Diesel 11
As you scream into the web of silence...
I ranked all of Maiden's song last December, so you can check out the full list here. This is the Top 10:
10. "Journeyman"
Smith/Harris/Dickinson • Dance of Death (2003)
Maiden stepping outside of their comfort zones is always a 50/50 chance for either a weird song that doesn't hold up very well ("The Man Who Would Be King") or sheer brilliance. "Journeyman" is that brilliance. The only fully acoustic song in the catalogue, it is the perfect finale for Dance of Death. The album as a whole shifts through some experimental territory, so going all the way with an acoustic track is kind of a no-brainer. But the quality has to remain, of course, and that's where this song shines. Not just some experiment, this is a layered track with a beautifully nostalgic and hopeful sound that climaxes to a powerful (if repetitive chorus). Bruce's voice is beautiful and the soundscape that is woven is rapturous. Just a wonderful track from beginning to end.
9. "The Thin Line Between Love and Hate"
Murray/Harris • Brave New World (2000)
Another closing track, another song that sees the band stepping outside of their comfort zone. Of course this was the closer to the band's first album after the Bruce and Adrian reunion, so it's not surprising that they were toying with how to construct songs again. I love this one from start to finish. The riff is another dark, brooding one, and it leads us through some rocky territory that ends up soaring in the chorus. And if you thought that was all, suddenly things shift and we enter one of the most beautiful moments in any Maiden song. Bruce's voice, once again, is just glorious as he sings the title and really lets those notes glisten in the light. Dave is probably the weakest songwriter in the band (Nicko notwithstanding), but his songs are always interesting, and sometimes he really finds gold.
8. "Paschendale"
Smith/Harris • Dance of Death (2003)
Another track from Maiden's second post-reunion record, "Paschendale" was proof that the new reincarnation of the band could create classics as good as, if not better, than in the '80s. An Adrian-led epic thrusting you into the heart of The Great War, Bruce narrates a scene of death and despair as we trudge through mud and try to survive the gunfire. In terms of narrative this is one of Maiden's best storytelling tracks. Every moment brings to life another snapshot of the battle, each more devastating than the last. And the chorus hits your heart with a pang as it wraps up the final moments of a soldier at Ypres. Monstrously heavy, and heart-wrenchingly beautiful.
7. "Alexander the Great (356-323 B.C.)"
Harris • Somewhere in Time (1986)
The final track on Somewhere in Time is easily one of the band's most incredible pieces of music. The guitars on here are amazing! The riff is so damn good! The chorus just makes you want to sing along! I understand that the lyrics can be frustrating (definitely to historians who have to correct some of the misconceptions that Steve threw together), but to me the encyclopedic nature of it is part of the charm. Love this song, hope they play it live this year, it deserves some time in the spotlight.
6. "For the Greater Good of God"
Harris • A Matter of Life and Death (2006)
Religion and war go hand in hand, and the highlight off Maiden's moody A Matter of Life and Death tackles that difficult relationship. Steve's lyrics are at their most raw, emotional, and pleading; the music he paints underscores the destruction. The instrumental section is awesome as well, as each of the guitarists work with their strengths and peak with a fantastic harmony that sends up back to the simple chorus that has you belting along with Bruce. And the final lines are, to me, some of Steve's most beautiful poetic: "He gave His life for us, He fell upon the cross / To die for all of those who never mourned His loss / It wasn't meant for us to feel the pain again / Tell me why... Tell me why..." Utterly perfect.
5. "Aces High"
Harris • Powerslave (1984)
My Top 10 has a lot of album closers, and this is the only opener that made it. But goddamn what an opener it is! Can you think of a better way to start an Iron Maiden concert? "Aces High" is a fantastic, pedal-to-the-metal rocker with a fantastic riff, fantastic solos, and possibly Bruce's best vocal performance. It is such an insane song, and packs a full-scale aerial battle into a tight as fuck four minute package. Fucking awesome.
4. "The Talisman"
Gers/Harris • The Final Frontier (2010)
To me, Maiden's fourth post-reunion album is also the weakest of the six, and yet it also features within its ranks the best song Janick Gers has ever written. "The Talisman" is just unbelievably good. The acoustic intro does not set you up at all for the storm a-comin'. The guitars billow over the stereo as the voice of Mr. Bruce Dickinson holds on for dear life to the mast. Music and lyrics go hand in hand here, and lead us through a pilgrim's voyage into destruction. And it all climaxes with the chorus, one of Bruce's most awe-inspiring moments without a doubt. Fan-fucking-tastic.
3. "Empire of the Clouds"
Dickinson • The Book of Souls (2015)
Those who have kept up with the Diesel lore know that this was my favorite Maiden song for quite some time. In spite of its being demoted to a still-impressive third place, I still find new things to like about it every time I listen to it. Bruce's storytelling here is unbelievably good; the piano is an appropriate touch. The way it moves from section to section is killer and the finale is tear-jerking. This is a masterclass in how to tell a story through music and how to take a song and bring it to its fullest potential. Another of Maiden's most beautiful songs.
2. "The Parchment"
Harris • Senjutsu (2021)
One of the reasons that "Empire" has gotten a demotion is that I no longer think of it as the definitive Iron Maiden song. It's a very unique track led by Bruce, which is both what makes it so good and what has lowered it down to third now. On Senjutsu, Steve - the heart and soul of Iron Maiden at the end of the day - took back the reigns and gave us four epics solely written by him. The crown jewel of the album is "The Parchment". To me, this song is everything I love about Iron Maiden rolled into one twelve-and-a-half minute monster. The cool, dark bass intro, every single riff, all six of the guitar solos, the narrative scope, and the peak in the final verse before the music explodes - I fucking love it. Time will tell if its luster shall diminish, but right now I am enthralled whenever I put it in. So. Damn. Good.
1. "Rime of the Ancient Mariner"
Harris • Powerslave (1984)
A lot of my list comprises of Maiden's 21st century material, but their best song was crafted all the way back in 1984. Powerslave is my favorite Maiden album bar none, and "Rime" is such a fantastic album closer. Thirteen-some minutes worth of metal goodness, with so many different shades as it tells its story. "Then down in falls... comes the RAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIINNNNN!!!!!" Who DOESN'T get chills?? And the ensuing guitar solos... goddamn. Not just the ultimate, definitive Iron Maiden song (and best live song!), but also the greatest metal song ever written.
10. "Journeyman"
Smith/Harris/Dickinson • Dance of Death (2003)
Maiden stepping outside of their comfort zones is always a 50/50 chance for either a weird song that doesn't hold up very well ("The Man Who Would Be King") or sheer brilliance. "Journeyman" is that brilliance. The only fully acoustic song in the catalogue, it is the perfect finale for Dance of Death. The album as a whole shifts through some experimental territory, so going all the way with an acoustic track is kind of a no-brainer. But the quality has to remain, of course, and that's where this song shines. Not just some experiment, this is a layered track with a beautifully nostalgic and hopeful sound that climaxes to a powerful (if repetitive chorus). Bruce's voice is beautiful and the soundscape that is woven is rapturous. Just a wonderful track from beginning to end.
9. "The Thin Line Between Love and Hate"
Murray/Harris • Brave New World (2000)
Another closing track, another song that sees the band stepping outside of their comfort zone. Of course this was the closer to the band's first album after the Bruce and Adrian reunion, so it's not surprising that they were toying with how to construct songs again. I love this one from start to finish. The riff is another dark, brooding one, and it leads us through some rocky territory that ends up soaring in the chorus. And if you thought that was all, suddenly things shift and we enter one of the most beautiful moments in any Maiden song. Bruce's voice, once again, is just glorious as he sings the title and really lets those notes glisten in the light. Dave is probably the weakest songwriter in the band (Nicko notwithstanding), but his songs are always interesting, and sometimes he really finds gold.
8. "Paschendale"
Smith/Harris • Dance of Death (2003)
Another track from Maiden's second post-reunion record, "Paschendale" was proof that the new reincarnation of the band could create classics as good as, if not better, than in the '80s. An Adrian-led epic thrusting you into the heart of The Great War, Bruce narrates a scene of death and despair as we trudge through mud and try to survive the gunfire. In terms of narrative this is one of Maiden's best storytelling tracks. Every moment brings to life another snapshot of the battle, each more devastating than the last. And the chorus hits your heart with a pang as it wraps up the final moments of a soldier at Ypres. Monstrously heavy, and heart-wrenchingly beautiful.
7. "Alexander the Great (356-323 B.C.)"
Harris • Somewhere in Time (1986)
The final track on Somewhere in Time is easily one of the band's most incredible pieces of music. The guitars on here are amazing! The riff is so damn good! The chorus just makes you want to sing along! I understand that the lyrics can be frustrating (definitely to historians who have to correct some of the misconceptions that Steve threw together), but to me the encyclopedic nature of it is part of the charm. Love this song, hope they play it live this year, it deserves some time in the spotlight.
6. "For the Greater Good of God"
Harris • A Matter of Life and Death (2006)
Religion and war go hand in hand, and the highlight off Maiden's moody A Matter of Life and Death tackles that difficult relationship. Steve's lyrics are at their most raw, emotional, and pleading; the music he paints underscores the destruction. The instrumental section is awesome as well, as each of the guitarists work with their strengths and peak with a fantastic harmony that sends up back to the simple chorus that has you belting along with Bruce. And the final lines are, to me, some of Steve's most beautiful poetic: "He gave His life for us, He fell upon the cross / To die for all of those who never mourned His loss / It wasn't meant for us to feel the pain again / Tell me why... Tell me why..." Utterly perfect.
5. "Aces High"
Harris • Powerslave (1984)
My Top 10 has a lot of album closers, and this is the only opener that made it. But goddamn what an opener it is! Can you think of a better way to start an Iron Maiden concert? "Aces High" is a fantastic, pedal-to-the-metal rocker with a fantastic riff, fantastic solos, and possibly Bruce's best vocal performance. It is such an insane song, and packs a full-scale aerial battle into a tight as fuck four minute package. Fucking awesome.
4. "The Talisman"
Gers/Harris • The Final Frontier (2010)
To me, Maiden's fourth post-reunion album is also the weakest of the six, and yet it also features within its ranks the best song Janick Gers has ever written. "The Talisman" is just unbelievably good. The acoustic intro does not set you up at all for the storm a-comin'. The guitars billow over the stereo as the voice of Mr. Bruce Dickinson holds on for dear life to the mast. Music and lyrics go hand in hand here, and lead us through a pilgrim's voyage into destruction. And it all climaxes with the chorus, one of Bruce's most awe-inspiring moments without a doubt. Fan-fucking-tastic.
3. "Empire of the Clouds"
Dickinson • The Book of Souls (2015)
Those who have kept up with the Diesel lore know that this was my favorite Maiden song for quite some time. In spite of its being demoted to a still-impressive third place, I still find new things to like about it every time I listen to it. Bruce's storytelling here is unbelievably good; the piano is an appropriate touch. The way it moves from section to section is killer and the finale is tear-jerking. This is a masterclass in how to tell a story through music and how to take a song and bring it to its fullest potential. Another of Maiden's most beautiful songs.
2. "The Parchment"
Harris • Senjutsu (2021)
One of the reasons that "Empire" has gotten a demotion is that I no longer think of it as the definitive Iron Maiden song. It's a very unique track led by Bruce, which is both what makes it so good and what has lowered it down to third now. On Senjutsu, Steve - the heart and soul of Iron Maiden at the end of the day - took back the reigns and gave us four epics solely written by him. The crown jewel of the album is "The Parchment". To me, this song is everything I love about Iron Maiden rolled into one twelve-and-a-half minute monster. The cool, dark bass intro, every single riff, all six of the guitar solos, the narrative scope, and the peak in the final verse before the music explodes - I fucking love it. Time will tell if its luster shall diminish, but right now I am enthralled whenever I put it in. So. Damn. Good.
1. "Rime of the Ancient Mariner"
Harris • Powerslave (1984)
A lot of my list comprises of Maiden's 21st century material, but their best song was crafted all the way back in 1984. Powerslave is my favorite Maiden album bar none, and "Rime" is such a fantastic album closer. Thirteen-some minutes worth of metal goodness, with so many different shades as it tells its story. "Then down in falls... comes the RAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIINNNNN!!!!!" Who DOESN'T get chills?? And the ensuing guitar solos... goddamn. Not just the ultimate, definitive Iron Maiden song (and best live song!), but also the greatest metal song ever written.
It's always nice to see such deep cuts in a Top 10 list.
