What Iron Maiden albums do YOU consider to be part of their classic period?

I'd like to see how close to a consensus we can reach here.

There's been a bit of debate on this, but I could find no poll or thread that really answered this particular question.

Feel free to choose any and all of the albums YOU consider to be part of their classic period. I am only considering studio albums, although I expect much talk of Live after Death. I'm talking about new songs, not live performances.

 

Killers through Somewhere In Time (the latter being a bit different, but with songs good enough to get it into their classic group of albums). There have been moments since then, but I don't think ANY of the other albums hold up as great albums. Some good songs from the reunion period, though.

 

To me, Iron Maiden went uphill from their first album up to "Powerslave". The following two studio albums still had them at their peak with a slight decline, but still classics. So to me, the last GREAT Iron Maiden album is "Powerslave" and their last CLASSIC album is "Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son" (although it's good to mention that "Fear Of The Dark" -the song- is an anthem for most metalheads where I live).

 

What do you mean by "classic"? Best rated? Most influential? Biggest sellers? Iron Maiden is the biggest metal band on the planet (possibly 2nd to Metallica in some countries) and certainly far more popular than they ever were in the 1980s.. and it's not even close. The Final Frontier went #1 in 28 countries so their classic period is probably best represented by Brave New World to The Final Frontier - many of their new fans haven't even heard the older stuff. If you've seen any of their regular tours in the last ten years the focus is mostly on Brave New World to present. More traditionally, however, the classic period is often seen as Number until Live After Death.

 

Well, of course because otherwise Janick or Adrian would be standing around doing nothing or talking a beer break.

 

I think Fear of the Dark had it's moments. I rather liked From Here to Eternity.

 

This is a great topic for me as I only seriously started listening to Iron Maiden this year. I nominate their golden period as being from Killers to Seventh Son of a Seventh Son. In the nineties they didn't achieve the same lofty heights and Bruce left the band. However they bounced back when Bruce rejoined for Brave New World and I really like Dance of Death.

 

Number - Seventh Son

 

I have voted 1st - 7th son, but IMHO, they had only a few weak albums (no prayer, fear, virtual), which makes them the greatest HM band ever. Their full discography is much better, on average, than Metallica,Judas Priest or Black Sabbath.

 

I'm a huge Maiden fan, and I went S/T through Somewhere in Time. You could probably include 7th Son without an argument from me, but I didn't go that far.

 

Only on the first 5 do I like everything on the record.

 

Iron Maiden - Seventh Son of a Seventh Son

 

Same here.

 

Up to Seventh Son.

 

For me it's the first five, and out of that I really only consider the first three to be part of an even truer classic period, if that makes sense. Somewhere in Time was a serious misstep in my opinion, which ended the classic run of albums. But then within that first five, I have always considered Piece of Mind and Powerslave (as good as they are) to be a couple steps down from the first three.

It's interesting to see how right now at the time of writing this post, Somewhere in Time actually has one more vote than Killers! I actually rate Killers as their best album. I wonder if some folks won't include the first two because they don't consider Paul Di'Anno to be part of the "classic period".

 

Piece of Mind, Powerslave, Somewhere in Time, Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
The first two were good, but not quite of a classic caliber. The Number of the Beast gets very close, but it is still one ace drummer short of an undisputed classic. Of the post-Seventh Son albums I have only really enjoyed Fear of the Dark and - unlike the great majority of Maiden fans - The X Factor.

 

Guess that would be the first seven albums...

 

Yep. Me.

 

Classic period would be up to and including Seventh Son. All those records are untouchable in my opinion. Brilliant stuff. The last two Bruce albums before he left are a lot weaker, but have their moments. While some people really rate the Blaze stuff, it's not classic Maiden in my opinion. The X-Factor is very good though.
I might be among the minority, but I really rate all the reunion records. Perhaps not up there with the early stuff.....but consistently excellent.
Finally, I think Live After Death needs to be included on that list. I know it's a live record, but it's essential listening for any Maiden fan.

 

Killers-7th Son, I have only heard 2 of the 4 albums since reuniting with Bruce, AMOLAD and FF. Life and Death is a near masterpiece, IMO while Frontier has gotten very little play time at all.

 

I would say up to to powerslave. Throw in the live albums too just because.

 

Number of the Beast to Powerslave. I saw them on the Piece of Mind tour and it was mighty.

Live After Death is one of my fav live albums and I would include it as well. The LAD version of Rime of the Ancient Mariner is definitive, IMO.

 

It's obvious. Seventh Son.

 

1st five: Iron Maiden - Powerslave

 

First seven studio-albums plus "Live After Death".