Favorite post-80's Maiden album opener?

[WildRanger]

So what would be your choice in this poll?

 

[Azas]

Out of those in the poll, my top-tier picks are:

• Be Quick or Be Dead
• Sign of the Cross
• Futureal
• The Wicker Man
• If Eternity Should Fail

I’d eliminate Sign of the Cross because it’s an epic - I prefer it as a closing track. I’d also drop The Wicker Man - great song, but I like it better in the second or fifth slot (opening side B of the album).

That leaves:

• Be Quick or Be Dead
• Futureal
• If Eternity Should Fail

Now that’s a much tougher choice than the ’80s poll. “Be Quick” is the most ferocious, “If Eternity” the most epic, and Futureal the most compact. I love If Eternity Should Fail, but because of its length, I’ll set it aside.

So it comes down to Be Quick or Be Dead vs. Futureal. Both are great. But I’ll go with Be Quick or Be Dead because of its aggression and attitude. It’s one of the most un-Maiden songs - in a good way. It’s like Maiden’s Angel of Death or even their Painkiller.

That said, I love all three tracks and could easily vote for any of them.

 

[MrK]

Both in terms of enjoyment and importantance, it is The Wicker Man

 

[Ascendingthethrone]

The Sign of the Cross is my favourite song but The Wicker Man is the best opener.

I have always had a soft spot for Wildest Dreams, Different World and The Final Frontier. They are not the greatest songs, but they are great openers.

 

[Cat Milk Supreme]

Both in terms of enjoyment and importantance, it is The Wicker Man

In the cold light of day, this may well be the stone cold truth.

 

[dickinson1978]

I always thought about the tours not the albums .

 

[Sth2112]

Again a tough choice, but I have grown to really like Different world. Miss these fast openers. Futureal is great, but the production ruins it. The final frontier is pretty good without the meaningless first five minutes

Different world
The wicker man
Futureal
Tailgunner
Sign of the cross
Be quick or be dead
The final frontier
If eternity should fail
Senjutsu
Wildest dreams

 

[dickinson1978]

Its curious that people vote for tailgunner. For me its not a good song and not a good song for an opener

 

[Kalata]

It's The Wicker Man for me, no doubt - a perfect anthemic rocker and opener.

Be Quick (speed metal stuff is always cool), Futureal (same as the description above, essential Maiden) and Sign Of The Cross (those melodies) are on close second. Different World is right after them, such a melodic gem.

As for the others: Eternity is great (if only it had solos), Senjutsu is unique and epic, Tailgunner's structure is built to be an opener, Wildest Dreams is too simple and rock-y for the Reunion era, Final Frontier is nice (too long intro and repetition, they could have been a little more creative).

 

[Eli]

voted for Eternity, but BQOBD and The Wicker Man are equally great openers IMO.

 

[Eddieson]

Sign Of The Cross
If Eternity Should Fail
Be Quick Or Be Dead
The Wickerman
Futureal
Senjutsu
Satellite 15... The Final Frontier
Different World
Wildest Dreams
Tailgunner

Is how I would rate them. Sign of The Cross is the best track that is an opener, And If Eternity Should Fail is also a great epic song. But Be Quick Or Be Dead is probably the best "opener"out of these.

 

[Vaenyr]

Easy: Futureal. Not only the best post-80s opener. It's the best opener overall.
Especially Blaze's live versions with the added harmonies.