Killers - Iron Maiden

Its Iron Maiden man!

Its from the early years, so how can you be a Maiden fan and not have it.. Buy it!

dumb

As a non-metal listener, this is astoundingly bad tripe. It comes across as some has been 80's music that in reality, should have no listeners. But, since metal is the breeding ground of the inarticulate, it receives heaps of praises, namely from long haired boneheads who never grew up, holding on to some idiotic glorious metal past. Rotten guitars, corny lyrics, a guy who sings like the cross between Fleetwood Mac and Cher, should I go on?

Just dump this in the "do not buy" bin. It's terrible.

Killers

First even today that cover is still menacing as hell, God I love the cover to this album. This is my favorite Maiden album I prefer the singer on this one to old Bruce. Even though he is a better singer. He seemed to give maiden a more theatrical sound. The guy on this album just sounds raw and pissed off. I like lead singers that seem to have a bad attitude. I have to believe they shaped there sound because of the singer they had at the time. Bruce voice was more refined so they upped there sound. This album is more gangsta, more street. Some of you maybe like gangsta, its just a fancy way of saying this is a hard record. Killers, Murder in the Rue Morgue, and wrath child are worth the price alone. This era maybe not looked at fondly or even respected by Maiden fans, but they never sounded like this again.

The Best With Paul DiAnno

The best of the two albums with DiAnno. With Adrian Smith joining the band one hears the great fusion of musical talent with Dave Murray making the band one of the best in having essentially two lead guitars. Just a great collaboration between the two guitarists. Better musically and lyricall than their starter album, this album has some great songs such as 'Wrath Child' and 'Killers.' 'Prodigal Son' has to be one of the greatest rock ballads of British New Wave metal: great lyrics and just an excellent intrumental arrangement.

"Killer Sophomore Album"(4.5 Stars)

After releasing their first album in 1980,the self-titled "Iron Maiden" guitarist Dennis Stratton quited and the band was left without a guitarist.Adrian Smith was chosen to fill the void and he turned out to be an excellent choice as he would stay with band for nearly 10 years and would eventually come back in 1999.In late November of 1980 Iron Maiden played a few dates in the U.K. to introduce Smith to their fans and then went in the studio soon after to record their sophomore album "Killers".This album would turn out to be the last with then vocalist Paul Di'Anno who would be fired in 1982 for his drug habbits."Killers" continued what they started with "Iron Maiden",they mostly stayed with the same kind of approach that they did with the first album but its somewhat less good and classic.

The theme of the album is definatly murder and the album's cover(wonderfully done by Derek Riggs)and the songs reflect that.You can tell that just by reading some of the song titles,"Killers" the title track and "Murders In The Rue Morgue",other related songs would be "Another Life" and "Innocent Exile".This album is good but it doesn't get much attention and is in many cases skipped and overlooked but anyone who listens to it can say that its a classic heavy metal album.There are some really good songs on this second album like the much loved "Wrathchild",the title track(did Maiden ever do a title track that wasn't good?)and the underrated "Purgatory".It is also to note that Killers has two excellent instrummentals,the album opener "The Ides Of March" and the more epic and technical "Gengis Khan".

Now the songs.The album starts with the instrummental "The Ides Of March" as said above and despite the fact that its only 1:46 it fits as the opening track fairly well.Then the famous "Wrathchild" follows up and that song is one of the best on the album and one of Maiden's classics."Muder In The Rue Morgue" has a catchy chorus and great guitar works its one of the great tracks on the album."Another Life" doesn't stand out or anything but its a nice agressive song and some sweet guitar parts troughout all the song and excellnt drumming by Clive Burr.Then comes the second instrumental and their second best one(first being Transylvania from the debut in my opinion)"Gengis Khan" wich has some killer drum work by Clive and its pretty technical stuff,if you like instrumentals you're in for a treat."Innocent Exile" has a slow tempo but the solo in the end is just amazing and its a solid track."Killers" is great and features great vocals from Di'Anno with his scary "killer!behind you!" and other lyrics that can scare anybody who's alone,great song tought!Up 8th is the ballad "Prodigal Son",very good ballad but not much more."Purgatory" is a fast one with Di'Anno doing probably some of his best singing here,it has a catchy chorus and one of my favourites."Twilight Zone" has Di'Anno being very emotionnal and he is "into" the song,hitting the high notes this time,once again some of his best singing great track.The album's closer "Drifter" is good and has some really sweet guitar playing and a nice solo as well.

Overral this a good second album with Paul Di'Anno,who I have to say was excellent on vocals and did some of his best vocals on "Purgatory" and "Twilight Zone".Its not as good as the first album wich is the best of the Di'Anno albums.Some people have a problem with Paul,personally i think he has a great voice even if he is not as good as Bruce Dickinson who would replace him and make history with Maiden on the next album,"The Number Of The Beast"."Killers" is a great metal album but I wouldn't recommend it for a starter.If you like Paul Di'Anno go ahead and buy this along with the first album but if you don't stay with Bruce's albums,4.5 stars,classic metal.