Shout Out: All 16 Studio Albums - Iron Maiden, part 1

What kind of Iron Maiden Month would this be if I didn't talk about EVERY STUDIO ALBUM THEY'VE RELEASED?
The answer is "a pretty poor one", in case you cared. However, since there are 16 albums as of September 4th 2015, I'm going to break these posts into four parts looking at four albums each. I'll probably talk a little bit more about the band's history as I'm going through them, although don't expect an in-depth biography.
I'm also going to split the four posts across two weeks, with two posts this week & the remaining two the next. However, I might do two different posts in the final week if I get round to it. It's also worth noting that I'll be discussing the 1998 remastered albums, as they're the versions that are currently available and some contain a few extra tracks. OK then, let's get shouting!
The first official studio album is the self titled 1980 debut featuring a very different line-up to the one we have today:

The first album is quite possibly the most aggressive one Iron Maiden have ever released, although this is mostly due to the difference in band members. We have Paul Di'Anno on vocals, Dennis Stratton and Dave Murray on guitar, Steve Harris on bass and Clive Burr on drums. Fans will know that only two of those band members are still part of Iron Maiden today but we'll get onto departures and arrivals as we talk about each album.
Iron Maiden starts off with the instantly catchy "Prowler", a fine album opener that displays each member of the band on top form. Most of the tracks from here are relatively short and punchy that focus slightly more on riffs and hooks than the overall band effort that later albums are centred around ("Running Free" and "Iron Maiden") although the influence from Classic Rock bands such as Thin Lizzy and Wishbone Ash are still prevalent throughout ("Remember Tomorrow" and "Strange World").
All in all, it's a damn good debut that any self-respecting Metal fan will enjoy whether they prefer their music short and sharp or long and melodic. NWOBHM elitists will argue that this is Iron Maiden's best album and whilst I agree with it being ONE of the best, there are still areas that could've been/were improved on future records. As usual, here's a tracklist with my personal favourites underlined:

1. Prowler

2. Sanctuary

3. Remember Tomorrow

4. Runnin' Free

5. Phantom Of The Opera

6. Transylvania

7. Strange World

8. Charlotte The Harlot

9. Iron Maiden
ALBUM RATING - 8/10

In the year between album releases, Dennis Stratton was replaced with Adrian Smith on guitar. Since Dennis was probably responsible for two of the weakest tracks on the first album, this was definitely for the best. Chances are the following album, Killers, wouldn't have had the same edge with his presence.

Compared to their debut, Killers starts off as a bit of a dud. "The Ides Of March" is a largely pointless intro to the far superior track "Wrathchild", likely included to showcase new guitarist Adrian Smith's talents. However, once the bassline for "Wrathchild" rolls in, all is forgiven. It's clear that the band are back for another strong entry, not changing a proven formula but capable of adapting to include more of what fans were after, seeing as how this album has more songs that are indisputably Metal as opposed to Hard Rock (excluding the Led Zepp inspired "Prodigal Son", of course).

Paul's vocals have branched out into other octaves ("Twilight Zone"), Steve's bass playing is still strong and smooth ("Innocent Exile") and the combined guitar work of Adrian and Dave is flawlessly executed ("Killers"). However, after revisiting this album, I realised Clive Burr's drumming is my personal highlight. He had a unique talent for playing his kit alongside the guitar riffs, turning the drums into more than just a percussive device and creating a stronger bond between each band member's musical contributions ("Genghis Khan" and "Murders In The Rue Morgue").

It's tricky to decide whether I prefer this album or the last one as an Iron Maiden fan. On the one hand, the songs on the debut are more memorable but on the other, the musical talent on this album is easily stronger. Either way, it's another great album although it lacks the same magic spark that some of the band's other records have. You might find people who call this their favourite album but you're more likely to find people who prefer either the previous or the next one.

1. The Ides Of March

2. Wrathchild

3. Murders In The Rue Morgue

4. Another Life

5. Genghis Khan

6. Innocent Exile

7. Killers

8. Prodigal Son

9. Purgatory

10. Twilight Zone

11. Drifter
ALBUM RATING - 7/10

Another year, another line-up change! This time, Paul Di'Anno was kicked out for drink and drug abuse. Fortunately, he was replaced with Samson vocalist & all-round top bloke, Bruce Dickinson. Bands go through line-up changes fairly frequently and most of the time, they survive. However, the true test of a band's lasting quality is whether they can survive a change in lead singer. Cut to 1982 and the release of the third album, The Number Of The Beast.

Not only one of Iron Maiden's most popular albums but also one of the most iconic albums in the entire Metal genre, and rightly so! It introduced me to the band and whilst it's not my all-time favourite Iron Maiden album, it's got plenty of great tracks to introduce you to what the band are all about. However, one of the few flaws is probably the introduction. "Invaders" is an easily forgettable song but works as an energetic album opener. It's straightforward Metal and, most importantly, it shows fans of Paul's vocals that the band have found a suitable replacement.
With Bruce on board, the band were able to explore new musical territories so in a way, this almost feels like the first proper Iron Maiden album. The sound quality is much stronger than the previous two entries (which occasionally sound as if they were banged together in someone's garage) and the lyrical themes are slightly more mature too ("Hallowed Be Thy Name" and "Run To The Hills"). In terms of the musical structure, many tracks start off fairly slow but speed up once they get past the intro or enter the final section of the song. This was experimented with during Paul's stretch with Iron Maiden but it seems the band are confident enough to use it frequently now.
The Number Of The Beast is slightly more about the band effort than previous albums but still contains epic riffs for air guitarists to shred to and catchy choruses for fans to belt out at concerts ("The Prisoner" and "The Number Of The Beast"), just what the band needed to secure longevity and solidify themselves as Metal legends.

1. Invaders

2. Children Of The Damned

3. The Prisoner

4. 22 Acacia Avenue

5. The Number Of The Beast

6. Run To The Hills

7. Gangland

8. Total Eclipse

9. Hallowed Be Thy Name

ALBUM RATING - 8/10

The last album I'll be talking about in this part also featured a new band member, as Clive Burr had to leave for personal & medical reasons. Whilst Clive was an amazing musician who sadly passed away two years ago, ex-Trust drummer Nicko McBrain stepped up to the mark and helped the band create another excellent album in 1983.

Piece Of Mind is notable for two reasons in my eyes. Firstly, as I've already mentioned, it introduces Nicko McBrain who manages to prove his worth in the first four seconds of album opener "Where Eagles Dare". Secondly, it's the first album to officially give Bruce Dickinson songwriting credit which probably explains the various lyrical topics covering war and mythology, albeit the latter twisted into a metaphor about teenage rebellion ("Die With Your Boots On" and "Flight Of Icarus").

Despite introducing a fairly standard galloping rhythm to the mainstream on the previous album with "Run To The Hills", this album is probably responsible for turning it into a signature sound for the band thanks to a decent filler track and one of the band's biggest fan favourites ("Sun And Steel" and "The Trooper" respectively). Whilst the first half of the album is considered more memorable than the second, that doesn't mean it's a record that's only half decent. It's full of great songs although the band appear to have put all of the filler at the end.

The fourth album in four consecutive years doesn't slow down or show signs of creative fatigue. Compared to the last three albums, I'd say Piece Of Mind takes less risks as it essentially hits the same beats as the previous record but there's nothing wrong with that. Iron Maiden deliver another hefty dose of Heavy Metal, pure and uncompromising. I think if this album had the same level of controversy and notoriety as The Number Of The Beast when that was first released, this would likely be everyone's favourite of the two.

1. Where Eagles Dare

2. Revelations

3. Flight Of Icarus

4. Die With Your Boots On

5. The Trooper

6. Still Life

7. Quest For Fire

8. Sun And Steel

9. To Tame A Land

ALBUM RATING - 8/10

That's the end of part 1. Come back soon for part 2, covering Powerslave, Somewhere In Time, Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son and No Prayer For The Dying!