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

[Diesel 11]

Let's look deeper at it then.

Be Quick Or Be Dead - awesome song
From Here to Eternity - fun little song with a throwback to their earlier work
Afraid to Shoot Strangers - beautiful
Fear is the Key - not terrible, but bland and probably the worst song on the album. It's a weird mix of a song.
Childhood's End - also weird but nonetheless kinda cool, vastly underrated
Wasting Love - great ballad
The Fugitive - I actually need to relisten to this one....
Chains of Misery - not the greatest, but also not bad, the chorus really gets stuck in your head... not a bad thing...
The Apparition - fucking love this song. It's far from their worst. Dunno why everyone says it is.
Judas Be My Guide - probably the best song on the album, I could set that chorus on repeat...
Weekend Warrior - second worst song on the album, but not that bad, it's pretty fun
Fear of the Dark - who could possibly hate this song?

As a matter of fact I'd rate FOTD no less than an 8/10, if not higher. It's a really underrated album, but I for one love it.

 

[fekso2017]

Let's look deeper at it then.

Be Quick Or Be Dead - awesome song
From Here to Eternity - fun little song with a throwback to their earlier work
Afraid to Shoot Strangers - beautiful
Fear is the Key - not terrible, but bland and probably the worst song on the album. It's a weird mix of a song.
Childhood's End - also weird but nonetheless kinda cool, vastly underrated
Wasting Love - great ballad
The Fugitive - I actually need to relisten to this one....
Chains of Misery - not the greatest, but also not bad, the chorus really gets stuck in your head... not a bad thing...
The Apparition - fucking love this song. It's far from their worst. Dunno why everyone says it is.
Judas Be My Guide - probably the best song on the album, I could set that chorus on repeat...
Weekend Warrior - second worst song on the album, but not that bad, it's pretty fun
Fear of the Dark - who could possibly hate this song?

As a matter of fact I'd rate FOTD no less than an 8/10, if not higher. It's a really underrated album, but I for one love it.

Childhoods End was my first Maiden song, next to Relevations. I liked it. I soon heard Fear of the Dark and like you said, who could hate it? My father always played Best of the Beast, so I grew up with that version of Afraid To Shoot Strangers, loved it. I do like From Here to Enternity. Wasting Love is a crime to the Maiden concept (to me anyway), I never thought I would hear Maiden record something like that to be honest.

 

[Diesel 11]

Speaking of Revalations, it was in the top 10 when I went through and compiled the rankings together. Interested to find out where it is on this one because I'm sorry, I just don't really get the appreciation for this song. Believe me, I agree it's great but just rather in-Maidenish. IDK, I'm probably alone in this.

 

[fekso2017]

Speaking of Revalations, it was in the top 10 when I went through and compiled the rankings together. Interested to find out where it is on this one because I'm sorry, I just don't really get the appreciation for this song. Believe me, I agree it's great but just rather in-Maidenish. IDK, I'm probably alone in this.

There's quite a few songs that get more credit than they deserve. Iron Maiden and The Number of The Beast are two that are popular beyond my understanding.

 

[fekso2017]

The most satisfying fact so far is that the Blaze Bayley sunged tracks have managed to stay out of the absolute bottom. I expect a few droping in soon though. I think Dont Look To The Eyes of a Stranger is next!

 

[Srogyy]

To be fair Fear of the Dark is a horrible album. Just to think how many people that wanted an introduction to the band and played this album because of its association with the song...

Well, that's harsh. Fear of the Dark is below average for Maiden standards. Horrible album? No way, there's so much great stuff in it. Even in songs which appear to be bland overall. But granted, it's unfortunate that people may choose it for the introduction, lured by the title track.

 

[fekso2017]

Well, that's harsh. Fear of the Dark is below average for Maiden standards. Horrible album? No way, there's so much great stuff in it. Even in songs which appear to be bland overall. But granted, it's unfortunate that people may choose it for the introduction, lured by the title track.

If you read the comments I made in reply to others you would see I refined myself hahaha, 'lured', very true

 

[Diesel 11]

There's quite a few songs that get more credit than they deserve. Iron Maiden and The Number of The Beast are two that are popular beyond my understanding.

Iron Maiden is probably in my top 40 or 30, and TNOTB is top ten material, definitely.

 

[SirRobbins]

Iron Maiden is probably in my top 40 or 30, and TNOTB is top ten material, definitely.

that's your opinion..... I think NOTB the song is sh*t.. Hallowed is WAY better live, Prisoner, Children and 22 AA are the only solid tracks IMO

Iron Maiden the song has always been awful to me...

 

[fekso2017]

Iron Maiden is probably in my top 40 or 30, and TNOTB is top ten material, definitely.

Odd how people can feel so different... then again The Angel and the Gambler is a guilty pleasure of mine so who am I to judge?

 

[LooseCannon]

137: Don't Look to the Eyes of a Stranger - Virtual XI (Harris)
Average score: 6.72/10 Deviance: 3.95
Virtual XI 2/8
Top 50: 2005, 2006
Top 100: 2004, 2008

Back to our second Blaze song, again from Virtual XI, a fact that probably shocks very few people. However, that wasn't the case. In terms of ranked performances, this is our most decorated song so far, with two Top 50 performances and two Top 100 appearances, all in the 00s. And then the cliff was pulled out from under this song. Once ranked at 9.00, it has since slumped all the way down to 5.05, the fifth-worst in 2016. This includes a 76 place drop from 2008-2011, which may very well stand as the largest change ranking-to-ranking. What's changed? Some members who gave it middling rankings back in the day now give it really low ones (myself included), so maybe it didn't age well. Maybe we have more Blaze-haters now (this is actually statistically true in all Blaze-era songs, none of them go up after 2008). Quite the change in this song's Maidenfans fortunes.

Choice comments:

This is a hard one. I like it musically, but the repetetiveness is much worse than Angel. There is some great riffs and that guitar sound that I love through the whole album is in there too.

Another slice of bland on this one. Possibly the least exciting Maiden track ever. The very end of the song is kinda cool though. Almost a celebration that it's finally finished..

Another good song from the album!

This song does drag on a bit, but that are plenty of good parts in there.

Except for the repetitive part in the middle, this song is amazing! Lots of great and different instrumental parts and I love Blaze's vocals for sure.

I don't think the repetition is all that bad. It's a good song, even if you notice Blaze's limits here and there (during parts of the verses). Perhaps not a forgotten diamond, but a gem nevertheless.

It reminded me of those Benny Hill sequences where people chase each other in fast motion. Then I pictured clowns chasing each other in fast motion and I couldn't stop laughing.

that Super Nintendo unison battle and solo section is just spectacular.

Actually guilty of all the crap people say The Angel and the Gambler is guilty of.

Statistics

Spoiler

Yearly ratings & rankings
2004: 7.90; 84/123
2005: 8.88 +0.98; 39/124 +45
2006: 9.00 +0.12; 38/124 +1
2008: 8.64 -0.36; 58/134 -20
2011: 5.88 -2.76; 134/144 -76
2012: 132/144 +2
2014: 5.85 -0.03; 136/144 -4
2015: 6.03 +0.18; 133/144 +3
2016: 5.05 +0.79; 151/155 -18

Overall

Spoiler

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)

Albums:
Iron Maiden 1/9
The Number of the Beast 1/9
Piece of Mind 1/9
No Prayer For the Dying 6/10
Fear of the Dark 6/12
Virtual XI 2/8
Dance of Death 2/11

Song deviance (least to greatest)
0.76 - Fates Warning (No Prayer For the Dying)
0.92 - Fear is the Key (Fear of the Dark)
1.29 - Gangland (The Number of the Beast)
1.52 - The Fugitive (Fear of the Dark)
1.56 - Iron Maiden (Iron Maiden)
1.68 - The Apparition (Fear of the Dark)
1.83 - Tailgunner (No Prayer For the Dying)
1.94 - Quest For Fire (Piece of Mind)
1.95 - The Angel and the Gambler (Virtual XI)
2.20 - New Frontier (Dance of Death)
2.22 - Hooks in You (No Prayer For the Dying)
2.82 - Gates of Tomorrow (Dance of Death)
2.93 - Bring Your Daughter... ...To the Slaughter (No Prayer For the Dying)
2.94 - Holy Smoke (No Prayer For the Dying)
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)
3.90 - The Assassin (No Prayer For the Dying)
3.95 - Don't Look to the Eyes of a Stranger (Virtual XI)

 

[Mosh]

My views on that one definitely changed. I've fallen out of love with the guitar tone on Virtual XI and don't really find any redeeming qualities in the music. I agree with LC's sentiment much more than my own sentiment from 6 years ago. Probably my least favorite Maiden song.

 

[LooseCannon]

136: Wildest Dreams - Dance of Death (Smith, Harris)
Average score: 6.74/10 Deviance 2.04
Dance of Death 3/11
Top 100: 2006, 2008

We are getting closer and closer to the end of the Meh Zone, but I'd say Wildest Dreams is right in the middle of that curve. In fact, this song has one of the least number of comments on it in among tenured songs. It just doesn't generate that much discussion. Most people like the solo and instrumental, but find it to pale to other album openers. Several people wished it wasn't the first song, preferring Rainmaker for that role (a song we will see much later on). This song gets a couple Top 100 entries in the late 00s, scoring in the high 7s, then falls off the cliff and spirals down to the high 5s by last year.

Choice comments:

Excellent driving anthem! A catchy little number. More like the earlier Maiden albums than any other song I think. The solo/instrumental part is incredible. Other than that a slighty-above-average song.

from the zero second of the song, you're awaiting for that H moment. If it weren't for his solo and his whole instrumental part, this song would be rather boring. It really pulled it out of the mediocre.

A very uplifting piece of music. I like the chorus and the mid-section, and it certainly is a good song live. Still, overall it's not really special and the weakest opener after Invaders.

One of Maiden's worst openers - I think that only Tailgunner and The Ides Of March are worse.

The lyrics are pretty jumbled and while I understand the sentiment, they could have been written so much better. I'm still bummed that of all post 2000 songs they chose this one to play last year. I think DOD would have worked much better with Rainmaker as the opener.

I really don't like the chorus, which really does annoy me. Rainmaker would have been a much much better song to open the album with.

I can very safely say that I'm in a huge minority who actually loves this song. I also prefer it to the overrated "The Wicker Man", which I've always found a fairly dull opener which is only rescued by a great H solo and an inspired outro. "Wildest Dreams" is a far more energetic song making it a perfect opener, and the lyrics are pretty inspiring I have to say... can't see why they've attracted so much hate here!

Near the bottom of the Maiden catalogue. Bland and overall pretty generic both musically and lyrically.

Statistics

Spoiler

Yearly ratings & rankings
2004: 6.34; 116/123
2005: 6.90 +0.56; 106/124 +10
2006: 7.98 +1.08; 85/124 +21
2008: 7.72 -0.26; 100/134 -15
2011: 6.22 -1.50; 128/144 -28
2012: 141/144 -13
2014: 6.70 +0.48; 120/144 +21
2015: 6.82 +0.12; 120/144 NC
2016: 5.94 -0.88; 142/155 -22

Overall

Spoiler

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)

Albums:
Iron Maiden 1/9 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 0 Top 100: 1
The Number of the Beast 1/9 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 0 Top 100: 0
Piece of Mind 1/9 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 0 Top 100: 0
No Prayer For the Dying 6/10 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 2 Top 100: 2
Fear of the Dark 6/12 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 0 Top 100: 3
Virtual XI 2/8 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 2 Top 100: 2
Dance of Death 3/11 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 0 Top 100: 2

Song deviance (least to greatest)
0.76 - Fates Warning (No Prayer For the Dying)
0.92 - Fear is the Key (Fear of the Dark)
1.29 - Gangland (The Number of the Beast)
1.52 - The Fugitive (Fear of the Dark)
1.56 - Iron Maiden (Iron Maiden)
1.68 - The Apparition (Fear of the Dark)
1.83 - Tailgunner (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)
2.20 - New Frontier (Dance of Death)
2.22 - Hooks in You (No Prayer For the Dying)
2.82 - Gates of Tomorrow (Dance of Death)
2.93 - Bring Your Daughter... ...To the Slaughter (No Prayer For the Dying)
2.94 - Holy Smoke (No Prayer For the Dying)
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)
3.90 - The Assassin (No Prayer For the Dying)
3.95 - Don't Look to the Eyes of a Stranger (Virtual XI)

 

[LooseCannon]

135: Be Quick or Be Dead - Fear of the Dark (Dickinson, Gers)
Average score: 6.78/10 Deviance 3.04
Fear of the Dark 7/12
Top 100: 2004, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016

This one is going the other way, with incredibly low early rankings (including a 3.08) and a recovering set of scores in the high sevens in this decade. I suspect this one will move up a few ranks if the trend continues. Many people have critiqued the lyrics, while enjoying the pace of the song. With six Top 100 finishes, this is the most decorated song we've yet seen. Please note I am now tracking Top 10, 25, 50, and 100 songs per album as well as in the header.

Choice comments:

I know lots of fans don't like Bruce's vocals on this track, but think they work really well within this track, and I also like the politically charged lyrics. Decent opener, but unfortunately not many tracks on this album are any better than the opening track, with the exception of Afraid To Shoot Strangers and Fear of the Dark.

This is one of the best album openers ever! It's a dry, straight, punch in the face and the band is soaring on this one. Everyone is killing is this song; the solo section and the mix of raspy, screaming vocals by Bruce are anthologic.

I wish the post-chorus that is only sung after the first chorus was actually sung after every chorus. Its the best part of the song. "see whose rulings all our lives.."

An awesome, kick ass rocker opens the album! Also, my most favorite Maiden song with Bruce's rough vocals.

Great riffage, great solos, everything is pretty great other than the vocals, and the lyrics. I don't really like political lyrics.

Has anyone ever noticed that this song sounds like Helloween/Gamma Ray, Kai Hansen-era? The rasp, the driving beat, the scream... I can hear Kai doing this song. Subject matter fits, too.

Definitely one of the best songs on FOTD, and one that I feel definitely should be put back in the setlist. I'd also have loved to have heard Blaze Bayley tackle this one, I think his voice would suit the song.

I love this song. It's a nice bam! kind of opener, fast paced and fun, and I'll be honest, the music video is probably my all time favorite of theirs. Awesome track.

Statistics

Spoiler

Yearly ratings & rankings
2004: 7.62; 93/123
2005: 4.80 -2.82; 123/124 -30
2006: 3.08 -1.72; 124/124 -1
2008: 5.26 +2.18; 128/134 -4
2011: 7.64 +2.38; 82/144 +46
2012: 76/144 +6
2014: 7.77 +0.13; 82/144 -6
2015: 7.84 +0.07; 80/144 +2
2016: 7.57 -0.27; 87/155 -7

Overall

Spoiler

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)

Albums:
Iron Maiden 1/9 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 0 Top 100: 1
The Number of the Beast 1/9 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 0 Top 100: 0
Piece of Mind 1/9 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 0 Top 100: 0
No Prayer For the Dying 6/10 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 2 Top 100: 2
Fear of the Dark 7/12 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 0 Top 100: 9
Virtual XI 2/8 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 2 Top 100: 2
Dance of Death 3/11 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 0 Top 100: 2

Song deviance (least to greatest)
0.76 - Fates Warning (No Prayer For the Dying)
0.92 - Fear is the Key (Fear of the Dark)
1.29 - Gangland (The Number of the Beast)
1.52 - The Fugitive (Fear of the Dark)
1.56 - Iron Maiden (Iron Maiden)
1.68 - The Apparition (Fear of the Dark)
1.83 - Tailgunner (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)
2.20 - New Frontier (Dance of Death)
2.22 - Hooks in You (No Prayer For the Dying)
2.82 - Gates of Tomorrow (Dance of Death)
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)
3.34 - 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)
3.90 - The Assassin (No Prayer For the Dying)
3.95 - Don't Look to the Eyes of a Stranger (Virtual XI)

 

[Collin]

What a farce. Don't look to the Eyes of a Stranger is in no way better than The Fugitive.

 

[Mosh]

I suspect this one will move up a few ranks if the trend continues.

Prediction: They play it live on the next tour and it'll shoot up a few spots. Possibly with an 8 average.

 

[LooseCannon]

134: Sanctuary - Iron Maiden (Murray, Harris, Di'Anno)
Average score: 6.79/10 Deviance 1.86
Iron Maiden 2/9
Top 100: 2004, 2006

Returning to the debut album, and yes, we are including this, Innocent Exile, and Total Eclipse in the rankings, we have Sanctuary. This one started off strong, with two Top 100 entries in the 00s, and has adjusted down as new albums are introduced. Its ratings have been fairly stable, although they never each their original 8.08 plateau again. A lot of people who seem to give this some average rankings, a few negative comparisons to other songs off the album, and notes that it rocks live.

Choice comments:

Another one that I don´t like so much. The song is just to simple and the chorus reallys bores me. Live is better but still not so good. The A real Dead one version is one of the best along with the rock in rio version.

pretty mediocre track IMO, it has it's moments live, but it's not really outstanding. Nothing too bad about it either.

It's not a stand alone type song that I would play, but to really get the crowd moving and the break in song for introductions or rants is awesome.

Yes, it's a good classic rocker, lifts your spirits, it's got plenty of energy, but compared to other things Maiden has produced since it doesn't stand a chance.

Ah, geez... It's a good rocker, I love it live, but there are a lot of better Maiden songs

Fun for sure, but kinda like chocolate mousse, great taste, but not a ton of substance.

My least favorite Maiden song. Excruciatingly simple, without being catchy like other simple songs like Running Free or Iron Maiden. They need to stop playing it.

Great guitars and bass, but the lyrics are mediocre. Production could have been better by increasing the heaviness. I also don't like the fade out of the music in the song. It ruins the experience and the build-up.

leaves something to be desired for me, weak compared to the rest of the album and we only really need one running free

Main riff isn't particularly interesting or memorable. Feels more like a punk song aside from the solos.

It’s another live staple and a gripping rock track with an insatiable, driving beat. Don't know why I love it so much, but I do.

Statistics

Spoiler

Yearly ratings & rankings
2004: 8.08; 77/123
2005: 7.00 -1.08; 103/124 -26
2006: 7.02 +0.02; 94/124 +9
2008: 7.40 +0.38; 105/134 -11
2011: 6.44 -0.96; 125/144 -20
2012: 123/144 +2
2014: 6.68 +0.24; 121/144 +2
2015: 6.62 -0.06; 123/144 -2
2016: 6.22 -0.40; 135/155 -12

Overall

Spoiler

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)

Albums:
Iron Maiden 2/9 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 0 Top 100: 3
The Number of the Beast 1/9 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 0 Top 100: 0
Piece of Mind 1/9 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 0 Top 100: 0
No Prayer For the Dying 6/10 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 2 Top 100: 2
Fear of the Dark 7/12 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 0 Top 100: 9
Virtual XI 2/8 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 2 Top 100: 2
Dance of Death 3/11 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 0 Top 100: 2

Song deviance (least to greatest)
0.76 - Fates Warning (No Prayer For the Dying)
0.92 - Fear is the Key (Fear of the Dark)
1.29 - Gangland (The Number of the Beast)
1.52 - The Fugitive (Fear of the Dark)
1.56 - Iron Maiden (Iron Maiden)
1.68 - The Apparition (Fear of the Dark)
1.83 - Tailgunner (No Prayer For the Dying)
1.86 - Sanctuary (Iron Maiden)
1.94 - Quest For Fire (Piece of Mind)
1.95 - The Angel and the Gambler (Virtual XI)
2.04 - Wildest Dreams (Dance of Death)
2.20 - New Frontier (Dance of Death)
2.22 - Hooks in You (No Prayer For the Dying)
2.82 - Gates of Tomorrow (Dance of Death)
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)
3.34 - 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)
3.90 - The Assassin (No Prayer For the Dying)
3.95 - Don't Look to the Eyes of a Stranger (Virtual XI)

 

[LooseCannon]

What a farce. Don't look to the Eyes of a Stranger is in no way better than The Fugitive.

Not a farce - just data. In 2016 Don't Look was ranked 151/155, and The Fugitive much higher at 120. These rankings roll, so they represent a portion of Maidenfans past as well as present, that's all.

 

[LooseCannon]

T132: Innocent Exile - Killers (Harris)
Average score: 6.82/10 Deviance: 0.96
Killers 1/11
Top 100: 2004, 2005, 2006

Yeah, I know I said Innocent Exile in the commentary for the last track was the one not originally on Killers. I was wrong, it was Twilight Zone, and I'm pretty sure I was just looking ahead and my mind went, "Hey, Innocent Exile is on Killers!" Anyway, mea culpa. Welcome to our first Killers song, giving us three early-rankings Top 100 entries before slowly sinking down as new songs are introduced. The ratings for this song are remarkably stable, from a high of 7.50 to a low of 6.54, never varying by a full point. This one has always been considered pretty darn average, and likely will be considered average for a long time to come. Lots of people comment favourably on Steve's bass.

Choice comments:

the tone of the singing is like introspection, and the riff is very excellent. And definitely one of the best solo combos in the Killers album.

The first part of the song is nothing special at all, and also not particularly memorable, but the instrumental section rocks quite hard.

The song is decent, but not good enough to withstand that much repetition. Di'Anno does not sound as good on this song as on other material.

If they did without the first half of the song and instead built on that last two minutes to come up with a fully-formed instrumental track. I honestly believe it could have rivaled songs such as Genghis Khan or Transylvania.

Such great basswork on this one, and I like the vocals quite a bit.

More excellent bass from Steve, but there isn't a whole lot to say about this one. It's pretty forgettable due to the lazy lyrics and lack of interesting guitar parts.

I don't have many thoughts on this song. I think it's a groovy rocker and it's rather bluesy, mostly from the guitar licks. I can also see some tension during the harmony sections. Other than that, I don't really see more in it.

I think this is the exact point in this album where the whole 'Killers' sound starts wearing me out.

Statistics

Spoiler

Yearly ratings & rankings
2004: 7.50; 97/123
2005: 7.10 -0.40; 99/124 -2
2006: 7.02 -0.08; 94/124 +5
2008: 7.22 +0.20; 111/134 -17
2011: 6.66 -0.56; 120/144 -9
2012: 127/144 -7
2014: 6.62 -0.04 123/144 +4
2015: 6.54 -0.08; 125/144 -2
2016: 6.65 +0.11; 126/155 -1

Overall

Spoiler

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)

Albums:
Iron Maiden 2/9 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 0 Top 100: 3
Killers 1/11 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 0 Top 100: 3
The Number of the Beast 1/9 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 0 Top 100: 0
Piece of Mind 1/9 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 0 Top 100: 0
No Prayer For the Dying 6/10 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 2 Top 100: 2
Fear of the Dark 7/12 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 0 Top 100: 9
Virtual XI 2/8 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 2 Top 100: 2
Dance of Death 3/11 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 0 Top 100: 2

Song deviance (least to greatest)
0.76 - Fates Warning (No Prayer For the Dying)
0.92 - Fear is the Key (Fear of the Dark)
0.96 - Innocent Exile (Killers)
1.29 - Gangland (The Number of the Beast)
1.52 - The Fugitive (Fear of the Dark)
1.56 - Iron Maiden (Iron Maiden)
1.68 - The Apparition (Fear of the Dark)
1.83 - Tailgunner (No Prayer For the Dying)
1.86 - Sanctuary (Iron Maiden)
1.94 - Quest For Fire (Piece of Mind)
1.95 - The Angel and the Gambler (Virtual XI)
2.04 - Wildest Dreams (Dance of Death)
2.20 - New Frontier (Dance of Death)
2.22 - Hooks in You (No Prayer For the Dying)
2.82 - Gates of Tomorrow (Dance of Death)
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)
3.34 - 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)
3.90 - The Assassin (No Prayer For the Dying)
3.95 - Don't Look to the Eyes of a Stranger (Virtual XI)

 

[Collin]

Not a farce - just data. In 2016 Don't Look was ranked 151/155, and The Fugitive much higher at 120. These rankings roll, so they represent a portion of Maidenfans past as well as present, that's all.

Farce.