Bruce Dickinson is one of metal's best singers, period. His mighty pipes carry tremendous range and power, and he can hold a note for the LONGEST time. He also throws a great performance onstage. He ranks up there with Matthew Barlow of Iced Earth, James LaBrie of Dream Theater, Michael Åkerfeldt of Opeth, and Glenn Danzig of Danzig ... as one of the best metal singers I've ever heard.

Now, for the rest of the band: Steve Harris, songwriter/backing vocalist also is one of the most talented bassists I've ever heard. He plays a standard-tuned 4-string, but good LORD, just listen to him! He creates such complex rhythms and even leads; he's like a third guitarist .... Every song he can clearly be heard under the fantastic guitar riffs and fleshing out the thick drumming.

Dave Murray and Adrian Smith: what can I say about these guitarists? Where can I BEGIN? The two are a fearsome duo, slicing and dicing the listener as they alternate leads and solos with ease, creating such fast-paced riffs and crunches, it hardly matters how much or how little distortion they might use. I've practiced playing guitar for a couple of years, but lately I've been doing so a lot more thanks to them. Definitely one of the most perfect guitar duos out there, and still going strong. And now they have an additional guitarist in the mix, Janick Gers, but since he's not on this album, he won't be discussed...although he sure is good, too. I just wish they would credit who played which lead and solo in the notes!

Clive Burr is a highly underrated drummer, I think. He provides really loud, well-paced beats, as well as great fills and crashes. Unfortunately he wouldn't be with the band for long, and would be gone by the PIECE OF MIND-era ..., but when he was with them, boy he was good. One of my favorite performances by him: the intro to "Gangland."

The songs are all so perfect, I will go through each one individually.

"Invaders" is a fast-paced, attention-getting opener. It tells the tale of a Viking invasion upon a Nordic village, I think. The drums thunder like a thousand running feet, the bass and guitars like cries of fear and fury. And Bruce Dickinson...it's easy to see why many called him "Air-Raid Siren."

"Children of the Damned," I'm not so sure what this one's about. It starts off kind of slow and has great guitar work from Smith and Murray, and slowly gets more up-beat, but then in the bridge of the song...VROOOOM! It just takes off at an ultra-high pace and knocks the listener off their feet ....

"The Prisoner" has a little sample from the sci-fi sitcom of the same name, then breaks into a mid-tempo beat that is simply infectious for foot-tapping. Then it speeds up so suddenly and without warning, with a sweeping, powerful instrumental thrust. Dickinson snarls and barks out the tale of a man in prison who has one thing in mind: getting out. Very catchy chorus, too. And remember what I was saying about Harris being a complex bassist? Just listen to the leads he makes in the pre-chorus: CRAZY!

"22 Acacia Avenue," another faced-paced track, is a fable of a prostitution house and how truly insane and upside-down one could be. While the song is excellent and I could be stuck on a deserted island with it, it is probably one of my lesser-favorites.

"The Number of the Beast"..., the source for many a parent's apprehensions that their kids are listening to bad music. A streamlined and fast-paced tale of a man's encounter with an unholy cult performing a Satanic ritual, yes - but by no means promoting Satanism; rather, this takes a fearful outlook upon such practices, as the narrator within the song is trying to get away...but ultimately, unsuccessfully. After an eerie intro by the late Vincent Price, the atmospheric guitar riffs kick in, with Dickinson's worried-sounding vocals coming in with a now-classic opening line: "I left alone...my mind was blank..." The solos in the bridge of the song dazzle, and the little gap between them is amazing in itself as the pace slows down, then picks up again for a huge "shebang!" Parents may still want their kids to avoid a song that has "666" in the chorus, but regardless, this is one of Maiden's best.

"Run to the Hills" is very similar to "Invaders" in plot, but this time tells the story of the white settlers that came to this land we now call America, and as they mercilessly hunted down and slew the natives. The beginning drum beats lead into a great trio of guitars and bass, and then Dickinson comes in with his furied snarls. Then, like many Maiden songs, the song suddenly picks up pace and fires off into a blistering, galloping juggernaut.

"Gangland" is yet another uptempo piece, this time focusing on living in the more ghetto side of town, and the fears of going outside, for the gangs might get you. Rather violent and up-in-your-face lyrics, too. Like "22 Acacia Avenue," one of my lesser favorites, but still a masterpiece.

"Total Eclipse" is a prophetic tale of nature taking revenge upon mankind for our decades of causing such damage to her. It starts off with mid-tempo, fairly heavy riffs that are like thunder in the sky, and then builds up the pace a little. Dickinson's vocals are at their most furious here, I think.

And then there's "Hallowed Be Thy Name," the ultimate masterpiece on this album. Clocking in at over 7 minutes, this is the tale of a man's final hours as he is on death row and waiting for his time. The imagery and emotions FEEL so real. This one starts off with a bell chiming ..., and then the song picks up pace a bit, building to climatic verses where Dickinson's solo vocals alternate with blasts of instrumentation. The massive bridge is breathtaking with its powerful time changes and solos...and with the subject matter, this song is an excellent choice for an album closer.

As well, this 1998 remaster/reissue is very good. The notes are packed with information about the era and the recording/touring of this album, and the sound is pristine.

So there it is: Iron Maiden's 1982 album, the first to feature Bruce Dickinson, and where they achieved perfection. The band has had many, many other good songs on other albums, and this one isn't even their best - but it is, without a doubt one of them, and certainly one of the most important albums in the history of heavy metal.

14 of 15 found the following review helpful:


The beginning of the legend.  Sep 17, 2005 By Storm Rider
The Number of The Beast is the first of Iron Maiden's 4 consecutive classic releases, and an absolutely essential piece in any metal fan's collection. For those not familiar with the metal genre, this is an excellent place to start, especially if they are familiar with the heavier bands of 70s rock, such as Led Zeppelin, Rush, and the Who.

This album marks long-time singer Bruce Dickinson's debut with the band, and he makes his mark quickly as Maiden pulls away from the punk influence of former vocalist Paul Di'Anno (who was kicked out of the band for his descent into alcoholism), and adopts the style that will make them pioneers in the genre. Steve Harris really steps into his own as a songwriter on this album, as both the lyrics and music become increasingly complex and showcase the instrumental talent of the band on a level that Maiden's two previous albums, while strong in their own right, just never reached.

Of the 9 songs on Number of the Beast, I would say that the only two that would even qualify as mediocre are '22 Acacia Avenue' and 'Gangland'. 'The Prisoner' is based on the TV show of the same name, and features a great chorus by Dickinson and some nice guitar work by both Dave Murray and Adrian Smith. 'Invaders' is in my opinion an underrated gem, featuring a fast, catchy guitar riff that carries the song and goes great with Dickinson's 'air raid siren' vocals. 'Children of the Damned' and 'Total Eclipse' are both worth a listen as well, though I had to listen both several times before I appreciated them.

There are three tracks on Number of the Beast (which, to put it in perspective, is a third of the album) that are considered absolute classics by just about all Maiden fans. The first is the title track. 'The Number of the Beast' is a great piece of music with some classic riffing augmented by Steve Harris's powerful basslines and not one, but two great guitar solos. 'The Number of the Beast' is not, as many believe, a Satanist song. In fact, the song is based on a recurring nightmare had by lead guitarist Adrian Smith of being tortured by the devil. So in a way, the song has the exact opposite message many abscribe to it. Besides, the Rolling Stones had a song about Satan, and it was one of their biggest hits. You don't hear many people calling Mick Jagger a Satanist, do you? Most of the people who accuse Iron Maiden of Satanism or promoting violence get these ideas from their morbid cover art and the total inability to understand satire (for instance, '2 Minutes to Midnight' is not a song about going on killing rampages, but rather an anti-war song).

But I digress. The second classic metal song on this album is 'Run to the Hills', which is about the genocide of the Native Americans during the years of American colonization by the British. This is the first song to use the 'galloping' guitar riff style that is used again in 'The Trooper', from their next album. Bruce's vocals are in full force this time around, with his singing sounding near operatic in its intensity, and Smith and Murray once again put together fantastic dual guitar solos.

The final song on this album, 'Hallowed Be Thy Name' is not only the best song on the album, but in my opinion Iron Maiden's best song altogether, and quite possibly the best rock song ever written. 'Hallowed', a 7-minute epic, features what are easily some of Harris's most cerebral lyrics, about a jailed man waiting to be hanged reflecting on the nature of his life and reality in general. 'Hallowed' features a dazzlingly complex song structure, with Harris's chugging bass once again providing the foundation for an assortment of terrific riffs by Smith and Murray and another exemplary vocal performance by Bruce. Toss in an absolutely jaw-dropping guitar solo by Smith (who truly was born to shred), and you have a song, and an album, that no real, or even casual, metal fan should be without.

For those who liked this album, further recommendations include:

Piece of Mind - Iron Maiden

Powerslave - Iron Maiden

Holy Diver - Dio

Heaven and Hell - Black Sabbath

6 of 6 found the following review helpful:


Thank god for "Number of the Beast"  Feb 21, 2003
IF this is not the greatest Maiden cd (i constantly debate between this and Piece of Mind) then its 2nd best, and nipping at the heels of its champion. This cd is LOADED with awesome songs.. And because the whole album is amazing i'll go through the tracks.
1. Invaders - a great opener. Good solo, catchy guitar, good song.
2. Children of the Damned - Sounds like Metallica's Fade to Black, but this song came first. "Damned" good song! ;P
3. Prisoner - awesome. Catchy, memorable chorus, cool intro, awesome solo. Very good.
4. 22 Acacia Avenue - Good song, but not one that blows me away
5. Number of the Beast - but THIS one blows me away. AWESOME title track. Cool gothic kind of lyrics, great solos by Adrian and Dave, good bass, awesome intro.
6. Run to the Hills - as good as the title track. Also phenomenal words and music.
7. Gangland - eh. Doesn't do too much for me, but i assume that might have to do with following tracks 5 and 6
8. Total Eclipse - good song, but not a memorable one
9. Hallowed be thy name - AWESOME, GREAT, AMAZING, and everything else. Maiden's best epic without a doubt (sorry mariner, alexander, to tame a land, etc.) Great riffs, good solo (although every time i hear it i want to hear the solo from "The Prisoner" in it.. but the one in it now is still great.. EXCELLENT words.. just an unbelievably well done song. I could not imagine a better way to close a great cd.

5 of 5 found the following review helpful:


One of the Greatest Maiden studiowork  Jun 30, 2003
Yep, title says it all.'Kin great and this probably the album for the beginners.Here is my song by song review:

Invaders: Great starter of great album.This song is sadly underrated and I can't see why.It tells about Viking invasion.4.5/5

Children of the Damned:Creepy acoustic intro leads to creepy lyrics. This is probably the greatest song off this album.5/5

The Prisoner:This one has got great guitars and vocals.It' s excellent song.'Nuff said.5/5

22 Acacia Avenue:Again an excellent song.It continues the song Charlotte the Harlot, and I think Acacia is better than Charlotte. And it's one of this album's gems.5/5

Number of the Beast: The title song.Maybe I've listened this too much, cause I' m little bored for this one.But it' s excellent song.4.5/5

Run to the Hills:First single and the radio hit. This is totally overrated song. It's not as good as NOTB, but it' s still good.Intro guitars and solos are highlights of this song.4/5

Gangland: Many fans are considered that this is the worst track of this album and this one totally sucks.But it's not that bad!Lyrics are at least good and Bruce's voice saves this song a lot.4/5

Total Eclipse: It' s a shame that this one wasn't on the original album, 'cause this one is excellent song.It beats Gangland totally!5/5

Hallowed be Thy Name: WHOA! Hard to say anything negative from this one.Seven minutes includes so much, that I'm not even bothered to list it all.If you haven't heard this one, THEN GO AND GET THIS RECORD.6/5

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