Album Reviews
Hear it Now
View Rock & roll may be here to stay, as Danny and the Juniors once declared, but few styles in rock have endured like heavy metal. Long after such progenitors as Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple and Grand Funk Railroad have passed into history, eager young longhairs around the globe still crowd into arenas clamoring for yet another dose of high-decibel distortion, fretboard virtuosity and vocal belligerence.
Still, for all its devotion to form, heavy metal hasn't just lumbered on heedless of the times; in fact, many younger bands even insist that the term heavy metal describes the music of another generation. If that claim seems slightly ludicrous in the wake of acts as willfully revolutionary as the Ramones or Public Image Ltd., it seems less so when the current crop of heavy-rock groups is compared to its forebears. Not only are the younger bands harder, faster and wilder, they've also managed to pull heavy rock away from the blues-based, quasi-classical flourishes of the Deep Purple era and toward a visceral directness that prefers punch over flash.
No band quite exemplifies these changes as does Motorhead. This British trio plays with a brutish intensity that makes AC/DC seem like Air Supply. Granted, rock & roll as sonic shrapnel is a rather limited perspective, but Motorhead offsets the music's relentlessness with surprisingly astute lyrics and exhilarating bursts of manic guitar. This is music for the thinking headbanger. Motorhead may actually be too intense for most American ears, but for the sheer adrenal rush of rock & roll, there's no one this side of the Clash who can touch them.
The Scorpions' Blackout, on the other hand, is better suited to the heavy-rock fan who likes nasty noises and isn't particularly concerned if they've been done better elsewhere. Guitarist Matthias Jabs may borrow liberally from Eddie Van Halen's arsenal of guitar tricks, and singer Klaus Meine does bellow like Judas Priest's Rob Halford, but the overall effect is so audaciously over-the-top that it works anyway. Part of the credit goes to producer Dieter Dierks, who provides the band with a dense but meticulously detailed sound that keeps the music from bogging down. Mostly, though, it's just a matter of good ensemble playing fronted by a singer who knows how to wring the last ounce of impact from each song.
Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow has gone through some shallow incarnations, but the latest lineup tops them all. Joe Lynn Turner's vocals on Straight between the Eyes are so faceless and predictable they could almost be sold as generic hard-rock singing, while keyboardist David Rosenthal turns in solos that are even more witlessly overplayed than Deep Purple's Jon Lord at his most banal. Even Blackmore succumbs, offering solos redolent of Van Halen and songs suggestive of Led Zeppelin ("Eyes of Fire" is an obvious rewrite of Zep's "Kashmir"). Straight between the Eyes lacks both the fire of good heavy rock and the melodic savvy of hard pop. As such, the album makes for dull listening.
Although Iron Maiden's The Number of the Beast isn't as dreadfully bland as the Rainbow LP, it comes uncomfortably close. Unlike the band's previous efforts, which retained much of the bluesy kick of early heavy metal, The Number pursues a slicker, more up-to-date sound with mixed results. Regrettably, the focus has shifted away from Dave Murray and Adrian Smith's lead guitars, and much of the album is in the hands of the rhythm section and newly acquired singer Bruce Dickinson. Despite an occasional flash of inspiration, like the driving riff that fuels "Run to the Hills," The Number of the Beast blusters along aimlessly, proving again that bad music is hell. (RS 372)
J.D. CONSIDINE
(Posted: Jun 24, 1982)
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- Invaders
- Children Of The Damned
- The Prisoner
- 22 Acacia Avenue
- The Number Of The Beast
- Run To The Hills
- Gangland
- Total Eclipse
- Hallowed Be Thy Name
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Review 1 of 7
IamSomewhereInTime writes:
Wow. How can a magazine that claims to know music give "The Number of The Beast" only two stars? It is simple. These "expert reviewers" obviously do not see the impact that this amazing album has left. This is, without a doubt, the BEST metal album of all time(Metallica's Black album doesn't even come close). Iron Maiden revolutionized the way metal was played, and is played today, starting with Beast. You can see a ton of influence in "metal" bands today. Dare I say, resurgence of........ solos? This album is a masterpiece. Adrian Smith and Dave Murray's guitar playing are spectacular, especially on 22 Acacia Avenue, Number of the Beast, and Hallowed Be Thy Name. Steve Harris bass playing is amazing, like on Invaders and Number of the Beast. And How could I forget Bruce Dickinson's vocals. Pure power and sheer brilliance. Listen to him on Number of the Beast and especially on Hallowed Be Thy Name. He showed the world that heavy music didn't have to have unitelligible yelling for vocals. Every track is amazing. From beginning to end, this album is one of the best I've ever heard. From the intro riff of Invaders to the melodic ending of Halowed Be Thy Name and everything inbetween, this album is spectacular. This is not an album to skip tracks on. This album is like an 8-track. You have to listen to every song or you shouldn't buy it.
May 31, 2007 02:22:27
Review 2 of 7
Sarin11117 writes:
do not listen to the rolling stone reviewer, he is obviously biased towards metal and gave a poor review to an amazing album. Every single song on this is great, but the real stand-outs are 22 Acacia Avenue, The Number Of The Beast, Run To The Hills, and Hallowed Be Thy Name.
Feb 2, 2007 07:29:28
Review 3 of 7
IronMayden writes:
God, its funny to see that Rollingstone only gave this album two stars. Talk about having to put your foot in your mouth. Run to the Hills, 22 Acacia Avenue, Number of the Beast, Hallowed be thy name, These songs are some of the greatest metal songs ever recorded. Maybe they should have had someone who actually listens to metal review the album. But hey, Maybe I'm wrong. I mean I thought the Paris Hilton album was crap, but apparently Rollingstone thought it was a 3 star album.
Oct 24, 2006 16:41:18
Review 4 of 7
Booberry writes:
The person at Rolling Stone who gave this 2 stars is a retard! This album is one of the greatest metal albums of all time, by one of the greatest metal bands of all time, and has 2 of the greatest metal songs of all time, Run to the Hills and Number Of The Beast. Those two songs aren't the only good songs. Gangland is a great song. 4 stars.
Sep 24, 2006 09:52:43
Review 5 of 7
studentandlovinit writes:
I have to disagree with this review, if you like Heavy Metal, this album is a must have (obviously if you dont then what are you doing reviewing it). Along with a very few other classics such as British Steel, this album redefined heavy metal and what people can expect from it, from inspired but admittedly simple early Sabbath to the faster, more intelligent style of Iron Maiden et al. This album is considered by almost every source as one of the greatest and most influential albums of the heavy metal genre, check out other sources if you dont believe me, and as such cannot possibly be rated as lowly as two stars by anyone with more than a passing knowledge of heavy metal. Also this is not Bruce Dickinsons first album, check out his work with Samson, its good.
May 11, 2006 12:38:34
Review 6 of 7
monstruswang508 writes:
considine... *sigh*. honestly, not just cause i love maiden, or cause i might have gotten a little biased after all these years, no halfway intelligent person would EVER give this album less than a 4. EVER. listen to the lyrics. coherent, inspiring, creative, GENIUS. heavy metal it is, but its not kiss. its not screamo insane guitar riffs that cover up all the voices crap. its INTELLIGENT, WELL WRITTEN, INCREDIBLE music. i understand that you wrote this review in 1982? well i can tell you that NOBODY wrote music like iron maiden did in 1982. hell nobody EVER and nobody EVER WILL write music like iron maiden did (and still does actually, go buy dance of death its gooood). hallowed be thy name... the number of the beast... run to the hills! jesus christ if you knew and understood good music... THIS ALBUM IS FLAWLESS. for some reason youre biased against heavy metal, so when kiss screws it all up, every other heavy metal band, no matter HOW GOOD the guitar riffs are, HOW GOOD the lyrics are, HOW FREAKIN GENIUS THE ENTIRE FREAKIN ALBUM IS, it gets looked down upon cause the genre is of course "heavy metal" which is for stupid headbangin dumbasses. hey everybody, if you listen to any type of rock, god even any type of music with someone friggin singing, im gonna tell you this: IRON MAIDEN IS LITTERALLY AS GOOD AS IT GETS. GO BUY THIS ALBUM.
Feb 17, 2006 21:57:46
Review 7 of 7
woncarloz writes:
This is one of Iron Maien's best albums. This is Bruce D's first album and it kicked ass.
Dec 5, 2005 11:21:10
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