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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Aug 18, 2017 1:12:37 GMT -5
Iron Maiden released an EP, The Soundhouse Tapes, in 1979. It was the first record the band had released. In 2015, the released The Book of Souls, theirs 16th debut album. Between 1979 and 2015 lie dozens upon dozens of album covers. And now I'm gonna rank them. I did not intend to post the list here initially, yet Toz76 gave his permission and so here it is. I feel I should explain the criteria I used in putting this together: The covers I used in this list are those of Maiden's studio, live, and compilation albums, along with their single and EP covers. I left off box sets as only one of them truly had a 'cover', and I also left off the alternate covers for the singles, unless they were on re-releases. Also, any singles that were almost 100% similar to live or studio albums weren't included, so you won't be seeing Speed of Light or Infinite Dreams on here. And finally, this is a personal list! Some of my choices are quite controversial, so don't take this as 'word of god' from a metal fan. With that said, it's time to kick off... Iron Maiden Covers: Worst To BestOh, and this all came out to an even Top 75. How cool is that? Also, alongside my posts, you'll be seeing thoughts from Toz taken straight from the chat. Enjoy.
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Aug 18, 2017 1:20:04 GMT -5
#75: Live!! +oneReleased 1980 Maiden have had a lot of great album covers, but the bottom of the barrel shows they had some downright ugly ones too. Case in point, Live!! +one. A live EP recorded at the Marquee Club in London, it was initially only released in Japan. Boy did the Japanese get a bad album cover. This one doesn't even have that good of a picture. It's terrible compared to pretty much everything else the band would give us later on in their career. Just... wow. Rating: 1/10
Commentary from Toz
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Aug 18, 2017 1:25:49 GMT -5
#74: "Wildest Dreams"Released 2003 Completely different from Live!! +one, the problem with this cover is that it was released on a song which I actually like - "Wildest Dreams" is the underrated album opener to Maiden's Dance of Death album (spoilers, that one was bad too), and yet it's single cover and the music video, which were both computer animated, were horrid. The fact that this was released in 2003 for Christ's sakes is inexcusable. Come on, guys. Rating: 2/10
Commentary from TozBatmobile drives into steampunk skeleton's mouth. Iconic.
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Aug 18, 2017 1:32:14 GMT -5
#73: "From Here To Eternity"Released 1992 "From Here To Eternity" is a polarizing song in the Maiden fan community. Some consider it to be a guilty pleasure, while others consider it to be one of the band's worst. Personally, I've always had a soft spot for it, so I'm with the first group. The cover, though... meh. Taken from the song's music video, it's the first time a single didn't feature Eddie (not counting the live "Running Free", which I didn't include because I like the picture because it's in the Powerslave booklet, and thus hate it on the cover, so it's not here. Details!). Rating: 2.5/10
Commentary from TozThey look like Slipknot. Worse than both the others IMO. At least 75 wasn't that blurry.
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Aug 18, 2017 1:42:44 GMT -5
#72: Ed HunterReleased 1999 The basis of this compilation album was a game Maiden created called, you guessed it, Ed Hunter. Steve and Blaze (who was already ousted from the band when it was released 'cuz Brucie was back) were both excited about it, claiming the game was magnificent with shockingly amazing visuals, the works, etc. Going by the album cover to the compilation released with it, its shockingly amazing visuals are utterly confounding crap nowadays. Rating: 2.5/10
Commentary from TozIt looks like a video game character.
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Aug 18, 2017 1:50:53 GMT -5
#71: Edward the GreatReleased 2002 This one sticks out like a sore thumb. The cover to Edward the Great isn't inherently bad, but compared to most of Maiden's covers, it just doesn't fit the band. Apparently, whoever drew this album cover was notable for this being the only thing he drew for the band. I'm not surprised. Rating: 2.5/10
Commentary from TozThis one's actually pretty badass.
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Aug 18, 2017 1:57:07 GMT -5
#70: "Wasting Love"Released 1992 Fear of the Dark had three singles - "Be Quick or Be Dead", "From Here To Eternity", and "Wasting Love". Given that we already saw "From Here To Eternity" and "Wasting Love" is up right now, would it be safe to say that "Be Quick or Be Dead" is right around the corner? Well you'd be dead wrong because it's so much better than the tripe the other two single covers were. As to "Wasting Love", it's a power ballad - not something Maiden does very often, but here they knocked it out of the park. The cover alludes to the video, and it's the third single without Eddie on it. Should've kept him because it's not that great. Rating: 2.5/10
Commentary from Toz
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Aug 18, 2017 2:06:39 GMT -5
#69: "The Angel and the Gambler"Released 1998 Ask many Maiden fans what the worst song by the band is, and they'll tell you "The Angel and the Gambler" because YES OKAY WE KNOW YOU'RE A SAVIOR SHUT UP ALREADY. Personally, I've always liked this track despite the repetition, but the cover can burn. More 3D shit that shouldn't have existed. The alternate pic with Eddie and the riverboat is much better than this. Rating: 2.5/10
Commentary from TozThis one seems to imply that said video game is a Dungeons and Dragons ripoff.
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Aug 18, 2017 2:14:12 GMT -5
#68: The Soundhouse TapesReleased 1979 We're into the really old shit now! The first thing Maiden ever released, The Soundhouse Tapes was only 11 some minutes long and featured only three songs - "Iron Maiden", "Invasion", and "Prowler". Of them, only "Invasion would not be featured on the band's debut. It's not that great of a cover, but it's certainly a step above something like Live!! +one. I'll leave it at that. Rating: 2.5/10
Commentary from TozThat woman on the right is totally staring at the shirtless guy's junk.
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Aug 18, 2017 2:18:07 GMT -5
#67: Best of the 'B' SidesReleased 2002 I must state here and now that I've never been one for crude humor. This cover would be higher up if Eddie's ass wasn't in your face.Rating: 2.5/10
Commentary from TozIf you look closely at this one (which I regret doing), you can see his balls. Probably should censor that, that's the gateway for people to start uploading porn.
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Aug 18, 2017 2:25:21 GMT -5
#66: Beast Over HammersmithReleased 2002 The material on Beast Over Hammersmith was recorded live in 1982 yet wasn't released until 2002, so it's got some old stuff. The album cover is low on this list for two reasons: firstly, it's not that great a picture of Eddie. Secondly, even with it were, it'd be hard to enjoy the picture because it's so damn small. Scaling back some of that white would be nice. Rating: 3/10
Commentary From TozWhen you hold your phone top to bottom to take a photo.
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Aug 18, 2017 23:36:02 GMT -5
#65: "The Wicker Man"Released 2000 It's the first single we got with Bruce and Adrian back in the band, and while it's certainly not a bad band photo, for a single cover it's not the greatest. The picture disc LP version with Eddie as the wicker man is a little better, but not the greatest in the world at the same time (look it up if you're interested). The song though is awesome, and the music video is cool AF. Rating: 3/10
Commentary from TozThat actually looks like us though - Frank's the dude on the right who looks embarrassed to be seen with these fools, I'm the guy next to him with flamboyant hair, TGC's next to me being weird, Tug, the resident badass, holds the torch, and Eyes is next to him, trying and failing to look cool. The dude on the left is the writer or something.
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Aug 19, 2017 0:04:05 GMT -5
#64: "Run To The Hills" (live)Released 2002 "Run to the Hills" (my favorite song by the band BTW) has been released three times as a single - the original single and two live recordings. Two of the three have great covers - however, the most recent one's isn't all that great. It's literally Bruce with Eddie's face. Meh. I'll pass. Rating: 3/10
Commentary from TozActual image from the KKK rally.
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Aug 19, 2017 0:13:54 GMT -5
#63: Maiden EnglandReleased 1989 Taken from the band's Seventh Tour of a Seventh Tour (following the album Seventh Son of a Seventh Son, duh), this live album's cover is kinda cool - Eddie's on a motorcycle riding over Maiden fans. Yet it still falls short, especially given the amazing artwork the rest of the Seventh Son releases got. This was also the image the live "Infinite Dreams" single got (hence why it's not on this list), so for a picture like that to be paired with such a soul-searching and exquisite song, it falls short double time. The cover of the 2013 reissue is slightly better, but more on that in a bit. Rating: 3.5/10
Commentary from TozI'm sorry, but he looks like a furry.
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Aug 19, 2017 0:20:46 GMT -5
#62: Maiden JapanReleased 1981 This was Paul Di'Anno's last recording with the band before getting fired and ultimately replaced by Bruce Dickinson. The title happens to be a play on Deep Purple's Made In Japan. As to the cover... Eddie looks kinda cool, but the background is what kills it. It's just a mix of red and yellow and stuff. Sorry, it just doesn't cut it. Rating: 3.5/10
Commentary from TozThe artist knows even less about Japanese culture than most people. "Duh, they have ninja swords!!!!!1!!!1!1!1!"
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Aug 19, 2017 0:25:40 GMT -5
#61: Maiden England '88Released 2013 From Maiden England to Maiden Japan and now back to Maiden England '88. This one is the reissue of the one we saw earlier at #63, and while a bit better, it's just a modern redraw of the highly acclaimed "The Trooper" single. Not what one wants from a Maiden cover. Rating: 3.5/10
Commentary from TozA skull with a motherfucking handlebar mustache. Now I've seen everything. That wasn't gratuitous swearing either. That mustache has fucked your mother several times. In fact, there's a reason you don't look much like your dad. ...maybe it's just jowls, I dunno.
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Aug 19, 2017 0:31:11 GMT -5
#60: "Twilight Zone"Released 1981 There are numerous Eddies hiding in this cover. Can you find them all? My big issue with this one is the fact that the woman in the pic looks weird. Ghost Eddie is pretty cool, but not the coolest in Maiden's discography. The song itself is considered "meh" by most fans, but I guess it's little wonder that the cover is "meh" too. Rating: 3.5/10
Commentary from TozTwo things: 1: That is not how ponytails work. 2: Her facial expression does not fit the situation. She's holding a postcard from the grim reaper, not a pile of dog shit. Maybe the grim reaper is an ex and she's all "stop sending me your nudes, perv, it's over."
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Aug 19, 2017 0:39:11 GMT -5
#59: "Futureal"Released 1998 More video game shit! Yay! This one's at least better than the other two we've seen, but still not great. The alternate version (I believe original too if I'm not mistaken), is much better, though unlike many people I think it looks like a failed attempt at another Powerslave cover so I don't really care. Look that one up if you want. Rating: 3.5/10
Commentary from TozThe offspring of all the Teen Titans goes to war wielding two cordless drills.
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Aug 19, 2017 0:44:59 GMT -5
#58: "Hallowed Be Thy Name" (live)Released 1993 When you're one of the greatest metal songs in the history of the world, you better have a good fucking image. And this one just plainly falls short. Sure, it's cool and all, but not for the single it's on. They should've saved it for something else. And if I were Bruce, I'd never have consented to getting impaled, whether it's just a picture or not. Rating: 3.5/10
Commentary from TozBruce is enjoying impalement far more than he should be.
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Aug 19, 2017 0:52:51 GMT -5
#57: Dance of DeathReleased 2003 This one's just pitiful. When Maiden wanted a computer animated album cover for their 2003 album, we could have gotten something awesome like this. Instead, they decided to go with the unfinished look of what you see above. This one's been panned by everyone as their worst album cover; surprised that it's the first to make my list? No? I didn't think so. Rating: 4/10
Commentary from TozI have never seen worse CGI, except ironically. How is that higher than Live!! +one?
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