Gerald Wiley
Lady don't fall backwards
Simple.
Steve Harris at his absolute peak, with added Bruce.
Steve Harris at his absolute peak, with added Bruce.
What makes The Number of The Beast a classic?
- Thread starter nuno_c
- Start date
TheSpectreWithin
Pirate of the Undergorund
The band really turned a corner with NOTB. The songwriting became much more epic, and the addition of Bruce provided a much needed amount of versatility vocal-wise. It is a classic for sure, but only the beginning, as they would continue to progress as musicians and songwriters.
SixesAlltheway
Ancient Mariner
Energy. The perfect combination of attitude and songwriting skills. Climbing the top of the NWOBHM at just the right time and transforming into their own while doing so. The demand for a band that took risks and dealt with the themes Maiden did in the culture of the early 80s.
Also. If people have not heard it. This is a radio broadcast from New York 1982. Listen to this and you'll know how Maiden build their fan base. They absolutely floored everybody live at this time in their career. Listen, it's great quality!!
Close to being as good as Hammersmith 82.
Also. If people have not heard it. This is a radio broadcast from New York 1982. Listen to this and you'll know how Maiden build their fan base. They absolutely floored everybody live at this time in their career. Listen, it's great quality!!
Close to being as good as Hammersmith 82.
SixesAlltheway
Ancient Mariner
Great speech about US radio at the 7:10 mark! 
Antmax
Prowler
For me It was because as a nerdy kid I was just starting to get into Metal, liked horror comics and just gotten (Another classic) my Dungeons & Dragons basic rules red box set. I was listening to NOTB and designing dungeons for months. So lots of nostalgia in this one 
Still playing and listening today. Funny thing is our current Dungeon Master here in the USA had to keep his iron maiden albums, D&D material and porno mags stashed away together in secret back in the day thanks to the bad reputation all those "Subversive" things had on the youth of the early 80's. If his mum found them she would burn them.
Still playing and listening today. Funny thing is our current Dungeon Master here in the USA had to keep his iron maiden albums, D&D material and porno mags stashed away together in secret back in the day thanks to the bad reputation all those "Subversive" things had on the youth of the early 80's. If his mum found them she would burn them.
Meliegree
Evening The Odds.
I forgot how good Clive was...
Black Bart
Ancient Mariner
When a record enables you to listen to "Children of the Damned", "The Prisoner", "22 Acacia Avenue", "The Number of the Beast" and "Run to the Hills" in a row (!), it deserves being called a classic.
JudasMyGuide
The resident reactionary recalcitrant
I think by now it’s pretty much clear how deep my dislike for this album is and that it’s usually in the bottom 5 of my Maiden albums… However, I do agree it’s a classic, so it’s time I joined the debate.
The historical importance of the record can’t be stressed quite enough - it was the record that brought us Maiden with Bruce and it is in some ways this kind of blueprint for everything they’ve done ever since - the pop sensibilities, the guitar harmonies, the guitars with personalities (Maiden were one of the first bands whose solos I could more or less surely appoint to a name of the guitarist), the fast tempos, the epics sitting somewhere between heavy metal and prog metal, not quite being any of those… And Bruce, of course, who had a somewhat unique voice at the time and while there have been many similar vocalists since (John Arch?), there hadn’t been that many before. The combination was something new and unique - include the Satan controversy and the iconic artwork and you have an instant classic. But what's even more important (IMHO), is the songwriting - and this is where I depart for the roads not taken, since this is where me and many TNOTB fans disagree.
You see, the songwriting is very... should I say "people oriented"? And no, before you accuse me of being snubby elitist, who has "that Systematic wankery in his avatar and will pretend he can't enjoy anything simpler", let me stress I have no qualms about Run to the Hills, which is a very catchy song, overplayed, that's for sure, but quite good in its own right. But Invaders, with that "running-up-and-down-the-stairs" which just screams for your attention, having pretty much nothing else to offer; Children of the Damned, which is good in a way, but a rip-off of Children of the Sea if I've ever seen one (including the name! And this after mere 2 years later); The Prisoner, while my #2 song here, is still a bit too poppy - nothing bad about that, if it were on another album, surrounded by different songs, but here it just annoys me a bit.
Even Hallowed Be Thy Name, amazing as it is, is somewhat simpler and easier on the brain than their later epics, IMHO - the repetition of the riff and the main melodies is pushing the limit a bit, though - as I've said - it is amazing and the only song I return to on a regular basis.
(I have somewhat similar feelings about pretty much half of SSOASS; however there is enough tasty cookies to entice me more, let alone the fact some of the "hits" there are actually quite clever and enjoyable - The Clairvoyant, for example).
This culminates in the title track, which is a hit... well, "hit" is an understatement if I've ever seen one, it is everywhere - you could argue it's their most famous song. Everybody knows it, everybody knows the words, there was only ONE (!) time in history it's been dropped from the setlist... And for the love of God, I can't see why. For a band famous for its catchiness, melodies, guitar harmonies... this one offers pretty much none of the above, but still, everybody loves it. I don't understand why. I just don't. There's nothing memorable about the song (bar maybe the intro riff) and the only reason I do remember it is because it's been pummeled in my brain by means of live shows, radio, etc.
I just don't get it. Maybe I will someday, but I don't now.
The above states my problems with the album... and in a way it might explain its popularity. I can't help myself but feel this is a Maiden album, which plays on the Lowest Common Denominator in every crowd - in a way We Will Rock You / We Are the Champions duo by Queen does. It's just crowd pleasing in a very conspicuous way. That's a half. The second half is the "first factor" - if this was your first Maiden experience (and it was for many people), you can't help but to compare everything with this one - "To Tame a Land is just a carbon copy of HBTN", "AMOLAD's way too slow and brooding", "Somewhere in Time was where they've jumped the shark 'cause the synthesizers" and so on.
Or you just like the songs. I don't. To each his own.
Now, before the crucifixion proceeds, let me just add I love Maiden and I love even this album, in a way; it's just the fact I usually expect perfection of them... and this album stinks a bit too much of mediocrity for me, in a way VXI, Killers or even NPftD rarely do. Also, again, IMHO, it's not an album that has that flow for me - the songs don't fit together too much.
This is not supposed to be a hate post - I don't want to start a flame war or anything. I just honestly wanted to explain why I dislike the album and why I think it's so ridiculously popular, since I think it's somewhat connected. If the album is your #1, that's cool and I respect that, just as would be the fact that AMOLAD is your #16. Now I'm gonna play me some Prisoner and Hallowed!
The historical importance of the record can’t be stressed quite enough - it was the record that brought us Maiden with Bruce and it is in some ways this kind of blueprint for everything they’ve done ever since - the pop sensibilities, the guitar harmonies, the guitars with personalities (Maiden were one of the first bands whose solos I could more or less surely appoint to a name of the guitarist), the fast tempos, the epics sitting somewhere between heavy metal and prog metal, not quite being any of those… And Bruce, of course, who had a somewhat unique voice at the time and while there have been many similar vocalists since (John Arch?), there hadn’t been that many before. The combination was something new and unique - include the Satan controversy and the iconic artwork and you have an instant classic. But what's even more important (IMHO), is the songwriting - and this is where I depart for the roads not taken, since this is where me and many TNOTB fans disagree.
You see, the songwriting is very... should I say "people oriented"? And no, before you accuse me of being snubby elitist, who has "that Systematic wankery in his avatar and will pretend he can't enjoy anything simpler", let me stress I have no qualms about Run to the Hills, which is a very catchy song, overplayed, that's for sure, but quite good in its own right. But Invaders, with that "running-up-and-down-the-stairs" which just screams for your attention, having pretty much nothing else to offer; Children of the Damned, which is good in a way, but a rip-off of Children of the Sea if I've ever seen one (including the name! And this after mere 2 years later); The Prisoner, while my #2 song here, is still a bit too poppy - nothing bad about that, if it were on another album, surrounded by different songs, but here it just annoys me a bit.
Even Hallowed Be Thy Name, amazing as it is, is somewhat simpler and easier on the brain than their later epics, IMHO - the repetition of the riff and the main melodies is pushing the limit a bit, though - as I've said - it is amazing and the only song I return to on a regular basis.
(I have somewhat similar feelings about pretty much half of SSOASS; however there is enough tasty cookies to entice me more, let alone the fact some of the "hits" there are actually quite clever and enjoyable - The Clairvoyant, for example).
This culminates in the title track, which is a hit... well, "hit" is an understatement if I've ever seen one, it is everywhere - you could argue it's their most famous song. Everybody knows it, everybody knows the words, there was only ONE (!) time in history it's been dropped from the setlist... And for the love of God, I can't see why. For a band famous for its catchiness, melodies, guitar harmonies... this one offers pretty much none of the above, but still, everybody loves it. I don't understand why. I just don't. There's nothing memorable about the song (bar maybe the intro riff) and the only reason I do remember it is because it's been pummeled in my brain by means of live shows, radio, etc.
I just don't get it. Maybe I will someday, but I don't now.
The above states my problems with the album... and in a way it might explain its popularity. I can't help myself but feel this is a Maiden album, which plays on the Lowest Common Denominator in every crowd - in a way We Will Rock You / We Are the Champions duo by Queen does. It's just crowd pleasing in a very conspicuous way. That's a half. The second half is the "first factor" - if this was your first Maiden experience (and it was for many people), you can't help but to compare everything with this one - "To Tame a Land is just a carbon copy of HBTN", "AMOLAD's way too slow and brooding", "Somewhere in Time was where they've jumped the shark 'cause the synthesizers" and so on.
Or you just like the songs. I don't. To each his own.
Now, before the crucifixion proceeds, let me just add I love Maiden and I love even this album, in a way; it's just the fact I usually expect perfection of them... and this album stinks a bit too much of mediocrity for me, in a way VXI, Killers or even NPftD rarely do. Also, again, IMHO, it's not an album that has that flow for me - the songs don't fit together too much.
This is not supposed to be a hate post - I don't want to start a flame war or anything. I just honestly wanted to explain why I dislike the album and why I think it's so ridiculously popular, since I think it's somewhat connected. If the album is your #1, that's cool and I respect that, just as would be the fact that AMOLAD is your #16. Now I'm gonna play me some Prisoner and Hallowed!
Severian
Have a good time, all the time!
This is the perfect intro to maiden album, it's not the best but it's the start of the "classic" sound and you can also look forward to the next 4 amazing albums.
Its great being a maiden fan now but they can be a bit up and down admittedly, but i always wondered what it would have been like to be a maiden fan in '82-'88, they must have seemed unstoppable.
Its great being a maiden fan now but they can be a bit up and down admittedly, but i always wondered what it would have been like to be a maiden fan in '82-'88, they must have seemed unstoppable.
D
Deleted member 7164
Guest
@JudasMyGuide great post there, you summarized most of my thoughts.
Apart from the one with title track. I also didn't like it up until recently. Yes it doesn't have Maiden trademarks and that's why. What changed is that En Vivo version blowed me away.
It's just a fucking good hard rock song and that's why people like it.
Apart from the one with title track. I also didn't like it up until recently. Yes it doesn't have Maiden trademarks and that's why. What changed is that En Vivo version blowed me away.
It's just a fucking good hard rock song and that's why people like it.
Liveone
Nomad
It's strange now thinking back to those days.
We were obviously getting a new Maiden studio album every year or two.
In hindsight we were living through the golden age of not just Maiden but heavy metal in general.
It was amazing going to the record shop and getting the brand new vinyl and just feeling like it was the most special thing ever.
Some of the best metal albums of all time were released during those Halcyon days.
I'm now going to take my rose tinted spectacles off.
Forostar
Ancient Mariner
@mckindog @MrKnickerbocker
If you haven't, better read the whole JudasMyGuide post, but this part already: I find it a nice addition to what I sometimes say about the importance of exposure.
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Shavasku
Ancient Mariner
It's my number one album simply because it's an album with Children of the Damned, The Prisoner, 22 Acacia Avenue, The Number of the Beast, Run To The Hills and Hallowed Be Thy Name. I'm not taking into account album art, culture, satan controversy or anything like that. Just pure music. When I compare each album, song by song, there simply isn't an album that can beat it, although Seventh Son of a Seventh Son gets close. That's it.
Cosmiceddie
Back From The Edge
This is what makes The Number Of The Beast the classic 80's Maiden album:
Hallowed Be Thy Name 10/10
The Prisoner 10/10
Children Of The Damned 10/10
Total Eclipse 10/10
Run To The Hills 10/10
The Number Of The Beast 10/10
In my book, other than Brave New World (also 6x 10/10), no Maiden album has more 10/10 songs.
Hallowed Be Thy Name 10/10
The Prisoner 10/10
Children Of The Damned 10/10
Total Eclipse 10/10
Run To The Hills 10/10
The Number Of The Beast 10/10
In my book, other than Brave New World (also 6x 10/10), no Maiden album has more 10/10 songs.
Forostar
Ancient Mariner
DJMayes
Ancient Mariner
I agree with @Cosmiceddie on this one. Run To The Hills is a classic for a reason and regardless of whether or not it's worn thin for some people it is absolutely a worthy 10.
TheSpectreWithin
Pirate of the Undergorund
TNOTB isn't an album I listen to all the way through very often, so I've never had the problem of burnout with RTTH. It also wasn't played the one time I saw them live. I'm sure it's different for long-time fans, but for me it is a very good song. Far from being in my top 10 of Maiden, but I give it 9/10.