Iron Maiden: EVERY Album Ranked Worst To Best
2. Brave New World
18 years after Bruce Dickinson's first Iron Maiden outing came his first album with the band after his five year break. Not only was his return welcomed with open arms, Adrian Smith rejoined the band for the first time since Somewhere in Time in 1986.
This was the first time the band played with three guitarists, and it lent the album another level of depth previously impossible with just two. There is a reason this line up has lasted for 20 years and counting. The album itself is a majestic compilation of 10 songs showcasing what Iron Maiden are capable of.
The Wicker Man, The Mercenary, and The Fallen Angel are perfect examples of their faster paced, thrash heavy tracks, paired with the likes of Out of the Silent Planet, The Thin Line Between Love and Hate, and the titular track, as the slower, melodic epics.
The crowning jewel of the album however, is without question Blood Brothers, which has since become a staple of the band's live shows, and an emotional commentary on bringing people from all walks of life together under the Iron Maiden banner. Dickinson's return to the band was simply herculean, as he gave one of his strongest performances ever, on an album that musically is able to stand next to any from their extensive back catalogue.