Iron maiden - Iron Maiden(1980)

Track Listing:

1. Prowler
2. Remember Tomorrow
3. Running Free
4. Transilvania
5. Phantom Of The Opera
6. Strange World
7. Charlotte The Harlot
8. Iron Maiden

Lineup:

• Paul Di'Anno
• Dave Murray
• Dennis Stratton
• Steve Harris
• Clive Burr

The year was 1980, & the music scene in the UK was probably never going to be the same thanks to a bunch of rebel teens who wanted to do something different. At that time punk was very popular & bands who wanted to sound very different, had to be really brave or stupid. With this album Iron Maiden made it clear they were going to be a band to reckon with. The songs here are short, catchy & will appeal to fans of both heavy metal & punk. Paul Di'Anno was more of a punk vocalist than metal anyways.
Musically this remains Maidens most raw offering till date. The production is top class, & sounds as if it was just released a few years ago. "Running Free", "Prowler", & "Iron Maiden" are cult classics , the band still plays live. "Remember Tomorrow" is one of their greatest songs they managed to write. It seems to have inspired tons of metal bands that carved a niche for themselves in their own sub genres of metal. bands like OPETH, DARK TRANQUILITY and hosts of other bands.
Steve Harris bass playing was the best. Dave Murray & Dennis Stratton paid rich tribute to older bands like Wishbone Ash with their twin guitar playing, something that remained with them till now.
All in all a good album.

My rating 7/10

review by Pritham 'Metal farmer' D'Souza