1 Overlooked Gem Song From Every Iron Maiden Album

It can be said, genuinely and without hyperbole, that there are no other bands like Iron Maiden. Enjoying a career spanning over 40 years, with 17 studio releases to their names, through line-up changes and ups and downs over the years, they are heavy metal legends.

Taking into account just the tracks from these albums, Iron Maiden have over 160 songs in their back catalogue. Needless to say, some are stronger and more popular than others. Some have become iconic, and without which no live show is complete, while others failed to truly inspire the masses.

There isn't an album so far that hasn't produced at least one classic, even going back to the days of Blaze Bayley, but other great songs aren't always given the recognition they deserve. Whether trapped and lumped in with a bad album, or overshadowed by one or more classics, there are tracks throughout Maiden history that have been overlooked.

This has happened on every single album. There is always something that stops a great track from being appreciated as it should, but this list will take the time to amend that. You may have been ignorant to many of these songs before, but go back and give them a listen and you will not be sorry.

If you're going to scour through the vast Iron Maiden back catalogue for ballads from the heavy metal giants, you'll be searching for a long time with little reward. It's not something that the band has ever done consistently, however they have dabbled very occasionally.

The first of these came on their debut, self-titled album way back in 1980. Coming off the back of the heart-thumping 'Transylvania', 'Strange World' not only showed a side to Iron Maiden that was rarely ever shown, but actually how well the band could write this kind of song.

Outside of a heavy bass guitar presence otherwise unheard of in a song like this, there is very little in 'Strange World' to indicate that it is an Iron Maiden song. No galloping choruses, dualling guitars, air siren vocals, or particularly deep, thought-provoking lyrics, and in the mix with the likes of 'Running Free', 'Phantom of the Opera', 'Transylvania', and 'Iron Maiden', it's easy to see why this song doesn't get the same recognition.

And yet, it is a genuinely impressive, unique outing that too often gets lost among the more famous of the Paul Di'Anno era.