Killers is the second studio album released by Iron Maiden, and it is also the second album from the band that I bought (The Number of the Beast was the first). On the cover, Eddie is now in action, having presumably just dispatched a victim with an ax to earn the title of "killer." This artwork first brought Iron Maiden to my attention, and I think it is one of the best renditions of Eddie that has been produced.
The album opens with "The Ides of March," an instrumental anthem heavy on the snare drum and solo guitar. This song leads right into "Wrathchild," which starts with a pumping bass line followed by furious rhythm guitar work and gritty solos. This is my favorite song on the album.
Following "Wratchchild" is "Murders in the Rue Morgue," a song loosely based on the Edgar Allen Poe short story of the same name. Then there's the frenetic "Another Life" and "Genghis Khan," another great instrumental that allows the band mates to show off their technical prowess. Then the galloping "Innocent Exile" is featured before the album's namesake "Killers" shows up.
"Killers" is another favorite of mine, as is the next song, "Twilight Zone." And then comes the closest thing Iron Maiden has for a power ballad, "Prodigal Son." Don't get me wrong, this song still rocks, but it's about as close to love and sentimentality as the band can do.
The album then closes with two more hard rockers, "Purgatory" and "Drifter," and there you have one of the iconic albums from the metal scene of the 1980s.
UPDATE: A little bit of "Wrathchild" for ya:
1 comment:
I'm gonna have to start buying these.
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