Iron Maiden is one of the all-time metal greats and I’m beyond pumped to see them live for the first time alongside AC/DC, Ozzy Osbourne, Metallica, Tool, and Guns N’ Roses later this year at PowerTrip Live. I just booked my tickets last week and have been on a metal kick ever since. I literally cannot wait.
The Number of the Beast is known for a lot of things. You have Eddie The Head, the bands official mascot who is featured on every single Iron Maiden cover and painted by the great Derek Riggs. It’s also known for sending social conservatives and religious groups into panic due to the albums artwork and messaging. The whole world thought the group was a bunch of Satanists, with boycotts and protests following them everywhere during the subsequent tour following this album’s release.
When you think of 80’s metal it’s hard not to hear the sound of Iron Maiden in your head. Bruce Dickinson’s iconic high screams are absolutely peak 80’s metal perfection, dramatic and powerful. The guitars from Dave Murray and Adrian Smith absolutely shred. Drummer Clive Burr keeps up a frenetic pace in every single song. And then there’s the wobbly thump of Steve Harris’ bass, which is a very distinctive calling card for Maiden and rounds out their whole sound along with his brilliant output as the band’s principal songwriter.
The Number of the Beast is a record that’s iconic, influential, and frankly just fun as hell.
Standout Songs: “Hallowed Be Thy Name”, “22 Acacia Avenue”, “The Number of the Beast”, “Run to the Hills”
