UP THE IRONS!  Iron Maiden is one of the most acclaimed heavy metal acts of all time.

Formed in East London in 1975, the band became pioneers of the new wave of British heavy metal at the time. In 1982, Iron Maiden released their third studio album, The Number of the Beast. It became the band’s first No. 1 record on the UK Albums Chart. It was also a Top 10 hit in many other countries and reached No. 33 on the Billboard 200.

Over the course of 46 years, they have embodied a spirit of fearless creative independence. They pay no mind to their critics. They have a following that spans every culture, generation, and time zone. Theirs is a story of gritty determination and courage.

Their music is driving, heavy, and electrifying. Iron Maiden’s music is a unique voyage into all things metal. Their music has left a deep impression on people all across the globe.

They are one of my personal favorites. I always love it when they come to Philadelphia on tour. Any time they’re here, I will go! There are so many great songs by them, and they’re really awesome performers. They are a band that transcends all.

Here are the best Iron Maiden songs, according to me:

• The Trooper

  “The Trooper” tells the story of a British soldier during the Charge of the Light Brigade during the Battle of Balaclava  in 1854. The song was the second single released from 1983’s Piece of Mind, and at the time was famous for its MTV banned music video, which depicted scenes from the 1936 Errol Flynn movie, in which actual horses died.

• The Number Of The Beast

  This song was the band’s second single from their 1982 album The Number Of The Beast. It was influenced by the 1978 horror movie Damien: Omen II, which is about the 13-year-old Antichrist. It is one of Iron Maiden’s most famous songs. It’s also  one of heavy metal’s most recognizable songs.

• Aces High

  The song’s lyrics are written from the viewpoint of a British RAF pilot fighting against the German Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain in 1940. Fun fact, that was actually the first military battle to be fought entirely with aircraft.

• Bring Your Daughter To The Slaughter

  “Bring Your Daughter… to the Slaughter” is the second single from the 1990 album No Prayer for the Dying. The song was originally recorded and released for the soundtrack to A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child. Iron Maiden rerecorded it for their own album. It is the only UK No. 1 single for the band to date.

• Can I Play With Madness

  This song is about a boy who wants to learn about the future from an old prophet with a crystal ball. The boy thinks he is going crazy and wants the old prophet to help him with his nightmares. The boy ignores the prophet’s advice and they get angry with each other.

• 2 Minutes To Midnight

  This song is a protest song about the ongoing Cold War and the threat of nuclear bombs. It’s off 1984’s Powerslave. It’s super riff-heavy, which is a good thing.

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