Killers was Iron Maiden’s second studio album, but despite being an early point in their career it shows a remarkable musical maturity, mixing a variety of styles, influences and original ideas into one package.
The album opens with the sorrowful sounding instrumental the Ides of March, ... Read review
Advantages: A superb mix of high octane punk and metal. Disadvantages: Weaker than their first album.
Killers was Iron Maiden’s second studio album, but despite being an early point in their career it shows a remarkable musical maturity, mixing a variety of styles, influences and original ideas into one package.
The album opens with the sorrowful sounding instrumental the Ides of March, which is a fairly relaxing and deceptively mellow start to the album. This makes an excellent contrast with the other instrumental on the album, ... ...The second track is still a live favourite today, the aggressive and punchy Wrathchild. As is the case with many Maiden tracks, the bass is very prominent in the sound giving the whole track a very heavy feel. The song as a whole is one of the finest available examples of that peculiarly British genre of punk-metal, combining the attitude, aggression and speed of punk with the technicality and power of heavy metal. Di’Anno’s vocals shine ... more
Killers was Iron Maiden’s second studio album, but despite being an early point in their career it shows a remarkable musical maturity, mixing a variety of styles, influences and original ideas into one package.
The album opens with the sorrowful sounding instrumental the Ides of March, which is a fairly relaxing and deceptively mellow start to the album. This makes an excellent contrast with the other instrumental on the album, the blistering and chaotic Genghis Khan.
The second track is still a live favourite today, the aggressive and punchy Wrathchild. As is the case with many Maiden tracks, the bass is very prominent in the sound giving the whole track a very heavy feel. The song as a whole is one of the finest available examples of that peculiarly British genre of punk-metal, combining the attitude, aggression and speed of punk with the technicality and power of heavy metal. Di’Anno’s vocals shine on this track, showing off not just his gravelly growl, but also a real technical excellence.
Epics like Twilight Zone follow on from the Phantom of the Opera from the first album and have a similar feel, with Maiden heavily using twin guitar harmonies and powerful vocals to give it a real operatic feel. It was this style with which they were to make such a massive impact on the metal scene over the next decade.
But the best track on the album is undoubtedly the title track. Both deliciously twisted and wonderfully written, it has a sense of raw aggression and dread which few bands can capture properly. The guitars are much heavier than usual on this track, although Maiden lose none of their finesse, alternating lead and rhythm guitar throughout the track. But again, it is Paul Di’Anno’s frenzied screech which really makes this such an awesome classic. I for one could certainly believe that he’s going to pop around the corner to eviscerate me at any second.
Finally, the strangest moment of the album is Purgatory, which almost sounds like the Beatles, if they had mysteriously transformed into a heavy metal band. Nevertheless, it is, like everything on this album, a brilliant track, and a testament to why Maiden were, and still are, one of Britain’s guiding lights when it comes to heavy metal.
Advantages: Essential listening for true Maidenites Disadvantages: Again, poor production, slightly weaker than debut
Hello again! The second and last Maiden album with Paul Di'Anno, this marks one of the few dips in the Iron Maiden catalogue. That said, it is still technically superb, and blows away the contenders, which shows how far ahead of the competition Maiden were. The line-up was slightly different too. Out was Dennis Stratton, in came future mainstay and friend of Dave Murray; Adrian Smith, he of the awful blond mullet and lightning fast fingers!
More ... ...Maiden icon 'Eddie'. Where the first album simply had Eddie looking repulsive on an East end street, this Eddie smiles maniacally under a street light, as he holds a bloody axe, with a dying 'victim' grasping his shirt as he falls. Again, he appears to be on an East end street, signifying Maiden's fondness for their hometown, and respect for their roots.
1. 'The Ides of March'
Strangely, this album opens with an instrumental, and a short one at ...
tonguelessghostofsin 09.08.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Killers [Remastered] [ECD] - Iron Maiden
Advantages: Powerful, intense, enegertic Disadvantages: Production not great
This is possibly one of Iron Maiden's most underrated albums, if not *the* most underrated album. This is a (mostly) fast-paced, punk-metal roller-coaster ride which only rarely stops for breath- 12 adrenaline-fulled tracks which curiously (given the theme running through the album) sound almost joyous. After the ominous rolling riffs of "The Ides of March" the album explodes into life with groove-laden power tracks such as "Wrathchild" and "Murders ... ...ahead of its time, and the slower-paced "Prodigal Son" makes for a refreshing change in direction.
This whole album sounds like it's in a hurry, to get somewhere and perhaps sounds as if it was recorded in a hurry on the back of the unexpected and sudden success of the band's debut album. The production perhaps suffers a little, but despite this, the song-writing and sheer musicianship of the band members more than makes up for any such shortcomings. ...
bagoproverbial 30.11.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Killers [Remastered] [ECD] - Iron Maiden
Advantages: Stunning Guitar work Disadvantages: Pauls last album
...before the legendary Bruce Dickinson. Killers is a very raw album, but uniquely great. This album has some of the best bass guitar riffs known to man, not too mention Steve Harris wrote or had part in writing every song on the album.
Adrian Smiths axe work is not to go unmentioned either, with his debut to the maiden clan he has proved he can up the irons. Killers features two instrumentals that contain some epic fret work, as well as the notorious ... ...a must buy for any metal/hard rock fan and a must for maiden fans!
The cover art (by derek riggs) is one of the most well known rock art since the 80's featured on many teenagers walls, truely awesome - inside the booklet you will find lyrics to the song, tour dates as well as old photos of the classic maiden line up. The disk features a multimedia section for your computer gives you some rare maiden footage as well as a family tree and band history.
...
Rhys_Davison 14.11.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Killers [Remastered] [ECD] - Iron Maiden
Advantages: None really Disadvantages: A directionless band falling apart
After the release of Iron Maiden’s debut album in 1980, and with the music world apparently convinced of the band’s success in their field, Dennis Stratton dramatically tendered his resignation from the band due to that old chestnut, musical differences. Although he was speedily replaced by Adrian Smith, one of Dave Murray’s former companions in Urchin, Iron Maiden’s fortunes went into decline. Their second album, 1981’s Killers, entered the charts ... ...the production by Martin Birch (whose past credits included Deep Purple and Whitesnake) was superior to that of their debut, the band seemed to be having difficulty writing new songs. All but four of the 10 tracks had been recorded before and the several live cuts lacked the sparkle of Iron Maiden’s earlier showings.
Paul Di’anno’s voice had sounded weak and strained, and it was no surprise to learn, in mid 1981, that he had parted company with ...
dave27 15.10.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Killers [Remastered] [ECD] - Iron Maiden
Advantages: Some very very good songs Disadvantages: Inconsistent. Bad production
This was the band's first release with Adrian Smith on guitar, and the second, and last, release with Paul Di'Anno on vocals. Whilst he was a good, gruff singer, when you hear the Dickinson-era maiden, it makes you glad he left... Overall, this album is a lot weaker than the previous year's debut. It still contains a number of VERY strong tracks - Ides Of March/Wrathchild, Killers, Murders In The Rue Morgue and Drifter to name several - but there ...
ni_gillespie 25.07.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Killers [Remastered] [ECD] - Iron Maiden
Product Information for "Killers [Remastered] [ECD] - Iron Maiden" »
Product details
Title
Killers [Remastered] [ECD]
Performer
Iron Maiden
Genre
Heavy Metal
Release Date
14/09/1998
Recomended Retail Price
14.99 GBP
Original Release Year
1981
Label / Distributor
EMI / EMI Operations/CEVA Logistics
Engineer
Martin Birch
Producer
Martin Birch
Pieces in Set
1
Studio / Live
Mixed
Stereo
Stereo
Format
Performer
EAN
724349691704
Catalogue Number
4969170
Additional notes
Album Notes
This Limited version features vinyl replica packaging. This is an Enhanced CD which contains regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files. The Enhanced portion includes music videos for "Wrathchild" and "Killers." Iron Maiden: Paul DiAnno (vocals); Dave Murray, Adrian Smith (guitar); Steve Harris (bass); Clive Burr (drums). Engineers: Martin "Headmaster" Birch, Nigel Hewitt. Recorded at Battery Studios, London, England. Digitally remastered by Simon Heyworth (Chop 'Em Out). This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files. KILLERS is based on more straight-ahead heavy metal, departing from Iron Maiden's 1980 self-titled debut, which had more of a punk edge (a facet often cited as an important stepping stone for "thrash metal" years later). Nonetheless the first album was a huge surprise hit in the band's native England, debuting within the Top Five upon release. The group's second release one year later, KILLERS sets its sights on making inroads in America, touring stateside for the very first time. The album was also the first for guitarist Adrian Smith, who replaced Dennis Stratton. The best-known track remains the renegade rocker "Wrathchild," but other lesser known compositions prove just as strong, such as the gruesome "Murders in the Rue Morgue;" the singles "Purgatory" and "Twilight Zone;" plus the fan favorites "Innocent Exile," "Genghis Khan," "Prodigal Son," and the title track. KILLERS cemented Maiden's standing as one of heavy metal's most promising up-and-coming bands.
Titles on disc 1
1.
Ides Of March
2.
Wrathchild
3.
Murders In The Rue Morgue
4.
Another Life
5.
Genghis Khan
6.
Innocent Exile
7.
Killers
8.
Prodigal Son
9.
Purgatory
10.
Twilight Zone
11.
Drifter
12.
Wrathchild (live at The Rainbow)
13.
Killers (live at The Rainbow)
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Listed on Ciao since
19/07/2000
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