•
Rating: After the tremendous success of the first album, Iron Maiden is gearing up for their second studio effort, which promises to be a success both economically and artistically. Firstly, there's the departure of Dennis Stratton in favor of Adrian Smith, a guitarist certainly valuable also in the compositional phase; then there's the fact that all the songs have already been tested in various tours, so there is already camaraderie and preparation. It should be noted that the songs present a hardening of the sound, not a softening as might have been expected (if a commercial move had been sought), but the fact is that the album's reception is very warm because it astonishes both critics and the public for its lyrics and music. The production improves, although the best Maiden sound will only be heard from the subsequent "The Number Of The Beast".
The five members are grandiose, united, perfect, and precise in their execution of the songs; Harris's bass is very present, and in this album, some of his riffs will make rock history, the guitars are perfectly coordinated, Burr is unstoppable (just think of the start of "Another Life"), and Di’Anno displays all his grit and stands out as a great leader. The singer himself deserves special mention for having interpreted the eleven tracks (twelve if we count the single "Women in Uniform") as no one else could, not even Her Majesty Air Raid Siren Bruce Dickinson will manage to interpret songs that express anger and a desire to escape from a cruel world with such perfection, especially in the suburbs of London. All the songs are written by Harris except "Killers" (co-written with Di’Anno) and "Twilight Zone" (with Murray this time).
On the cover, there's Eddie again, but this time he has a satanic grin and wields a bloody axe; at the bottom, there's a hand begging for mercy, but its owner, the much-hated Margaret Thatcher, has already been brutally murdered. Indeed, the theme of murder is quite frequent, though not excessive: the first example is the opener "The Ides Of March", a stunning instrumental of almost two minutes, Maiden's shortest piece, intense, solemn, and perfect for opening concerts. "Wrathchild" is opened by a frightening bass riff and has one of Iron's most famous choruses, anthemic, violent, and always shouted by the crowd live. A short piece, but impregnated with anger, it is very frequent in setlists and is one of the few tracks from this album that remains long in concert playlists. It was already present in the compilation "Metal For Muthas" which featured songs of future NWOBHM stars, but this version is slightly shortened and more fluid. "Murders In The Rue Morgue" is a piece devoted to frenzy, with a long beautiful text, taken from the homonymous story by Edgar Allan Poe. A man walking around Paris hears screams and goes to the crime scene, but there he is accused of being the culprit and is forced to flee. The start of the drums in "Another Life" is perfect, which then bursts into a point-blank solo at the beginning and has a splendid acceleration in the central part, truly incredible. "Genghis Khan" is a discreet instrumental, in which, Harris says, the Irons tried to reproduce the mood of the Mongol horde before battle. "Innocent Live" is a rather old track but wasn't included in the debut album. A song loved by Paul Di’Anno, it unfortunately soon disappears from concert playlists but remains a track that makes history. The title track is also opened by one of the nastiest bass riffs in history, which indeed foretells a storm or, in this case, an ambush by the killers in the lyrics. Di’Anno shouts wildly, schizophrenic, like the murderer he impersonates in the song. The lyrics of this song were completely changed from the first draft; we have a testimony of how it was originally in the live video at the Rainbow contained in the DVD “The Early Days”. "Twilight Zone" is a peculiar song, fast but exuding a certain sadness, which initially wasn't included in the album and was only later reassessed and even released as a single. Let's say it's not indispensable but good overall, though it lacks a solo. "Prodigal Son" is a sad ballad underestimated by the band, but it's a very original track I recommend listening to just to hear something different from a band that in the early albums made ferocity an almost omnipresent component. "Purgatory" is also an old song, initially titled “Floating,” very intense and one of the masterpieces of the entire NWOBHM movement. "Drifter" closes the album, a great track very suited to involve the audience, it would be performed excellently by Dickinson and would remain in the setlist until the World Piece Tour. I would also add the only song never present on a Maiden LP, "Women In Uniform", a single released before the album, boisterous, whose video is a tribute to the street women, where Stratton's guitar is still present. The track begins with Di’Anno almost rapping in the verses and then continues with a beautiful chorus repeated until the song fades.
Balancing the album, we can say it's a masterpiece, one of the best, without fillers.
Di’Anno will leave after the tour for his excesses of alcohol and drugs (he was the only one to take drugs, the other band members will always keep a safe distance from such substances) and Dickinson will arrive, who will propel the group to the definitive leap in quality, but he doesn't have Di’Anno's rage, who probably was the one who contributed most to making the band's first impact great.
UP THE IRONS!
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Wrathchild (02:54)
born into a scene
of angriness and greed
of dominance and persecution
My mother was a queen
my dad I've never seen
I was never meant to be.
Now I spend my time
looking all around
For a man that's nowhere
to be found,
Until I find him,
I'm never gonna stop searching
I'm going to find my man
gonna travel round.
so long wrathchild
Yeah I'm a wrathchild,
hello wrathchild
comin' to get you
oooh yeaheyeah
Some say it shouldn't matter
ain't nothing gonna alter
the course of my destination
But I know I've gotta find
some seriaus peace of mind
or I know I'll just go crazy
Now I spend my time
looking all around
For a man that's nowhere
to be found,
Until I find him,
I'm never gonna stop searching
I'm going to find my man
gonna travel round.
so long wrathchild
well I'm a wrathchild
yeah wrathchild
comin' to get you
oooh yeaheyeah
03 Murders in the Rue Morgue (04:18)
I remember it as plain as day
although it happened in the dark of the night.
I was strolling through the streets of Paris
and it was cold it was starting to rain.
And then I heard a piercing scream
and I rushed to the scene of the crime
but all I found was the butchered remains
of two girls lay side by side.
Murders in the Rue Morgue
someone call the Gendarmes
Murders in the Rue Morgue
run before the killers go free
There's some people coming down the street
at last there's someone heard my call
I can't understand why they're pointing at me
I never done nothing at all.
But I must have got some blood on my hands
because everyone's shouting at me
I can't speak French so I couldn't explain
and like a fool I started running away.
Murders in the Rue Morgue
someone call the Gendarmes
Murders in the Rue Morgue
am I ever gonna be free.
And now I've gotta get away from the arms of the law.
All France is looking for me.
I've gotta find my way across the border for sure
down the south to Italy.
Murders in the Rue Morgue
someone call the Gendarmes
Murders in the Rue Morgue
I'm never going home.
Well I made it to the border at last
But I can't erase the scene from my mind
Anytime somebody stares at me, well
I just start running blind
Well I'm moving through the shadows at night
Away from the staring eyes
Any day they'll be looking for me
'Cause I know I show the signs of...
Murders in the Rue Morgue
running from the Gendarmes
Murders in the Rue Morgue
running from the arms of the law
Murders in the Rue Morgue
running from the Gendarmes
Murders in the Rue Morgue
am I ever gonna be free
It took so long and I'm getting so tired
I'm running out of places to hide
Should I return to the scene of the crime
Where the two young victims died
If I could go to somebody for help
It'd get me out of trouble for sure
But I know that it's on my mind
That my doctor said I've done it before.
Murders in the Rue Morgue
they're never gonna find me
Murders in the Rue Morgue
I'm never going home.
04 Another Life (03:22)
As I lay here lying on my bed,
sweet voices come into my head.
what it is I wanna know
Please won' t you tell me it's got to go
there' s a feeling that' s inside me
telling me to get away
but I' m so tired of living
I might as well end today
06 Innocent Exile (03:52)
My life is so empty
nothing to live for.
My mind is all confusion,
'cos I defied the law.
When you weren't there to help me,
I lost my mind and ran.
I never had no trouble before this all began.
My life is so empty
nothing to live for.
My mind is all confusion,
'cos I defied the law.
When you weren't there to help me
I lost my mind and ran.
I never had no trouble before this all began.
I'm running away, no where to go.
I'm lost and tired and I just don't know. Yeah...
They say I killed a woman, they know it isn't true.
They're just trying to frame me, and all because of you. Yeah...
07 Killers (05:00)
You walk through the subway,
His eyes burn a hole in your back.
A footstep behind you,
He lunges prepared for attack.
Scream for mercy,
He laughs as he's watching you bleed.
Killer behind you,
His blood lust defies all his needs.
My innocent victims
Are slaughtered with wrath and despise,
The mocking religion of hatred
That burns in the night.
I have no-one,
Am bound to destroy
All this greed.
A voice inside me,
Compelling to satisfy me.
I can see,
What a life's meant to be.
You'll never know,
How I came to foresee.
My faith in believing is stronger
Than lifelines and ties,
With the glimmer of metal
My moment is ready to strike.
The death call arises,
A scream breaks the still of the night.
Another tomorrow
Remember to walk in the light.
I have found you,
And now there is no place to run.
Excitement shakes me,
Oh God help me what have I done.
Yeah I've done it again!
He walks through the subway
His eyes burn a hole through your back.
A footstep behind you
He lunges prepared for attack.
Scream for mercy,
He laughs as he's watching you bleed.
Killer behind you,
His blood lust defies all his needs.
Look out I'm coming for you!
09 Purgatory (03:20)
Thinking of an age old dream,
Places I have never seen.
Fantasies lived times before,
I split my brain, melt through the floor.
Over clouds my mind will fly,
Forever now I can't think why,
My body tries to leave my soul,
Is it me? I just don't know.
Memories rising from the past,
The future shadows overcast.
Something's clutching at my head,
Through the darkness I'll be led.
Oh another time, another place,
Oh well another smile on another face.
When you see me floating up beside you,
You get the feeling that all my love's inside of you.
[guitar solo]
Please take me away
Take me away
So far away.
Please take me away
Take me away
So far away.
Please take me away
Take me away
So far away.
Thinking of an age old dream,
Places I have never seen.
Fantasies lived times before,
I split my brain, melt through the floor.
Over clouds my mind will fly,
Forever now I can't think why,
My body tries to leave my soul,
Is it me? I just don't know.
Memories rising from the past,
The future shadows overcast.
Something's clutching at my head,
Through the darkness I'll be led.
Oh another time, another place,
Oh well another smile on another face.
When you see me walking up beside you
You get the feeling that all my love's inside of you.
Please take me away
Take me away
So far away.
Please take me away
Take me away
So far away.
Please take me away
Take me away
So far awaaaay
10 Drifter (04:48)
Look out now baby won't you take me away,
Sitting here I think it's gonna be a new day.
Gonna get my song 'til I can't go on,
Gonna keep on roaming gotta sing my song.
What you feeling when you hold me tight,
Gonna cuddle up to you tonight.
Gonna get you feeling so secure.
Listen child, don't you see there's a cure.
Anywhere got to get you away,
Feels so good, think it's gonna be a new day.
Gonna get my song 'til I cant go on,
Gonna keep on roaming gotta sing my song.
What you feeling when you hold me tight,
I wanna cuddle up to you tonight.
Gonna get you feeling so secure.
Listen child, don't you see there's a cure.
Anywhere got to get you away,
Feels so good, think it's gonna be a new day.
Gonna get my song 'til I cant go on,
Gonna keep on roaming gotta sing my song.
Gonna sing my song yeah,
And it won't take long.
Gonna sing my song yeah,
Won't you sing along.
I wan't you to sing it,
sing it, sing it, sing it along.
Repeat.
Loading comments slowly
Other reviews
By metaldiablo
Steve Harris establishes himself as one of the greatest songwriters in history.
Paul Di'Anno puts so much emotion into his voice that it makes each song even more enjoyable.
By AR (Anonima Recensori)1
I attack every living being who, starting from Killers, began collecting Maiden, because they are a useless band.
Bands like Maiden are amorphous beings who sold out to the highest bidder.
By Sket
"So far we have heard ONLY masterpieces, and among these masterpieces, pieces like Innocent Exile or Purgatory fall into the norm."
"The title track. No comment folks, a masterpiece of the '80s history."
By TheBoss
'Wrathchild' ... deserves the fame it has earned among the band’s fans.
The song 'Killers' keeps a 'galloping' rhythm, which I personally adore.
By metafisico
Mamma mia!!!! What rock!!!!
Wrathchild, a lightning bolt splitting the darkness, a cheetah-paced progression in a dark and fascinating stele.
