Iron Maiden-The Number Of The Beast (1982)

Iron Maiden's third album marked a departure from the punk sound of their previous work, venturing into a more complex style with allusions to historical and epic moments, featuring a more sophisticated and, to some extent, much more virtuosic and progressive heavy metal. This was the first album to feature Bruce Dickinson as vocalist, replacing Paul Di'Anno. The rest of the lineup remained the same: bassist Steve Harris, guitarists Dave Murray and Adrian Smith, and drummer Clive Burr. Recorded in late 1981 and early 1982 at Battery Studios in London, the album was produced by the renowned Martin Birch. “The Number of the Beast” is a vibrant and astonishing album showcasing the virtuosity of all its members. It opens with the fast-paced and powerful “Invaders”, followed by the dynamic “Children of the Damned”, the melodic “The Prisoner”, the potent “22 Acacia Avenue”, the breathtaking title track “The Number of the Beast”, the catchy “Run to the Hills”, and the devastating and sensational “Hallowed Be Thy Name”. Considered one of the great albums of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) and heavy metal in general, “The Number of the Beast” reached the top of the charts in numerous countries around the world, achieving sales that far exceeded thirteen million copies worldwide.