I promised myself I'd be pretty stingy with 10s. I'm saying this now because last time I ranked I gave this song a 10.
Kinda love the intro, like a lot. Goddamn that Steve Harris and his slow, predictable, uncomplex introductions, though. This is easily the track in which Paul has the best sound. I wish they had revisited when Blaze was in the band - man, that would have kicked ass.
I adore the slow ramp. So many ideas have been bandied around for what the song is about. I still go towards the bomber crew interpretation, though, and I'll stick with that forever. Out in the madness, the all seeing eye...flickers above us to light up the skyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!
I'm not going to give it a 10, but only because the middle part seems like a more average attempt at a Maiden gallop, a formula that wouldn't be perfected for some time. Let's go with 9/10, though, for this early classic.