[NOTE: THIS REVIEW COVERS THE SINGLE-DISC COMPILATION SPECIFICALLY]

Ever since the early 80s, Iron Maiden rose up and became a permanent staple in heavy metal music. They played stunning melodies, catchy hooks, and dexteritous riffs to many anthems and built up a solid fanbase by the late 80s. Consisting of guitar duo Adrian Smith & Dave Murray, vocalist Bruce Dickinson, bassist Steve Harris, and drummer Nicko McBrain, Iron Maiden stand out as one of the greatest heavy metal bands of all time. My favorite classic heavy metal band is actually Judas Priest, but I certainly always give my props to Iron Maiden as they are some of the greatest musicians to ever grace the heavy metal scene. They do play with more precision and showcase more complex songwriting than virtually ANY other heavy metal band of their time. They managed to create an amazing streak of excellent albums throughout the 80s, until they started getting worse in the early 90s. For most of that decade, Iron Maiden were flopping around like fish in a barrel until the late 90s when all the classic bandmembers reunited. Around that time, they released Best Of The Beast, the first (but not the last) compilation featuring their main key hits between the bandmembers and the fans. The double-disc collection covers a decent amount of material, but this single disc version is quite lacking. Read on for an in-depth look at the tracks included from their corresponding albums:

IRON MAIDEN(1980)
KILLERS(1981)
TRACKS: none from either album (but does contain Running Free from Live After Death)
COMMENTS: How could there be no tracks from these two albums?? They were the foundation on which Iron Maiden became a metal force! This means that there is no Wrathchild, Sanctuary, Phantom Of The Opera, or Prowler (Some of these songs are included on the double-disc version however).As good as Live After Death is, Running Free should've been the original version with Di'Anno on the vocals. No Di'Anno era songs brings this compilation's rating way down.

NUMBER OF THE BEAST(1982)
TRACKS: Number of the Beast, Hallowed Be Thy Name, and Run To The Hills
COMMENTS: These three songs have certainly become fan-favorites, and represent the album well. I also liked Prisoner and 22 Acacia Avenue, but these picks are sufficient.

PIECE OF MIND(1983)
TRACKS: The Trooper
COMMENTS: The Trooper is an excellent song which rightfully deserves its place on here, but WHY IS IT THE ONLY TRACK INCLUDED?? Where are Flight Of Icarus and Where Eagles Dare (my all-time favorite Maiden song)? This is disappointing because POM contains many tracks which deserve recognition (NOTE: Where Eagles Dare is on the double-disc set).

POWERSLAVE(1984)
TRACKS: Aces High and Two Minutes To Midnight
COMMENTS: Aces High is an excellent song and certainly one of my favorite early Maiden tracks. Two Minutes To Midnight on the other hand, is an okay song, but one of the most overrated Maiden songs of all time. I was never really a big fan of it. Flash Of The Blade would have been a better choice.

SOMEWHERE IN TIME(1986)
TRACKS: Wasted Years
COMMENTS: Glad they included the band's best commercial anthem rocker, BUT THIS ALBUM HAS SO MANY FORGOTTEN MASTERPIECES!! SIT is my favorite Maiden album overall, and the absence of such songs like the title track, Heaven Can Wait, and Deja Vu is simply unexcusable.

SEVENTH SON OF A SEVENTH SON(1988)
TRACKS: Can I Play With Madness, The Evil That Men Do, and The Clairvoyant
COMMENTS: For the most part SSOASS has decent representation. CIPWM serves as another great commercial rocker in the vein of Wasted Years, and TETMD is sort of a fan favorite. But The Clairvoyant was a perfect choice! Best song on the album. Moonchild would've been nice, but no big deal.

NO PRAYER FOR THE DYING(1990)
TRACKS: Bring Your Daughter To The Slaughter
COMMENTS: Three words- TERRIBLE SONG CHOICE. BYDTTS has to be one of the cheeziest songs Maiden has ever made. This was where the band started to wane in quality. Run Silent Run Deep and Tailgunner were still good though and could have been MUCH BETTER song picks.

FEAR OF THE DARK(1992)
TRACKS: Be Quick Or Be Dead (and a live version of Fear Of The Dark from Live At Donnington)
COMMENTS: The album's not much better than the last one, but BQOBD is actually a very good song, probably Maiden's most aggressive to date. I haven't heard the original version of FOTD, but the live version is well performed. Still, I would've liked to hear the original though. Right on. I probably would'nt have picked any others for this compilation.

THE X-FACTOR
TRACKS: Man On The Edge
COMMENTS: hmm... a good song for the Blaze Baily era, but not quite "Maiden". Still, I'm glad some part of Blaze's era was covered.

There is also a bonus Blaze track, Virus. Fairly bland for the first 3 minutes, and then turns into a decent rocker, but in the end, the boring portions dominate the song.

OVERALL: If you are new to Iron Maiden and you want an overview of their key songs, BUY THE DOUBLE-DISC SET, NOT THIS ONE. Otherwise, just buy the albums. Maiden fanatics who own all the albums have no need to buy this at all, unless you REALLY want the bonus track Virus, but believe me IT'S NOT WORTH IT. Still, this is the best Maiden compilation though, so if you must go with one, make it this one.


For those who are new to Maiden...   August 19, 2000
Leaf (I just got back from METAL 2000 and I got no Idea where I am)
10 out of 12 found this review helpful

This is certainly worth the money for people who are new to maiden, others should certainly buy the "Virus" single. There are the bands most popular songs, "Number of the Beast", "Fear of the Dark" ( live - just amazing ) , "Run to the Hills" and so on. No Wonder, the Tracklist was made by Fans via Internet. It's kinda strange that Paul Di Anno isn't featured here, maybe most people associate Maiden still with only the mighty Bruce as a singer. Really sad, cause "Iron Maiden" and "Killers" where some of the Best albums Maiden ever released. This part of their History is somehow missing, there could be more tracks with Blaze also. I think the Seventh son Album should be represented with "Moonchild" or "Only the good die young", the rather dull "Can I play with Madness" isn't my cup of tea. In the case of Iron Maiden, a 2-Disc Best of would really make some sense. I also think that the collection doesn't flow as good as the "real" Albums do, but that's a general problem with Best of Affairs. Here it sounds like Maiden did nothing but heavy to progressive tunes, but where are the great ballads such as "Children of the Dammed", "Prodigal Sun", "No Prayer for the Dying" or "Strange World"? I think if you really want to discover what Maiden is about you should have the full albums. If you are starting listening to them, this CD is o.k., also good for people who are having a party in the forest and don't want to take 10 discs with them ( that's why I bought it ).


Paul Di'anno no show on Best of the Beast   February 6, 2000
7 out of 8 found this review helpful

First off, this is a GREAT buy to start you off on Iron Maiden. It features the band's best hits with Bruce Dickinson at vocals, and a couple of songs with Blaze Bayley. "Aces High", "The Trooper" and "Hallowed Be Thy Name" are just some of the great hits on this record that keep me and million other Maiden fans faithful to the band.

The only REALLY BIG problem with this album, which is also the reason why this album doesn't get a 5 star-review, is the absence of the hits from their first two albums, which started them off on their journey! Sure, Running Free" is on there, but hits like "Iron Maiden", "Prowler", and "Sanctuary" (just to name a few) were all classic tracks on the albums that started Maiden off -- "Iron Maiden" and "Killers".

Still, this compilation is a GREAT BUY for those just starting on Iron Maiden, and those who have been fans forever, like me.


Tough to Rate   September 30, 2001
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

This is an extremely difficult album to rate. The music on it is many of Iron Miaden'ts best tracks, which alone make for some outstanding metal. While not technically as proficient or fast as say Metallica, as a group, Maiden is arguably the most FUN metal band to listen to, the one I keep playing while my Metallica CDs get far more limited play.

So, on the one hand, you have a 5 star band playing 5 star music. So, why only 3 stars for the album? One word, and it's been said before. Slection. There is no way a group like Maiden can pack all their hits into 1 CD, and this one runs a whopping 78 minutes (a CD maxes out at 80). Still, though, one feels like it's not a good cross section. There are the songs that HAVE to be there, Aces High, Run to the Hills,The Trooper, Hallowed be Thy Name, Running Free (albeit a live version with Bruce rather than the Di'Anno roiginal), and 2 Minutes to Midnight. You can't do a Maiden "Best of" without those. At that point, however, questions arise. While commercially popular, Can I play with Madness and Bring Your Daughter (the Iron Maiden version, the Bruce solo version rocks) weren't that great. On the one hand, they were both "hits," but in a catalog like Maiden's they weren't up to par. Fear of the Dark is the highlight of its album, and probably deserves its spot, especialy the live version here, it's really good. Virus, as has been mentioned, is another big question. It's cool getting a new song (and an excuse to get Maiden fans who otherwise have every song on this CD to buy it), but it's nothing special. Man on the Edge is a far better Blayze track. Clairvoyant and Evil That Men Do are both good songs (I like Clairvoyant especially a lot), but again, Best Of? Same with Be Quick or Be Dead.

Then there's the overall feel of the album. It never slows down. It feels like Maiden is totally one dimensional, just variations on power metal, steady, punding beat that never lets up. Where's ballads like Revelations or Children of the Damned? Where is the most complex, almost symphonic song Maiden ever did, Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner? Most importantly, where is Iron Maiden, their banner song?

Best OF is certainly personal preference, but if I had been in charge of this albu, Virus could have waited for Virtual Xi (which it's not on), in its place would have gone Phantom of the Opera (either Di'Anno's version or the one from Live After Deathm they're both incredible). Clairvoyant, Evil, and Be Quick would have made room for Rhyme. And Can I Play and Bring your Daughter would have to step aside for Revelations. And Iron Maiden would have to be put in somewhere. That is overall more representative of Maiden as a group, but still covers them from beginning to end.

In all honesty, though, 1 CD is simply not enough. You could easily stuff a second CD as well. Murders in the Rue Morgue, Heaven Can Wait, Powerslave, Die With Your Boots On, Sea of Madness, maybe 7th Son of a 7th Son (you want to see Maiden complex and all over the place), Mooncild, a 2nd CD would be very easy to fill up indeed.

However, don't get me wrong here. I take issue with some of the tracks here as best, not as good. For someone who is just getting into Maiden, get this and Live After Death, that should cover most of the bases early on. However, don't do this if you're on a budget, because you won't stop there. As an intro to Maiden, this works, and it certainly still hits most of the high spots, but it could have been better. Given that we're talking about Iron Maiden here, as a best of album, this just falls short of what their best truly is.


Too many glaring omissions for me to rate this any higher   June 12, 2000
R. Gorham
5 out of 6 found this review helpful

THE BAND: Over the years - Bruce Dickinson (vocals), Blaze Bayley (vocals - 2 songs only), Steve Harris (bass), Dave Murray (guitars), Adrian Smith (guitars), Janick Gers (guitars), Nicko McBrain (drums), Clive Burr (drums - 3 songs only).

THE DISC: (1996) 16 tracks clocking in at approximately 78 minutes. Included with the disc is an 18-page booklet containing song titles/credits, song lyrics, numerous band photos (old and new), names of albums / singles released, and thank you's. The compilation follows the band through 1995 (even though original singer Paul Di'Anno is featured on the back cover and in the liner notes, he does not sing on this album... Dickinson sings the lone Di'Anno penned song "Running Free" live). There are several versions of this "Best Of The Beast" available - a single disc with bonus tracks, as well as a Japanese import containing a 2nd disc. Remastered sound. Label - EMI / Raw.

ALBUM REPRESENTATION: The Number Of The Beast (3 songs), Piece Of Mind (1), Powerslave (2), Live After Death (1), Somewhere In Time (1), 7th Son Of A 7th Son (3), No Prayer For The Dying (1), Fear Of The Dark (1), A Real Live One (1), X Factor (1), Unreleased (1 - "Virus").

COMMENTS: I've been a fan of Iron Maiden since their debut (own all their studio albums on vinyl and disc, as well as most of their live material). The cash-spending listener has some choices to make, as there are numerous Iron Maiden compilations out there (7 or 8 at this point?). For the novice looking at a single disc compilation... this "Best Of The Beast" will serve as a lukewarm intro to the band. Plain and simple - there are way too many great Maiden tunes... and one disc simply isn't enough for such a long and storied career. Long time fans will notice many glaring song omissions on any single disc mix - including this one. Looking for a more in-depth purchase - check out the 2-disc set "Essential Iron Maiden" (2005) containing 27 total tracks, and features older Di'Anno songs (yes, with Di'Anno singing) from their 1980 debut and "Killers"(1981), as well as newer songs from "Brave New World" (2000) and "Dance Of Death" (2003). "Best Of The Beast" is not without merits though. THE GOOD: This was the band's 2nd compilation ever (and since Maiden's 1st "The First 10 Years" is so cumbersome and rare) I jumped at this one. Many of the standards are here - "Run To The Hills", "Number Of The Beast", "Aces High", "2 Minutes To Midnight", "Wasted Years", "The Trooper", "Hallowed Be Thy Name", "Can I Play With Madness", "Fear Of The Dark", etc. Derek Riggs' artwork is intriguing - on the album cover as well as the disc - showing many versions of Eddie through the years. The booklet is extensive - tons of photos (though small) and all song lyrics are a plus. Remastered sound is crisp. THE NOT SO GOOD: Several things. Too many missing songs - "Where Eagles Dare", "Flight Of Icarus", "The Prisoner", "22 Acacia Avenue", "Revelations", "Powerslave", "Rime Of The Ancient Mariner" (even if it is over 13 minutes long), "Caught Somewhere In Time", "Moonchild", "Infinite Dreams", their cool remake of Jethro Tull's "Cross-Eyed Mary", or anything from the band's debut or "Killers" albums featuring Paul Di'Anno. The unreleased Blaze song ("Virus") is an utter bore and a waste of 6 minutes of disc space. Three songs from ""7th Son" is excessive, as only one song from "Piece Of Mind" is criminal. And lastly, two songs from Blaze Bayley, yet no songs from Paul Di'Anno... is just wrong. OVERALL: Some great songs here, but simply not enough. Start with the 2-disc "Essential" or better yet, go with any of their classic albums from 1981-86. In my opinion, "Best Of The Beast" is for the Iron Maiden completist only (3 stars).