10 Best Self-Titled Music Albums In Metal History

Generally speaking, metal and the wider landscape of music is mainly subjective. Although people are swayed by public consensus, exposure, and trends, what people decide to like or dislike is primarily down to them as individuals. However, an objective fact of music is Iron Maiden are one of the most essential bands to have ever struck a note, and even those who aren’t fans of the band will admit to at least respecting Iron Maiden with genuine conviction.

But long before they were running to the hills or counting the number of the beast, Iron Maiden gave the world their self-titled debut album in 1980. As one of only two albums to feature original vocalist Paul Di’Anno, ‘Iron Maiden’ receives mixed views from modern Maiden fans, with many preferring Bruce Dickinson’s vocals on later releases. However, this takes nothing away from Di’Anno, and the bold critical acclaim this record received upon its release is testament to his ability. ‘Iron Maiden’ was delivered with speed and precision that most '70s bands could only have dreamed of, and this was highlighted by Sounds Magazine, who commented on the comparatively "sloth-like and funeral-dirgey" sound of the preceding decade in their review. 

Acclaim for this groundbreaking release persists in the present day, as ‘Iron Maiden’ was ranked 13th in Rolling Stone's list of all-time great metal albums in 2017. Away from critics, the album also performed exceptionally in the charts for a debut metal record, peaking at number #4 in the UK.