If anybody asks me to describe the NWOBHM, I will always tell them listen to this album. It has the rawness and energy that I associate with that period. Just to put this out there, I prefer Maiden with Dianno and not Brucie. When Dickinson joined, they lost that edge and rawness and became polished and a money making machine – which is where Smallwood was aiming them.
Maiden were a combination of classic rock of the time, and the punk movement, which Dianno was a big fan of. Other than a couple of EPs, and the legendary Soundhouse Tapes, this is Maiden’s debut. Every band and his dog would have this as their template of their idea of metal for the next 10 years. It’s hard to describe to people that this type of music didn’t exist before this. Sure Priest were doing their brand of metal, but it wasn’t as raw and hard hitting as this.
Running Free was the first track I heard, and it blew me away with the energy. Other than Motörhead, they were the first to add speed elements to the music like in Phantom Of The Opera. It was off at a gallop and had differing sections to add the tempo changes, which also was a first, the style of which Steve Harris had borrowed from Prog rock bands. We also got the introduction of metal instrumental pieces like Transylvania, which bands like Dream Theater would expand to the max years later. This song alone encapsulates the Maiden sound musically more than any other, as they would revisit the gallop format numerous times throughout their career.
No breakdown of songs here as it speaks for itself. You can keep your Powerslaves and Number Of The Beasts, the first two albums were as good as it got for me and all metal fans should own them both. Another ground zero album.
9.5/10 from The Grooveman.
