Track Listing

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

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7014 in Music
• Released on: 1998-09-14
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced

Amazon.co.uk Review
This opening sonic salvo from Steve Harris's East End stalwarts pretty much defined the late 1970's post-punk rebirth of rock traditionalism known as the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal. Featuring the strident cockney roar of the band's original lead vocalist Paul Di'Anno, Iron Maiden capitalised on the band's enormous grass-roots live following by storming immediately into the upper reaches of the album chart. A perfect balance of the irresistibly catchy ("Running Free"), the intricately epic ("Phantom Of The Opera") and the roguishly profane ("Charlotte The Harlot"), it's an assured debut, superficially marred by somewhat pedestrian production values. Newly enhanced with the addition of video clips and assorted other multimedia goodies, Iron Maiden--specifically the blazing, fretboard ferocity of its closing title track--is an utterly essential element of any self-respecting metal-head's record collection. Furious, whiplash headbanging is not so much recommended as completely unavoidable. --Ian Fortnam

CD Description
Just as punk was mutating into new wave and the '70s were coming to a close, Iron Maiden came onto the British music scene as part of a movement known as the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal. Named for a mediaeval torture instrument, Iron Maiden was founded by bass player Steve Harris and released their self-titled debut in 1980. Roughly produced by Will Malone, the songs were influenced by the group's fascination with horror films ("Phantom Of The Opera") and the macabre ("Transylvania", "Prowler"). Driven by Harris' driving bass andPaul Di'Anno's raspy vocals, songs such as the moody "Remember Tomorrow" and the more aggressive "Charlotte The Harlot"also featured the melodic interplay of guitarists Dave Murray and Dennis Stratton. "Running Free" was the album's anthem and landed Maiden a slot on Top Of The Pops, where in their refusal to lip-synch, they became the first band to play live on the show since The Who's 1972 appearance.

Customer Reviews

Best Trad Metal Band in the world & NO EXCEPTIONS !
This debut album from one of the most influential metal outfits of all time is what classic metal is all about.
Stuff "Appetite for destruction" ! This is it. The two are just not compareable in any way, shape or form. This is solid, astonishing heavy metal. The other is "rock"....end of story.
Paul di'Anno's vocal talent is a subject of much debate amongst Maiden fans, but I say if you rate this album, then you rate the vocals... I think they fit the sound. He wouldn't have done too well of Number of the beast and on, but he wasn't on them , so lets leave it alone!
Prowler, although not a Maiden classic, is a pretty good opener. Its got all the ingredients of a good metal tune. Thumping drums, chunky opening guitars and some furious soloing.
Sanctuary is fast and racy.
Rememeber Tomorrow is a great song. it takes you from slow involved listening to all out head shaking madness in the blink of an eye.
Running Free is a global Maiden anthem and thats all you need to say!

Phantom', the ever lasting Lucozade Theme (remember that?) is an epic song that showed the band were not just another long haired bunch of noise makers.
Transylvania has some blinding guitar work, but alas its my least fave song on the album. It does however, contrast nicely with Strange world which again is very moody and slow.
Charlotte the Harlot is my personal favorite. The opening is good, but the best bit (on song and album I feel) comes about 2 minutes 45 seconds into the song. This transition from slow pace to blistering lead guitar madness is just as dynamic and furious as any early slayer or Exodus break.
Iron Maiden is a good song that everyone can sing along to.
This album is an eternal classic. Whats better is that Maiden have progressed to make even better albums since (and a few ropey ones too!)
This should be in your classics section along with Motorhead's OverKill/Ace of Spades, Metallica's Kill 'em All and anything Sabbath did with Ozzy!
Up the Irons! Your grandchildren will still be listening to this long after you've popped off!

Where it all started.
This, the first Iron Maiden album, is a great piece of history.

The songs are all high class, special items for me include Prowler and it's wah-heavy riff, Remember Tomorrow, with it's quiet verses and frantic chorus, Running Free - the live "singalong" favourite, Phantom.... (lucozade anyone?), Strange World - a rare Maiden ballad, and the title track, regularly used to this day during encores live.

Paul DiAnno's voice is well suited to the style being developed by the band during this part of their career, and the production, whilst basic, does the job well.

A classic metal album.

Excellence, pure excellence!
Could this be the best metal debut album ever? I think so! The only debut album to really follow in it's footsteps is 'Appetite for Destruction' by Guns N' Roses!

The best track is the groups self-titled anthem 'Iron Maiden'! This raw, and uncomprimising metal sound finishes a metal masterpiece! This album was onle ever topped by the band itself when the brill Bruce Dickinson joined and they released the hit album 'Number of the Beast'. We have the hugely catchy 'running free', and the epic 'Phantom of the Opera' which once again was only topped by the other epic 'Hallowed be thy Name' from the 'Number of the Beast' Album! From the opening track - 'Prowler' you can feel the unrelenting force of Iron Maiden at their best! 'Charlotte the Harlot' has very funny lyrics to it, and the way Paul Di'Anno sings them will have you chuckling to yourself! Buy this album, it's a bargain! Up the IRONS!