Iron Maiden Fear of the Dark appreciation thread

[EXPcustom]

Ok, most Maiden fans I know hate this album and don't consider it "canon".

To me it was the "new" Maiden album that came out when I was in Jr/High early high school so I really dug it because to me it was "new" at the time. My older brother who was almost ten years older thought it sucked and so did his friends but I get it they grew up with the original Iron Maiden albums which I guess in comparison there was none.

Looking back I still think it was a great album with lots of great hits and did I mention they played super illegal Fender headstocked Jackson superstrats.

Seriously I still GAS for a red with black pickguard Jackson strathead from this era.

So what you say you RT?

Clips:

My guilty pleasure because I was told by "real" Maiden fans this song sucks:

MOAR:

Super lawsuit guitar duo here:

 

[sytharnia1560]

I think its a good album overall...better than no prayer for the dying (although listening back to that now it has some really good music on there as well that got overlooked mainly because of Adrian leaving IMO)

 

[EXPcustom]

On a side note, remember Paul Di'Anno getting arrested for... I think it was pension fraud or something like that. Claimed injury but someone posted a video of him rocking out on a stage.

 

[Dave L]

I also started out with Fear of the dark, so I've always had a soft spot for it. Some great tunes, some real clunkers.

 

[thenine]

just OK for me - I also grew up with the classic Maiden.

I remember alot of static for getting rid of Derek Riggs and changing the look of Eddie as well.

 

[Racerxrated]

just OK for me - I also grew up with the classic Maiden.

I remember alot of static for getting rid of Derek Riggs and changing the look of Eddie as well.

This.

Love Maiden, but for me everything stopped after Somewhere in Time, the last great album from them. Couldn't get into much after that.

One of my all time favorite bands though.

 

[Chris6870]

I heard Be Quick or Be Dead before the album was released and was really psyched because it sounded like the they were going a little heavier and more like the Piece of Mind/Number of the Beast sound, but then the rest of the album was just ok for me. Couple of good tunes, but some corny stuff too.

 

[neilli777]

I like it a lot more than No Prayer, but the cover sucks - first not done by Riggs and it's just a total turd IMO.

From what I remember at the time, I just liked a couple of songs, but the rest left me cold. But as time has gone by, I think it's a pretty consistent album with some hidden gems like Judas Be My Guide. But while Maiden are my favourite band, for me that's really up to 89..

 

[bish0p34]

I got into Maiden during the classic years. This came out a little after high school. I still love the album. There's a lot of songs on there that I don't think get the appreciation they deserve. The problem is, that although the songs solid, for Maiden the bar was already through the roof to measure up to. I still listen to it often.

 

[thiswaythatway]

I kinda faded off from Maiden at Seventh Son. Dickinson's voice sounded shot at that point from all the touring he's done.

 

[JimmyBlind]

Listened to Fear of The Dark a fair bit back in the day. Seventh Son is still their best album for me.
Powerslave gets more press than it should I think. It's not a great album, albeit book-ended by 3 decent songs.
I'd be hard pushed not to pick Maiden in my top 5 favourite bands of all time. Pretty much the sound track to my youth.

 

[neilli777]

Powerslave gets more press than it should I think. It's not a great album, albeit book-ended by 3 decent songs.

I suspect that's because of Live After Death..

 

[Gsxrbusa]

I didn't get into to it until many years after it came out but I really like it! I wish I hadn't waited so long to buy it. Nothing beats Powerslave for me but I can find something good in any Maiden album. The old stuff is still king but I appreciate them carrying the torch album after album. I will never miss a Maiden show though!

 

[jkdsteve]

Didn't like it when it first came out and although it's grown on me over the years, still not a stunner.

Live version of title track FotD is where it's at though for me....good grief, that's a stunner live.

 

[Panzer917-30]

I really want to like Seventh Son, but the seventh chorus of a seventh chorus just annoys me too much.

So my order.
Power slave
Piece of mind
Number of the beast
Iron Maiden
Killers.
Matter of life or death (primarily for The Legacy)

Everything else is a toss up.

 

[Speeddemon]

I got into Maiden later than I should've (mid 90's) (also seeing how I've been playing in various Maiden tributes for almost 10 years now), but I asked a buddy who was a huge fan of them to give me 3 albums to get to know Maiden, with broad strokes. Those were Killers, Powerslave, FotD. I think he taught me well this way.

Piece of Mind and Powerslave are personal favs now, with most of the classic era stuff right along and 1 honorable mention for Brave New World. Songs like Dream of Mirrors and Nomad are quite good IMO.

 

[JimmyBlind]

I really want to like Seventh Son, but the seventh chorus of a seventh chorus just annoys me too much.

You get a lot of bang for buck on that album. 'The Prophecy' is the only song that isn't really on par with the rest of the album I think. Concept album of course & the lyrics are totally bonkers/amazing.

 

[Mailman1971]

Last thing I got into with Maiden was ‘El Dorado’
That songs kicks ass on so many levels it’s crazy.

 

[neilli777]

Eldorado is a great song for sure, but the rest of that album pretty much sucks. And don't get me started on that ridiculous intro to the first song. Talk about unlistenable..

For my money, I think Book of Souls is the best thing they've done since Brave New World, which was the best thing since Fear of the Dark.

 

[Speeddemon]

For my money, I think Book of Souls is the best thing they've done since Brave New World, which was the best thing since Fear of the Dark.

Agreed!

I wasn't a fan of when they did A Matter of Live and Death completely live... You do that with classic albums, not your latest release. Luckily, the Somewhere Back in Time Tour (a year later) was awesome sauce!