The definitive Iron Maiden playlist

Who says late-career Iron Maiden isn't worth the listen? Now, The Book Of Souls (2016) is certainly a commitment with a running time of just over 92 minutes. However, the 10-minute, 27-second, title track closer should be considered the highlight of the band's first-ever double album. It's quite the musically emotional ride for listeners, complete with plenty of booming crescendos, the revitalized range of Bruce Dickinson's legendary, and the attention to detail that fans have come to expect from Maiden.

During an interview from the early 1990s, Bruce Dickinson said bassist Steve Harris wrote this title track and closing number to the band's 1992 ninth studio album because he was afraid of the dark. While critics still weren't warming up to Iron Maiden's work from the 1990s, compared to the exceptional production throughout the '80s, "Fear of the Dark" is certainly a highlight worth celebrating.

From 1988's Seventh Son of a Seventh Son, "The Clairvoyant" was inspired by famed British spiritualist Doris Stokes's death. The song weaves a tale from said person's point of view, both living and dead. The musical mind of Maiden bassist and leader Steve Harris is quite imaginative, but also thought provoking. 

The title track to Iron Maiden's seventh studio album clocks in at just under 10 minutes. Yet, it's one of those lengthy tracks that seems to fly by. Consider it a non-stop commuter train ride of sound, complete with Bruce Dickinson's piercing howling and the consistent guitar pace from Adrian Smith and Dave Murray. Not to mention, some of Steve Harris better bass moments, especially amid the song's down moment, before resuming its controlled chaotic pace. 

Back to where it all began. With Paul Di'Anno on vocals, Iron Maiden's self-titled debut album from 1980 sent a jolt amid the hard rock scene and opened the door for heavy metal to truly take off around the world. The relentlessness of "Phantom of the Opera" is a perfect of example this sound, which was already coming out of Great Britain. While there was a bit of a progressive-punk feel on the track, it encapsulated Maiden and a movement that would influence countless bands to follow.

Sticking with Maiden's acclaimed debut album, "Running Free" was the first single released. Paul Di'Anno co-wrote the track with Steve Harris. It's about feeling free as a teenager, no real care in the world, and maybe even pushing the law a little bit. That certainly fit in with the rebellious attitude of heavy metal, even if the track is completely raw from a production standpoint. The latter is an example of why the band, to this day, knocks the overall sound of the album. 

From 1986's Somewhere in Time, "Wasted Years" is the baby of guitarist Adrian Smith. He's the sole writer credited on the track and also provided backup vocals. Smith's contributions, when it comes to writing and composing, usually lend to Iron Maiden's more melodic moments. Now, that hasn't always pleased those die-hard thrashers within the group's fan base, but "Wasted Years," complete with a Smith solo that's a pure assault on the ears, can more than hold its own in Maiden's expansive catalog.

In terms of steady exposure, the Piece of Mind (1983) album was the first to give listeners in the United States some extended exposure to the band. "Flight of the Icarus," one of the shortest in duration among Iron Maiden's most well-known tracks, has long been a favorite among the fan base. It's likely best known for Bruce Dickinson's near-perfect vocal shrill while paying homage to the myth of Icarus.

Tackling a musical version of a poem as extensive and in-depth as Samuel Taylor Coleridge's "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" is no small feat. Even for the most seasoned musicians and history buffs like the Maiden guys. Still, comparable to the stage version of a book, Iron Maiden delivers a 13-minute, 45-second showstopper to close out 1984's Powerslave. There would be more epic, over-the-top moments like this from Iron Maiden, and we really couldn't get enough.

The first single from Seventh Son of a Seventh Son is probably best known for its music video that was staple on MTV's Headbanger's Ball. Late Monty Python legend Graham Chapman starred in the video for a tune that deals with a young student's fear of mental madness. The track also made a dent with mainstream audiences and opened the door for a new legion of fans to experience the majesty that's Iron Maiden. 

In some circles of Iron Maiden fandom, "Die With Your Boots On" could be considered one special deep cut. To those more dedicated Maiden fans, it's one of the group's underrated mainstays. It's a solid blend of that early Iron Maiden, unabashed grit, and the maturity in terms of songwriting, composition, and production. Consider this track a gateway from a well-respected past to a musical future that was filled with promise.

Number of the Beast (1982) was the album that turned Iron Maiden into international superstars. With new singer Bruce Dickinson on board, the album reached No. 1 in the United Kingdom and the cracked the top 40 on Billboard's 200 album chart in the United States. "22 Acacia Avenue" is a Steve Harris-Adrian Smith ode to working girls. Number of the Beast was known for two of Maiden's most popular tracks, but "Acacia" is a gem in itself, especially when played live. 

Like it or not, if there's one song that's grown synonymous with Iron Maiden, it's "Run to the Hills." From Number of the Beast, "Run to the Hills" is still regularly played on classic rock or satellite radio, and it's an obvious staple of Maiden live shows. It was a top-10 hit in the United Kingdom, and another history lesson for metal fans. In this case, tackling the issue of Indigenous Americans' quest to defend their land. Arguably the most recognizable song in the Iron Maiden catalog. 

There are several highlights from Seventh Son of a Seventh Son, but when pressed, "The Evil That Men Do" tends to stand out above the rest. Sure, it might be another example of Maiden delivering some accessible heavy metal to the masses. We won't hold it against Steve Harris and the band for the use of a synthesizer on the track. By the way, it also showcases one of Adrian Smith's best solo work on lead guitar. In all, it's another shining moment on Iron Maiden's legacy.

As noted, Iron Maiden's debut record is gritty and hurried, but obviously, like nothing that was being made in the United States. Yet, there's plenty about the record that is worth celebrating. We love when bands have title a song after their own names, and "Iron Maiden" is among the best of the lot. It's still a concert staple, even with Bruce Dickinson on vocals, and traditionally the moment "Eddie," in some form or another, makes his appearance on stage. 

In the history of heavy metal, "The Trooper" is considered royalty. It's the golden moment from Piece of Mind, armed with its memorable guitar intro and some of Nicko McBrain's best drum work. Chronicling the Charge of the Light Brigade from the Crimean War, "The Trooper" has long been one of the truly special moments of Iron Maiden's live shows. It was also one of the few songs, upon release, that received consistent airplay on FM radio, reaching No. 28 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart in the United States.

Another high point (pun intended) within Iron Maiden's legacy. The opening number from Powerslave, "Aces High" is a tale told from the lens of a British fighter pilot during World War II's Battle of Britain. It was one of two singles released off the album, and it has long kicked off Maiden's theatrical live sets. In that setting, Winston Churchill's historic "We shall fight on the beaches" speech usually precedes the track — setting the crowd into a frenzy as their night of metal madness is about to begin.

Just over seven minutes in duration, one of the legendary moments from Number of the Beast, "Hallowed Be Thy Name" immediately earned epic status. There were obviously more commercially successful tracks on the band's breakout LP, but this is often considered the high point in Maiden's career. The song remains a staple of Iron Maiden live sets and one of the best heavy metal songs of all time. Pure power and aggression with enough melodic and moments to insure greatness.

What's a heavy metal band without a little controversy? This Maiden smash, which rivals "Run to the Hills" for the most popular mainstream song from the band, had religious groups in the United States up in arms thinking it championed Satanism. Now, the constant mention of "666" and reference to ritual sacrifice could lead one to believe that the boys from Maiden were worshiping the devil. Of course, that was not the case, but this an instant metal classic that didn't need controversy to fuel its popularity. 

When it comes to songs, trying to decide on the best of the Iron Maiden bunch isn't any easy task. But metal fans can't really go wrong with this Powerslave classic. It's a protest song, if you will. Iron Maiden takes aim at nuclear war and the threat that lingered between the East and West since War World II, especially heightened in the 1980s. While the studio album version excels, there isn't much that beats "2 Minutes to Midnight" when played live.