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Killers

Iron Maiden - Killers Audio CD

A fair review of the Iron Maiden "Killers" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Iron Maiden reviews here, or go back to the Iron Maiden tabs.

Band: Iron Maiden
Title: Killers
Rating:

Release Date: 1998-09-29
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Ides of March 2: Wrathchild 3: Murders in the Rue Morgue 4: Another Life 5: Genghis Khan 6: Innocent Exile 7: Killers 8: Prodigal Son 9: Purgatory 10: Twilight Zone 11: Drifter

KILLERS is The Best Maiden Album
Why, you ask? Let's start with the fact that this was the band's second album and they were hungry as most young bands are. Ok, ok, I know this will get a lot of Bruce fans mad but, I feel that "Killers" is Iron Maiden's best album. We also are granted the distinct pleasure of the great Adrain Smith who replaced Dennis Stratton on guitar. This was a key element during the early years of Maiden. One of the most memorable guitar teams in metal was born on "Killers". Dave Murray and Adrain Smith. Of course Steve Harris is here and Clive Burr, however, this was to be Paul Di'Anno's last album.

"Killers" was released in 1981 and rode the wave of the new wave of British heavy metal. This included bands like Def Leppard, Saxon, Motorhead, Venom, and a newly rejuvinated Black Sabbath. Maiden's second cd is solid without a bum track on it. This record is one of the tightest sounding Maiden albums ever! Martin Birch had jumped onto the bandwagon and forged the Iron Maiden sound. He produced "Killers" and most of the bands albums throughout the 1980's but "Killers" was the beginning of that classic sound.

We begin with an instrumental called "The Ides of March". This introduces the new Adrain Smith along with longtime member Dave Murray with a dual lead that was executed very well. Also featured in this tune is a totally scathing solo by Murray. "Wrathchild" is a Maiden fan favorite. This was one of the songs that put Maiden on the map. "Murders in the Ru Morgue" sort of sounds like something Judas Priest would play. Again, duel leads are slamming your'e ear drums into submission. We next have a track called "Another Life". Great early Maiden song! "Ghengis Khan" is another instrumental that showcases the abilities of the fine musicianship that is Iron Maiden. Beleive me, This is the days before drum machines and Clive Burr sounds like a machine on this tune. "Innocent Exile" was new for the album but, had been in Maiden's set-list for years. Now it had gotten the studio treatment it deserved and thank god. It's a great song. Fast and furious. The title track, "Killers" is a heavy metal classic. You can almost picture Eddie creeping up behind you with his axe. "Twighlite Zone" is one of my personal favorites. This song is a continuation of "Charlotte the Harlot" from Maiden's first album. "Twighlite Zone" takes you into the ghastly, undead life of Eddie and his girlfriend. Paul Di'Anno hits some really good notes during the chorus of this song. "Prodagal Son" is Iron Maiden's attempt at a soft song and they pull it off. The acoustic sound that this tune has, mixed with electric guitars is great. One of the album's singles, "Purgatory" is a speedy spiral into the void of death that carries you into the world of the unknown. What awaits us when we die? ("Twighlite Zone" was the album's other single. ) The record closes with a song called "Drifter". Another live song that Maiden had played for years before they had a chance to record it. This is a great track with excellent vocals and great guitar solos. A bombastic ending to a truly great album.

As I mentioned before, "Killers" was to be the last album that Paul Di'Anno would do with Iron Maiden. He could not handle the stress of the constant touring and the rock and roll lifestyle. He lived to the fullest and it ended up being his downfall. As Maiden were becoming more popular, Paul had began to develop stage fright in front of the larger crowds that Maiden was playing for. It was also said that he was not performing up to standards. One has to think what Maiden would have sounded like had Paul stayed in the band. Surely "Run To The Hills" or "22 Acacia Avenue" would not have sounded so new and fresh if Paul had done the vocals. After Maiden had done "Killers", they were ready to move on musically and the new music would have to have a new singer.

So ended The Paul Di'Anno era Iron Maiden. Enter Bruce Dickinson who would catapult the band into even greater heights of stardom. .

TOTALLY BLEW ME AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Before I purchased it, I just bought Bruce on vocals. Killers is now my favorite Maiden album. I was skeptical, because alot of Maiden fans don't like Paul Di'anno. I bought it anyway, just to see what he sounded like. And I have to say he has one the greatest heavy metal voices of all time. This album also introduces Adrian Smith on guitar after Dennis Stratton left. There is absolutely no filler I loved every song. If you are a fan of Iron Maiden or just like good old 80's Heavy Metal than this should be an immediate purchase. If your new to Maiden you may want to listen Bruce Dickinson first, to get used to thier sound. Then get this killer album.

stuck in Purgatory, can't escape
Purgatory is my favorite track, and the CD flows together nicely. Best Iron Mdiden CD ever made. If you like metal, this is one of the necessary CD's to own- it's a classic, pure and simple. Iron Maiden was so great it spawned copycats like Queensryche and Mercyful Fate. All good bands, but Maiden was started in 1976!.

Another Maiden classic!
This is great stuff, though. This is Iron Maiden's last album w/ Paul Dianno. The title track is "killer". I think it has some cool lyrics and guitar playing. Other great ones are "Wrathchild" and "Purgatory". Most fans of Maiden will enjoy this, so buy it!.

Better things to come
The songs does not have the power or the quality of later releases, and Paul DiAnno simply does not come anywhere near Bruce Dickinson as a singer. Killers is a classic in metal releases, and proved very influental to later metal-releases but it comes nowhere near what Iron Maiden was to release later.
The album meant alot to metal and thus is worth listning to, but it does not seem to hold any emediate qualities that are usualy atributed to Iron Maiden. The production is pretty bad, but it was too on Number of the Beast, so that is not what is to blame.
I think that Iron Maiden simply matured. . . and got a worthy lead singer for their next album.

You can see a complete list of all Iron Maiden discography, or go back to the Iron Maiden tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.