Iron Maiden!

[chalkpie]

BTW, I've been listening to Satan a lot (UK) and always think that Maiden fans might love these guys. Especially Cruel Magic.

[Progatron]

^^ If you don't mind harsh vocals, check out Arch Enemy for a huge Maiden influence on the melodies and dual guitars, etc.

But also be sure to check out the first of the reunited 'Maiden2K' albums (if you haven't already), Brave New World from 2000. I think it's the best one since Seventh Son.

[Trane]

What's everyone's favorite Maiden albums? Maybe I've overlooked a few over the years. I definitely have not heard every single tune on every album...

Definitely the debut, but Killers & Beast are both good.

For me the first three are easily my favorites. And out of these three perhaps Killers is the one I still play the most. Short, raw and explosive songs. There is a punkish attitude to these songs I just love.

Yes, but TBH, I think this was the result of Di Anno's vocals.

^ They topped 'Killers' in a big way with their next two albums. It's pretty common knowledge that 'Killers' basically mops up the songs that were left over after the band selected all their strongest material for the debut.

I'd have to agree with that, as I prefer much of the songs on their debut. Wrathchild definitely sounds like it's a debut album title. Prodigal Son - despite an obvious Brichization - also sounds like the first album, IMHO.
However, the difference between the debut and Killers is called Martin Birch - though it's not an improvement in my book, because Maiden sound like Deep purple or Whitesnake on Killers.

I think of the first two as punk-metal but it's not a bad thing.

and yet, there is also a few proggy tracks on those first two albums

My understanding was that Steve Harris wanted to go in a more heavy metal direction with all the material he was writing and didn't see Di'Anno as the right front man. He had probably already identified Dickinson as the right man from his work with Samson.

Alcohol, violence and inability to socialize on tour is what I heard.

This businesslike approach is probably why Maiden has survived all these years.

that's not as positive as that in my book.

[ronmac]

Yeah, I'll take the first two over any others. (I was lucky enough to see them on the Killers tour in the US. "Beast," too, among others.) That's not to say I've heard them all, or they are not great. But, Di'Anno's vocals and fucking great. Bruce is great, too, but more of a one-trick pony, IMNSHO.

[Vic2012]

When I rank Maiden albums I separate the 80s from the reunion, 21st Century albums. From the 80s I'd rank Peace Of Mind (or 7th Son....a fucking masterpiece). From the 2000s my top Maiden album is........A Matter Of Life And Death. To me it is a masterpiece of NWOBHM/PROG.

[Interstellar]

The first seven ones have a special place in my heart, as they were released during my teenage years. They looked and sounded badass, heavy but somehow ambitious and interesting. It was a great string of albums and I felt they were coming up with something fresh on every record. After that it was not the same anymore. (Well, Adrian Smith left and I grew older.)
The X Factor brought some interesting novelty but I'm not sure the whole thing gelled quite well.
Most of the post-reunion material has been strong, although a bit too predictable to my ears. I also would give a tip of the hat to A Matter Of Life And Death.