12 Most Underrated Metal Albums

One of the most iconic bands to ever grace the metal genre, Iron Maiden have become a globally-loved institution thanks to their relentless touring and consistently strong musical output. Their ‘third act’ of their career has seen the band achieve enormous success, all of which couldn’t have happened if Maiden hadn’t continued producing quality albums such as Brave New World.

Following a minor creative slump in the 1990’s, Maiden reintroduced Bruce Dickinson and Adrian Smith, two members of their ‘classic’ line up, into the fold for 2000’s Brave New World. The result was an album that’s easily their finest since 1988’s Seventh Son of A Seventh Son, the final masterpiece of their incredible ‘classic’ run of albums.

Everything about it works, to the point where it achieves a level of song-by-song consistency that surpasses even some of those famous early full-lengths. One of Maiden’s greatest tricks has always been their ability to make complex, lengthy arrangements feel elegant and enthralling, which they demonstrate here on tracks such as Dream Of Mirrors and the lovely closer The Thin Line Between Love And Hate. The shorter tracks are also equally fantastic, with The Wicker Man in particular becoming a fan favourite.

Iron Maiden are one of the greatest metal acts of time, and Brave New World is their unsung masterpiece, that, whisper it, may just be their greatest achievement.