The Number of the Beast Reviews

• A True Five Star Album

  
  By A35NBGDTL6F2XJ on 2004-11-23
  I love this album so much. This to me is a true five star album. This is the album that drew me into heavy metal music and made me a life long Iron Maiden fan.
  
  "Run to the Hills" is what initially drew me in. I hadn't heard anything else by the band, but this was 1982, and radio was still in top 40 mode. But I knew I loved "Run to the Hills," so I thought I'd buy a whole album rather than just the single. And am I glad I did. I remember putting the lp on the turntable and being spellbound for the better part of an hour while I played the album twice, back to back. To my twelve year old ears, this was heaven.
  
  After a thorough listen, I found most of the songs to be even better than "Run to the Hills" -- especially side two's "Number of the Beast." That song to me was pure high octane power, the perfect combination of bass, guitar, drums, and vocals. And the album closed perfectly with "Hallowed Be Thy Name."
  
  After this, I became a true Iron Maiden maniac. I knew that "Up the Irons" meant, I knew all about "Eddie," I learned this was Bruce Dickinson's first album... stuff that wouldn't help me academically, but essential in heavy metal discussion during class time.
  
  While my mom wasn't initially pleased with the album art (I explained it was all a dream sequence), she was pleased I was increasing my workload around the house in order to buy the band's other albums -- "Iron Maiden," "Killers," and "Maiden Japan." And with each album, I fell deeper under the band's spell. I've picked up every album since then. Some great, some not so great, but you take the good with the bad.
  
  Are you convinced that music is dull, drap, unappealing, and commercial? Never heard this album? Now's your chance to listen to one of the cornerstone bands of the 80's and 90's. Creativity, personality, and originality all describe this great band -- a band still on the road touring and making albums. And as for this album, it sounds as good today as it did over twenty years ago.
  
  

• When Iron Maiden achieved perfection

  
  By A5TNZXNPQKGCF on 2003-12-22
  This is, as most every ... metal fan knows, Iron Maiden's third album and their first to feature their longest-running singer, the great Bruce Dickinson. Circa 1982: freshly out of his former band Samson, Dickinson would replace Maiden's original singer Paul Di'Anno ..., and would stay with the band until the mid-`90's, only to return again in 2000.

  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.
  
  

• For the Devil sends the beast with wraith, because he knows the time is short

  
  By A3116ITCY40DC6 on 2005-06-25
  There are only a handful of cds (if that many) where a review is pointless. Why? It is just so incredible you need to hear it for yourself. So do you wanna opinion on this cd? BUY IT. End of story. This is in my top three cds of all time. Cds like this don't come along very much in a lifetime, so when it does you must cherish them. The first with singer Bruce (who in my opinion is one of the best in metal) I could state about 10 other facts that everybody else has, so I won't waste your time. Even though a review for a cd this incredible is pointless, I will give my personal opinions on the songs for this album.
  
  
  
  Invaders - 4/5 Definetly not one of the best songs on this album but still a great opener and only a taste for what is to come.
  
  
  Children of The Damned - 5/5 One of the slower songs on the album. I love the vocals in this one. Not one you should skip over anytime soon.
  
  
  THe Prisoner - 6/5 As with many songs on this album. The drumming is incredible, the guitars also shine in this one.
  
  22 Acacia Avenue - 4.5/5 Seems like a song you will either love or hate. Not the best on here but definetly holds its own.
  
  The Number of The Beast - 6/5 CLASSIC. Truly classic. With the spoken intro, you know you're in for a real treat. Doesn't let down. Song's are about a dream a man has.
  
  Run to The Hills - 5/5 A well known Iron Maiden song, for good reason too. The Drumming and chorus blew me away when I first heard it.
  
  Gangland - 4/5 The red headed step child of "The Number of the Beast" album. I don't really know why, sure it isn't great but not as bad as some people seem to think so.
  
  Total Eclipse - 4.5/5 Not on the original version of "The Number of The Beast" a b-side, which is suprising because it is quite good.
  
  Hallowed Be Thy Name - 50/5 The best track on this cd easily. Maybe the best Iron maiden song ever. This to me is what metal is all about, everything is perfect here. You could not ask for a better closing song. Cradle of Filth ( my favorite band) do an incredible cover of this song too, even if you don't like them I reccomend you check it out. Just so incredible.
  
  
  So, to end this, this is metal at its best. A truly timeless cd. Enjoy.
  
  

• A defining moment in 1980's classic metal

  
  By A1BJJVV2B5VLUQ on 2006-03-06
  THE BAND: Steve Harris (bass), Bruce Dickinson (vocals), Dave Murray (guitar), Adrian Smith (guitar), Clive Burr (drums).
  
  THE DISC: (1982) 9 tracks clocking in at approximately 45 minutes. This is Maiden's 3rd album. Recorded at Battery Studios, London. The disc contains a 22-page booklet with a brief intro, lyrics, band pictures and thank you's. Song writing credits: Harris takes credit for 8 of 9 songs. Murray, Smith and Burr co-wrote a few each with Harris (Dickinson has zero song writing credits). The song "Gangland" by Smith and Burr only. The enhanced CD features a nice multimedia section for your PC - including 2 videos ("Run To The Hills" and "The Number Of The Beast", the band's catalogue of albums, band history, itinerary from the '82 Beast On The Road tour, and more. Digitally remastered in 1998. Cover art by the one and only Derek Riggs.
  
  COMMENTS: Iron Maiden hit it big with "Number of the Beast". Easily considered a classic in early 1980's metal. Departed is Iron Maiden's original singer (Paul Di'Anno) and enter newcomer ex-Samson vocalist, 23 year old Bruce Dickinson. This was also Clive Burr's last album with the band. Perhaps not as polished a record, say as "Powerslave" or "Piece Of Mind", but the band is in rare form - writing songs that will stand the test of time... and many being concert favorites decades later. "Number Of The Beast" is at its core - raw and full of energy and excitement. Where many bands at the time were releasing 3 and 4 minutes songs, Maiden was breaking the mold and giving their fans some trademark long songs - the 7+ minute "Hallowed Be Thy Name", the 6+ minute "22 Acacia Avenue" and "The Prisoner". Radio hits included the title track (#35 on the Billboard charts) and "Run To The Hills (#18 Billboard, and #7 in the UK). As good as Iron Maiden's 1st two discs were with singer Paul Di'Anno, the chance they took firing him really paid off 10-fold with Dickinson. This is Iron Maiden's first classic period release. Great disc.
  
  
  

• One star for the remaster/re-release

  
  By AOQ1KEZWMXK2T on 2006-04-04
  This is a classic record, one of the best heavy metal records of all time and a personal favorite. I can truthfully say this record changed my life. There's really nothing more I can that hasn't been said; Bruce "Air Raid Siren" Dickinson's first with the band, he was a departure from Di'Anno's huskier voice, but he kicked all *ss combined here. Every track, to me, is classic heavy metal. Sadly, this is Clive Burr's last; as others have said, he is a criminally under-rated drummer (not to take away from Nicko--he tore it up on Piece of Mind and still pounds today; I saw them at the opening show of their 2005 "Eddie Rips up Europe" tour and the band was on fire!).
  
  However, the remastering of Maiden's catalog is tragic. Martin Birch was (he's retired now) a veteran producer, and Maiden had the luxury of using somebody who had worked with Deep Purple, among others. His production and mix was beautiful--open, with plenty of room for the instruments to breathe; each instrument given ample room. Wonderfully natural bass and drum sounds (this album has some of my favorite--"Children of the Damned" is still goosebump-producing after all these years). Again, breathability is the key word, and the original CD was given a wide dynamic range, as were all of the Birch-produced records. This and Seventh Son of a Seventh Son are, to me, masterpieces of production, mixing, and finally, mastering. The remasters take these work-of-art master tapes and, frankly, result in rubbish. The peak levels are jacked way up, so there is little to no dynamic range; everything is flattened. And, since the lowest peak levels are now very high, the highest peak levels must be cut off, resulting in an overall sound that is not at all pleasant to the ears. Megadeth's remasters, with the exception of "Killing is My Business", which smokes, are just another (sadly even moreso) example of this.
  
  This is the product of 21st century mastering: every CD must be "Hot", meaning that it must be as loud as, if not louder than, the competition. This is turning all popular music into mush. I can't listen to this crap. Martin Birch would be ashamed to have his name on these CDs; his artistry has been shat upon. I can't believe that Steve Harris, himself an engineer and producer, would release this. Please do yourself a favor and seek out the old Capital Records/EMI CD release. Sure, it's not as "hot" as today's CDs, but I would strongly argue that it's a much more satisfying listen.
  
  
• Maiden's first classic
  By ASVNSWIXBV72Q on 2005-11-01
  Iron Maiden's third studio album (their first with Bruce Dickinson) was the group's breakthrough album. Plus, "Number of the Beast" (and other New Wave of British Heavy Metal albums) helped to keep heavy metal alive by killing off an uprising of punk rock in the late 1970's/early `80's. Finally, it was very influential, as well. This album (and this band, in general) influenced/inspired very successful bands like Metallica and Iced Earth.
  
  This was the group's first album without an instrumental, but "Number of the Beast" is definitely catchy and energetic enough to make up for that. Like many classic metal albums, Bruce Dickinson and his band pushed the pedal to the metal and didn't let up until the last song was over. Almost every song on here (aside from track two, "Children of the Damned," which is more-or-less a power ballad) has fast, bouncy beats, including driving riffs, catchy drum beats, beeping bass lines, and soaring vocals.
  
  Lyrically, this album was also famous because Iron Maiden drew some criticism from Christians and other religious groups for making a song (the title track) with Satanic themes. Elsewhere, "Run To The Hills" deals with the troubles the American Indians had.
  
  "Gangland" is the only song that falls flat and isn't very memorable, but every other song is pretty darn great."Run to the Hills" is probably the catchiest and most famous song on here, but "Invaders," the fast, chugging "Prisoner," and "22 Acacia Avenue" are all very catchy, as well. The title track is another highlight, as is "Hallowed Be Thy Name," which has an main riff that has been ripped off by such bands as Papa Roach. A nice solo is included here, as well.
  
  So, "Number of the Beast" is just a great and important album which has definitely stood the test of time, and will forever be a landmark on heavy metal's timeline.
  
  
• Break through
  By AFPOF2OG72OK on 2003-12-17
  This is the album that started it all people. It began the legacy that is Iron Maiden. Where "Iron Maiden" and "Killers" introduced the band and their talents to the world, "Number Of The Beast" started their journey into God like figures. Bruce Dickinson replaces Paul Di'Anno on this one and music history is made.

  1. Invaders - Great intro track, very fast-paced, sings of norsemen and viking who ruled and tortured many. Very Catchy (4/5)
  2. Children Of The Damned - I never used to like this song, but it eventually grew on me. Excellent guitar work and great lyrics.
  (3.5/5)
  3. The Prisoner - "We want information, information!". Starts with a voice-over from the TV show. Great drums in the beginning and bursts into an onslaught of musical genius. Brilliance.
  (4.5/5)
  4. 22 Acacia Avenue - Starts with such a simple riff and eventually throws you out of your chair. Trust me it will blow you away. The 2nd part of the Charlotte series.
  (4/5)
  5. Number Of The Beast - Here we have the anthem for heavy metal. Maiden coped alot of flak for this as they portrayed a devil-worshiping image, which is a load of crap really. It actually about a dream Steve Harris had. Anyway, great song everything about it is good. Its one of those "I'm gonna punch a hole in the wall" kind of songs. Words can't describe.
  (6/5)
  6. Run To The Hills - Very catchy song. Begins with a great guitar riff and then breaks into Steve with the galloping bass. Great stuff. Excellent lyrics aswell, about europeans taking advantage of indians.
  (5/5)
  7. Gangland - Here the ablum begins to take a nose-dive. Not as bad as it seems, but this song just doesn't do it for me. I dunno people I've tried.
  (2.5/5)
  8. Total Eclipse - Wasn't originally released on vinyl, but they put it on the cd release. This song is ok, guitars aren't bad.
  (3/5)
  9. Hallowed Be Thy Name - Talk about a finisher. This song has it all. Lyrics: Outstanding, Guitar: Brilliant, Drums: Phenomonal. This song is just takes you on a mind trip. Trust me when I say this album is worth buying for this song.
  (5/5)

  There you have it. Ground-breaking stuff, literally.
  
  

• spoonus mcmoonus
  By A38HC9L994ORFA on 2005-10-25
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  IKE IKE IKE IKE IKE IKE IKE
  
  tangaroony paper spoony
  lichtenstein es von der vonvonvonvonvon aye? AYE
  AYE? AYE
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  AYE? AYE OH LETS GO
  
  
• Classic Maiden
  By A3P81N48BDEYVK on 2002-04-12
  After nearly 5 years, Steve Harris finally set up a line-up for the band he had created in 1976, Iron Maiden. With the release of their first two albums, Iron Maiden and Killers, the band were coming known for their post-punk heavy metal sound in England. It wasn't until they dropped singer Paul Di'Anno and brought in a new singer that their music would be heard worldwide.

  On their third album, Number Of The Beast, released in 1982, the band removed singer Paul Di'Anno, whose vocal style set an attitude for their earlier punk-influenced music, and brought in singer Bruce Dickinson. Dickinson's range and ability was much more than that of Di'Anno's and although people feared the transition, it turned out well in the end. On guitars were the duo of Dave Murray and Adrian Smith, whose tight harmonies and rhythms blazed unlike any band of the time. Band founder and "main man" Steve Harris always lets himself be heard and he is everywhere on thi album. He runs through all the classic blistering bass lines and keeps a steady beat with the drums. Provided by Clive Burr, the drumming is incredibly good; very strong, consistant and powerful. Out of the three albums he was on, Burr's drumming is best here.

  The music itself is classic Maiden. The album starts off hard with Invaders. All the instruments come in hard and play the perfect riffs and beats. The drumming is masterful, the bass is pounding and the guitars harmonizes while rocking hard. This is the song that introduces "the new guy" to the fans as Dickinson shows off some range with his signature wailing. Next is Children Of The Damned, which can be related to Remember Tomorrow in a way. The song starts off with slow guitars and bass and erupts into an all-out distorted song. Dickinson's vocals shine here because again, he is showing the fans what he is all about and sings extremely well during the verses. The guitar is classic Maiden power-chord progression and the rhythm is nice and tight. The Prisoner is a pretty heavy song, guitar-wise. The verses are filled with heavy guitars and a slow rhythm before breaking to the extremely catchy chorus.

  22 Acacia Avenue is a continuation of the story of Charlotte The Harlot from the self-titled debut. The guitars are great with a some hard and loud power chords while Burr absolutely rocks the drumset. Number Of The Beast is a Maiden classic. From the catchy chorus to the dualing guitars to the consistancy of the rhythm; this song has all the signature Iron Maiden features. This song is basically impeccable but is overshadowed by the next song, probably their most popular song in the history of the band: Run To The Hills. Once the drums start off right in the beginning, you know whats coming. The classic lyrical plot, the start of the "Iron Maiden Gallop", the pounding rhythm and awesome guitar work, especially in the solo. This song is wonderful and just shows what makes Iron Maiden so great and innovative.

  Gangland is considered the worst track here but I really like it. The drumming here is very cool and the guitar is really nice. The vocals here are really cool. I don't really understand why not many people like it. Even the band didn't really like it. Total Eclipse is great song. The guitars are pretty heavy and the bass is good, playing in line with the solid drum beats. The album ends with another classic song: Hallowed Be Thy Name. This song is another one of the Maiden song that has basically everything. The opening guitar is creepy and the vocals set an eerie mood. Then, the guitars switch to distorted and harmonious while the bass creeps up from behind. Throughout the song, Dickinson keeps up with the band's speed while the guitars harmonize and the rhythm pounds. An awesome closing song.

  Iron Maiden began to come into their own with this album, as they began to write more complex and innovative lyrics and music. Proclaimed as one of their best albums, Iron Maiden has influenced a great deal of today's bands while still managing to rock arenas around the world. I definitely recommend this to all Maiden fans and to some metal fans. Definitely check this album out. Its worth it.
  
  

• Maiden at their best
  By AIRL8XWF2DHWI on 2003-10-18
  Number of the Beast is the quintessential Iron Maiden. Released in 1982, this was the first of their albums to feature on vocals the man who would become their voice, and one of the signature voices of metal, Bruce Dickinson, replacing Paul Di'Anno. Number of the Beast was also Iron Maiden's last album to feature drummer Clive Burr, who was replaced by Nicko McBrain on their next studio release, Piece of Mind. So here you have the man who would become the best singer of the band, with their original drummer, along with the equally superb Steve Harris, Adrian Smith and Dave Murray. And this is the only album to feature all of their talents combined. Also, this digitally remastered version of it brings new life to the already great masterpiece that was the original. Not to mention Number of the Beast also features a couple of Iron Maiden's biggest hits ever, Hallowed Be Thy Name and the title track, Number of the Beast. There's no denying it, this album is to Iron Maiden what Back in Black was to AC/DC, what Blizzard of Ozz was to Ozzy Osbourne, etc. I VERY HIGHLY RECOMMEND this album to any fan of classic, old school hard rock/metal, for even the most jaded classic metal fan will find something fresh to love about this album.
  
  
• Best Heavy Metal Album Of All Time
  By AGNREHT7XLYEK on 2005-04-03
  Iron Maiden needed to come up with something special for this, their third album. All of the material they came up with prior to getting a recording contract was used on their first two albums (their 1980 self-titled debut and 1981's KILLERS). From a songwriting standpoint, they had to start from scratch for this album. Also, this was the first album they did with then-new singer Bruce Dickinson. Dickinson sounded nothing like his predecessor, Paul Di'Anno. The band was taking a big chance at a critical point in their career. On top of all this, Maiden didn't release THE NUMBER OF THE BEAST in time for the English tour. So British fans heard the new material live before they even had a chance to buy the album. What was the end result of all this? THE NUMBER OF THE BEAST went straight to the #1 spot on the British album charts when it was released. This was Maiden's first gold album in America(at least 500,000 copies sold). From a songwriting standpoint, only Maiden's self-titled debut may be better. As a singer, Bruce Dickinson is leaps and bounds ahead of Paul Di'Anno.
  
  The album opens strongly with "Invaders", a hard-driving song about the Viking invasion of England. This would be a great song to open a show with, but for some reason Maiden has rarely played it live. "Children Of The Damned" is a song about the movie of the same name. The song has melodic verses and harsh choruses. Hmmmmm....I wonder of Kurt Cobain was influenced by this song. "The Prisoner" is based on the 1960's TV series. It opens with a soundclip from the show. The song kicks in with Clive Burr's swing-time drum intro, and then the rest of the band comes in. It absolutely kicks ass. I'm surprised advertisers haven't picked up on it for use in TV commercials. There's some great guitar work in "The Prisoner", and it also has a surprisingly catchy chorus. "22 Acacia Avenue" was actually a song that guitarist Adrian Smith came up with several years before he joined the band. He re-worked it a bit with bassist Steve Harris (i.e. they added lots of time changes), and the song became a staple in the bands live set for two or three tours. Lyrically, the song is about a prostitute. Smith's co-guitarist, Dave Murray, has a very bluesy solo in the song.
  
  The next song is the album's title track, "The Number Of The Beast". This is the song that got the band into so much trouble with religious protesters here in America. The song opens with a spoken-word reading from the Book of Revelations. If you sit down and read the lyrics to the entire song (from start to finish), you should realize that the song is about someone having a nightmare. Fundamentalist Christians chose not to see it that way. When Maiden took the BEAST ON THE ROAD tour to America, there were protesters at the venues. Iron Maiden are NOT devil worshippers. They write songs about a wide variety of subjects, as you may have noticed in my review so far. Some of the songs from their other albums are actually quite reverant. Still, there's no such thing as bad publicity, right? Anyway, the song just kicks ass from start to finish. Clive Burr's drumming is amazing and Dave Murray's guitar solo is totally wild. "Run To The Hills" is probably the band's most famous song. Clive Burr's drum-intro has to be one the most recognizable pieces in the history of metal music. The lyrics deal with the mistreatment of Native Americans by white settlers, which is a strange thing for a British band to write about. The main guitar riff is killer and the chorus is absolutely huge. Next we come to the much-maligned "Gangland". Most people think this song is the album's one weak spot, but I disagree. True, you'll probably never hear someone yell out "Play Gangland!!!" at a Maiden concert, but the song is also not the abortion everyone makes it out to be. If you want to hear an abortion, check out "Quest For Fire" from PIECE OF MIND. The song has another killer drum-intro by Clive Burr. In fact, Clive co-wrote the song with Adrian Smith. The song is fast and furious. When THE NUMBER OF THE BEAST was originally released in 1982, the song "Total Eclipse" was not on it. This song was the B-side for the "Run To The Hills" single. It was added when re-mastered versions of the band's albums were released in the 1990's. It's a pretty good song that deals with the destruction of mankind by "Mother Nature". The live version of "Total Eclipse" from the band's 1982 show at Hammersmith Odeon in London is better. Finally we come to the album's closer "Hallowed Be Thy Name". This is a classic Maiden song. Its' somber intro contains tolling bells, a melodic yet chilling guitar line, and Bruce Dickinson singing in the first person about someone who is about to be executed. The whole band then kicks in and song starts rocking very hard. The song has several time changes. There is also a guitar harmony section following the solos. Lyrically, the deals with what goes through a person's mind before they are executed. This is an all-around powerful song.
  
  The only negative thing I can say about this album is that it is the last one with Clive Burr. He left the band for personal reasons at the end of the BEAST ON THE ROAD tour in December of '82. He was the best drummer the band ever had. Clive was immediately replaced with Nicko McBrain. Nicko is a pretty good drummer, but he lacks Clive's power. Maiden lost a step - particularly as a live band - when Clive left.
  
  THE NUMBER OF THE BEAST opened so many doors for Maiden. When they toured America in 1983 to support their PIECE OF MIND album, they headlined from coast to coast for the first time. Throughout the 1980s, they were one of the biggest musical acts in the world. And they did all this with little or no support from MTV, radio, and the mainstream rock press. Their success enabled so many other hard rock and heavy metal bands to become famous as well. That's why THE NUMBER OF THE BEAST is the best heavy metal album of all time. I also believe that Iron Maiden belong in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.
  
  
• The beginning of the legend.
  By A6EX7K4932QO9 on 2005-09-18
  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
  
  
• Hallowed be this heavy metal classic's name!
  By A262TFY27XMQS3 on 2005-12-19
  The Number Of The Beast (1982.), Iron Maiden's third studio album
  
  During the 1980's, the genre that ruled supreme in rock music was without doubt heavy metal. One of the definitive bands of the era was the mighty Iron Maiden. Formed in 1975, the band had at first emerged on the scene during the NWOBHM (New Wave of British Heavy Metal) explosion at the start of the 1980's. The band's first two albums in the shape of their self titled debut and the follow up, 'Killers', established the band and proved that they were on top of the NWOBHM scene. However, in late 1981, original vocalist Paul Di'Anno left the band. Often when a singer leaves an already successful band, usually the results are disastrous, but not in the case of Iron Maiden. His replacement was former Samson singer Bruce Dickinson, who from this album onwards became the band's definitive and legendary vocalist. Soon after the arrival of Dickinson, the band recorded 'The Number Of The Beast'. The album has gone on to become recognised as Iron Maiden's definitive album and is hailed as one of the great triumphs of the genre. So is this album worthy of its reputation?
  
  To be honest, I shouldn't even question this album's reputation; it IS a masterpiece. Even though I'm not sure I would rank this as my personal favourite Iron Maiden album, there is no doubting how well this album succeeds on many levels. The arrival of Dickinson is particularly important; although Paul Di'Anno is a great vocalist, there is no denying Bruce Dickinson's superiority. Dickenson's phenominal vocal range with resounding cries and fearsome power could only serve to improve the band's sound. It is true to say that Iron Maiden found their true heavy metal sound on this album, moving away from the heavy but quite punkish sound of earlier work. Dickinson's voice fits in perfectly with the improved sound change. Furthermore, the album has awesome songwriting. Bassist Steve Harris chiefly but Adrian Smith and Dave Murray also penned some classic stuff on this album; theres plenty of unforgettable riffs and lyrics. The band adopt an almost mythical and fantasy based persona with the themes on a lot of the songs and it fits in perfectly with the album's musical style.
  
  Not too long ago, the Iron Maiden catalogue got totally remastered and improved. Hence the 1998 remasters are the way to go. The remaster job is great and all of the songs shine through with no sound glitches but also the recent version features and excellent accompanying booklet. The CD itself also has an enchanced multimedia section and you can view video footage of the 'Run To The Hills' and 'Number Of The Beast' songs from your PC.
  
  This monster, or should I say 'beast' of an album kicks off with 'Invaders'. Remarkably, this track sometimes gets crticised by fans but I personally think its a great opener. True, the lyrics, about Viking invaders are a bit cheesy but looking beyond this is an excellent, growling vocal performance from Bruce Dickinson and some excellent power charged riffs to get the album going. Things slow down for the follow up in 'Childen Of The Damned'. The semi-acoustic sounding opening with a classic bass line from Steve Harris is great and builds into a slow but pounding chorus with anguished vocals from Dickenson. The song also has a clever change of style towards the end; it picks up pace and builds towards to a thrilling finish. One of my favourite tracks off the album, 'Prisoner', is next up. After a funny but cheesy spoken intro, a vibrant but resounding riff gets the song going before it builds into a classic, pacy Maiden performance. The song is a classic metal showcase with some great guitar solos; don't fail to miss Steve Harris' stellar bass work on this one. Then, if things couldn't get any better, '22 Acacia Avenue' follows. A snarling riff leads into the song that is the sequel to 'Charlotte The Harlot' from the band's first album. Some great lyrics with a commanding vocal performance from Dickinson make this one a classic. Some of the complex rhythm changes and guitar layers on this song are amazing.
  
  The two most famous songs off the album are next. 'The Number Of The Beast' song is a famed song by the band and it is another classic. Who can fail to recognise the song's opening riff or Dickinson's 'in your face' vocals in the chorus! Then we have 'Run To The Hills'. Screaming guitars and Dickinson's vocals which ascend to amazing levels make this one a winner too. However, the next track is sadly a bit of a rough diamond. 'Gangland' ain't half that band but the song has a bit of a slapdash feel to it, especially in the chorus and it lacks the cohesiveness of the other songs on the album. After this little dip though, it's business as usual with 'Total Eclipse'. A slower, more restrained but still heavy performance characterise this song. The riffs are quite rich and memorable and pave the way for the final track of the album 'Hallowed Be Thy Name'. This, my friends is one hell of a track. It is praised by countless fans of Iron Maiden and it's not hard to tell why. This is a 7 minute masterpiece; an epic story in some ways with clever changes of mood and some awesome riffs. Iron Maiden proved with this track their talent for longer songs and we see this more and more with epics on later albums such as 'Rime Of The Ancient Mariner'.
  
  This amazingly original album is a masterpiece. 'The Number Of The Beast' is one of the definitive moments with heavy metal and it has become a blue-print and massive influence for plenty of later bands as well as Iron Maiden themselves who would go on to put out plenty more awesome works. 'The Number Of The Beast' though is where Iron Maiden achieved their true classic status and it is a work that should be in any heavy metal fan's music collection.
  
  MY RATING: 9.5/10
  
  
• solid album but overated by maiden fans
  By A3GNG9U3N8VLBD on 2002-05-09
  yes,i admit-this is an awesome album,and it was probably the best they had done so far,partly due to arrival of dickinson.however,i do think that people overate this album too much,when maiden have done better or equalled this effort with later albums such as Seventh son of a Seventh son,Fear of the Dark,and Brave New World-which are also masterpieces.
  The fact of the matter is-people like this album because it has some great songs like CHILDREN OF THE DAMNED,THE PRISONER,THE NUMBER OF THE BEAST,RUN TO THE HILLS,HALLOWED BE THY NAME.
  however,the other tracks really arnt that great which is why i cannot call this album a masterpiece.it is still a must for any metal fan though.
  
  
• Hallowed be thy name! Maiden lives
  By A1Z9BYJ6Z7AZ71 on 2002-08-25
  Iron Maiden have influenced so many fans over the years and have proven themselves to be one of metals best bands ever! They have won me over with this album! I haven't heard anything like this from any other band that I listen to. Bruce Dickinson is one of metals best vocalist ever! He can sing like you have never heard anybody sing! He can make his voice go up high! Almost to where he is Rob Halford of Judas Priest! They have excellent guitar, and bass playing but, at the same time you get great drumming and they are all amazing songs! Their talent is out of this world with Maiden classics like The Number Of The Beast, Run To The Hills, and Hallowed Be Thy Name!

  Starting off with track one: Invaders you know you are going to love the song from beginning to end as soon as you hear the way Invaders starts off! This song tells you what thrash metal is when you hear the guitar solo about half way through the song! It is only one of the many classic Maiden songs on this album!

  Track Two: Children Of The Damned is one of the best songs on The Number Of The Beast with its catchy fast riffs later on in the song that also add a classical touch to the guitars! It instantly makes you love it!

  Track Three: The Prisoner is aheavy song that is pretty good especially when it comes to work on the guitars and bass which of course turn this into a speedmetal song when the speed kicks in! After a while you get the long awaited guitar solo and Bruce's lyrics are also very good!

  Track Four: 22 Acaia Avenue is one of those songs that you have to like for its classical hooks on guitar!

  Track Five: The Number Of The Beast is a hit that broke Maiden through with radio airplay! It has a great souund and the guitar solos are all over the place making this an album that cannot be overlooked!

  Track Six: Run To The Hills is another hit from Maiden! The high pitched guitar sound makes the song a classic and it has alternate tempos that make this stuff great!

  Track Seven: Gangland is a fast drumming song that starts off with guitars that keep going lower and lower! It has a solo that I have never heard come out of a guitar before in my whole life! It sounds like it should be in a horror movie!

  Track Eieght: Total Eclipse has a very dark sound in it but, at the same time it sounds good!

  Track Nine: Hallowed Be Thy Name is one of my favorite Maiden songs because, it is dark and slow at the beginning but, goes fast quickly! The guitar playing keeps getting darker and darker but, it is a classic song if you haven't discovered that out by now! It makes you draw energy from the dark side of the music with its guitar playing and lyrics! Bruce doesn't sing much in this song as it is an almost all musical song! This song has influenced alot of bands out their. British black metal band Cradle Of Filth has done a cover of this song and it sounds good because, it is much darker and Dani Filth's voice gives a different tone to it!

  This band is great because, they bring such a unique sound to metal! This is one of my favorite albums of all-time and they are one of my favorite bands to! Get this album and you will see why it brought an influence to some of metals biggest stars of today! Marilyn Manson was influenced by Iron Maiden as a kid and he is one of todays most talked about artist of metal! I like Marilyn Manson and everything that he does on stage because, his music is great! Don't stop at The Number Of The Beast! Buy other Maiden albums like Iron Maiden, Killers, and Piece Of Mind! Maiden will forever be one of metals best acts and one of my favorite bands of all-time!
  
  

• Enter Bruce.
  By A3LRI2LAXVNF5E on 2002-12-12
  This cd was the start of the Iron Maiden we all know and love. We all know this is the cd where Bruce Dickinson makes his Maiden debut.
  With the singles The number of the beast and Run to the hills. This would still be a great cd if it ended there but it doesn't. Next up Hallowed be thy name. I love this song as all Maiden fans should.

  There's also The prisoner and 22 acacia avenue. These two songs are the songs that make sure this cd was as good as it is. If not for these song's number of the beast and bruce and Maiden would probably never have went anywhere.

  Invaders and gangland are fillers although there good one's there still not that great of songs.

  Seeing as how I have the remastered version. My cd also contains Total eclipse which I also rarely listened to except when I first got the cd.

  I say that everyone who claims to be a metalhead should own this album or Seventh son of a seventh son.
  
  

• Thank god for "Number of the Beast"
  By A27O4TOK8HEFRF on 2003-02-22
  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.
  
  
• One of the Greatest Maiden studiowork
  By A367C7JY5ZYKH8 on 2003-06-30
  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
  
  

• First with Bruce,slightly overated but great
  By A4WF525I3SJ0Z on 2004-09-01
  To this point Iron Maiden have released 2 albums with their former singer Paul Dianno. The first being their essential break through debut and the second being the sophomore slump that was Killers. Iron Maiden part 2- enter Bruce Dickinson
  I'll start by saying this is a greatly improved Maiden from the sound present on Killers. The riffs are catchier and the songs more complex but easy to listen to. From the first sound of Invaders you know this is going to be a treat of an album, and it pretty much carries on that way. There is some filler and its not as essential as Piece of Mind and Powerslave would be, but it has Maiden's most recognizable songs.(probably the reason some people mistake it for being Maiden's best) Number of the Beast, Run to the Hills, Hallowed by thy Name are some of the most well known and listenable songs in Maiden's entire catalogue. Every Maiden fan most own this album and most novice fans choose to pursue this one as well. This album falls right in the middle of Maiden's prime, which started with their debut and ended with their best album(imo)Powerslave. A must own. Up the Irons!!!!
  
  
• Iron Maiden Comes To America
  By AEUY86R8JQZWC on 2004-11-25
  I was first exposed to Maiden when I saw the amusing videos for Run To The Hills and Number Of The Beast. As a 13 year old Catholic I was taken back and I remember talking with my older brother. We agreed it was best to stay away from "that" kind of music. A week later I came home from the local music store with the cassette in my hands! For some reason this album opens with the weakest song, Invaders. The title track would have been a better choice. My favorites are Prisoner (60s British TV show), Children Of The Damned (60s horror movie), Hallowed Be Thy Name (great lyrics about a man's final hour before death), Run To The Hills, and Number of the Beast! Gangland and Invaders are the only songs I never got into. The re-issue includes Total Eclipse which is a good song. I would put this album up there with Killers as their best. Their later albums have some good songs but I prefer the shorter heavier songs from NOTB and Killers. I think everything up to Piece Of Mind is the best Maiden. Anyways, get this great album!
  
  
• Cartoon Metal
  By on 2005-03-03
  The title pretty much sums up Iron Maiden, and no album does it better then this. Granted, Murray, Smith and Harris are all exellent musicians in their own right and bruce can hit the high notes with the best of em like RJD and Halford no doubt. But in reality Iron Maiden is almost a self parady, I know i will get bashed for it by you hardcore Maiden fans but it's true. Inane lyrics,Campy stage props (the 10 foot tall eddie or the hugh egypt props on the world slavery tour for example)and album covers that look like they were ripped from b rated horror comic books for 12 year olds all contribute to this overrated band.This is the kind of music you would hear playing in the background of the show "Malcolm in the Middle",hell, i went to a cheesie halloween costume shop one day and heard the title track to this album playing. I originally got Number of the Beast when i was 13 or 14 and thought it was the best thing since sliced bread,but i got older/better taste in metal and now i realize how retarded it is, the title track is just one of the worst songs ever recorded,i guess some people mature.Now when ever i look at this waste of precious slice of plastic and alliminum, i laugh, i laugh at how i actually at one point in my life thought that this was good,i laugh at all of those guys in Iron Maiden t shirts proclaiming them the "GODS OF METAL DUDE! UP THE IRONS!" c'mon, the 80's was the worst time for music and Maiden was no exeption. Iron Maiden has basically become the next Led Zepplin, both bands are overrated as hell and have fan bases with no brains that blindly follow them. My suggestion is that you should try to find some intelligent metal and not this clishe crap, find early Savatage or Helloween, try some Running Wild or even some Accept, something that doesnt look like a complete joke like Maiden is.
  
  
• You hate Maiden, your opinion doesn't matter
  By A29V1MP4PX5ABN on 2005-09-14
  [edit] you World's Best Air Guitarist. You're just a poseur with a big mouth and no balls. This is a good CD, WBAG just hasn't realized it nyet, he's too busy listening to a 26 year old "man" whine about how a girl dumped him in high school.
  
  Here is how I rate the songs.
  
  1. Invaders 5/5
  2. Children of the Damned 5/5
  3. Prisoner 5/5
  4. 22 Acacia Avenue 5/5
  5. Number of the Beast 6/5
  6. Run to the Hills 5/5
  7. Gangland 5/5
  8. Total Eclipse 5/5
  9. Hallowed Be Thy Name 6/5
  
  
  
• IRON MAIDEN'S BEST ALBUM!!!! I Love Fall Out Boy is a fu**er!!!
  By A1R74HBHI7PISK on 2006-05-08
  One of Amazon's biggest dumbasses is "I Love Fall Out Boy" She bashes on Slayer, Megadeth, Alice in Chains, and now Iron Maiden and praises crap like Fall Out Boy, Kanye West, The Black Eyed Peas, and Gwen Stefani! Okay first of all MTV sucks! Second of all you're not 16! You're 12 and not hot! You're hideous! How could you not like Iron Maiden (with the exception of their crappy 90's albums)? They're legends that kill all of your Emo crap!
  
  Now the album: NO WORDS TO DESCRIBE HOW AWESOME THIS IS!!! IRON MAIDEN'S BEST ALBUM!!! The first album with the great Bruce Dickinson! Adrian Smith is one of THE best guitarists ever! Clive Burr in my opinion is a better drummer than Micko McBrian. Steve Harris is still a bassist to be reckoned with. And finally rhythem guitarist Tony Parsons is no slouch either provided the hummable tunes! This album caused controversy due to the title track which was thought to promote Satanism. NOT TRUE!!! It's about a guy who encounters a Satanic ritual and tries to escape. Now here are the brief song ratings:
  Invaders: 5/5
  Children of the Damned: 5/5
  Prisoner: 4/5
  22 Acacia Avenue: 5/5
  The Number of the Beast: 500/5
  Run to the Hills: 500/5
  Gangland: 4/5
  Total Eclipse: 5/5
  Hallowed Be Thy Name: 500/5
  
  Bottom line is that this album is incredible incredible and incredible!!! I Love Fall Out Boy should delete her god-damn account! In other words: LONG LIVE THIS ALBUM!!! FU** "I LOVE FALL OUT BOY"!!!
  
  
• An all time metal landmark
  By AJKWF4W7QD4NS on 2002-05-06
  The legendary album that cemented Iron Maiden as a world force band, and it introduced fans to vocalist Bruce Dickinson. Without a doubt Maiden's finest effort, songs like the classics "Run to the Hills", "Hallowed Be Thy Name", "The Prisoner", and the just plain cool title track, there are virtually no faults to find in "Number of the Beast", except that it is a bit short, but that is instantly forgiveable. An all time landmark album that is right up there with Metallica's "Ride the Lightning", Black Sabbath's "Paranoid", and Judas Priest's "British Steel". Essential for anyone who calls themself a metalhead.
  
  
• Instant Classic
  By A122ERLIVLK4KN on 2002-10-19
  This album is known as the benchmark of metal and one of the few that would set creative trends that were to shape the future of the heavy metal world. After the first two solid albums Iron Maiden were a rising force until Steve Harris made the hard decision to boot the unreliable and manic Di'Anno, a tough choice indeed considering Di'Anno's considerable vocal talent. Enter Bruce Dickinson, a singer who would demonstrate his unbelievable range of vocals that were essential to this progressing metal band leaving behind the punkier more streetwise Maiden and going for a more legendary, mystical and epic style of songwriting.

  Number of the beast was the start of the golden years and many would say this was the peak and with good cause. The first standout song is ironically the first song 'Invader's, fast furious and catchy, all doubts of Dickinson's appointment in the band are diminished in seconds of the opening of this song, Paul who?, outstanding. The second track is another classic 'children of the dammed is the classic slow builder but when it kicks into gear it's on of the high points of the album, heavy as hell! The prisoner and 22 Acacia Avenue are solid rockers and the title track is were Dickinson shines brightest as he reaches for the high notes and screams in style.

  The next standout song 'run to the hills' is only a standout due to the massive amount of hype I've heard and when I actually heard it I was left scratching my head. This is a good song but in my view one of the weakest on the album.

  Maiden certainly saved the best till last with 'Hallowed by thy name' which baffles me to how I have not heard this song either on t.v or radio because it's an absolute classic. The riffs the lyrics and the atmosphere are all unbelievable as Maiden so brilliantly portray the experience of an man about to be executed, who else could produce the tension, feel and poetic like lyrics with this type of theme, this is what makes Maiden the best.

  To say this is not Iron Maiden's best album proves the shire strength of this band because this is an instant classic. Later releases such as 'Powerslave and Seventh son would be there high points.
  
  

• Great album, poor packaging
  By A3LRXBOQUL32S9 on 2003-02-03
  Why the low rating? Well, it's a 5-star album, one of the best albums by an excellent band, but the packaging is terrible. Check out the large version of the cover art and you'll notice that it is not the original art. It's been cropped at the bottom and removes the flames and most importantly the Eddie puppet in the devil's hands. This hurts the overall effect (that the devil thinks he is controlling Eddie, but Eddie is the one truly in control) of the artwork and shows an overall shoddy production. I'd seen this before in stores and am confident it's not just a problem with Amazon. A shame too, but hold out for a better version instead.
  
  
• Awesome!
  By A1V8MLTHSQU9S0 on 2003-07-26
  I think that this gotta be Maiden's best effort, cause every single song has something catchy to it.

  Invaders: A good opener, though not as good as Where Eagles Dare or Aces High , but still good.
  Children of the Damned: Excellent song with great vocals and guitar.
  Prisoner: Tough I didn't liked it very much at first, now it's a good song with great bridge and chorus.
  22 Acacia Avenue: I think that this is one of the best songs in the album, and probably one of Maiden's best.
  It has a great beggining and a completely amazing chorus, along with the good lyrics about Charlotte.
  The Number Of The Beast: Nothing but a great rock song.
  Run to the Hills: Probably the most known song from Maiden, and it has a catchy groove to it that makes this song excellent along with the thumping bass from Steve Harris.
  Gangland: Maybe the weakest track , but still good.
  Total Eclipse: A bit strange but it's a grower.
  HALLOWED BE THY NAME: This gotta be Maiden's best song, with amazing lyrics, great drumming, and excellent guitar, not forgetting one of Metal greates voices: Bruce Dickinson.

  All in all this a classic, this is a great album and i think it's the heaviest by Maiden thanks to the great non-stop drumming by Clive Burr(Is he better than Nicko? Maybe...)
  
  

• My favorite Maiden Album
  By ANBQIWHO9JRFS on 2004-04-05
  Well, I figure it's about time I got around to reviewing the rest of my Iron Maiden albums, so I'll start here. Although this is their best known album, I get the impression that most Maiden do not consider this to be their premiere work. I disagree. This album is both extremely consistent, and one of their most varied albums, plus it's got a baleful of all-time classics, all of which add up to it being the best IM album, and one of my all-time top 10.

  This is, of course, Bruce Dickinson's first album with the band, and it displays a marked change from their other works. Their debut and Killers both had noticeable punk and standard bluesy hard rock veins in them. These elements are essentially completely removed, allowing them create a pure and decidedly archetypal metal album. The mix is thicker, the dynamics are even more pronounced, and the guitar is tighter and sharper which makes the riffs have a much more metallic edge to them. Dickinson's vox are a big change as well, of course. Di'Anno was pretty good, but Dickinson fits the music better and seems to be in better control of his voice. Murray and Smith are in as good of form as they'll ever be (which is very, very good), with plenty of good harmonies and solos, particularly from Smith. The rhythm section is rock solid too. Harris stands out, as always, providing the energy and drive in most of the songs.

  Personally I think that this is Iron Maiden's most consistent album.(well, of the 9 I have. haven't got the post 7th son pre Brave New World ones) Invaders is a great speed metal opener. Not the best they've ever done but still very solid. Very energetic and catchy, though the little licks they play in the chorus are a tad chessy.(still fun though) Children of the Damned has to be the most underrated Iron Maiden song around.(though it's still very highly regarded.) It's probably my favorite IM song, and is one of those songs were it all comes together just right, paticularly the speedy and ultra-powerful closing section. The Prisoner is very good, and has some of the most pronounced dynamics on the album. The chorus is a bit whacky initially, but it grew on me, and it's got a sweet instrumental section. 22 Acacia Avenue is another first-rate rocker, with an unusually large number of riff and tempo changes.(Structurally it's more thrash than NWOBHM, and thus quite ahead of it's time.) The main riff from the final vocal section is probably my favorite IM riff, which is no mean feat. The final instrumental section destroys as well, particularly the driving basslines. Things continue going great with two more utter classics. I prefer Run to the Hills to Number of the Beast, but they're both excellent, with outstanding choruses. We have a slight drop down in quality for two tracks, but they're both good. Gangland is a solid if not particularly remarkable speed metal piece, but it's good enough that I don't skip it. Total Eclipse(which is a bonus track actually) is not the best song on the album, but it provides a good change of pace as it's got lots of atmosphere and is one of the slower tracks, with some especially crunchy riffing. We close with the legendary Hallowed Be Thy Name. Truth be told, I probably don't like this one quite as much as most IM fans, but it's still fantastic. Dickinson's vocals are wicked, and the solos and main riffs all destroy. Very powerful and emotional with out being cheesy.

  Well thats it. Most of the tracks are total classics, and the rest are still good. Don't think twice about picking it up.
  
  

• First one with Bruce
  By A1DO5PCHEGAPRH on 2004-10-27
  The Number Of The Beast is the first Iron Maiden album with Bruce Dickinson. This album had a large impact in the Metal community. There are plenty of songs that are classics and are still being played at resent concerts. The album starts out with the song "Invaders". Together with "Gangland" the least interesting tracks on the album. These songs are good, but not as good as the other tracks. "Children Of The Damned" is a mostly slow song with a haunting vibe. "Prisoner" is an up-tempo rocker. That song starts out with a sample from a movie. One of my favourite tracks on this album is "22 Acacia Avenue". The song contains the same lyrical content as "Charlotte The Harlot" from the album Iron Maiden. It is one of the more complex songs on the album. The instrumental part in the middle of the song really rocks.
  
  The title-track is a fast song. I really like the gloomy intro, before the guitars get in and all hell breaks loose. It is one of Maiden's more intense songs. Run To The Hills was the first single from the album. It is a more "radio-friendly" song. The song is extremely catchy and is therefore an excellent song to play live. Gangland is a rather fast song, but is also an average song compared to the other tracks. "Total Eclipse" did not make it on the original version of The Number Of The Beast. The band said that they regretted not including "Total Eclipse" on the album. The song originally ended up as a B-side of a single. Fortunately, on the remastered version of the album "Total Eclipse" is included.
  
  The last track on the album is "Hallowed Be Thy Name". That song is one of my favourite Iron Maiden tracks of all time. Unfortunately the studio-version is not as intense as the live versions. The song starts out with a gloomy intro. After the intro the band plays an excellent melodic part. Sadly the melodic part is played in a lower pace than the live-versions. Because I heard a live-version before I heard the studio-version, it was a slight letdown, for an otherwise excellent song. Furthermore, notice the different ending of the song compared to most live-versions. During most live-versions they play a short extra guitar lead, which is not played on the album.
  
  Although I think that The Number Of The Beast is not Maiden's best work, I still give the album 5 stars.
  
  
  
• TO THE I FED MYBUTT RETARD
  By on 2004-11-03
  wtf? rob halford isn't iron maidens singer, bruce dickenson is, get you freaking facts strait before i kill you.
  
  

• Piece of Mind
• Powerslave
• Killers
• Somewhere in Time
• Seventh Son of a Seventh Son