THE NUMBER OF THE BEAST

I am afraid I am going to sound like a cliche during the next paragraphs. But there is no other way to describe this album as a milestone, an icon and a masterpiece. It is not my favorite Iron Maiden album, but I still give it the respect it demand.

Invaders unleashed the ex-Samson vocalist Bruce Dickinson onto the heavy metal scene. The track is kind of iconic just because of that. Let us say that his attack on the heavy metal scene can be compared to the attack on Pearl Harbour. Full attack, no mercy offered. The track is not particular good, but Bruce saves the day. The next track is one of the very few Iron Maiden ballads. And a good one too ! The band and the new vocals is working superbly together. It is obvious that Iron Maiden has arrived. I do not understand why this track is not as popular as it should be. It is on my top 20 Iron Maiden tracks. The following track has some very good guitar solos by the other new boy in Iron Maiden; Adrian Smith. This is not a great track, but still OK. 22 Acacia Avenue has some very good breaks and it is obvious that Iron Maiden comes from a prog rock background. This is a very well crafted song and one of the best songs on this album.

The title track does not need any introduction. It is one of their most well known songs and one who has landed the band in hot water with some Christian-fundamentalists. When reading the lyrics, it is pretty hard to understand why you can be branded as satanists by reading and quoting the bible. But their attackers does not take this into account. Sheer loonacy. Iron Maiden was never satanists. These days; they are bible-bashers....... behind closed doors. The song is iconic and a good one too. One of the best songs on the album.

Run To The Hills is one of the best Iron Maiden songs ever. It rumble on with some good melody lines. Bruce is at his best and the band seems tight as a duck's tax returns.

Gangland is one of these forgotten Iron Maiden songs which deserve to be dusted off and brought to everyone's attention. The guitars on this track is brilliant with some good harmonies and two-leads attacks.

The closing track is Hallowed Be Thy Name, Iron Maiden's best ever track. The lyrics is superb. The melody even better. This is a fully fledged epic song with time changes and duelling guitars. The bass is really rumbling along and it really creates an epic song. I have the Live After Death (live) version of this song on my favorite list. A truly stunner of a track.

I do not listen to this album a lot. Actually; this was my first time in a decade. But I still rate it very highly. I believe this is an essential heavy metal album and an excellent addition to any prog music collection.

4.5 stars.

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