Amazon.co.uk Review
This opening sonic salvo from Steve Harris's East End stalwarts pretty much defined the late 1970's post-punk rebirth of rock traditionalism known as the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal. Featuring the strident cockney roar of the band's original lead vocalist Paul Di'Anno,
Iron Maiden capitalised on the band's enormous grass-roots live following by storming immediately into the upper reaches of the album chart. A perfect balance of the irresistibly catchy ("Running Free"), the intricately epic ("Phantom Of The Opera") and the roguishly profane ("Charlotte The Harlot"), it's an assured debut, superficially marred by somewhat pedestrian production values. Newly enhanced with the addition of video clips and assorted other multimedia goodies,
Iron Maiden--specifically the blazing, fretboard ferocity of its closing title track--is an utterly essential element of any self-respecting metal-head's record collection. Furious, whiplash headbanging is not so much recommended as completely unavoidable.
--Ian Fortnam
CD Description
Just as punk was mutating into new wave and the '70s were coming to a close, Iron Maiden came onto the British music scene as part of a movement known as the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal. Named for a mediaeval torture instrument, Iron Maiden was founded by bass player Steve Harris and released their self-titled debut in 1980. Roughly produced by Will Malone, the songs were influenced by the group's fascination with horror films ("Phantom Of The Opera") and the macabre ("Transylvania", "Prowler"). Driven by Harris' driving bass andPaul Di'Anno's raspy vocals, songs such as the moody "Remember Tomorrow" and the more aggressive "Charlotte The Harlot"also featured the melodic interplay of guitarists Dave Murray and Dennis Stratton. "Running Free" was the album's anthem and landed Maiden a slot on Top Of The Pops, where in their refusal to lip-synch, they became the first band to play live on the show since The Who's 1972 appearance.
