[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G90ngH2anxQ[/youtube]
Metal Insider contributor Anthony Maisano is listening to a different metal album that was released on that day every day this year. Today, it’s Iron Maiden’s breakthrough album, The Number of the Beast.
One of the true metal classics. This is another album that I can’t say much about that hasn’t already been said. Bruce Dickinson shines here on his first Maiden album, and the riffs are truly some of the best metal has to offer. “Hallowed Be Thy Name” is has a few of the most awesome riffs ever. “Run to the Hills” is a borderline power metal track, to me. The chorus is out of this world. Personally, I really love the late Clive Burr’s drum work. Although I still enjoy Nicko, I do prefer Clive because of his rock solid grooves that show on tracks like “The Prisoner” and the title track. Speaking of the title track. You can easily say it helped define a generation. It’s really a legendary album with some legendary songs. A final note is that “Children of the Damned” was inspired by the Dio-Sabbath classic “Children of the Sea” off Heaven and Hell.
Once again, my negatives stem from particular tracks. I really can’t stand “22 Acacia Avenue.” Not only do I think it doesn’t fit the mood of the other tracks on the album, but I don’t find it particularly interesting either. “Gangland” is a bit of a sleeper track, too. I don’t think it’s particularly bad, but I don’t think it’s particularly good either.
Favorite Tracks: “Hallowed Be Thy Name,” “Run to the Hills,” “The Prisoner,” “Children of the Damned,” “The Number of the Beast,” “Invaders.”
This is a metal classic, in the truest sense,that everyone should own. It’s one of the albums that defines traditional metal, and could easily be said to have defined a generation. To this day, it remains my personal second favorite Maiden album. There’s so. much good about this album. Way more than I can accurately describe. Pick it up, and experience a true, time-tested gem.
