different, especially with the great solo section and a decent verse. What really brings the song down is the awful chorus, and it's difficult to listen to the rest of the song as the "Norsemen are coming" line permeates the soul.

152 - Fortunes of War

Fortunes of War is, by my reckoning, one of the most disjointed entries into Maiden's discography. By this I mean that it switches often between sections I enjoy, and the sort of stuff I constantly give the X Factor album flack for.

After what I've always considered as a fairly standard soft intro, we get a really interesting guitar melody. However, this then transitions into a chugging verse that is the same thing I have been complaining about in other songs. The chorus doesn't really help matters, but then the song picks up in a way the others thus far just haven't. Amid a far more energetic instrumental section we even get a glimpse of the trademark gallop. This is the section of the song I listen for, and I would prefer the song if it ended after this. It would still be a good length, and end on a high. Unfortunately, we have to endure a bit more chugging before a soft outro that I don't have strong feelings for either way, but doesn't really feel necessary.

151 - Virus

As a song from the X Factor period, Virus suffers from many of the same issues that the songs I mentioned above do. This said, I still think it's better than a couple of the songs they chose. Indeed, I personally feel that the album would be improved if the B-sides (Especially Judgement Day and Justice of the Peace, which I would view as a much needed shot of adrenaline) had been included otherwise.

Interestingly, my main issue with Virus is the start. After 2:20, the song really picks up. It still doesn't have any section I view as truly special, but it's got some fire, and even an interesting rare choir(?) section around 5:00. I don't love any of it, but I do like it.
 
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Virus was an A-side. A single not connected to a regular studio album. It was also on Best of the Beast. Top 30 material for me.
 
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