Iron Maiden: EVERY Album Ranked Worst To Best
Four decades of incredible music, but which album is best?
Iron Maiden are, quite simply, one of the biggest names in the music industry. Debuting in 1980, and immediately making noise on the scene, the band were instrumental in the rise of British heavy metal. More albums came in swift fashion, and Iron Maiden was soon a household name, and one of the most popular bands the genre had to offer.
Over the next four decades, the band have released a further 15 studio albums in what is a testament to their incredible longevity, and while they have had their ups and downs like any band, the former have far outweighed the latter, and they have remained as strong as ever.
With only bassist Steve Harris and guitarist Dave Murray present for all 16 of Iron Maiden's albums, there have been line up changes with almost every outing, however the band has still managed to keep its identity throughout, never selling out, and never valuing anything above putting out the best music they can.
With 16 albums in their back catalogue, of course some will have been better received than others, and are looked back on more fondly today. Which albums didn't quite live up to the lofty expectations and standards the band have earned, and which surpassed them into the realms of greatness?
16. Virtual XI
As far as Iron Maiden albums go, Virtual XI is at something of an automatic disadvantage as it doesn't feature Bruce Dickinson on the vocals. Instead, this album was the second to feature Blaze Bayley in the role instead and was, thankfully, also the last.
There are many ways to describe Iron Maiden, and forgettable isn't usually one of them, however this is exactly what this album is. With just eight tracks, there are none that particularly stand out. Futureal and The Clansman are without question the most popular, but going back to the studio version after listening to it live with Dickinson, there is just no comparison.
Not only do Iron Maiden miss their true lead vocalist, this album highlights the band's need for a third guitarist. Adrian Smith wouldn't rejoin the band for another two years, and there just seems to be some depth missing from what could have been decent Maiden songs.
It's not that this album is inherently bad, it's just not memorable, and nowhere near the level we've come to expect from the boys.