Continuing through the Maiden studio albums as I read the new Martin Popoff book. The fourth studio album and first to feature new drummer Nicko McBrain who replaced Clive Burr. The album follows in a similar style of previous album Number of the Beast and for many it’s a better album and while it’s #2 or #3 favorite Maiden album for me I have no issue when someone says it’s their favorite. The album opens with a welcome to the band moment with Nicko showing what he brings to the table with the beginning of “Where Eagles Dare”. An awesome fast paced track that sets the tone and in my opinion one of the best opening tracks on a Maiden album. “Revelations” follows and written by Bruce it’s a little different and starts slow and builds as the song goes on and gets heavier and picks up speed and is my favorite song on the album. “Flight of Icarus” was the first single/video and has a huge catchy chorus and is a very memorable song. “Die with your Boots On” is a fun fast song that’s even better live. “The Trooper” is about as classic Maiden as it gets and is one of the bands best known songs and featured the Maiden “gallop” the band is known for. Power, speed, melody with the amazing historical lyrics. “Still Life” has to be one of the most underrated songs on the album and maybe in the catalog. Heavy but melodic and the chorus of “Nightmares” screams from the speakers. It’s too bad this one isn’t better known. “Quest for Fire” is a little progressive but lyrically a little silly and if there’s a song that’s a “filler” on this album this is probably it. Not bad by any means but not as good as the rest of the album. “Sun and Steel” is the classic Smith/Dickinson song with the melodic and catchy chorus. This could have been a single and video. The album closes with “To Tame a Land” which is inspired by Dune. It has the epic Maiden feel. Maybe not the classic of other “epic” type Maiden songs but still really good. All in all one of the better metal albums of that era and one of Maidens best albums.
Iron Maiden – Piece of Mind (1983)
