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Rating:
1980. In this period, in the suburbs of big cities like London, misery, prostitution, alcoholism, and unemployment are rampant. It is in this climate that Iron Maiden are born: they are not a band like the others of the time, as their style is completely different from that of certain glam singers of the now declining era.
You can understand this already in the first 10 seconds of "Prowler", the introductory song: the initial guitar break, sharp yet at the same time overwhelming, transports you to a different dimension, almost a "middle-earth" between the real world (with the characteristics already seen before) and a fantastic world, populated by shadows and creatures that mix with daily life, overturning it in certain ways (see Eddie).
"Sanctuary" has a good rhythm, although it is (in my opinion) the least fascinating among the songs of the album.
"Remember tomorrow" is one of the strangest songs I have ever heard: the slow rhythm, the enchanting voice of Di'Anno, the guitar upheavals make it at the same time mysterious and beautiful.
"Running free" is one of the masterpieces: the rhythm is wonderful, making some of today's groups envious, who, even with more advanced instruments, will never be able to reproduce a style and a sound like that of this song.
"Phantom of the opera" is the longest song of the album: with riffs and the completely musical central part, it perfectly achieves its purpose, which is to evoke a surreal and magical atmosphere, in which one can lose oneself and never come out again.
"Transylvania" is, in my opinion, one of the most successful instrumentals by Iron Maiden: practically perfect in every point, it wonderfully evokes the basic idea of the album: transporting oneself to another dimension, in another reality different from the one we know.
"Strange world" surprises because it is the only truly calm song of the album, as it never reaches "peaks" of volume; perhaps this is exactly why it's so captivating.
"Charlotte the harlot" is a tribute to a p$$$e, a companion, almost a friend, who always knows what to give you. This song brings you back to earth for a brief moment, before reaching what is the supreme masterpiece of the album and of the entire Iron Maiden discography: indeed, in "Iron Maiden", the superb initial break, the perfect rhythm, and the guitars harmoniously coordinated make the song worthy of being the most representative of all the Iron Maiden songs combined.
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
01 Prowler (03:55)
Walking through the city, looking oh so pretty,
I've just got to find my way.
See the ladies flashing. All there legs and lashes.
I've just got to find my way.
Well you see me crawling through the bushes
With it open wide.
What you seeing girl?
Can't you believe that feeling, can't you believe it,
Can't you believe your eyes?
It's the real thing girl.
Got me feeling myself and reeling around,
Got me talking but feel like walking around.
Got me feeling myself and reeling a...
Got me talking but nothing's with me...
Got me feeling myself and reeling around.
02 Remember Tomorrow (05:27)
Unchain the colours before my eyes,
Yesterday's sorrows, tomorrow's white lies.
Scan the horizon, the clouds take me higher,
I shall return from out of fire.
Tears for rememberance, and tears for joy,
Tears for somebody and this lonely boy.
Out in the madness, the all seeing eye,
Flickers above us, to light up the sky.
Unchain the colours before my eyes,
Yesterday's sorrows, tomorrow's white lies.
Scan the horizon, the clouds take me higher,
I shall return from out of fire.
04 Phantom of the Opera (07:20)
I've been looking so long for you now you won't get away from my grasp.
You've been living so long in hiding in hiding behind that false mask.
And you know and I know that you ain't got long now to last.
Your looks and your feelings are just the remains of your past.
You're standing in the wings, there you wait for the curtain to fall.
Knowing the terror and holding you have on us all.
Yeah, I know that you're gonna scratch me, maim me and maul.
You know I'm helpless from your mesmerising cat call.
Keep your distance, walk away, don't take his bait.
Don't you stray, don't fade away.
Watch your step, he's out to get you, come what may.
Don't you stray, from the narrow way.
I'm running and hiding in my dreams you're always there.
You're the Phantom of the Opera, you're the devil, you're just out to scare.
You damaged my mind and my soul it just floats through the air.
Haunt me, you taunt me, you torture me back at your lair.
06 Strange World (05:46)
Was many years ago that I left home and came this way,
I was a young man full of hopes and dreams,
But now it seems to me that all is lost and nothing gained,
Sometimes things ain't what they seem,
No brave new world, no brave new world,
No brave new world, no brave new world.
Night and day I scan horizon, sea and sky,
My spirit wanders endlessly,
Until the day will dawn and friends from home discover why,
Hear me calling, rescue me,
Set me free, set me free,
Lost in this place and leave no trace.
Stranger in a strange land,
Land of ice and snow,
Trapped here in this prison, yeah!
Lost and far from home.
One hundred years have gone and men again they came that way,
To find the answer to the mystery,
They found his body lying where it fell on that day,
Preserved in time for all to see,
No brave new world, no brave new world,
Lost in this place, and leave no trace.
What became of the man that started
All are gone and their souls departed
Left me here in this place
So all alone
Stranger in a strange land
Land of ice and snow
Trapped inside this prison
Lost and far from home
What became of the man that started
All are gone and their souls departed
Left me here in this place
So all alone
Stranger in a strange land
Land of ice and snow
Trapped inside this prison
Lost and far from home
Stranger in a strange land
Land of ice and snow
Trapped inside this prison
Lost and far from home
Stranger in a strange land
Land of ice and snow
Trapped inside this prison
Lost and far from home
07 Charlotte the Harlot (04:12)
Giving a swish with your arse in the air,
Don't you know what they're saying?
Charlotte you're so refined,
When you take all the love that they're giving.
Sticking with every man that you find,
Don't you know what they're after?
Charlotte you've got your legs in the air,
Don't you hear all their laughter?
CHORUS:
Charlotte the harlot
Show me your leg.
Charlotte the harlot
Take me to bed.
Charlotte the harlot
Let me see blood.
Charlotte the harlot
Let me see love.
Taking so many men to you room,
Don't you feel no remorse.
You charge them a fiver only for starters,
And ten the main course.
You've got no feelings,
They died long ago.
Don't you care who you let in,
Don't you know you're breaking the law,
With the service you're giving.
CHORUS:
There was a time when you left me standing there,
Picking up pieces of love from the floor,
Well Charlotte you left me alone in there,
To make your ends as a bloody whore.
Well Charlotte you told me you loved me true.
Picking up pieces of love yesterday.
Well Charlotte your drawers are off off colour too,
'Cause you're making love all day.
Verse 1
Verse 2
CHORUS
08 Iron Maiden (03:34)
Won't you come into my room,
I wanna show you all my wares.
Want to see your blood,
Want to stand and stare.
See the blood begin to flow
as it pours upon the floor.
Iron Maiden can't be fought,
Iron Maiden can't be sought.
Chorus:
Oh Well, wherever,
Wherever you are,
Iron Maiden's gonna get you,
No matter how far.
See the blood flow watching it shed
Up above my head.
Iron Maiden wants you for dead.
Won't you come into my room,
I wanna show you all my wares.
Want to see your blood,
Want to stand and stare.
See the blood begin to flow
As it pours upon the floor.
Iron Maiden can't be fought,
Iron Maiden can't be sought.
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Other reviews
By jigoro
The Irons ARE the NWOBHM.
I even consider it superior to the much-touted ‘The Number Of The Beast’ two years later.
By sexyajax
Their unmistakable formula, made of sudden tempo changes, epic melodies, and twin guitar solos based on thirds intervals, finds its first and best composition in this 1980 debut.
Honestly, the only metal I can listen to is by Pantera, Metallica, and Iron Maiden; the rest, in my opinion, is all c...p.
By carloirons
"If a 20th-century rock band decided to call themselves Iron Maiden, they decided not to go unnoticed."
"The album is undoubtedly a masterpiece, one that can change your life. In my case, it fully succeeded. Long live the masters. UP THE IRONS!!!"
By thetrooper
It begins with "Prowler"... where Maiden flex their muscles and show that they are inventing something new.
Iron Maiden, never missing from any Maiden concert, is speed metal at its peak with Burr and an unbeatable Di'Anno.
By The Spirit
I press play and a distorted riff starts with a sharp and slightly dated sound... not punk but heavy metal and you can hear harmonizations that remind me of Thin Lizzy, but with a fury reminiscent of punk.
Absolutely top-notch the guitar duo formed by Dave Murray and Dennis Stratton: fast and fluid the first, more bluesy the second.
