“Third time’s the charm,” as they say. Iron Maiden fully come into their own on their third studio album, “The Number of the Beast.” It was vocalist Bruce Dickinson’s debut for the band but proved to be a welcome change elevating the musicality the band could reach with his falsetto range. The grandiose, classical-esque composition of the tracks would also force music critics and metal detractors to reevaluate the genre as more than juvenile delinquent music. The album would set the standard for heavy metal for years to come and cement them as one of the best metal bands in the world.
Second only to Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden dominates the world of metal with their legacy and influence. They inspired everyone from thrash’s big four to even pop stars like Lady Gaga. There’s a reason why they’ve amassed a vast, undying fanbase. But what made a pastey group of east Londoners from 40 years ago so important? Simply put, Iron Maiden made people take metal seriously. Iron Maiden had the sheer talent as classical-esque composers, lyrical and storytelling ability, epic live shows and iconic branding (long live Eddie— I guess he’s undead but you know what I mean). To top it off, they were self-made, adopting punk DIY ethics of self-promotion and self-releases, proving that anyone could do it with a bit of luck.
