(Rated this album with 10 out of 10) Reviewed by
Erik Rupp
from Menifee, CA USA
I don't usually review albums that are considered "classics" (no need to), but PIECE OF MIND is so good that I just had to comment... 1983 saw the release of two landmark albums, DIO's HOLY DIVER, and IRON MAIDEN's PIECE OF MIND. Heavy Metal was changed forever. P.O.M. opens up with the thunderous "Where Eagles Dare," which gives the listener a hint of what is to come. "Revelations" follows up with some Progressive Rock overtones, and shows some great dynamics and tempo changes. The album also features their first (semi) radio-friendly song in "Flight Of Icarus," which shows that you can have a "catchy" song that is still heavy. "Die With Your Boots On," and "Still Life" are two of the best straight-ahead Metal songs of all time, and "The Trooper" is one of their signature songs with it's frenzied energy. "Sun And Steel" is a solid song with a great chorus hook, while "Quest For Fire" is a decent album track. The album closes with its weakest track in "To Tame A Land," which is based on the classic science ficiton novel DUNE. TTAL is one of (Bass player) Steve Harris' earliest Progressive Rock songs (which became his obsession on THE X FACTOR). Like the songs on X FACTOR, it is not instantly accessible, but does have a tendency to grow on some listeners. As a whole, P.O.M. is arguably MAIDEN's best album, and easily one of the ten best Metal albums ever! -(I would also highly recommend DIO's HOLY DIVER and LAST IN LINE, MAIDEN'S POWERSLAVE, and Bruce Dickinson's ACCIDENT OF BIRTH)
