The Number of the Beast

by Iron Maiden

Overview

Routinely ranked among the greatest heavy metal albums of all time, The Number of the Beast is the birth of Iron Maiden as we know it, a relentless metal machine lifted to soaring new heights by the arrival of erstwhile Samson frontman Bruce Dickinson. Dickinson's operatic performance here made him an instant metal icon, challenging even Rob Halford for bragging rights, and helped launch the band into the stratosphere. The Number of the Beast topped the charts in the U.K., but even more crucially -- with Judas Priest having moved into more commercial territory -- it also made Iron Maiden the band of choice for purists who wanted their metal uncompromised. Maiden took the basic blueprint Priest had created in the late '70s -- aggressive tempos, twin-guitar interplay, wide-ranging power vocals -- and cranked everything up faster and louder. The album's intensity never lets up, the musical technique is peerless for its time, and there isn't a truly unmemorable song in the bunch. Blessed with a singer who could drive home a melody in grandiose fashion, Steve Harris' writing gets more ambitious, largely abandoning the street violence of old in favor of fittingly epic themes drawn from history, science fiction, and horror. The exceptions are "22 Acacia Avenue," a sequel to "Charlotte the Harlot" that sounds written for Di'Anno's range, and the street-crime tale "Gangland," which Harris didn't write; though the punk influences largely left with Di'Anno, these two definitely recall the Maiden of old. As for the new, two of the band's (and, for that matter, heavy metal's) all-time signature songs are here. The anthemic "Run to the Hills" dramatized the conquest of the Native Americans and became the band's first Top Ten U.K. single. It features Maiden's trademark galloping rhythm, which in this case serves to underscore the images of warriors on horseback. Meanwhile, the title track's odd-meter time signature keeps the listener just slightly off balance and unsettled, leading into the most blood-curdling Dickinson scream on record; the lyrics, based on nothing more than Harris' nightmare after watching a horror movie, naturally provoked hysterical accusations of Satan worship (which, in turn, naturally provoked sales). "Hallowed Be Thy Name" is perhaps the most celebrated of the band's extended epics; it's the tale of a prisoner about to be hanged, featuring some of Harris' most philosophical lyrics. It opens with a superbly doomy atmosphere before giving way to a succession of memorable instrumental lines and an impassioned performance by Dickinson; despite all the tempo changes, the transitions never feel jarring. Elsewhere, "The Prisoner" is a catchy retelling of the hit British TV series, and "Children of the Damned" is a slower, heavier number patterned after the downtempo moments of Dio-era Black Sabbath. CD remasters integrate "Total Eclipse," first released as the B-side of "Run to the Hills," into the running order. Though some moments on The Number of the Beast are clearly stronger than others, the album as a whole represented a high-water mark for heavy metal, striking a balance between accessible melodicism and challenging technique and intensity. Everything fell into place for Iron Maiden here at exactly the right time, and the result certainly ranks among the top five most essential heavy metal albums ever recorded. A cornerstone of the genre. ~ Steve Huey

Product Details

Release Date:	11/16/2018
Label:	BMG Rights Management
UPC:	4050538426960

Tracks

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. Hallowed Be Thy Name

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Iron Maiden   Primary Artist
Nicko McBrain   Drums
Steve Harris   Guitar (Bass),Vocals,Bass
Clive Burr   Drums
Adrian Smith   Guitar,Vocals
Bruce Dickinson   Vocals,Lead Vocals
Dave Murray   Guitar
David Murray   Guitar
Barry Clayton   Spoken Word

Technical Credits

Martin "Farmer" Birch   Producer,Engineer
Simon Heyworth   Remastering,Digital Remastering,Engineer
Ian Paice   Composer
Ian Gillan   Composer
Iron Maiden   Producer
Irwin Levine   Composer
Clive Burr   Composer
Doug Hall   Producer
Steve Harris   Composer
Paul Di'Anno   Composer
Martin Birch   Engineer,Producer
Adrian Smith   Composer
Bruce Dickinson   Composer
Dave Murray   Composer
Jon Lord   Composer
Nigel Green   Engineer
Greg Macainsh   Composer
Jim Yukich   Video Director
Denis O'Regan   Photography
James Campbell   Composer
Derek Riggs   Cover Illustration,Sleeve Illustration
Ross Halfin   Photography
Rod Smallwood   Concept,Photography,Cover Art Concept
George Chin   Photography
Tony Newton   Remastering Engineer
Robert Ellis   Photography
David Murray   Composer
Ade Emsley   Remastering Engineer
Nigel Hewitt   Second Engineer