Favorite Back-to-Back Songs by Album

E

el diablo

Ancient Mariner
What are the best 1-2 punches from each album?

Iron Maiden: Phantom of the Opera - Transylvania - Phantom is my favorite song and Transylvania is also up there. Running Free does nothing for me.
Killers: Wrathchild - Murders in the Rue Morgue - Title track is my favorite song, but Murders is a close 2nd and I enjoy Wrathchild.
Number of the Beast: Gangland - Hallowed by Thy Name - Hallowed is by far my favorite so Gangland gets included here by default.
Piece of Mind: Die With Your Boots On - The Trooper - My favorite songs on this album are Boots and Still Life so it was going to be one of them with Trooper.
Powerslave: Aces High - Two Minutes to Midnight: Title track is my favorite song but these two go great together.
Somewhere in Time: Caught Somewhere in Time - Wasted Years - My favorite IM album opens with a bang.
Seventh Son of a Seventh Son: The Clairvoyant - The Evil That Men Do - My favorite songs (Infinite Dreams - title track - Clairvoyant) are spaced apart so Evil gets in here due to proximity to Clairvoyant.
No Prayer for the Dying: Fates Warning - The Assassin - Not a fan of this album to these choices are pretty random.
Fear of the Dark: Weekend Warrior - Fear of the Dark - Same as above.
The X Factor: The Aftermath - Judgement of Heaven - Judgement is my favorite song here.
Virtual XI: Lightning Strikes Twice - The Clansman - Futureal is my favorite song here but this is my back to back choice.
Brave New World: The Nomad - Out of the Silent Planet - Wicker Man - Ghost was runner up choice here.
Dance of Death: Montsegur - Dance of Death - My favorite 2 songs here so easy choice.
A Matter of Life and Death: Different World - These Colors Don't Run - Two rockers.
The Final Frontier: Isle of Avalon - Starblind - These are both in my top 10 IM songs.
The Book of Souls: The Great Unknown - The Red and the Black - Love both of these songs.
Senjutsu: The Parchment - Hell on Earth - Two great epics.
 
Powerslave is undeniably the best in that aspect.
First is a Stun-punch: Aces High+Two Minutes to Midnight. Second punch is Fatality: Powerslave+Rime of the Ancient Mariner.
No other Maiden album has such GRANDEUR. The Best. There can't be other opinion. :cool:
 
Ascendingthethrone said:
It’s a pity the middle of the album is possibly their blandest run of four songs.
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Yes, those songs are weaker, but:
1) Great production saves those songs. Allbum flow is great. Like a freight train.
2) I like Losfer Words - imo, very good, uptempo instrumental
3) The Duellists is saved by great guitar harmonies.
4) Flash of the Blade and Back in the Village is not top notch material, but, again, is saved by great production and energetic tempo. So, overall Powerslave smokes all other albums, at least for me. It's Maiden's Master of Puppets.
 
MindRuler said:
Hell yes! One of their finest moments for sure.
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That's my biggest problem with nowadays Maiden*. In the good old days they were GUITAR HARMONY GODS. It was their trademark and rightfully so. But they abandoned this godly thing (at least it is not prominent, like it was) And I have no idea why.

* apart from Steve being bad producer.
 
Azas said:
Yes, those songs are weaker, but:
1) Great production saves those songs. Allbum flow is great. Like a freight train.
2) I like Losfer Words - imo, very good, uptempo instrumental
3) The Duellists is saved by great guitar harmonies.
4) Flash of the Blade and Back in the Village is not top notch material, but, again, is saved by great production and energetic tempo. So, overall Powerslave smokes all other albums, at least for me. It's Maiden's Master of Puppets.
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On some points I agree (energetic tempo), but I’m don’t agree on the flow of the album. I could switch off from Losfer Words all the way to the modulation in Back of the Village (I love that bit) and feel that I haven’t missed much. It just blurs into a bland assault of guitar harmonies and meh lyrics. Plus there is no light of shade. Just loud.
 
Phantom of the Opera -> Transylvania
Purgatory -> Twilight Zone
Children of the Damned -> The Prisoner
Where Eagles Dare -> Revelations
Powerslave -> Rime of the Ancient Mariner (duh)
The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner -> Stranger in a Strange Land, though Wasted Years -> Sea of Madness is really close
SSOASS is spaced so badly for me it's really hard to say. I suppose The Evil That Men Do -> Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
The only sequence that even skirts the possibility of being named on NPFTD is No Prayer for the Dying -> Public Enema No 1 and even that one is not ideal
Wasting Love -> The Fugitive, I guess, although again, the sequencing's not good overall
TXF is really hard, because the songs are of similar quality with no obvious stand-outs, I guess either The Edge of Darkness -> 2AM or Sign of the Cross -> Lord of the Flies
Ugh, the sequencing of VXI is killing me, I guess The Clansman -> When Two Worlds Collide
Ghost of the Navigator -> Brave New World, no contest, but I'd give a honorable mention to Out of the Silent Planet -> The Thin Line
For as spotty album as DOD is, I have two contenders and I can't quite choose - either Rainmaker -> No More Lies or Montségur -> Dance of Death
The overall flow of AMOLAD is one of the nonnegligible factors why I have it as my favourite, I suppose I could name These Colours Don't Run -> Brighter Than a Thousand Suns as well as The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg -> For the Greater Good of God and even Lord of Light -> The Legacy. I really don't know.
Any of the two combinations of Isle of Avalon -> Starblind -> The Talisman
I suppose When the River Runs Deep -> The Book of Souls
The Parchment -> Hell on Earth (duh, again)
 
Heavy Metal must be loud! :D

@Ascendingthethrone "a bland assault of guitar harmonies and meh lyrics".

I could agree about lyrics, but a bland assault of guitar harmonies is oxymoron. Powerslave was a time when guitars ruled Maiden world. Upfront, harmonised, tasteful, enough heavy and riffing. That's pure gold in my book.
 
Iron Maiden: Phantom Of The Opera - Transylvania
Killers: Purgatory - Twilight Zone, at least in the version I have. Struggled with this one because each song I truly like is surrounded by songs I don't particularly enjoy.
The Number Of The Beast: 22 Acacia Avenue - The Number Of The Beast, though I don't care that much about the title track.
Piece Of Mind: Still Life - Quest For Fire
Powerslave: 2 Minutes To Midnight - Losfer Words
Somewhere In Time: The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner - Deja Vu
Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son: The Evil That Men Do - Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son
No Prayer For The Dying: No Prayer For The Dying - Public Enema Number One
Fear Of The Dark: Childhood's End - Wasting Love
The X Factor: Sign Of The Cross - Lord Of The Flies
Virtual XI: The Educated Fool - Don't Look To The Eyes Of A Stranger
Brave New World: Ghost Of The Navigator - Brave New World
Dance Of Death: Dance Of Death - Gates Of Tomorrow
A Matter Of Life And Death: Lord Of Light - The Legacy
The Final Frontier: Starblind - Talisman
The Book Of Souls: When The River Runs Deep - The Book Of Souls
Senjutsu: Lost In A Lost World - Days Of Future Past

Some of those were quite easy (POM, SIT, SSOASS, NPFTD, FOTD, VXI, DOD), others were more difficult because some albums tend to have my favorites spread out instead of two in a row. On SNJ for example I love Stratego, but don't like the title track or TWOTW so that's out. HOE is preceded by The Parchment, which is fine but not my favorite song + I don't think these two songs work well one after another. My favorite's on TXF are actually The Aftermath and The Edge Of Darkness, but I dislike Look For The Truth, don't much care for 2AM, and BOTWH and JOH aren't strong enough to create a great one-two punch with my favorites.

For a long while I used to always listen to FTGGOG, LOL (lol) and The Legacy whenever I wanted to revisit AMOLAD so it was obvious that I had to choose one of the permutations. Went for the second one.
 
Strange World- Charlotte the Harlot
Wrathchild- Murders in the Rue Morgue
Children of the Damned- The Prisoner
Where Eagles Dare- Revelations
Back in the Village- Powerslave
Caught Somewhere in Time- Wasted Years
Moonchild- Infinite Dreams
If Eternity Should Fail- Speed of Light
Stratego- The Writing on the Wall
 
Iron Maiden: Prowler - Remember Tomorrow
Killers: Wrathcild - Murders In The Rue Morgue
The Number Of The Beast: The Number Of The Beast - Run To The Hills
Powerslave: Aces High - 2 Minutes To Midnight
Somewhere In Time: Caught Somewhere In Time - Wasted Years
Seventh Son: Can I Play With Madness - The Evil That Men Do
No Prayer For The Dying: Public Enema Number One - Fates Warning
Fear Of The Dark: From Here To Eternity - Afraid To Shoot Strangers
The X Factor: The Aftermath - Judgement Of Heaven
Virtual XI: Lightning Strikes Twice - The Clansman
Brave New World: Out Of The Silent Planet - The Thin Line Between Love And Hate
Dance Of Death: Rainmaker - No More Lies
A Matter Of Life And Death: The Pilgrim - The Longest Day
The Final Frontier: Satellite 15... The Final Frontier - El Dorado
The Book Of Souls: The Red And The Black - When The River Runs Deep
Senjutsu: The Parchment - Hell On Earth
 
The most controversial favourite back to back songs run, from my side will be Piece Of Mind: Quest For Fire - Sun And Steel.

I just find both the songs sharing somewhat similar dynamic while the rest of the tracklist have songs giving different feel even though some being my absolute favourites.

Oh, and Powerslave should have been titled "The Bumper Of The Beast" LOL!
 
IM: Phantom-Transylvania -> both songs complement each other perfectly with their superb melodies and riffs.

Killers: Purgatory-Drifter -> an early speed metal rocker with a memorable chorus and one of the most interesting songs on the album with pure rock vibe and great solos.

TNOTB: Children-Prisoner -> the former has one of Maiden's best atmospheric music, while the latter is a classic NWOBHM anthem with an awesome chorus and instrumental section.

POM: Revelations-Icarus -> one is an essential Maiden song (love the verses and the melodies) and the other is the song with one of the band's best choruses (one of their best short songs too).

Poweslave: Powerslave-Rime -> the title track and Mariner just take you to another place, one big journey and they are perfect songs. Every single part is fantastic. The other pair, Aces and 2 Minutes are two perfect 80's songs.

SIT: Deja-Vu-Alexander -> I could have picked the title track-Wasted Years-Sea, but there is something about Deja-Vu's melodies; they are too good. And ofc, Alexander is full of great riffs, melodies and epic parts.

SSOASS: Evil That Men Do-Seventh Son -> the first one is in my Top 10, while the not many bands can produce the music of the second one; epic feel with the vocals.

NPFTD: Fates Warning-Assassin -> I chose Fates mostly because of the great melodies. Assassin is a song I've always liked, the chorus doesn't bother me. The vibe is haunting and the solo is brutally good.

FOTD: Childhood's End-Wasting Love -> I could have picked the first 2-3 songs, but I love the melancholic vibe and the unique chorus of the former, while Wasting Love is one of my favorite ballads.

TXF: Sign Of The Cross-Lord Of The Flies -> Edge and 2 AM were candidates, but Sign has one of Maiden's all time best melodic riffs. And I love the chorus of Flies.

VXI: Clansman-When Two Worlds Collide -> Clansman is an amazing song with its vibe, riffs, melodies and vocal parts. One of Maiden's best epics. Two Worlds Collide is an underrated song with one of my favorite melodies of the band.

BNW: Wicker Man-Ghost Of The Navigator -> I could have picked any of the first 4 songs, 6-7, or the last 2 songs, but Wicker Man will always be one of my favorite songs. Ghost is a classic too. Just listen to this chorus!

DOD: Paschendale-Face In The Sand -> Rainmaker and No More Lies were candidates, but the epic feel of Paschendale made the difference. One of Maiden's best in this regard. Face In The Sand has amazing melodies and chorus.

AMOLAD: Different World-These Colours Don't Run -> I could have picked any of the first 4 songs, or the last 3 songs, but I just love Different World and wanted to highlight it. Colours is a traditional strong and solid Maiden song.

TFF: Starblind-Talisman -> Coming Home-Alchemist-Avalon were candidates, but Talisman is one of Maiden's very best songs. And the vocal parts of Starblind are just so awesome. The tension! This is how a prog epic is made.

TBOS: Death Or Glory-Shadows Of The Valley -> I could have picked the first 2 songs and the title track, but Shadows is my favorite song on the album. While Death Or Glory is one of the band's best new shorter songs.

SJ: Parchment-Hell On Earth -> the title track and Stratego were really strong candidates, but these two epics are masterpieces! Some of Maiden's best songs of all time. The vibe they create with their melodies, vocals and riffs is just amazing. Both songs have some of the band's best parts. Just to give examples: solos/climax and chorus/melodies.

My favorites are the ones for Powerslave, BNW and Senjutsu.
 
Azas said:
Yes, those songs are weaker, but:
1) Great production saves those songs. Allbum flow is great. Like a freight train.
2) I like Losfer Words - imo, very good, uptempo instrumental
3) The Duellists is saved by great guitar harmonies.
4) Flash of the Blade and Back in the Village is not top notch material, but, again, is saved by great production and energetic tempo. So, overall Powerslave smokes all other albums, at least for me. It's Maiden's Master of Puppets.
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I think some of these 4 songs are not that strong on their own, but they work great in the context of the album. Yes, there is no ''breathing space'' with a song like Revelations (Dave should have written one, or the instrumental should have been longer with calm parts), but at the same time I like the ferocious power and flow of the album. One of the reasons the album is unique. Either way I would like it.
Flash and Duellists are great songs imo. I miss a solo in the former, not that it needs it (like Deja-Vu). Losfer Words has cool riffs (still think it should have been longer), while Back In The Village has a weak chorus, but the rest is solid. Really short solos in them though.

You are very right that the energetic tempo and especially the production are of great benefit.
MindRuler said:
Hell yes! One of their finest moments for sure.
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Classic Maiden!
Azas said:
That's my biggest problem with nowadays Maiden*. In the good old days they were GUITAR HARMONY GODS. It was their trademark and rightfully so. But they abandoned this godly thing (at least it is not prominent, like it was) And I have no idea why.

* apart from Steve being bad producer.
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Yeah, idk why too. I love the guitar harmonies - but at the same time I like a lot the (many) different melodies (usually played by Janick) on the longer songs. They should use them more often, but not for the whole album like in the 80's, because the effect will be lost in a way imo.
Azas said:
but a bland assault of guitar harmonies is oxymoron. Powerslave was a time when guitars ruled Maiden world. Upfront, harmonised, tasteful, enough heavy and riffing. That's pure gold in my book.
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This.
 
Iron Maiden: Remember Tomorrow -> Running Free
Killers: Purgatory -> Drifter
The Number of the Beast: Children of the Damned -> The Prisoner
Piece of Mind: Where Eagles Dare -> Revelations
Powerslave: Powerslave -> Rime of the Ancient Mariner
Somewhere in Time: Deja Vu -> Alexander The Great
Seventh Son of a Seventh Son: The Evil That Men Do -> Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
No Prayer for the Dying: Holy Smoke -> No Prayer for the Dying
Fear of the Dark: Fear is the Key -> Childhood's End
The X Factor: Judgment of Heaven -> Blood on the World's Hands
Virtual XI: The Educated Fool -> Don't Look To The Eyes of a Stranger
Brave New World: Out of the Silent Planet -> The Thin Line Between Love and Hate
Dance of Death: Paschendale -> Face in the Sand
A Matter of Life and Death: The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg -> For The Greater Good of God
The Final Frontier: Isle of Avalon -> Starblind
The Book of Souls: Death or Glory -> Shadows of the Valley
Senjutsu: The Parchment -> Hell on Earth

The Book of Souls, AMOLAD, Virtual XI and Fear of the Dark were the most difficult to determine due to the bangers being more spaced out.
 
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