The Official Maidenfans.com Rankings results (2004-2016)

[Perun]

Murders in the Rue Morgue...

 

[LooseCannon]

Now every active forum member has complained about at least one song in the rankings.

 

[Perun]

 

[Lampwick 43]

Now every active forum member has complained about at least one song in the rankings.

I don't think Foro has complained yet... or made any comments at all, for that matter..

 

[SirRobbins]

MaidenFans, you are forgiven regarding your mistakes. Rue Morgue is in the top 30. Well done.

Seriously though that's my personal favorite Di'Anno era song. Love it.

As for Moonchild, I don't think it's the world's best Maiden song, but it is the best album opener in their discography. Not because of how good the song is, but because the way it opens SSOASS is so awesome.

My favorite Di'anno song is Purgatory. I was sad to see it so low... everyone is entitled to their opinion.. here's mine "you're crazy to think Moonchild is the best opener of all their albums". lol all of us are crazy... just my feelings. It's one of the 3 songs on that album I don't like.

 

[matic22]

So I'm starting my listen through. Here is the marking system that I'll use:

10 - Masterpiece
9 - Amazing song
8 - Great song
7 - Good song
6 - Filler
5 - Under Maiden's standards
4 - Bad
3 - Worst that IM can do
2 - Projectile diarrhea
1 - The worst song I ever heard

More in the song topcs...

 

[LooseCannon]

I don't think Foro has complained yet... or made any comments at all, for that matter..

Because my pedantic keeping of records for 12 years has matched even his level of detail.

 

[Diesel 11]

My favorite Di'anno song is Purgatory. I was sad to see it so low... everyone is entitled to their opinion.. here's mine "you're crazy to think Moonchild is the best opener of all their albums". lol all of us are crazy... just my feelings. It's one of the 3 songs on that album I don't like.

Like I said, it's not my favorite album opener (that's Aces High) but it is the best way they've ever opened an album. I love the "seven deadly sins", then the synth buildup, and the BAM! Moonchild.

 

[Deleted member 7164]

So I'm starting my listen through. Here is the marking system that I'll use:

10 - Masterpiece
9 - Amazing song
8 - Great song
7 - Good song
6 - Filler
5 - Under Maiden's standards
4 - Bad
3 - Worst that IM can do
2 - Projectile diarrhea
1 - The worst song I ever heard

More in the song topcs...

Your bottom two categories don't make sense, I mean even if you don't like metal at all (which I know is opposite in your case).
On my overall 1-10 scale lowest Maiden song should be around 4. For instance even the best of MTV pop, EDM and such would get that score, "barely average music" for me. 3 would be for usual mainstream shit, 2 needs to be cringe worthy also, 1 is the special place for the likes of Yoko Ono, Sex Pistols and such.

 

[matic22]

Your bottom two categories don't make sense, I mean even if you don't like metal at all (which I know is opposite in your case).
On my overall 1-10 scale lowest Maiden song should be around 4. For instance even the best of MTV pop, EDM and such would get that score, "barely average music" for me. 3 would be for usual mainstream shit, 2 needs to be cringe worthy also, 1 is the special place for the likes of Yoko Ono, Sex Pistols and such.

I doubt that any IM song will hit the 3. I would need to really dislike it to give it that. So yes, the lowest Maiden can score is 3 and the candidate for that is TAATG, but it will probably be a 4.

P.S. I like the name of 1 The Yoko Ono category.

So we have scale of Yoko Ono to 10.

 

[Diesel 11]

More like a scale of Yoko Ono to Death.

Given that all of Ono is shit and all of Death is fucking amazing, I think that'd work best don't you?

But feel free to swap Ono for Bieber and Death for ABBA if you want, that'd work too.

 

[matic22]

P.S. I am also doing my ultimate Maiden playlist. Songs that will make it will be posted here after I'm done with each album.

 

[Diesel 11]

P.S. I am also doing my ultimate Maiden playlist. Songs that will make it will be posted here after I'm done with each album.

Ooh now I am INTERESTED!

 

[matic22]

You know what, I'll start a new thread, so I don't litter this one and ruin LC's amazing work.

 

[Diesel 11]

Coming Soon: The Greater Good of God.

 

[LooseCannon]

T23: For the Greater Good of God - A Matter of Life and Death (Harris)
Average score: 9.06/10 Deviation: 0.91
A Matter of Life and Death 9/10
Top 25: 2008, 2011, 2014, 2015
Top 50: 2016
Top 100: 2012

Holy shit, the Commentary thread on this is a fucking mess of a flamewar. This song has sunk significantly in the most recent year; that being said, it has had very strong performances other years, with four of a possible six Top 25 responses, enough to get the track into the all-time Top 25. The deviation is a little higher than many A Matter of Life and Death songs, and it is worth noting that this is the second-last song from that album. Most people like the lyrics, except the chorus, where some people believe the repetition of the song's title is powerful, and others highly tedious. Still, this one is clearly an excellent brooding epic, and I think it'll hold this position.

Choice comments:

I wouldn't say it's the best song of the album, but then again, it's hard to pick a winner I love the lyrics of this song, especially the pre-chorus (?) with "Please tell me know...". One of Steve Harris' best efforts in my book.

I did think that Blood on the World's Hands played a big role in influencing this song...firstly in the bass intro (although BotWH's is far better) and then in the heavy bridges. Still, this is one of the darkest songs on the album, and BotWH was definitely the darkest song on The X Factor (although they were all pretty dark)

Nice melody on the intro and great rhythm when the pace picks up. Neither the pre-chorus nor the chorus are strong enough to carry the amount of time they take centre stage. This, probably more than any reunion number, is guilty of the oft-cited Harris sin of repetition. A strong lyric and the general epic feel keep it from getting a fail though. In fact, it’s quite good, just overblown.

My early favourite from this album, and I still think it is one of the best. Steve has his best moment since Blood on the World's Hands, Bruce has never sounded better, and the three amigos seem to be playing for their lives. The lyrics stand out as some of the best they have ever done

An epic masterpiece bookended by Steve's brilliantly sombre bass intro/outro. Many wonderful guitar riffs are contained within - atmospheric, harmonic, heavy - and the guitar line playing under the power chords during the verses is one of my AMOLAD highlights. The guitars during the pre-chorus and chorus are very, very large. Epic. However the solos seem a little short, boo. Bruce is relentless, mighty. I love "a wolf in sheep's clothing"...always reminds me of Caught Somewhere in Time. There are no complaints of repetition here. I wake up each day and repetitiously listen to Maiden and play my guitar...repetition rocks.

For me, it is a perfect song that has me in trance every time I play it. The repetition is never something that has bothered me, in fact - I've never thought about it as repetitive. The "Please tell me now what life is"-parts sends shivers down my spine every time. The guitar melody, the expression in the vocals and in the words - it's just such a fantastic part and an incredible piece of music as a whole. A song that express a frustration about wars and people killing each others over religious beliefs that goes on and on and on, and never stops. Not much too say about the meaning in the lyrics really, but the way he puts the words and how Bruce sings them is everything.

This is a masterpiece, designed to batter into your mind over and over the hypocrisy of those who use the concept "The greater good" and the even greater hypocrisy of mingling it with "for god". Dark and demonic and slow that builds into a mighty crescendo. Perhaps not a classic, but a great.

Steve's big epic. The intro is wonderful, and I love Bruce's singing. You can feel he is into it. The verses are heavy and hard-hitting, and I like what Adrian(?) does in the background. The pre-chorus is only decent though, but I love the chorus. Repetitive? Nah, unlike No More Lies this chorus gains momentum when it's repeated.

Statistics

Spoiler

Yearly ratings & rankings
2008: 9.56; 18/134
2011: 8.96 -0.60; 23/144 +5
2012: 59/144 -36
2014: 9.21 +0.25; 14/144 +45
2015: 9.11 -0.10; 19/144 -5
2016: 8.65 -0.46; 34/155 -15

Overall

Spoiler

24 - For the Greater Good of God (A Matter of Life and Death)
26 - Moonchild (Seventh Son of a Seventh Son)
27 - Starblind (The Final Frontier)
28 - Murders in the Rue Morgue (Killers)
28 - Still Life (Piece of Mind)
30 - Alexander the Great (Somewhere in Time)
31 - Rainmaker (Dance of Death)
31 - Where Eagles Dare (Piece of Mind)
33 - Dream of Mirrors (Brave New World)
34 - The Wicker Man (Brave New World)
34 - Wasted Years (Afraid to Shoot Strangers)
36 - Afraid to Shoot Strangers (Fear of the Dark)
37 - The Nomad (Brave New World)
38 - The Evil That Men Do (Seventh Son of a Seventh Son)
39 - Caught Somewhere in Time (Somewhere in Time)
39 - 22, Acacia Avenue (The Number of the Beast)
41 - Brave New World (Brave New World)
41 - When the Wild Wind Blows (The Final Frontier)
43 - The Prisoner (The Number of the Beast)
44 - These Colours Don't Run (A Matter of Life and Death)
45 - Stranger in a Strange Land (Somewhere in Time)
46 - The Legacy (A Matter of Life and Death)
47 - Remember Tomorrow (Iron Maiden)
48 - 2 Minutes to Midnight (Powerslave)
49 - Sea of Madness (Somewhere in Time)
50 - The Longest Day (A Matter of Life and Death)
51 - The Edge of Darkness (The X Factor)
52 - Transylvania (Iron Maiden)
52 - The Talisman (The Final Frontier)
54 - The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg (A Matter of Life and Death)
55 - Isle of Avalon (The Final Frontier)
55 - Lord of Light (A Matter of Life and Death)
57 - The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner (Somewhere in Time)
58 - Genghis Khan (Killers)
59 - Coming Home (The Final Frontier)
60 - The Clairvoyant (Seventh Son of a Seventh Son)
61 - Flight of Icarus (Piece of Mind)
62 - The Aftermath (The X Factor)
63 - The Thin Line Between Love and Hate (Brave New World)
64 - Run Silent, Run Deep (No Prayer For the Dying)
65 - Strange World (Iron Maiden)
66 - Only the Good Die Young (Seventh Son of a Seventh Son)
67 - The Duelists (Powerslave)
68 - Judas Be My Guide (Fear of the Dark)
69 - Face in the Sand (Dance of Death)
69 - No More Lies (Dance of Death)
71 - Out of the Silent Planet (Brave New World)
71 - Prowler (Iron Maiden)
73 - Wrathchild (Killers)
74 - Man on the Edge (The X Factor)
74 - The Great Unknown (The Book of Souls)
76 - The Ides of March (Killers)
77 - Tears of a Clown (The Book of Souls)
78 - The Educated Fool (Virtual XI)
79 - Futureal (Virtual XI)
80 - Different World (A Matter of Life and Death)
80 - No Prayer For the Dying (No Prayer For the Dying)
82 - Run to the Hills (The Number of the Beast)
82 - The Red and the Black (The Book of Souls)
84 - Prodigal Son (Killers)
85 - Die With Your Boots On (Piece of Mind)
86 - The Prophecy (Seventh Son of a Seventh Son)
87 - The Alchemist (The Final Frontier)
87 - Deja Vu (Somewhere in Time)
89 - El Dorado (The Final Frontier)
89 - Mother of Mercy (The Final Frontier)
91 - Flash of the Blade (Powerslave)
92 - Out of the Shadows (A Matter of Life and Death)
93 - Blood on the World's Hands (The X Factor)
94 - Montsegur (Dance of Death)
95 - Journeyman (Dance of Death)
96 - Back in the Village (Powerslave)
97 - Purgatory (Killers)
98 - The Man of Sorrows (The Book of Souls)
99 - The Man Who Would Be King (The Final Frontier)
99 - Lightning Strikes Twice (Virtual XI)
101 - Lord of the Flies (The X Factor)
102 - 2 A.M. (The X Factor)
102 - Fortunes of War (The X Factor)
102 - Death or Glory (The Book of Souls)
105 - Satellite 15... The Final Frontier (The Final Frontier)
106 - Mother Russia (No Prayer For the Dying)
107 - Como Estais Amigos (Virtual XI)
108 - The Pilgrim (A Matter of Life and Death)
109 - Losfer Words (Big 'Orra) (Powerslave)
110 - Running Free (Iron Maiden)
111 - Total Eclipse (The Number of the Beast)
112 - Speed of Light (The Book of Souls)
113 - Wasting Love (Fear of the Dark)
114 - Judgement of Heaven (The X Factor)
115 - The Unbeliever (The X Factor)
116 - Heaven Can Wait (Somewhere in Time)
116 - Childhood's End (Fear of the Dark)
118 - Can I Play With Madness? (Seventh Son of a Seventh Son)
119 - Twilight Zone (Killers)
120 - The Mercenary (Brave New World)
121 - When the River Runs Deep (The Book of Souls)
122 - The Fallen Angel (Brave New World)
123 - Shadows of the Valley (The Book of Souls)
124 - Charlotte the Harlot (Iron Maiden)
125 - Invaders (The Number of the Beast)
126 - Age of Innocence (Dance of Death)
126 - Look For the Truth (The X Factor)
128 - When Two Worlds Collide (Virtual XI)
129 - Drifter (Killers)
130 - Another Life (Killers)
131 - Public Enema Number One (No Prayer For the Dying)
132 - Sun and Steel (Piece of Mind)
132 - Innocent Exile (Killers)
134 - Sanctuary (Iron Maiden)
135 - Be Quick or Be Dead (Fear of the Dark)
136 - Wildest Dreams (Dance of Death)
137 - Don't Look to the Eyes of a Stranger (Virtual XI)
138 - The Fugitive (Fear of the Dark)
139 - The Assassin (No Prayer For the Dying)
140 - Iron Maiden (Iron Maiden)
141 - Fates Warning (No Prayer For the Dying)
142 - New Frontier (Dance of Death)
143 - Holy Smoke (No Prayer For the Dying)
143 - Tailgunner (No Prayer For the Dying)
145 - Gangland (The Number of the Beast)
146 - Quest For Fire (Piece of Mind)
147 - Bring Your Daughter... ...To the Slaughter (No Prayer For the Dying)
148 - Gates of Tomorrow (Dance of Death)
149 - The Angel and the Gambler (Virtual XI)
150 - From Here to Eternity (Fear of the Dark)
151 - Fear is the Key (Fear of the Dark)
152 - Chains of Misery (Fear of the Dark)
153 - Hooks in You (No Prayer For the Dying)
153 - Weekend Warrior (Fear of the Dark)
155 - The Apparition (Fear of the Dark)

Song deviance (least to greatest)

Spoiler

0.26 - Different World (A Matter of Life and Death)
0.26 - Mother of Mercy (The Final Frontier)
0.27 - The Alchemist (The Final Frontier)
0.34 - The Fallen Angel (Brave New World)
0.38 - Flight of Icarus (Piece of Mind)
0.39 - Satellite 15... The Final Frontier (The Final Frontier)
0.44 - Die With Your Boots On (Piece of Mind)
0.46 - Rainmaker (Dance of Death)
0.46 - These Colours Don't Run (A Matter of Life and Death)
0.50 - Alexander the Great (Somewhere in Time)
0.53 - Lord of Light (A Matter of Life and Death)
0.54 - El Dorado (The Final Frontier)
0.55 - Prowler (Iron Maiden)
0.55 - The Man Who Would Be King (The Final Frontier)
0.56 - Starblind (The Final Frontier)
0.58 - Afraid to Shoot Strangers (Fear of the Dark)
0.58 - The Talisman (The Final Frontier)
0.60 - Flash of the Blade (Powerslave)
0.62 - Remember Tomorrow (Iron Maiden)
0.66 - Deja Vu (Somewhere in Time)
0.68 - Invaders (The Number of the Beast)
0.70 - Montsegur (Dance of Death)
0.70 - The Prophecy (Seventh Son of a Seventh Son)
0.74 - The Legacy (A Matter of Life and Death)
0.76 - Fates Warning (No Prayer For the Dying)
0.78 - The Mercenary (Brave New World)
0.80 - 2 Minutes to Midnight (Powerslave)
0.80 - Can I Play With Madness? (Seventh Son of a Seventh Son)
0.81 - Another Life (Killers)
0.85 - The Pilgrim (A Matter of Life and Death)
0.86 - Total Eclipse (The Number of the Beast)
0.90 - Run to the Hills (The Number of the Beast)
0.90 - Heaven Can Wait (Somewhere in Time)
0.91 - For the Greater Good of God (A Matter of Life and Death)
0.92 - Fear is the Key (Fear of the Dark)
0.92 - The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner (Somewhere in Time)
0.92 - The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg (A Matter of Life and Death)
0.93 - Sun and Steel (Piece of Mind)
0.96 - Innocent Exile (Killers)
1.00 - Coming Home (The Final Frontier)
1.02 - Isle of Avalon (The Final Frontier)
1.02 - Lord of the Flies (The X Factor)
1.03 - No Prayer For the Dying (No Prayer For the Dying)
1.04 - Purgatory (Killers)
1.06 - Brave New World (Brave New World)
1.08 - Como Estais Amigos (Virtual XI)
1.10 - Moonchild (Seventh Son of a Seventh Son)
1.10 - Sea of Madness (Somewhere in Time)
1.13 - Caught Somewhere in Time (Somewhere in Time)
1.15 - Mother Russia (No Prayer For the Dying)
1.18 - The Wicker Man (Brave New World)
1.20 - Wasted Years (Afraid to Shoot Strangers)
1.22 - Wrathchild (Killers)
1.22 - When the Wild Wind Blows (The Final Frontier)
1.23 - Fortunes of War (The X Factor)
1.24 - Face in the Sand (Dance of Death)
1.24 - Where Eagles Dare (Piece of Mind)
1.26 - No More Lies (Dance of Death)
1.29 - Gangland (The Number of the Beast)
1.31 - Futureal (Virtual XI)
1.33 - Still Life (Piece of Mind)
1.39 - Murders in the Rue Morgue (Killers)
1.42 - The Longest Day (A Matter of Life and Death)
1.43 - Dream of Mirrors (Brave New World)
1.45 - When Two Worlds Collide (Virtual XI)
1.46 - Childhood's End (Fear of the Dark)
1.46 - Running Free (Iron Maiden)
1.48 - The Prisoner (The Number of the Beast)
1.51 - Only the Good Die Young (Seventh Son of a Seventh Son)
1.52 - Journeyman (Dance of Death)
1.52 - The Fugitive (Fear of the Dark)
1.52 - Wasting Love (Fear of the Dark)
1.54 - Out of the Silent Planet (Brave New World)
1.54 - Prodigal Son (Killers)
1.56 - Iron Maiden (Iron Maiden)
1.58 - The Unbeliever (The X Factor)
1.62 - Judas Be My Guide (Fear of the Dark)
1.62 - The Clairvoyant (Seventh Son of a Seventh Son)
1.64 - 22, Acacia Avenue (The Number of the Beast)
1.64 - Stranger in a Strange Land (Somewhere in Time)
1.67 - Out of the Shadows (A Matter of Life and Death)
1.68 - Man on the Edge (The X Factor)
1.68 - The Apparition (Fear of the Dark)
1.69 - Strange World (Iron Maiden)
1.79 - The Nomad (Brave New World)
1.82 - Drifter (Killers)
1.83 - The Thin Line Between Love and Hate (Brave New World)
1.83 - Tailgunner (No Prayer For the Dying)
1.84 - Age of Innocence (Dance of Death)
1.86 - Back in the Village (Powerslave)
1.86 - Sanctuary (Iron Maiden)
1.87 - Judgement of Heaven (The X Factor)
1.88 - The Edge of Darkness (The X Factor)
1.94 - Public Enema Number One (No Prayer For the Dying)
1.94 - Quest For Fire (Piece of Mind)
1.95 - The Angel and the Gambler (Virtual XI)
2.04 - Wildest Dreams (Dance of Death)
2.08 - Transylvania (Iron Maiden)
2.10 - Blood on the World's Hands (The X Factor)
2.19 - Genghis Khan (Killers)
2.20 - Lightning Strikes Twice (Virtual XI)
2.20 - New Frontier (Dance of Death)
2.22 - Hooks in You (No Prayer For the Dying)
2.26 - Losfer Words (Big 'Orra) (Powerslave)
2.27 - Look For the Truth (The X Factor)
2.31 - The Evil That Men Do (Seventh Son of a Seventh Son)
2.36 - Run Silent, Run Deep (No Prayer For the Dying)
2.50 - The Duelists (Powerslave)
2.72 - Twilight Zone (Killers)
2.82 - Gates of Tomorrow (Dance of Death)
2.87 - The Ides of March (Killers)
2.89 - The Aftermath (The X Factor)
2.93 - Bring Your Daughter... ...To the Slaughter (No Prayer For the Dying)
2.94 - Holy Smoke (No Prayer For the Dying)
3.04 - Be Quick or Be Dead (Fear of the Dark)
3.26 - The Educated Fool (Virtual XI)
3.32 - Charlotte the Harlot (Iron Maiden)
3.34 - Chains of Misery (Fear of the Dark)
3.40 - Weekend Warrior (Fear of the Dark)
3.76 - From Here to Eternity (Fear of the Dark)
3.81 - 2 A.M. (The X Factor)
3.90 - The Assassin (No Prayer For the Dying)
3.95 - Don't Look to the Eyes of a Stranger (Virtual XI)
n/a - Death or Glory (The Book of Souls)
n/a - Shadows of the Valley (The Book of Souls)
n/a - Speed of Light (The Book of Souls)
n/a - Tears of a Clown (The Book of Souls)
n/a - The Great Unknown (The Book of Souls)
n/a - The Man of Sorrows (The Book of Souls)
n/a - The Red and the Black (The Book of Souls)
n/a - When the River Runs Deep (The Book of Souls)

Albums

Spoiler

Iron Maiden 8/9 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 2 Top 50: 15 Top 100: 33
Killers 10/11 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 7 Top 50: 16 Top 100: 41
The Number of the Beast 6/9 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 3 Top 50: 8 Top 100: 23
Piece of Mind 6/9 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 5 Top 50: 13 Top 100: 19
Powerslave 5/8 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 12 Top 100: 21
Somewhere in Time 8/8 Top 10: 2 Top 25: 6 Top 50: 24 Top 100: 35
Average Rating: 8.44 Average Deviation: 1.01 Trophy Points: 127 TPPSY: 1.76
Seventh Son of a Seventh Son 6/8 Top 10: 2 Top 25: 8 Top 50: 12 Top 100: 27
No Prayer For the Dying 10/10 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 1 Top 50: 7 Top 100: 23
Average Rating: 6.67 Average Deviation: 2.11 Trophy Points: 41 TPPSY: 0.45
Fear of the Dark 11/12 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 2 Top 50: 8 Top 100: 28
The X Factor 10/11 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 8 Top 50: 7 Top 100: 49
Virtual XI 7/8 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 1 Top 50: 9 Top 100: 13
Brave New World 8/10 Top 10: 1 Top 25: 10 Top 50: 20 Top 100: 25
Dance of Death 9/11 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 2 Top 50: 9 Top 100: 37
A Matter of Life and Death 9/10 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 5 Top 50: 22 Top 100: 24
The Final Frontier 10/10 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 5 Top 50: 14 Top 100: 31
Average Rating: 8.20 Average Deviation: 0.64 Trophy Points: 79 TPPSY: 0.88
The Book of Souls 8/11 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 0 Top 100: 6

 

[SirRobbins]

^ and....... there it is

 

[Magnus]

Coincidence? I think not.

 

[LooseCannon]

T23: Empire of the Clouds - The Book of Souls (Dickinson)
Average score: 9.06/10 Deviation: n/a
The Book of Souls 9/11
Top 25: 2016

Interestingly, this track doesn't get universal acclaim - it has a handful of dedicated detractors, who either do not care to see the intricate ballad-style construction of the track, or do not care for the same. All that being said, this bold and unique Iron Maiden track has landed quite high in the rankings in 2016, coming in at 25 - quite the accomplishment. I have no idea where this will go, previous experience suggests it will slide a bit once it sinks in more, but it is possible this one will rise. Who knows!

Choice comments:

It sure does that. It's got some extremely strong parts and melodies. However it gets a bit tiring after some point. Not the best song of the album as far as I am concerned, I think it needs some editing and better arrangement/ structuring.

It's intentionally expansive. To be fair, there is always a group of people who find such music boring. It's nothing against either the song or the fan; it's just a fact that longer songs are more likely to eventually becoming boring to someone. That's how the human brain works.

Damn, this is such a mind blowing and amazing song! Bruce sure has developed a ton of song writing talent! WOW! I'd love for him to do a solo album with him EXCLUSIVELY writing EVERY song and just going insane with this type of creativity.

Fake orchestra sounds so fucking bad. It's so terrible I cringed every time I heard a "cello" or some "horns". The guy didn't even use legato patches - it's fucking 2015, you can do better than that with virtual instruments, man... For God's sake, I think they could easily afford recording real instruments... But I guess they wanted to do it quick. Piano sounds fine at the beginning, but it's unnecessary later on... They have three bloody guitars, and there is no problem with them covering all these lines. The piano doesn't work well when the whole band is playing.

If people can't see the airship being buffeted by the storm in the instrumental part of this song...I don't know what to say.

I still think this is going to end up in the top 25 Maiden songs once the polls are opened.

Exactly why I love this song: the music tells the story in perfect sync with the lyrics. Bruce is a master storyteller and he puts that same emotion and care into his music here (as well as his words).

Still one of my least liked from TBOS - I admire the idea, the musical thought and the audacity of it, but the execution is just rather mundane. The idea is there though, and as the 18+ minutes is just repetition of the main motif, you could cut 2/3's of it and still have everything you need in the track. At 5 minutes I'd rate the track much higher.

This description could be so long... but I just don't know what to say. It's a journey every time, and 18 minutes are over before it started. This is why I love Maiden, you get lost and travel to another place and become part of the story and world.

For an eighteen minute song, it always feels fresh whenever I listen to it. I avoided it like the plague when I first got into Maiden because I doubted it would be anything less than indulgent, but man was I wrong. Brilliant storytelling within the lyrics, brilliant composition, and a brilliant listening experience. On a side note, I've actually used this song to introduce non-Maiden fans in my family to the band, and they all love it.

Statistics

Spoiler

Yearly ratings & rankings
2016: 9.06; 25/155

Overall

Spoiler

24 - Empire of the Clouds (The Book of Souls)
24 - For the Greater Good of God (A Matter of Life and Death)
26 - Moonchild (Seventh Son of a Seventh Son)
27 - Starblind (The Final Frontier)
28 - Murders in the Rue Morgue (Killers)
28 - Still Life (Piece of Mind)
30 - Alexander the Great (Somewhere in Time)
31 - Rainmaker (Dance of Death)
31 - Where Eagles Dare (Piece of Mind)
33 - Dream of Mirrors (Brave New World)
34 - The Wicker Man (Brave New World)
34 - Wasted Years (Afraid to Shoot Strangers)
36 - Afraid to Shoot Strangers (Fear of the Dark)
37 - The Nomad (Brave New World)
38 - The Evil That Men Do (Seventh Son of a Seventh Son)
39 - Caught Somewhere in Time (Somewhere in Time)
39 - 22, Acacia Avenue (The Number of the Beast)
41 - Brave New World (Brave New World)
41 - When the Wild Wind Blows (The Final Frontier)
43 - The Prisoner (The Number of the Beast)
44 - These Colours Don't Run (A Matter of Life and Death)
45 - Stranger in a Strange Land (Somewhere in Time)
46 - The Legacy (A Matter of Life and Death)
47 - Remember Tomorrow (Iron Maiden)
48 - 2 Minutes to Midnight (Powerslave)
49 - Sea of Madness (Somewhere in Time)
50 - The Longest Day (A Matter of Life and Death)
51 - The Edge of Darkness (The X Factor)
52 - Transylvania (Iron Maiden)
52 - The Talisman (The Final Frontier)
54 - The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg (A Matter of Life and Death)
55 - Isle of Avalon (The Final Frontier)
55 - Lord of Light (A Matter of Life and Death)
57 - The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner (Somewhere in Time)
58 - Genghis Khan (Killers)
59 - Coming Home (The Final Frontier)
60 - The Clairvoyant (Seventh Son of a Seventh Son)
61 - Flight of Icarus (Piece of Mind)
62 - The Aftermath (The X Factor)
63 - The Thin Line Between Love and Hate (Brave New World)
64 - Run Silent, Run Deep (No Prayer For the Dying)
65 - Strange World (Iron Maiden)
66 - Only the Good Die Young (Seventh Son of a Seventh Son)
67 - The Duelists (Powerslave)
68 - Judas Be My Guide (Fear of the Dark)
69 - Face in the Sand (Dance of Death)
69 - No More Lies (Dance of Death)
71 - Out of the Silent Planet (Brave New World)
71 - Prowler (Iron Maiden)
73 - Wrathchild (Killers)
74 - Man on the Edge (The X Factor)
74 - The Great Unknown (The Book of Souls)
76 - The Ides of March (Killers)
77 - Tears of a Clown (The Book of Souls)
78 - The Educated Fool (Virtual XI)
79 - Futureal (Virtual XI)
80 - Different World (A Matter of Life and Death)
80 - No Prayer For the Dying (No Prayer For the Dying)
82 - Run to the Hills (The Number of the Beast)
82 - The Red and the Black (The Book of Souls)
84 - Prodigal Son (Killers)
85 - Die With Your Boots On (Piece of Mind)
86 - The Prophecy (Seventh Son of a Seventh Son)
87 - The Alchemist (The Final Frontier)
87 - Deja Vu (Somewhere in Time)
89 - El Dorado (The Final Frontier)
89 - Mother of Mercy (The Final Frontier)
91 - Flash of the Blade (Powerslave)
92 - Out of the Shadows (A Matter of Life and Death)
93 - Blood on the World's Hands (The X Factor)
94 - Montsegur (Dance of Death)
95 - Journeyman (Dance of Death)
96 - Back in the Village (Powerslave)
97 - Purgatory (Killers)
98 - The Man of Sorrows (The Book of Souls)
99 - The Man Who Would Be King (The Final Frontier)
99 - Lightning Strikes Twice (Virtual XI)
101 - Lord of the Flies (The X Factor)
102 - 2 A.M. (The X Factor)
102 - Fortunes of War (The X Factor)
102 - Death or Glory (The Book of Souls)
105 - Satellite 15... The Final Frontier (The Final Frontier)
106 - Mother Russia (No Prayer For the Dying)
107 - Como Estais Amigos (Virtual XI)
108 - The Pilgrim (A Matter of Life and Death)
109 - Losfer Words (Big 'Orra) (Powerslave)
110 - Running Free (Iron Maiden)
111 - Total Eclipse (The Number of the Beast)
112 - Speed of Light (The Book of Souls)
113 - Wasting Love (Fear of the Dark)
114 - Judgement of Heaven (The X Factor)
115 - The Unbeliever (The X Factor)
116 - Heaven Can Wait (Somewhere in Time)
116 - Childhood's End (Fear of the Dark)
118 - Can I Play With Madness? (Seventh Son of a Seventh Son)
119 - Twilight Zone (Killers)
120 - The Mercenary (Brave New World)
121 - When the River Runs Deep (The Book of Souls)
122 - The Fallen Angel (Brave New World)
123 - Shadows of the Valley (The Book of Souls)
124 - Charlotte the Harlot (Iron Maiden)
125 - Invaders (The Number of the Beast)
126 - Age of Innocence (Dance of Death)
126 - Look For the Truth (The X Factor)
128 - When Two Worlds Collide (Virtual XI)
129 - Drifter (Killers)
130 - Another Life (Killers)
131 - Public Enema Number One (No Prayer For the Dying)
132 - Sun and Steel (Piece of Mind)
132 - Innocent Exile (Killers)
134 - Sanctuary (Iron Maiden)
135 - Be Quick or Be Dead (Fear of the Dark)
136 - Wildest Dreams (Dance of Death)
137 - Don't Look to the Eyes of a Stranger (Virtual XI)
138 - The Fugitive (Fear of the Dark)
139 - The Assassin (No Prayer For the Dying)
140 - Iron Maiden (Iron Maiden)
141 - Fates Warning (No Prayer For the Dying)
142 - New Frontier (Dance of Death)
143 - Holy Smoke (No Prayer For the Dying)
143 - Tailgunner (No Prayer For the Dying)
145 - Gangland (The Number of the Beast)
146 - Quest For Fire (Piece of Mind)
147 - Bring Your Daughter... ...To the Slaughter (No Prayer For the Dying)
148 - Gates of Tomorrow (Dance of Death)
149 - The Angel and the Gambler (Virtual XI)
150 - From Here to Eternity (Fear of the Dark)
151 - Fear is the Key (Fear of the Dark)
152 - Chains of Misery (Fear of the Dark)
153 - Hooks in You (No Prayer For the Dying)
153 - Weekend Warrior (Fear of the Dark)
155 - The Apparition (Fear of the Dark)

Song deviance (least to greatest)

Spoiler

0.26 - Different World (A Matter of Life and Death)
0.26 - Mother of Mercy (The Final Frontier)
0.27 - The Alchemist (The Final Frontier)
0.34 - The Fallen Angel (Brave New World)
0.38 - Flight of Icarus (Piece of Mind)
0.39 - Satellite 15... The Final Frontier (The Final Frontier)
0.44 - Die With Your Boots On (Piece of Mind)
0.46 - Rainmaker (Dance of Death)
0.46 - These Colours Don't Run (A Matter of Life and Death)
0.50 - Alexander the Great (Somewhere in Time)
0.53 - Lord of Light (A Matter of Life and Death)
0.54 - El Dorado (The Final Frontier)
0.55 - Prowler (Iron Maiden)
0.55 - The Man Who Would Be King (The Final Frontier)
0.56 - Starblind (The Final Frontier)
0.58 - Afraid to Shoot Strangers (Fear of the Dark)
0.58 - The Talisman (The Final Frontier)
0.60 - Flash of the Blade (Powerslave)
0.62 - Remember Tomorrow (Iron Maiden)
0.66 - Deja Vu (Somewhere in Time)
0.68 - Invaders (The Number of the Beast)
0.70 - Montsegur (Dance of Death)
0.70 - The Prophecy (Seventh Son of a Seventh Son)
0.74 - The Legacy (A Matter of Life and Death)
0.76 - Fates Warning (No Prayer For the Dying)
0.78 - The Mercenary (Brave New World)
0.80 - 2 Minutes to Midnight (Powerslave)
0.80 - Can I Play With Madness? (Seventh Son of a Seventh Son)
0.81 - Another Life (Killers)
0.85 - The Pilgrim (A Matter of Life and Death)
0.86 - Total Eclipse (The Number of the Beast)
0.90 - Run to the Hills (The Number of the Beast)
0.90 - Heaven Can Wait (Somewhere in Time)
0.91 - For the Greater Good of God (A Matter of Life and Death)
0.92 - Fear is the Key (Fear of the Dark)
0.92 - The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner (Somewhere in Time)
0.92 - The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg (A Matter of Life and Death)
0.93 - Sun and Steel (Piece of Mind)
0.96 - Innocent Exile (Killers)
1.00 - Coming Home (The Final Frontier)
1.02 - Isle of Avalon (The Final Frontier)
1.02 - Lord of the Flies (The X Factor)
1.03 - No Prayer For the Dying (No Prayer For the Dying)
1.04 - Purgatory (Killers)
1.06 - Brave New World (Brave New World)
1.08 - Como Estais Amigos (Virtual XI)
1.10 - Moonchild (Seventh Son of a Seventh Son)
1.10 - Sea of Madness (Somewhere in Time)
1.13 - Caught Somewhere in Time (Somewhere in Time)
1.15 - Mother Russia (No Prayer For the Dying)
1.18 - The Wicker Man (Brave New World)
1.20 - Wasted Years (Afraid to Shoot Strangers)
1.22 - Wrathchild (Killers)
1.22 - When the Wild Wind Blows (The Final Frontier)
1.23 - Fortunes of War (The X Factor)
1.24 - Face in the Sand (Dance of Death)
1.24 - Where Eagles Dare (Piece of Mind)
1.26 - No More Lies (Dance of Death)
1.29 - Gangland (The Number of the Beast)
1.31 - Futureal (Virtual XI)
1.33 - Still Life (Piece of Mind)
1.39 - Murders in the Rue Morgue (Killers)
1.42 - The Longest Day (A Matter of Life and Death)
1.43 - Dream of Mirrors (Brave New World)
1.45 - When Two Worlds Collide (Virtual XI)
1.46 - Childhood's End (Fear of the Dark)
1.46 - Running Free (Iron Maiden)
1.48 - The Prisoner (The Number of the Beast)
1.51 - Only the Good Die Young (Seventh Son of a Seventh Son)
1.52 - Journeyman (Dance of Death)
1.52 - The Fugitive (Fear of the Dark)
1.52 - Wasting Love (Fear of the Dark)
1.54 - Out of the Silent Planet (Brave New World)
1.54 - Prodigal Son (Killers)
1.56 - Iron Maiden (Iron Maiden)
1.58 - The Unbeliever (The X Factor)
1.62 - Judas Be My Guide (Fear of the Dark)
1.62 - The Clairvoyant (Seventh Son of a Seventh Son)
1.64 - 22, Acacia Avenue (The Number of the Beast)
1.64 - Stranger in a Strange Land (Somewhere in Time)
1.67 - Out of the Shadows (A Matter of Life and Death)
1.68 - Man on the Edge (The X Factor)
1.68 - The Apparition (Fear of the Dark)
1.69 - Strange World (Iron Maiden)
1.79 - The Nomad (Brave New World)
1.82 - Drifter (Killers)
1.83 - The Thin Line Between Love and Hate (Brave New World)
1.83 - Tailgunner (No Prayer For the Dying)
1.84 - Age of Innocence (Dance of Death)
1.86 - Back in the Village (Powerslave)
1.86 - Sanctuary (Iron Maiden)
1.87 - Judgement of Heaven (The X Factor)
1.88 - The Edge of Darkness (The X Factor)
1.94 - Public Enema Number One (No Prayer For the Dying)
1.94 - Quest For Fire (Piece of Mind)
1.95 - The Angel and the Gambler (Virtual XI)
2.04 - Wildest Dreams (Dance of Death)
2.08 - Transylvania (Iron Maiden)
2.10 - Blood on the World's Hands (The X Factor)
2.19 - Genghis Khan (Killers)
2.20 - Lightning Strikes Twice (Virtual XI)
2.20 - New Frontier (Dance of Death)
2.22 - Hooks in You (No Prayer For the Dying)
2.26 - Losfer Words (Big 'Orra) (Powerslave)
2.27 - Look For the Truth (The X Factor)
2.31 - The Evil That Men Do (Seventh Son of a Seventh Son)
2.36 - Run Silent, Run Deep (No Prayer For the Dying)
2.50 - The Duelists (Powerslave)
2.72 - Twilight Zone (Killers)
2.82 - Gates of Tomorrow (Dance of Death)
2.87 - The Ides of March (Killers)
2.89 - The Aftermath (The X Factor)
2.93 - Bring Your Daughter... ...To the Slaughter (No Prayer For the Dying)
2.94 - Holy Smoke (No Prayer For the Dying)
3.04 - Be Quick or Be Dead (Fear of the Dark)
3.26 - The Educated Fool (Virtual XI)
3.32 - Charlotte the Harlot (Iron Maiden)
3.34 - Chains of Misery (Fear of the Dark)
3.40 - Weekend Warrior (Fear of the Dark)
3.76 - From Here to Eternity (Fear of the Dark)
3.81 - 2 A.M. (The X Factor)
3.90 - The Assassin (No Prayer For the Dying)
3.95 - Don't Look to the Eyes of a Stranger (Virtual XI)
n/a - Death or Glory (The Book of Souls)
n/a - Empire of the Clouds (The Book of Souls)
n/a - Shadows of the Valley (The Book of Souls)
n/a - Speed of Light (The Book of Souls)
n/a - Tears of a Clown (The Book of Souls)
n/a - The Great Unknown (The Book of Souls)
n/a - The Man of Sorrows (The Book of Souls)
n/a - The Red and the Black (The Book of Souls)
n/a - When the River Runs Deep (The Book of Souls)

Albums

Spoiler

Iron Maiden 8/9 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 2 Top 50: 15 Top 100: 33
Killers 10/11 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 7 Top 50: 16 Top 100: 41
The Number of the Beast 6/9 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 3 Top 50: 8 Top 100: 23
Piece of Mind 6/9 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 5 Top 50: 13 Top 100: 19
Powerslave 5/8 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 12 Top 100: 21
Somewhere in Time 8/8 Top 10: 2 Top 25: 6 Top 50: 24 Top 100: 35
Average Rating: 8.44 Average Deviation: 1.01 Trophy Points: 127 TPPSY: 1.76
Seventh Son of a Seventh Son 6/8 Top 10: 2 Top 25: 8 Top 50: 12 Top 100: 27
No Prayer For the Dying 10/10 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 1 Top 50: 7 Top 100: 23
Average Rating: 6.67 Average Deviation: 2.11 Trophy Points: 41 TPPSY: 0.45
Fear of the Dark 11/12 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 2 Top 50: 8 Top 100: 28
The X Factor 10/11 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 8 Top 50: 7 Top 100: 49
Virtual XI 7/8 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 1 Top 50: 9 Top 100: 13
Brave New World 8/10 Top 10: 1 Top 25: 10 Top 50: 20 Top 100: 25
Dance of Death 9/11 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 2 Top 50: 9 Top 100: 37
A Matter of Life and Death 9/10 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 5 Top 50: 22 Top 100: 24
The Final Frontier 10/10 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 5 Top 50: 14 Top 100: 31
Average Rating: 8.20 Average Deviation: 0.64 Trophy Points: 79 TPPSY: 0.88
The Book of Souls 9/11 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 1 Top 50: 0 Top 100: 6

 

[LooseCannon]

Coincidence? I think not.

There's always been an easy way to see which song is coming next, though I ask those who figure it out not to spoil the surprise too often.