Rank the Albums

[FlyingV]

My $0.02

I basically stopped after 1992 when Bruce split. I have heard some latter pieces I liked but can't critique past that point, which hamstrings my assessment.

Iron Maiden has to be in the top 3. I am a Paul fan though his power/range is nothing like Bruce's... different animals though, and the feel of this album is a seedy, dangerous one that Bruce can never touch. More importantly, EVERY song has merit and strength. One of the biggest shortcomings of the band is that they can produce an an unbelievable riff then spin it 90 degrees to some ill-fitting poppish melody, or worse, they can produce an album with 4-5 classics/anthems and a similar number of irrelevant cutting room b-sides (somewhere in time comes to mind).

Powerslave has to be another top 3. This is the one where Bruce found his groove with the band and the power and maturity peaked for them (at least during their most influential era). It has its share of filler like Back in the Village and (perhaps Lossfer Words) but these anthems are among their best work, including Aces, 2 minutes, and Rime. Even the "solid-middle" tunes like Flash and Powerslave destroy the best offerings on many of their other albums.

Number of the Beast is simply a classic. Probably the 3rd of the top 3... a seemless transition from the gritty punkish rock of the Paul D era to the melodic metal that defined thier sound ever after. So many great anthems and classics on this.

Killers, Seventh, Piece, and Stranger are all great, but known for the inconsistent classic track/irrelevant track Maiden is famous for. Prayer is absolute crap as far as maiden-caliber music is concerned. This was the album that nearly caused me to quit Maiden.

FotD was the album that redeemed them... amazing melodic guitar work, powerful vocals and listenable songs... definitely a top 5.

[KuroKitty]

Here's mine

1.Killers
2.A Matter of Life and Death
3.Iron Maiden
4.The Number of the Beast
5.Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
6.Piece of Mind
7.Brave New World
8.Powerslave
9.Book of Souls
10.No Prayer for the Dying
11.Somewhere in Time
12.Fear of the Dark
13.The Final Frontier
14.Dance of Death
15.The X Factor
16.Virtual XI

Never really listened to the Blaze ones so that's why they're the last two.
A Matter of Life and Death is higher for me because it was the first album I was introduced to when I was just 13 and i love every song it.

[The Educated fool]

A Matter of Life and Death was a very solid album.

You should give the Blaze albums at least one spin, some time... they may surprise you. It's easier to acknowledge them now too, then it was at the time, since Bruce came back and order was restored since then.

[Bobo]

A Matter of Life and Death was a very solid album.

You should give the Blaze albums at least one spin, some time... they may surprise you. It's easier to acknowledge them now too, then it was at the time, since Bruce came back and order was restored since then.

(First post!)
I'd argue that A Matter of Life and Death is probably tied with Brave New World as the strongest they've put out since Bruce came back!

As for my ranking, I'd have to go with:

1) Somewhere In Time
2) Powerslave
3) The Number of the Beast
4) Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
5) Killers
6) Brave New World
7) A Matter of Life and Death
8) Iron Maiden
9) Piece of Mind
10) Dance of Death
11) The Book of Souls
12) The Final Frontier
13) Fear of the Dark
14) The X Factor
15) No Prayer for the Dying
16) Virtual XI

[KuroKitty]

I wasn't even born yet when Bruce Dickinson departed Iron Maiden lol
The Blaze Era was when I was just a baby and as far as I know Bruce returned in 1999 when I was 3 years old. (I'm 20 yeah I know I'm a young Maiden fan lol)

So I wasn't around when all this stuff happened sadly lol but I do see what you mean.
I prefer the albums with Bruce and Paul Di'anno though.
I just adore Bruce Dickinson's voice so much,when I got a Matter of Life and Death album,opened it and saw what they looked like for the first time on the cover art thingy.I still remember buying that CD for just ONE song lol but eventually it evolved to the WHOLE album.Love ALL the songs on it now.

[Sussexsaint]

Blimey that last post makes me feel very old indeed - first saw them on the Somewhere in Time tour.

Loving Book of Souls and will have to have a listen to some of the more 'recent' albums as the last studio album I bought was Fear of the Dark

Best album ever ?

Bit of a cop out but 'Live after Death' - brilliant performance - great recording and a sublime selection of tracks from Powerslave, Piece of mind etc

[The Educated fool]

Bit of a cop out but 'Live after Death' - brilliant performance - great recording and a sublime selection of tracks from Powerslave, Piece of mind etc

lol--Maybe a slight cop out, but I can't fault the pick. Live After Death might be the most classic metal live album of all time.

... for my money though, my favourite Maiden live album is actually Rock in Rio. For me, the live versions of the tunes from Brave New World--and the unexpectedly brilliant resurrections of Sign of the Cross, and most especially The Clansman--put it over the top.

[Rain88]

1, Brave New World (uncommon opinion but it's the perfect album for me)
2, Piece of Mind (perfect album)
3, Iron Maiden (what made iron maiden)
4. Virtual XI (yep, I like blaze bayley, sue me)
5, The X Factor (yep, I like blaze bayley, sue me)
6, Somewhere In Time (almost perfect album)
7, Book of Souls (just because iron maiden is showing that they can still make good albums)
8, Number of The Beast (it's only 8 cause I believe the title song is overrated)
9, Dance of Death (the album that got me into maiden)
10, Powerslave (the impossible choices starts here)
11, Seventh Son of a Seventh Son (feel bad for putting it here)
12, Killers (not my cup of beer)
13, A Matter of Life & Death (meh)
14, The Final Frontier (can't remember a song in it)
15, Fear of the Dark (not sure what were they thinking)
16, No Prayer For The Dying (i wish it didn't exist)

[90mphyorker]

1/ Somewhere In Time
A Matter of Life and Death
Powerslave
Iron Maiden
Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
Dance of Death
The Number of the Beast
Piece of Mind
Brave New Worl
The Final Frontier
Book of Souls
Killers
The X Factor
No Prayer for the Dying
Fear of the Dark
16/ Virtual XI

Only 1 and 16 never change. The others orders can swap around. I still like Virtual XI. just Maidens weakest album.

[PsiH86]

1) All albums!

Here such chart at me.)))
In each album there is the charm!