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

I love Dance of Death, but my first impression of it was "Wow, it's overrated AF," and even now I can't really see why it's considered better than a lot of other Maiden classics. But like I said, it's still a good song, and I guess I can kinda see why it's this high.
 
That song got me into Maiden. Definitely ten or so spots too low. But that's forgivable. I'm still salty about The Fugitive not being in the top 50.
 
Mosh said:
I've come to prefer Dance of Death over Paschendale lately.
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Hard to believe that should even be in doubt. Dance of Death is close to an all-time classic (the use of "prance" notwithstanding) while Paschendale is a misspelled disjointed onslaught of prosody.
 
En Vivo, best version. When they kick in, the groove and the tempo are just right. But hey, En Vivo, performance wise, is the top.
 
Paschendale, albeit a great one, is a flawed song. The intro, the lyrics and the fiery solo section are among the band's very best, but it has way too many stop-and-go moments during its buildup and its lyrics are a bit too busy for its music.
 
Both songs are tip top but I've always found DoD more accessible than Paschendale, misspelt or no. DoD gives me everything I want from a song and in that regard is in the same boat as Rime and Hallowed. Paschendale, while an amazing thing, is a bit more of a 'piece' which needs to be focused on and ideally watched, to be fully appreciated, which is why I listen to it a lot less than DoD.
 
Paschendale is certainly a more involving song than Dance of Death, which is the musical equivalent to telling ghost stories around the fire. But it's a mistake to think of the track as anything other than a masterpiece, one wherein each stop, each change in time, each new crescendo isn't part of a masterpiece of drama, building to the violent and predictable conclusion. If Paschendale is disjointed, it is because the event itself was. It evokes its subject in more than lyrics, but in every note of the song - something very few songs of any genre ever manage to do. Every note is perfectly arranged to meet that climax, to bring you closer one step at a time to the inevitable, senseless, violent death of the viewpoint character. To think otherwise is to mistake the song. Much like Empire, you may not like the outcome, but to believe the outcome is anything less than deliberate arrangement by Adrian is not only laughably incorrect, but completely insulting to the concept of what he tried to do.

It is, and remains, Adrian's crowning achievement in Iron Maiden, an epic to match any Steve Harris and Bruce Dickinson and Janick Gers ever wrote.
 
LooseCannon said:
Paschendale is certainly a more involving song than Dance of Death, which is the musical equivalent to telling ghost stories around the fire. But it's a mistake to think of the track as anything other than a masterpiece, one wherein each stop, each change in time, each new crescendo isn't part of a masterpiece of drama, building to the violent and predictable conclusion. If Paschendale is disjointed, it is because the event itself was. It evokes its subject in more than lyrics, but in every note of the song - something very few songs of any genre ever manage to do. Every note is perfectly arranged to meet that climax, to bring you closer one step at a time to the inevitable, senseless, violent death of the viewpoint character. To think otherwise is to mistake the song. Much like Empire, you may not like the outcome, but to believe the outcome is anything less than deliberate arrangement by Adrian is not only laughably incorrect, but completely insulting to the concept of what he tried to do.

It is, and remains, Adrian's crowning achievement in Iron Maiden, an epic to match any Steve Harris and Bruce Dickinson and Janick Gers ever wrote.
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This is pretty much everything I think. It's not my all time favorite Adrian song, it's not my all time favorite epic, but it's definitely high up there on my list, and one of the first songs I think of when I hear the word 'epic'. I am betting on a Top 10 placing with this one.
 
18: To Tame a Land - Piece of Mind (Harris)
Average score: 9.13/10 Deviation: 1.36
Piece of Mind 7/9
Top 10: 2004, 2005, 2006
Top 25: 2008, 2012
Top 50: 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016

Let's go back to 1983 for another track off Piece of Mind, the song originally to be simply titled "Dune", though denied by the author of that particular series, and we can only assume, a book series of which Steve Harris is a fan. Statistically, this one started out incredibly strong, scoring three straight Top 10 rankings (including second in the first ever poll), but has dwindled with the modern generation of Maidenfans, slumping to 38th in 2016. Still a classical favourite, it may very well slide lower over the coming years, but I doubt it will drop out of the Top 30. The lyrics are probably the thing that keeps this one from really breaking through with our current Maidenfans generation.

Choice comments:

Maidenfreak said:
bow down to the lord! What Steve does on this track is simply amazing! All in all this is definitely one of Maiden's best moments.
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mckindog said:
In terms of atmosphere, an early triumph. I probably read Dune around the same time Steve did, and the mood fits the novel, so the lyrics never really bothered me. The last two minutes are awesome but it could have used more momentum getting there.
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Vortex said:
This song has huge potential but doesn't quite deliver the knockout blow. The intro is promising but the verses lack something. The solo is good and different but the bridge out of it doesn't compliment it enough. One of the better tracks from the album.
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Genghis Khan said:
But song things need more translation when changing artistic mediums. These lyrics being one of them. It is hard to feel the message and intended emotion of the song when I don't care for the source material or the main character of the song.
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Perun said:
This has some of 'Arry's most ambitious songwriting, and although I have never read Dune (one of my many plans), it somehow puts me there. I know I'm being inconsequential, but the lyrics don't bother me on this one. Maybe that is because they simply have no meaning to me, I just pretend they're some different language I don't speak. Or simply that Bruce is telling me a good story.
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Forostar said:
The whole song is full of awesome ideas, starting with the cinematic intro (a gaze over a big sandy wasteland, dunes). The double duo collaboration and interaction in this song (right before the fast part) is pretty original, when Steve and Dave play the melody together while Adrian and Nicko hit the chords in sync. Bruce is really in top shape as well, especially when he goes high.
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czgibson said:
here are a lot of nines on Piece of Mind to my ears that don't quite make it to a perfect ten, and this is one of the stronger ones along with 'Revelations'. The lyrics do sound a bit ridiculous, but I'll have to read the book to make sense of them. I know Albeniz' 'Asturias' very well, and there are similar riffs here, but the main melody of 'Asturias' is never quoted exactly. 'Spanish Caravan' by the Doors steals it much more blatantly.
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RTC said:
I feel bad for this song. Not only does it have to end the album, but it also has to perform after two dreadful songs. And it isn't quite enough to save the second half of this album in my opinion, but it's still a good song. I love the homage to Dune, and while the lyrics are a little cheesy, I think you have to understand the source material to get it. The best aspect of this song is that it really makes you feel like you're in the desert world where Dune takes place.
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Mosh said:
The song isn't flawless, the lyrics suffer from Steve's wordiness and it is not one of my go-to Maiden epics.
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Statistics
Yearly ratings & rankings
2004: 9.74; 2/123
2005: 9.72 -0.02; 10/124 -8
2006: 9.90 +0.18; 8/124 +2
2008: 9.62 -0.28; 14/134 -6
2011: 8.80 -0.82; 27/144 -13
2012: 24/144 +3
2014: 8.97 +0.17; 27/144 -3
2015: 8.91 -0.06; 30/144 -3
2016: 8.54 -0.37; 38/155 -8

Overall
18 - To Tame a Land (Piece of Mind)
19 - Dance of Death (Dance of Death)
19 - Blood Brothers (Brave New World)
19 - Ghost of the Navigator (Brave New World)
22 - Fear of the Dark (Fear of the Dark)
23 - The Number of the Beast (The Number of the Beast)
23 - Empire of the Clouds (The Book of Souls)
23 - 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)
0.25 - The Number of the Beast (The Number of the Beast)
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)
0.48 - Ghost of the Navigator (Brave New World)
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 - Fear of the Dark (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)
1.36 - To Tame a Land (Piece of Mind)
1.39 - Murders in the Rue Morgue (Killers)
1.41 - Dance of Death (Dance of Death)
1.42 - The Longest Day (A Matter of Life and Death)
1.42 - Blood Brothers (Brave New World)
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
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 7/9 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 9 Top 50: 11 Top 100: 23
Piece of Mind 7/9 Top 10: 3 Top 25: 7 Top 50: 17 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 12/12 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 7 Top 50: 12 Top 100: 28
Average Rating: 6.53 Average Deviation: 1.95 Trophy Points: 80 TPPSY: 0.74
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 10/10 Top 10: 2 Top 25: 19 Top 50: 28 Top 100: 25
Dance of Death 10/11 Top 10: 4 Top 25: 6 Top 50: 9 Top 100: 40
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
 
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Gonna be honest, it's not the lyrics at all that keep the song lower on my list. It just sounds very un-Maiden-y. It's different from pretty much everything else they did during the 80s, with the exception of Still Life, Revelations, and Quest For Fire, which happen to be on the same album. Only Still Life would I consider a favorite, though Revelations is growing on me quickly, To Tame A Land is growing on me slowly, and Quest For Fire is ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhh............ Don't expect anything other than Still Life to appear on my Top 75 (which, BTW, is being put off until this one finishes completion, in case anyone's been wondering).
 
17: Killers - Killers (Di'Anno, Harris)
Average score: 9.16/10 Deviation: 1.10
Killers 11/11
Top 10: 2006, 2008
Top 25: 2004, 2005, 2011
Top 50: 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016

The highest ranked track penned by Paul Di'Anno! Hey, he did better than Blaze did on that front, so give the man a prize. The intro is praised by most here, as is the driving rhythm section, while many people consider this Paul's best work with Iron Maiden vocally. Another track that was more popular in the 00s, this one actually ticked up a bit in 2016, indicating people might be warming back up to it. Still, definitely a classic Iron Maiden track, one of the two greatest from the early era.

Of course, this means that Killers is now complete. The second Paul Di'Anno album, this release meant that most of the stuff Steve Harris had written in the 1970s was now on vinyl and cassette (eventually, CD and now digital). For the next album, he had to come up with something new, along with his newer guitarist and Paul's replacement. Killers was a metal landmark and there's still people who swear Iron Maiden stopped being true in 1981 when Paul left, and the sound was certainly never the same as the remainder of the punk influence seemed to fall away by the release of the next album...

Killers 11/11 Top 10: 2 Top 25: 10 Top 50: 20 Top 100: 41
Average Rating: 7.84 Average Deviation: 1.61 Trophy Points: 141 TPPSY: 1.42

Choice comments:

MigDaimon said:
There's no words which can describe how perfect Killers is. From the very hi-hat hit, the awesome bass line, the fierce and stunning screams (which Bruce never could make properly), passing from the astonishing "knife going down" riffs, the vocal melodies, to the fucking great solos (specially Dave's) and the gran finale with parts of the lyrics being repeated slightly different, this song is nothing but perfect.
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LooseCannon said:
The quintessential Paul song. Everything about this track screams early Iron Maiden. Steve sounds heavy, the guitars duel constantly throughout the song, and both Davey and H just murder it. Paul is on fire, and he gets into the sound too. And even Clive is great. It has raw energy in buckets, and to be honest, I don't think this song ever sounded the same with Bruce. It should, however, have been a live staple for Blaze. Aw well.
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Perun said:
This is one of the best tracks in the entire Maiden catalogue. The bass intro creates a unique, haunting atmosphere that the entire song manages to live up to. It chills you and pumps you up at the same time, which makes it part of the rare breed of songs that only Maiden can do with such perfection.
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Taker said:
Perhaps the high water mark in terms of Paul's achievement within Maiden. The whole band is fucking cooking on this track, but Di'anno comes through with a vocal savageness that outshines everything. I am always struck, when watching footage of this number, at just how hard the lads are working.
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Murder89 said:
That intro is thrilling indeed.Steve knows how to make songs that express the feelings he wants.Those screams are classic and even though I'm still writing for the intro, the song goes on just as great.There's not a single less great moment in this one.Best song on the album.
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Statistics
Yearly ratings & rankings
2004: 9.40; 11/123
2005: 9.66 +0.26; 13/124 -2
2006: 9.90 +0.24; 8/124 +5
2008: 9.70 -0.20; 10/134 -2
2011: 8.86 -0.84; 25/144 -15
2012: 32/144 -7
2014: 8.83 -0.03; 34/144 -2
2015: 8.80 -0.03; 38/144 -4
2016: 9.00 +0.20; 29/155 +9

Overall
17 - Killers (Killers)
18 - To Tame a Land (Piece of Mind)
19 - Dance of Death (Dance of Death)
19 - Blood Brothers (Brave New World)
19 - Ghost of the Navigator (Brave New World)
22 - Fear of the Dark (Fear of the Dark)
23 - The Number of the Beast (The Number of the Beast)
23 - Empire of the Clouds (The Book of Souls)
23 - 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)
0.25 - The Number of the Beast (The Number of the Beast)
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)
0.48 - Ghost of the Navigator (Brave New World)
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 - Fear of the Dark (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 - Killers (Killers)
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)
1.36 - To Tame a Land (Piece of Mind)
1.39 - Murders in the Rue Morgue (Killers)
1.41 - Dance of Death (Dance of Death)
1.42 - The Longest Day (A Matter of Life and Death)
1.42 - Blood Brothers (Brave New World)
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
Iron Maiden 8/9 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 2 Top 50: 15 Top 100: 33
Killers 11/11 Top 10: 2 Top 25: 10 Top 50: 20 Top 100: 41
Average Rating: 7.84 Average Deviation: 1.61 Trophy Points: 141 TPPSY: 1.42
The Number of the Beast 7/9 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 9 Top 50: 11 Top 100: 23
Piece of Mind 7/9 Top 10: 3 Top 25: 7 Top 50: 17 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 12/12 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 7 Top 50: 12 Top 100: 28
Average Rating: 6.53 Average Deviation: 1.95 Trophy Points: 80 TPPSY: 0.74
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 10/10 Top 10: 2 Top 25: 19 Top 50: 28 Top 100: 25
Average Rating: 8.29 Average Deviation: 1.12 Trophy Points: 177 TPPSY: 1.97
Dance of Death 10/11 Top 10: 4 Top 25: 6 Top 50: 9 Top 100: 40
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
 
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