Voto:
Alright, so this album was released in 1980; the Sabbath had already laid the groundwork for the development of a new genre, but it's only in 1980 that the Maiden, with the introduction of "twin" guitars, ultra-fast riffs and solos, the galloping bass of someone who has schooled thousands of bassists who came after, and the lightning-fast drums (let's not forget the Judas Priest), throw a stone into the pond and propagate waves that have now turned into real tsunamis that continue to crash onto the shore. The Maiden were the first Metal band to breach the Iron Curtain in Russia. Paul Di Anno was a great singer, but his ongoing problems with alcohol and drugs forced the rest of the band to take the drastic step of replacement; so, having randomly heard a young and talented Bruce Dickinson, who sounds like an air raid siren given the power and range of his voice, they immediately decided to recruit him into the band. From "The Number of The Beast" and for the next six albums, the Maiden churned out one gem after another, aided by Bruce Dickinson’s live charisma, a true stage animal who transmitted the same intensity in performance even, and especially, better live. Mammoth tours, tightly packed dates couldn’t stop the riff machine of Harris and Company. The partnership with Dickinson lasted until the end of the Real Live Tour, then he decided to leave the band to pursue a solo career. Blaze Bayley stepped in, but after a short time, aided also by the unfair comparison with the voice of the former singer and a lack of impact, Dickinson was called back. Bruce's contribution to the band wasn’t limited to just vocals; with his degree in history and literature, he also wrote engaged and cultured lyrics. Musically, from an initial approach with a very raw, fast, and highly impactful metal (at the early concerts, the audience was left speechless and petrified), the band's sound increasingly shifted towards enriched technique, touching almost prog realms. The merit of the Maiden is that they opened the gates and let loose the stampede of wild horses that later did all the rest; they laid the concrete foundations, the skyscraper is still under construction, and if you look at its pillars, you will surely find "Iron Maiden" 1980 written on them. If we want to find a flaw, we might say that the band remained too tied to that beloved genre of music, splitting their horde of fans between the old-timers who always preferred them as "True Metal" and those who got tired of the usual riffs and perhaps wanted a "brave" turn towards other shores. In my opinion, Dickinson remains the best singer of the Maiden era, even if, for emotional reasons and perhaps also charisma, many preferred the irreverent energy of Di Anno. There are those who throw tons of shit on them, but without the Maiden, the history of Metal would surely have been different. Essential, like an abacus in first grade. Well, I've talked to you about the Maiden, their music, and, in summary, their immense importance. Now, if you’d like, you can cheerfully get out of my way!
