•
Rating: "Killers" by Iron Maiden was released almost two years after their debut, which reached fourth place on the UK charts, propelling them towards a wide audience that would gradually grow until filling entire arenas, as shown in several live albums released by them.
The line-up experienced the first in a long series of changes, with Harry Smith replacing the little-remembered Dennis Stratton. This was an important change, not only because Smith was technically superior to Stratton but also because he helped write a good part of the songs together with Harris. Otherwise, the vocals still featured the good Paul Di Anno, with his deep and warm voice, later replaced by the more technical Dickinson due to his alcohol and smoke addiction, which caused him to neglect his own voice.
The album begins with a 90-second instrumental gem, The Ides of March, and right from the start, the Virgins demonstrate that their debut was not a flash in the pan, managing to insert the best they could into that meager minute and a half, thanks also to an incredible solo intertwining, started first by Smith and closed by Murray. We proceed and find another classic, Wrathchild, opened by a very beautiful bass line and perfect accompaniment by the guitarists (interrupted by some scales) and the perfect Clive Burr, who doesn't miss a beat throughout the album, always punctual on the rolls and rhythm, until reaching the splendid chorus. History of metal. Murders in the Rue Morgue initially resembles the mythical Children of the Damned, but then proves to be much faster and more electrifying, resembling more the song that preceded the track on the album "The Number of the Beast", Invaders.
Another Life begins with a riff, a solo, and the usual bass line, all very difficult, and as it progresses, becomes increasingly faster and "agitated". The two guitarists, thanks to their splendid solos, seem to be engaged in a "challenge", perhaps to see who burns their guitar first with their fingers, and all this is demonstrated in another great instrumental song, Genghis Kahn, where in the middle I seem to notice a riff already heard in Halloweed By Thy Name. To be clear, so far we have heard ONLY masterpieces, and among these masterpieces, pieces like Innocent Exile or Purgatory fall into the norm, but in a normal album, they would have been standout tracks. Then think, if among all these masterpieces an even more immense masterpiece emerges, the title track. No comment folks, a masterpiece of the '80s history.
For the rest, the other tracks are always beautiful, but it seems useless to keep saying the same things: masterpiece, incredible, etc.
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 carloirons
The five members are grandiose, united, perfect, and precise in their execution of the songs.
Di’Anno shouts wildly, schizophrenic, like the murderer he impersonates in the song.
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.
