KILLERS

This record is the best of the Maiden's albums: not for the sound, but for the power, the speed, the intensity, the progressive tendencies, the inspiration and the quality of the compositions: it is in a certain manner a "metal prog" album (not a prog metal album): it is a metal album with inevitable progressive elements. IMO it is the best metal album of all time! Everytime I look at "best Maiden albums" polls, I notice that Killers never comes to the top. I noticed that younger people prefer Number of the beast, Powerslave and the more recent ones. Not that those records are not good: actually, I really like all the Maiden stuff until "Somewhere in time" included. I think Killers is more appreciated by people around my age. In the 80's, we made such polls and the best one was Killers almost all the time, followed by Piece of mind and Number of the Beast. Killers is very intense and fast. Actually it is the fastest of the Maiden albums. The instruments are fully interlocking and the synchronization is amazing. The bass is very elaborated, and the guitars have a good sound, although I must admit that the other Maiden's albums have a better guitar sound, like Piece of mind, where the guitar sound is absolutely at its best. Clive Burr does an outstanding job on drums here: he brilliantly plays complex & fast cymbals patterns. He plays very varied partitions, and it contributes to give a prog dimension to this record. Paul Di'Anno's voice is absolutely entertaining, and his extravaganza materialized by "out of this World" space screams is unforgettable: it is noticeable especially at the end of Drifter, of Innocent Exile and of Killers itself. He proves that he is an excellent singer, able to sing normally, as reveal the poignant vocals on the beautiful "Prodigal son". "Prodigal on" is so mellow compared to the other songs that I am tempted to classify it as a danceable slow!! Many guitar solos on this record are very melodic and emotional. Do not miss the OUTSTANDING "Genghis Khan", a very complex, synchronized & fast instrumental track, which is, IMO, the best Maiden's track ever made! NO tracks are good: they are at least excellent! There are absolutely no fillers! One listens it from the beginning to the end without any problem! Compared to the first album, Killers has a more professional sound, a lot warmer. Unfortunately, the sound is still not at its best! Please, just listen to "Prodigal son" with your girlfriend: she will probably like it!! This record must be played using an Hi-Fi sound system, in order to fully appreciate.

EXTREMELY RECOMMENDED!