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

[Diesel 11]

I fucking called it.

But unfortunately it's too low. Top 40 material at least.

 

[Cat Milk Supreme]

On SSoaSS, though, it's competing with The Clairvoyant as the least interesting song.

Fixed it

 

[Diesel 11]

Worst to Best:
The Prophecy
Can I Play With Madness
The Clairvoyant
Moonchild
Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
Infinite Dreams
Only the Good Die Young
The Evil That Men Do

At least I think. Such a goddamn good album.

 

[Deleted member 7164]

2016 setlist is now fair game, as long as you don't insinuate that a song is still being played. IE, it is ok to say that they played Childhood's End in 2016, but not OK to say they are playing Childhood's End during this tour.

Cool.

 

[Mosh]

I've done a total 180 on Heaven Can Wait. I don't care for the chorus (or any vocal parts for that matter other than the bridge) but I find it very strong musically. Still easily the weakest link on the album.

 

[Deleted member 7164]

It might be temporary, but it overtook Alexander The Great. ATG I grew out of. I've listened to that instrumental section so much it's like chorus of Fear Of A Dark now. I'd be thrilled to have an instrumental only version. The riffing over the verses is ferocious and there's a lot of guitar dynamic, a lot of accents going on, drowned down by a typical run-of-a-mill operatic Bruce shouting out some of the stupidest lyrics Maiden ever laid down, on any side. It's down to 8/10 now. Heaven can wait? Glorious arena rock centerpiece. Great bass. Only con are the solos, they are good but not compared to other SiT solos. 9/10 from now on.

 

[LooseCannon]

115: The Unbeliever - The X Factor (Harris, Gers)
Average score: 7.36/10 Deviation: 1.58
The X Factor 2/11
Top 50: 2004
Top 100: 2005, 2006, 2011, 2014, 2015

We return to the Blaze years to present another song that was well-loved originally but has sunk rapidly since. After one really strong result in 2004, this album has moved in the mid-to-low-sevens since, and shows signs of weakening further over the coming years. Many people have given this song positive marks for Blaze's singing, and have noted that it is a complex, more difficult piece of music to appreciate, perhaps indicative of The X Factor itself. Still, very few people have a lot negative to say about this track, most suggesting it is, at best, a lackluster ending to the album.

Choice comments:

A difficult song, but I have really come to appreciate it. The verses take some getting used to, but the chorus is just blinding, both the "slow" and "fast" versions. The instrumentals are different and exciting. The song is definitely a tour de force, but at the end, I can't help but admire it and the note it ends the album on. A near-perfect close to the best album ever.

Lyrically it’s brother to Look For The Truth, but musically I always associate it with Blood on The World Hands — cool intro, creative writing, but the melodies — verse and chorus — borderline annoy me. The instrumental section is phenomenal. Too bad it’s hidden inside the rest of the track.

I'm not entirely sure if I think this is a good album closure or not, to me it seems a little bit out of place at the end of this album. That said, it is a very good song

X Factor took a decade to grow on me. This song was perhaps the hardest to grasp. The self-criticism of Steve is amazing, the mid section is brilliant and it sounds like it came straight out of the jungle. Regarding verses and choruses, i like the odd timings and unusual style, however some parts drag a bit. All in all, a great track.

By this point in the album, I generally suffer from Blaze Monotonay Syndrome or BMS.

The second, upbeat chorus is amazing. Blaze is really pushing himself and it pays off. Dave's solo is pure emotion, as is the weird time signature lead riff before it.

Sorry to differ from most people here, but I think this is the only bad song on the album. It's not terrible, by any means, but I often feel inclined to end The X Factor when this song starts. I find it difficult to get into both the verses and the choruses, and some of the transitions seem a bit awkward.

Anyone else notice the similarity between the chorus of this song and The Thin Line Between Love & Hate? The "all my life I've run astray, let my faith slip away" bit from The Unbeliever is nearly identical to the "I will hope my soul will fly" bit from Thin Line

ime changes occur often throughout the song and there’s even a strange section where bass, ride cymbal, and guitar harmonics sync up into a delicate note pattern. The chorus of The Unbeliever is literally the only moment on the entire album where Blaze truly pushes himself vocally. He’s singing at the far end of his range and it sounds awesome.

Statistics

Spoiler

Yearly ratings & rankings
2004: 8.58; 48/123
2005: 7.30 -1.28; 93/124 -45
2006: 7.02 -0.28; 94/124 -1
2008: 7.14 +0.12; 115/134 -21
2011: 7.30 +0.16; 100/144 -15
2012: 111/144 -11
2014: 7.52 +0.22; 94/144 -16
2015: 7.47 -0.05; 99/144 -5
2016: 7.00 -0.47; 110/155 -11

Overall

Spoiler

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)
0.34 - The Fallen Angel (Brave New World)
0.68 - Invaders (The Number of the Beast)
0.76 - Fates Warning (No Prayer For the Dying)
0.78 - The Mercenary (Brave New World)
0.80 - Can I Play With Madness? (Seventh Son of a Seventh Son)
0.81 - Another Life (Killers)
0.90 - Heaven Can Wait (Somewhere in Time)
0.92 - Fear is the Key (Fear of the Dark)
0.93 - Sun and Steel (Piece of Mind)
0.96 - Innocent Exile (Killers)
1.29 - Gangland (The Number of the Beast)
1.45 - When Two Worlds Collide (Virtual XI)
1.46 - Childhood's End (Fear of the Dark)
1.52 - The Fugitive (Fear of the Dark)
1.56 - Iron Maiden (Iron Maiden)
1.58 - The Unbeliever (The X Factor)
1.68 - The Apparition (Fear of the Dark)
1.82 - Drifter (Killers)
1.83 - Tailgunner (No Prayer For the Dying)
1.84 - Age of Innocence (Dance of Death)
1.86 - Sanctuary (Iron Maiden)
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)
2.20 - New Frontier (Dance of Death)
2.22 - Hooks in You (No Prayer For the Dying)
2.27 - Look For the Truth (The X Factor)
2.72 - Twilight Zone (Killers)
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)
3.32 - 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)
3.90 - The Assassin (No Prayer For the Dying)
3.95 - Don't Look to the Eyes of a Stranger (Virtual XI)
n/a - Shadows of the Valley (The Book of Souls)
n/a - When the River Runs Deep (The Book of Souls)

Albums:
Iron Maiden 3/9 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 2 Top 100: 5
Killers 4/11 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 2 Top 100: 11
The Number of the Beast 2/9 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 0 Top 100: 2
Piece of Mind 2/9 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 0 Top 100: 1
Somewhere in Time 1/8 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 0 Top 100: 6
Seventh Son of a Seventh Son 1/8 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 0 Top 100: 4
No Prayer For the Dying 7/10 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 2 Top 100: 4
Fear of the Dark 8/12 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 0 Top 100: 14
The X Factor 2/11 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 1 Top 100: 8
Virtual XI 3/8 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 2 Top 100: 5
Brave New World 2/10 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 0 Top 100: 4
Dance of Death 4/11 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 0 Top 100: 6
The Book of Souls 2/11 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 0 Top 100: 0

 

[Collin]

I was going to say some snarky comment about The Fugitive being too low, but Heaven Can Wait at #116 really hurts my soul. It's in my top 20.

 

[runsilentrundeep]

Sad to see The Unbeliever so low, one of my favourites. I was a little late to the party so I haven't voted, will make sure I will next year!

 

[LooseCannon]

114: Judgement of Heaven - The X Factor (Harris)
Average score: 7.39/10 Deviation: 1.87
The X Factor 3/11
Top 50: 2004
Top 100: 2005, 2006, 2008

This is another one that has suffered from Blaze Regression Syndrome, the slow descent of Blaze songs over the years in the Maidenfans rankings. I've apparently always given this an 8, and that puts it a little high. Most people seem to go for 7. I think the reason this one stays a little higher is it has a core of devoted fans, but as you can see, it has a higher deviation. Not super high, but high enough. This is due to a very high beginning that plateaued down to an average in the low sevens quickly.

Choice comments:

This song is the most "perfetc" to heal brokens souls. The bass hope-intro, the drumming doing like a heratbeat and the harmonies are just perfect. Add to this a superb vocal line and we get Judgement of Heaven !

This song starts a bit awkward and when it gets heavy I'm still not that over the moon by it, but as soon as Blaze sings ...If you could live your life again.. it gets really good. Catchy verse, nice chorus and right after Dave's speedy solo we get the best part: a super guitar melody!

I found this one of the most accessible tracks on the album during early listens, with its catchy chorus. The rest of the album has since caught up in my estimation, and although I now think this track's among the album's worst, that's against a high standard here.

I dig the way Blaze end the choruses with a shout. Shows to me he is really into this one. The chorus is great as are the classic trademark maiden harmonies.

fter the fun bass intro, rhythm guitar works so nice. This reminds me of The Thin Line Between Love & Hate a lot. I hate the "Yeah yeah" from Blaze. It's terrible

Sounds like a high school band at a talent show that really likes Iron Maiden. Extra point for the solid unison after the solo and the chorus melody that should have been.

Love the lyrics, the performance from the band and the overall vibe that makes it sit solidly among the best songs of one of my favourite Iron Maiden-albums. Favourite moment is probably Nicko and Steve's groove under the harmony after the solo. That is what you love Maiden for, and here you get to hear them in a clear mix where the drums and bass are crystal. Absolutely amazing part.

Blaze again sounds rather mismatched with this track, the vocals are simply too low for the melody. A lot of this could be the fault of Steve’s mixing, but it’s more than obvious that Blaze was never the best singer for Iron Maiden. The chorus in particular sounds terrible, like a scratch vocal that was forgotten about during the haze of recording. Also, why does a song about Steve wanting to commit suicide sound so upbeat? Not even a great Dave Murray guitar solo and harmony section can save this song from sounding like an obvious B-side.

Statistics

Spoiler

Yearly ratings & rankings
2004: 8.58; 48/123
2005: 7.90 -0.68; 74/124 -26
2006: 8.00 +0.10; 73/124 +1
2008: 8.00 NC; 89/134 -16
2011: 6.90 -1.10; 111/144 -22
2012: 115/144 -4
2014: 7.22 +0.32; 106/144 +9
2015: 7.21 -0.01; 107/144 -1
2016: 6.71 -0.50; 123/155 -16

Overall

Spoiler

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)
0.34 - The Fallen Angel (Brave New World)
0.68 - Invaders (The Number of the Beast)
0.76 - Fates Warning (No Prayer For the Dying)
0.78 - The Mercenary (Brave New World)
0.80 - Can I Play With Madness? (Seventh Son of a Seventh Son)
0.81 - Another Life (Killers)
0.90 - Heaven Can Wait (Somewhere in Time)
0.92 - Fear is the Key (Fear of the Dark)
0.93 - Sun and Steel (Piece of Mind)
0.96 - Innocent Exile (Killers)
1.29 - Gangland (The Number of the Beast)
1.45 - When Two Worlds Collide (Virtual XI)
1.46 - Childhood's End (Fear of the Dark)
1.52 - The Fugitive (Fear of the Dark)
1.56 - Iron Maiden (Iron Maiden)
1.58 - The Unbeliever (The X Factor)
1.68 - The Apparition (Fear of the Dark)
1.82 - Drifter (Killers)
1.83 - Tailgunner (No Prayer For the Dying)
1.84 - Age of Innocence (Dance of Death)
1.86 - Sanctuary (Iron Maiden)
1.87 - Judgement of Heaven (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)
2.20 - New Frontier (Dance of Death)
2.22 - Hooks in You (No Prayer For the Dying)
2.27 - Look For the Truth (The X Factor)
2.72 - Twilight Zone (Killers)
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)
3.32 - 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)
3.90 - The Assassin (No Prayer For the Dying)
3.95 - Don't Look to the Eyes of a Stranger (Virtual XI)
n/a - Shadows of the Valley (The Book of Souls)
n/a - When the River Runs Deep (The Book of Souls)

Albums:
Iron Maiden 3/9 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 2 Top 100: 5
Killers 4/11 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 2 Top 100: 11
The Number of the Beast 2/9 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 0 Top 100: 2
Piece of Mind 2/9 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 0 Top 100: 1
Somewhere in Time 1/8 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 0 Top 100: 6
Seventh Son of a Seventh Son 1/8 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 0 Top 100: 4
No Prayer For the Dying 7/10 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 2 Top 100: 4
Fear of the Dark 8/12 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 0 Top 100: 14
The X Factor 3/11 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 2 Top 100: 11
Virtual XI 3/8 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 2 Top 100: 5
Brave New World 2/10 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 0 Top 100: 4
Dance of Death 4/11 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 0 Top 100: 6
The Book of Souls 2/11 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 0 Top 100: 0

 

[LooseCannon]

Sad to see The Unbeliever so low, one of my favourites. I was a little late to the party so I haven't voted, will make sure I will next year!

I collate the stats every September! Hopefully you put your votes in!

 

[Diesel 11]

Hey @LooseCannon , this is just an idea, but sometime in future years with the polling, could we possibly be able to include b-sides and covers and whatnot? I'm really curious to see how they'd measure up against the rest of the band's discography - maybe we'll find something worse than The Apparition for once.

Just something I wouldn't mind seeing, but whatever you feel works best is fine.

 

[LooseCannon]

113: Wasting Love - Fear of the Dark (Dickinson, Gers)
Average score: 7.40/10 Deviation: 1.52
Fear of the Dark 9/12
Top 100: 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2016

With another medium deviation-song, Wasting Love slots nicely in around seven and a half points. This song had some strong early performances and then dipped deep at the beginning of the 2010s, before recovering to 7.52 in the most recent poll, as newer members seem to have rediscovered some of the things older members liked. I think this one gets love/hate because it is so different to the rest of the Iron Maiden catalog. Some of the ideas here aren't explored again until the reunion albums, and it makes you wonder if Janick took some lessons from the way this song developed when he flushed out his songwriting later on. This one scores a lot of Top 100s, with six, including 2016. The difference in songs between the start and end of the rankings means that Top 100 entries become slowly more prestigious, so for a song to recover from that 2011-2015 dive and make another Top 100 entry is significant.

Choice comments:

the clean riff during the verses sounds very nice, i wanted to learn this song on guitar the first time i heard it! the solo is very simple but nice too, i think this is the easiest solo in a maiden song that has a solo

I think its a good song, not great, but good nontheless. It's easily on of the best on Fear of the Dark, and in my opinion, it has one of Jan's best solos. In the video, I think the priest is trying to help out the man who is seemingly very depressed by performing some kind of exorcism, or something of that nature. Perhaps the man was deserted by more than one women after he had affairs with them, thus he feels that all the love that he gave them was wasted and is the cause of his depression.... "spend your days full of loneliness".

an under rated classic. Bruce sings the lyrics with such passion and janick delivers possibly his best solo ever. One of the first tracks i noticed on fear of the dark

A quick observation on FotD:
Not that repeating itself has ever been a huge problem for Maiden, but we're six songs in, and no two are remotely alike.
And none of them follow the template of any song that came from the albums before.
As mixed as most rankings have been, you have to give the band major points for attempting to spread its wings a little.

It's a good song. Unique for Maiden, more of a power ballad kinda thing.
The only thing I don't really like is using the phrygian mode in the first part of the chorus, I think it's doesn't fit the mood.

I've always thought this was an awful song.

I have never disliked this song, but it isn't one of the highlights either. I find the guitar solo trademark Janick, because you can recognize a lot from this (imo he re-used it too much) when you play 2 A.M. and Como Estais Amigos.

I'm usually not much of a fan of ballads, but this is one of my favorite's on the album. Very beautiful song, great chorus, and I think this is one of the most underrated metal ballads out there.

Terrible attempt at power ballads that were popular in early '90s metal music (Nothing Else Matters).

Best song on the album, no doubt. Feels very much like a song that easily could have been from the Tattooed Millionarie-sessions. The Gers/Dickinson-credit of course doesn't exactly convince me that it wasn't... Absolutely love the guitar solo. One of the best in any Maiden-song.

Statistics

Spoiler

Yearly ratings & rankings
2004: 8.22; 67/123
2005: 7.92 -0.30; 73/124 -6
2006: 8.00 +0.08; 73/124 NC
2008: 8.00 NC; 89/134 -16
2011: 6.70 -1.30; 117/144 -28
2012: 84/144 +33
2014: 6.87 +0.17; 116/144 -32
2015: 7.03 +0.16; 111/144 +5
2016: 7.52 +.049; 91/155 +20

Overall

Spoiler

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)
0.34 - The Fallen Angel (Brave New World)
0.68 - Invaders (The Number of the Beast)
0.76 - Fates Warning (No Prayer For the Dying)
0.78 - The Mercenary (Brave New World)
0.80 - Can I Play With Madness? (Seventh Son of a Seventh Son)
0.81 - Another Life (Killers)
0.90 - Heaven Can Wait (Somewhere in Time)
0.92 - Fear is the Key (Fear of the Dark)
0.93 - Sun and Steel (Piece of Mind)
0.96 - Innocent Exile (Killers)
1.29 - Gangland (The Number of the Beast)
1.45 - When Two Worlds Collide (Virtual XI)
1.46 - Childhood's End (Fear of the Dark)
1.52 - The Fugitive (Fear of the Dark)
1.52 - Wasting Love (Fear of the Dark)
1.56 - Iron Maiden (Iron Maiden)
1.58 - The Unbeliever (The X Factor)
1.68 - The Apparition (Fear of the Dark)
1.82 - Drifter (Killers)
1.83 - Tailgunner (No Prayer For the Dying)
1.84 - Age of Innocence (Dance of Death)
1.86 - Sanctuary (Iron Maiden)
1.87 - Judgement of Heaven (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)
2.20 - New Frontier (Dance of Death)
2.22 - Hooks in You (No Prayer For the Dying)
2.27 - Look For the Truth (The X Factor)
2.72 - Twilight Zone (Killers)
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)
3.32 - 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)
3.90 - The Assassin (No Prayer For the Dying)
3.95 - Don't Look to the Eyes of a Stranger (Virtual XI)
n/a - Shadows of the Valley (The Book of Souls)
n/a - When the River Runs Deep (The Book of Souls)

Albums:
Iron Maiden 3/9 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 2 Top 100: 5
Killers 4/11 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 2 Top 100: 11
The Number of the Beast 2/9 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 0 Top 100: 2
Piece of Mind 2/9 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 0 Top 100: 1
Somewhere in Time 1/8 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 0 Top 100: 6
Seventh Son of a Seventh Son 1/8 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 0 Top 100: 4
No Prayer For the Dying 7/10 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 2 Top 100: 4
Fear of the Dark 9/12 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 0 Top 100: 20
The X Factor 3/11 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 2 Top 100: 11
Virtual XI 3/8 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 2 Top 100: 5
Brave New World 2/10 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 0 Top 100: 4
Dance of Death 4/11 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 0 Top 100: 6
The Book of Souls 2/11 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 0 Top 100: 0

 

[LooseCannon]

Hey @LooseCannon , this is just an idea, but sometime in future years with the polling, could we possibly be able to include b-sides and covers and whatnot? I'm really curious to see how they'd measure up against the rest of the band's discography - maybe we'll find something worse than The Apparition for once.

Just something I wouldn't mind seeing, but whatever you feel works best is fine.

So, I've thought about this in the past, and my primary opposition to doing it is because I'm already asking people to rank 155 songs, and most of them don't do it. The first few albums have a much higher number of collective votes than later ones, and especially Blaze ones. Similarly, famous tracks (Hallowed, Rime, RTTH, Wasted Years, etc) tend to get more votes as lots of people just vote for their favourites and won't do the dirty work. If we did do it, I would keep that list separate to the albums songs in general, but it might provide some interesting comparisons over the years. Certainly not opposed to doing it, just not sure how much value it would get, and whether or not it would decrease the likelihood of getting robust entries for all the studio albums, which is where I really prefer to get the value.

 

[SirRobbins]

The first few albums have a much higher number of collective votes than later ones, and especially Blaze ones. Similarly, famous tracks (Hallowed, Rime, RTTH, Wasted Years, etc) tend to get more votes

people actually like RTTH????

 

[Diesel 11]

people actually like RTTH????

Yes. Yes they do. I'm leading the charge.

So, I've thought about this in the past, and my primary opposition to doing it is because I'm already asking people to rank 155 songs, and most of them don't do it. The first few albums have a much higher number of collective votes than later ones, and especially Blaze ones. Similarly, famous tracks (Hallowed, Rime, RTTH, Wasted Years, etc) tend to get more votes as lots of people just vote for their favourites and won't do the dirty work. If we did do it, I would keep that list separate to the albums songs in general, but it might provide some interesting comparisons over the years. Certainly not opposed to doing it, just not sure how much value it would get, and whether or not it would decrease the likelihood of getting robust entries for all the studio albums, which is where I really prefer to get the value.

Makes sense, thanks. I happen to really like the b-sides and stuff so I'm mainly wondering what the majority says on them. Hopefully one day soon I guess.

Also kinda surprised Wasting Love is so low, but I can understand why. It's probably in my top 100 at least, probably top 90 or 80.

 

[LooseCannon]

112: Speed of Light - The Book of Souls (Smith, Dickinson)
Average score: 7.44/10 Deviation: n/a
The Book of Souls 3/11
Top 100: 2016

These The Book of Souls commentaries are harder to write, because I can't lean on statistics. This one scored at 94 in the 2016 poll, but its single graded entry wasn't sufficient to push it into the all-time Top 100, due to the changing nature of polling. Many positive comparisons to other reunion-era rockers, and not too many people actually dislike it. It seems that the lowest people generally want to go is "average".

Choice comments:

Wow, too many words and yet the song doesn't feel like Bruce is singing all the time. Pretty cool song

Take away the cowbell & it's great. Speed up the main riff & you have Sanctuary. Has a very old school Maiden vibe to it. Catchy as hell Chorus. I don't know why people call it one of the weaker on the album. I think it's great.

I think this song works better in the context of the album than it did as a standalone single. A great change of pace from the way the opener ends.

When it comes to reunion era short rockers, I think only The Wicker Man and Different World are better and it's on par with Rainmaker, maybe even better.

I quite like the song. It has a bit of the early 90s Maiden feel to it with the energy and Bruce's vocals, but it's not overdone and the sound is overall very good. It's fast, rocks hard, and catchy, what's not to like? I agree with the sentiments that it's a standout amongst reunion rockers.

Great riffing and great solo part. The rest is a bit less good, but yeah in context with the rest of the album its not bat at all!

Thanks to my physics class, I finally realised "I'm not particular you'll see" is a pun.

A fun little rocker, but probably not as good as other little rockers in this category.

not a great song by any means; a rather by-the-numbers riff, however, it does have a good chorus. a better track than the previous albums` opening single for sure.

Statistics

Spoiler

Yearly ratings & rankings
2016: 7.44; 94/155

Overall

Spoiler

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)
0.34 - The Fallen Angel (Brave New World)
0.68 - Invaders (The Number of the Beast)
0.76 - Fates Warning (No Prayer For the Dying)
0.78 - The Mercenary (Brave New World)
0.80 - Can I Play With Madness? (Seventh Son of a Seventh Son)
0.81 - Another Life (Killers)
0.90 - Heaven Can Wait (Somewhere in Time)
0.92 - Fear is the Key (Fear of the Dark)
0.93 - Sun and Steel (Piece of Mind)
0.96 - Innocent Exile (Killers)
1.29 - Gangland (The Number of the Beast)
1.45 - When Two Worlds Collide (Virtual XI)
1.46 - Childhood's End (Fear of the Dark)
1.52 - The Fugitive (Fear of the Dark)
1.52 - Wasting Love (Fear of the Dark)
1.56 - Iron Maiden (Iron Maiden)
1.58 - The Unbeliever (The X Factor)
1.68 - The Apparition (Fear of the Dark)
1.82 - Drifter (Killers)
1.83 - Tailgunner (No Prayer For the Dying)
1.84 - Age of Innocence (Dance of Death)
1.86 - Sanctuary (Iron Maiden)
1.87 - Judgement of Heaven (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)
2.20 - New Frontier (Dance of Death)
2.22 - Hooks in You (No Prayer For the Dying)
2.27 - Look For the Truth (The X Factor)
2.72 - Twilight Zone (Killers)
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)
3.32 - 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)
3.90 - The Assassin (No Prayer For the Dying)
3.95 - Don't Look to the Eyes of a Stranger (Virtual XI)
n/a - Shadows of the Valley (The Book of Souls)
n/a - Speed of Light (The Book of Souls)
n/a - When the River Runs Deep (The Book of Souls)

Albums:
Iron Maiden 3/9 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 2 Top 100: 5
Killers 4/11 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 2 Top 100: 11
The Number of the Beast 2/9 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 0 Top 100: 2
Piece of Mind 2/9 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 0 Top 100: 1
Somewhere in Time 1/8 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 0 Top 100: 6
Seventh Son of a Seventh Son 1/8 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 0 Top 100: 4
No Prayer For the Dying 7/10 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 2 Top 100: 4
Fear of the Dark 9/12 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 0 Top 100: 20
The X Factor 3/11 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 2 Top 100: 11
Virtual XI 3/8 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 2 Top 100: 5
Brave New World 2/10 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 0 Top 100: 4
Dance of Death 4/11 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 0 Top 100: 6
The Book of Souls 3/11 Top 10: 0 Top 25: 0 Top 50: 0 Top 100: 1

 

[LooseCannon]

people actually like RTTH????

That's not what I said. I said they vote for famous songs. Some people show up, yell "Play Classics!" and leave, and that's a legacy of the forum.

 

[SirRobbins]

That's not what I said. I said they vote for famous songs. Some people show up, yell "Play Classics!" and leave, and that's a legacy of the forum.

I know but I can't see people rushing and aiming to rip a song apart in a poll unless there is ungodly hatred for it.. I find it hard to actually "hate" a song maiden have done but there are a few. RTTH isn't one of them though.... I hate people asking to play classics.... like they never play them ...... I'm the guy asking for deep cuts to be played

 

[Diesel 11]

They should play That Girl sometime. Or even better, Reach Out. Blow their minds when Adrian steps up to the mic, oh hell yes.