Iron Maiden: EVERY Album Ranked Worst To Best
6. Iron Maiden
The album that kicked off the career of one of the biggest names in the heavy metal music business. Though the line up is almost unrecognisable to the band today, with only two current members featuring back in 1980, and guitarist Dennis Stratton making his only appearance for the band, if not for the success of their self titled album, the subsequent 15 wouldn't have happened.
Though Paul Di'Anno was ultimately overtaken as the band's strongest singer, and by some way, he perfectly captured the punk style that the band adopted in its early days, and of course Steve Harris added to the line up as something of a unique second string front man.
While some tracks are remembered more fondly than others, with Iron Maiden and Running Free still counted among the most popular the band have ever produced, there are no truly weak songs on the album.
Phantom of the Opera became the first Maiden epic at just over seven minutes long, Transylvania is still possibly the best instrumental Iron Maiden track to date, and the likes of Prowler and Sanctuary typified the no nonsense, full speed metal that made the album so great. Despite the less than perfect production quality on reflection, Iron Maiden has more than stood the test of time.