Top 10 Best Iron Maiden Songs

We're talking about the godfathers of heavy metal, a band that's been melting faces and tearing up the stage for over 40 years - none other than Iron Maiden! These guys are the real deal, delivering face-melting guitar solos, earth-shattering vocals, and tales so epic, they could fill the Book of Souls.

Deciding which Maiden tracks reign supreme is like choosing your favorite Eddie - almost impossible, right? That's why we've let you, the die-hard fans, unleash Hell in a voting frenzy to determine the ultimate Iron Maiden anthems.

Whether you're a battle-hardened veteran of classics like "Run to the Hills" and "The Trooper," or you prefer to delve into the dark abyss with tracks like "Hallowed Be Thy Name" and "Fear of the Dark," this list has got you covered. So strap in, crank up the volume, and get ready for an auditory onslaught that only the mighty Iron Maiden can deliver. Up the Irons!
The Top Ten
1 Hallowed Be Thy Name

Not only is it their best song, but it's one of the best songs of all time. I know people say that about lots of things, but believe me, I'm not exaggerating. If this were as well-known as some stuff by Led Zeppelin, Queen, Metallica, AC/DC, etc., you could bet money it would be considered one of the best songs ever made. Those guitar riffs have such emotion and power. The guitar solo is truly legendary. The singing is excellent, and the lyrics are about a man who is about to be executed, reflecting on his life and facing his death. I get goosebumps every time during that divine guitar solo and the "Hallowed Be Thy Name!" And you'd have to be dead or a robot not to.

2 The Trooper

Honestly, I'm surprised Run to the Hills and Number of the Beast are below this, but maybe rightly so. This is perhaps the greatest song ever. Just listen to the intro, it explains everything.

The amazing guitar ever played by Iron Maiden is simply awesome, superb, and breathtaking. The composition of this song in all aspects is incredible. Don't forget Steve Harris. The guitar and drums composition and the lyrics of the song make you think.

While I adore Hallowed Be Thy Name, The Trooper still takes the cake for me by a tiny bit. It's the first Iron Maiden song I heard, and it blew me away. That chorus always gets me pumped up. The iconic riffs and that solo are awesome. It's short but sweet.

3 Fear of the Dark

No matter how much I like other songs with more complex and deeper meanings, I never get bored with this song. It's like my brain cannot comprehend how beautiful it is. The intro melody is so timeless I cannot describe it. Not only that, but the verses, chorus, guitar solos, and outro fit together so perfectly. It's one of those metal songs that had to be written sooner or later. If you like the studio version, just wait until you hear the Rock in Rio live version.

This song is awesome, and every time I hear it, I go to another planet.

Honestly, this is maybe the greatest song ever (just listen).

Best metal song and album ever recorded. Every single song on that album is amazing, and the album's concept of the individual versus the mass (like Rush's 2112) is simply an Ayn Rand-worthy idea.

Maybe... So much to say.

4 The Number of the Beast

This song has done in four minutes and fifty-one seconds what countless other songs have failed to do. From the dark and unnerving passage from Revelations, to the heart-racing guitar riff, to the evil and awe-inspiring lyrics, the rapid head-banging drumbeat, and the mind-numbing, spine-chilling, lightning-fast, electrifying guitar solo, this song is an anthem of Iron Maiden and of all heavy metal. It is the epitome of metal, the icon of everything it stands for, and it will never be conquered. Listen to this song as I am now, see that all I've said is true, and hear with it all the triumph and glory of heavy metal.

5 Aces High

Maiden rules! Aces High is just a great opening track to the album as well as being a fast and gripping tune, especially when you know all the lyrics. When you are driving your car and listening to this song, all of a sudden you're flying a plane in a dogfight.

The song that made me discover them in 1984 had good lyrics. The video was just like a good old war movie. Nicko's drumming is not random for a change (after Somewhere in Time). Too bad Dickinson can't sing it live. In the studio, the vocals were at their best with this song. Do not listen to the Live After Death version, please.

6 Run to the Hills

To truly appreciate the brilliance of this song, you have to dissect it. The song has three parts and tells a story from three perspectives. Part one presents a Native American Indian's perspective. Note the drums and guitar, which sound like the music played at a pow-wow. Part two offers an American soldier's viewpoint. Note the change in tempo, which gives the feel of a horse galloping. "Riding through dust clouds and barren wastes." Part three provides a third-party witness point of view. Up the Irons.

I love this song because it really shows what white Americans are: racist rapists who enslave and belittle people who are a different shade from their white, disgusting, ghostly skin. White Americans intruded into Native Americans' land and called them savages. I mean, look in the mirror. Who are the real savages? Thank you, Iron Maiden, for speaking - or shall I say singing - the truth.

7 Rime of the Ancient Mariner

Most of Maiden's songs would be number ones for any other band. And Maiden is the only band I know that sounds better live than in the studio. The live version of this song just rocks. It has everything: piercing guitar solos, tempo changes, wicked drums and bass, and of course, the storytelling of Bruce.

This is simply metal at its best. Maiden is the greatest metal band of all time. No question.

Simply an epic adventure in the form of music. I love this song, and it has an awesome climactic piece that still gives me goosebumps. This was at a time when Iron Maiden truly owned the metal world. It's brilliant on every front: the singing, the guitars, the bass, the drums - everything that Iron Maiden can bring was brought in this single song. I'd bet they themselves would say this was their best work.

8 Phantom of the Opera

I really love nearly every song by Iron Maiden, but I have to say that this one always blows my mind. I especially love the guitar part in the middle. It just fits in so perfectly. Steve Harris is at his best, and that's on their first officially released album. Other bands like Metallica needed at least one album before finding their amazing, unique sound, but Maiden got it from the start. Up the Irons!

I know everybody has their favorite and many will disagree, but in my opinion, this song is Iron Maiden. It perfectly combines the raw, aggressive style of the Di'Anno era with the melodic elements that distinguish Maiden today. If I had to pick one Iron Maiden song, it would always be this one. I think it's not only the best song of the Di'Anno era, but also the best Maiden song overall and probably the most exciting song in the history of Heavy Metal.

9 Dance of Death

This song defines the word "epic." In the first 2:50, you hear Bruce tell a story, and you know what he's talking about. Then comes the brilliant level of musicianship from Janick Gers and Steve Harris - a classic Maiden all the way through, with mind-boggling lyrics. All three guitarists play a guitar solo, and then comes some melody. The song ends with Bruce finishing the story. If you like metal and epic fantasy stories, this will be your favorite song ever. Maiden at their absolute best.

This was the first and the best heavy metal song I ever heard. I got attracted to metal and Iron Maiden only because of this song. I've heard many other performances by Iron Maiden, but nothing made such a great impression as Dance of Death. It's a wonderful song. I listen to it almost every day. It's better than Fear of the Dark in all aspects. There are always many metal bands, but Iron Maiden excels in both metal and music. Hats off!

10 2 Minutes to Midnight

I'm surprised this isn't in the top 10. This song is by far the most energetic and memorable for me out of the entirety of Iron Maiden's collection. I mean, the entire Powerslave album is legendary as it is. This song is my favorite out of them all.

This and Run to the Hills are my favorites. I voted for this because it is so far down and should be much higher. They have so many good songs that it's almost impossible to create a top 10, but these are my 10:

1. 2 Minutes to Midnight
2. Run to the Hills
3. Hallowed Be Thy Name
4. Wasted Years
5. Fear of the Dark
6. The Evil That Men Do
7. Number of the Beast
8. Children of the Damned
9. Bring Your Daughter to the Slaughter
10. Holy Smoke (I just like it, alright? Lol)

The Contenders
11 Wasted Years

This song is total gold! I mean, the intro is totally mind-blowing - one of Maiden's best, along with Run to the Hills and Trooper. But the rhythm in this one, as a whole song, is something unique! Ecstasy! And the lyrics speak to me, deeply. Still, I am surprised some legendary classics are so low on this list. Charlotte the Harlot is right now at 97, for example? Prisoner? Revelations? Powerslave? To mention a few... Also, check out Infinite Dreams. The intro sets my mind into a calm state. Anyway, this is just proof that Iron Maiden is the best band in the world! Right now, Hallowed Be Thy Name is leading this list solidly. I was a little bit surprised to not see one of the other classics as number 1, but when I think about it, I think it's defining for other songs and a masterpiece composed brilliantly. I love these old songs the most, but I got into Maiden through Brave New World, definitely an epic album with progressive songs that make me fall into a trance. Wait, all the good songs they have make me do that! Anyway, the new stuff is good too. El Dorado is real rock. I love that album because I want to say if you don't think the new stuff is good, Rainmaker could be on the top five album list, I think!

12 Powerslave

Hard to pick one Maiden song as their best, but this song is so amazing. Every bit of it is tantalizing and endlessly mesmerizing. I sing every word with undying passion every time. It's a song that is impossible to get sick of, no matter how many times I listen to it. I love the composition, and the breakdown and solo in the middle just kick unmerciful ass. This song is like sustenance. I feel so riled up and energetic after listening to it. The word epic is thrown around too often, but it is a perfect descriptor of this amazing track off my favorite Maiden album, the one that made me fall in love with this band.

13 Seventh Son of a Seventh Son

An underrated masterpiece off the brilliant concept album of the same name.

A criminally underrated song by plenty of Maiden fans, which utilizes synthesizers in a brilliant way to create an atmospheric piece of musical brilliance.

This is a song that proves Iron Maiden is the greatest/most talented band ever.

Best Iron Maiden song ever. It is just amazing. The song has one of the best instrumental pieces in it out of every Iron Maiden song ever made. Why is it not number 1?

Out of all the epicness that Iron Maiden has released, this is the pinnacle. The solos and guitar dueling, the arrangement - everything is wonderful to the very end.

14 Alexander the Great

His name struck fear into the hearts of men. This is definitely one of the truly great Maiden songs, and there are so many.

It's hard to even get started ranking Maiden's many masterpieces. I haven't even heard mention of:

The Sign of the Cross
The Prophecy
Children of the Damned
Total Eclipse
Caught Somewhere in Time
The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner
Mother Russia
Tailgunner
Mother of Mercy
Coming Home
etc., etc., etc...

This is a totally awesome song. I've listened to it 1,000 times and I never get tired of it. I use the opening quote "My son, ask for thyself your own kingdom, for that which I leave is too small for thee" with my kids to help motivate them to aspire to great things. The story, lyrics, and arrangement are spectacular!

15 Paschendale

Listening to this song, you can't help but feel agitated, exhilarated, awakened, and moved to emotion all in one. It's a masterpiece (or perhaps master-peace?). I have so many favorite Maiden songs (like all of us must have), so choosing one is like choosing between your own kids (assuming you have as many kids as great Maiden songs). I say this because like any vote on a Maiden song, there is an element of guilt felt for the other songs! (Apologies to Hallowed Be Thy Name, ROTAM, FTGGOG, Number of the Beast, Run to the Hills, Face in the Sand, Ghost of the Navigator, PowerSlave, TMTM, etc., you get the point). What a strange series of things to say as a seemingly sane person (albeit perhaps a Maiden devotee), but that is life as a Maiden fan. My first metal album of Maiden was The Number of the Beast, original issue on vinyl. I still have this album and keep it in my bedroom. Thirty-five-plus years later and it is just as epic. Take care all and fingers crossed that Maiden and Bruce (as a soloist) keep producing so many life-defining moments in their music and tours! Peace out.

16 Flight of Icarus

This song shows that Bruce is the best metal singer there ever was. It's my favorite Iron Maiden song after Hallowed Be Thy Name, and since Hallowed is first, this song deserves the vote. The guitar solo is amazing. The lyrics are a reference to the Greek story of Icarus, and as I mentioned, the vocals are Dickinson's best.

This is the best song from Piece of Mind. And yes, to me, it's even better than The Trooper. Even though I like Di'Anno and Dickinson equally, I have to give it to the second guy. The vocals are awesome!

17 The Evil that Men Do

Don't get me wrong. Aces High, Run to the Hills, Blood Brothers, Fear of the Dark, and The Phantom of the Opera are all fantastic songs. But this song, in my personal list, is higher than all of them because the vocals, guitars, bass, and drums are absolutely perfect. This is one of Maiden's best songs without a doubt, so vote up!

Do the math. This is the best song from Seventh Son of a Seventh Son, and Seventh Son of a Seventh Son is the best album of Iron Maiden. So, The Evil That Men Do is the best song of Iron Maiden. It's a very beautiful song with perfect guitar work on the part of the razor's edge and a great solo that's catchy.

18 When the Wild Wind Blows

This song is proof that music still exists. Iron Maiden has never flopped on any album, especially not The Final Frontier. This song is amazing as heck, and I believe it belongs in the epic tier with songs like Hallowed Be Thy Name and Rime of the Ancient Mariner.

What is wrong with this list?

I know that this song is a newer song off an album that came out in 2010, but if you can't see that this is one of the best songs ever, then you must be deaf. This song may not be their best song ever (that's Rime of the Ancient Mariner), but it deserves to be higher than the 18th spot. It should be in the top ten for sure.

19 Killers

Was there any doubt that this song wouldn't make it to the list? Having one of the best intros, you just have to love the bass riff in the beginning. Di'Anno's vocals in the second album far outmatch those in the first album. I'm not hating on the first album. I love Iron Maiden and it has some sick songs in it. It's just that when I think of Iron Maiden, the first song that comes to my mind is this one. The solos are as great as the riffs, and the vocals are just beautiful.

I like the raw sound, not just from Paul, but from Steve's bass as well. His picking style is more outstanding and makes Maiden rawer. This is solid music created by a small band with limited means at that time. It's a shame that Paul's stage fear was so bad that he had to get drunk and later got sacked because of that.

20 Sign of the Cross

Blaze gets too much hate from the fans for no reason other than that he didn't fit Iron Maiden. Blaze is great, though, and some of his songs have become some of my favorites, especially Sign of the Cross. A lot of people prefer the Rock in Rio version because Bruce sings it instead, but I differ. Rock in Rio is good too, but Blaze just does it better in my opinion. His darker, lower vocals fit way more. Many Maiden fans are always so biased towards Bruce. They need to stop at this point. I love the amazing solos and the epic chorus.

21 Can I Play with Madness

This song is amazing and awesomely cool. It is one of my favorite songs by them. This definitely deserves to be in the top 10. Catchy song with a nice title!

What the hell? This song should be in the top ten! The solo is perfection, and the lyrics are magical. This song should really be in the top 5.

Amazing song. How is it not in the top ten? Absolutely awesome song, purely an epic one.

22 Afraid to Shoot Strangers

Pick one favorite Iron Maiden song? Impossible. It varies from week to week, and there are too many great songs to say one is the best. But, if hard-pressed to pick one, I'll opt for this one. It's a slightly unusual Maiden song, certainly in the first Bruce era, and highly underrated. But just listen to the majestic melody starting at around the 2:40 mark. I can't think of any other single melody or riff in the Maiden pantheon of great songs that makes my hair stand on end as much as this one. Simply marvelous and only made better by the fact that it's revisited later on in slightly different form after the all-guns-blazing mid-section. It basically has all you'd ever need and want and more in a Maiden song.

23 Revelations

Yeah, Revelations takes it for me. Piece of Mind was my first Iron Maiden album, and it's my favorite album too. Revelations just connected with me. I can't get enough of it!
Some of my other favorites are Can I Play with Madness, Still Life, The Wicker Man, Powerslave, Dream of Mirrors, and of course, so many more. Iron Maiden is amazing! So glad I was introduced to the band.

The live version of this song from "Live After Death" is unbelievable. I mean, Bruce has the most amazing live voice I've ever heard in metal! This song has everything: melodies, slow and fast sections, solos, and more! Definitely top 5 in my opinion.

24 22 Acacia Avenue

Dear hardcore Maiden fan. If you're like me you've listened to each and every song by Maiden hundreds of times. Now think, when you're browsing for the 1000th time your list of songs, which one you would put every single time without a second thought? Yes. This is the one.

Probably their most underrated song ever. I actually think this is the best song on The Number of the Beast.

Easily one of maidens best tunes if not there best! Just exceptional it really is!

25 The Prisoner

This song defines all that makes Iron Maiden. The bass is always audible. The drumming is superb, and the sheer number of fantastic riffs that make up this song is why I love this song. Bruce's vocals are great and very distinctive, almost operatic. One of the best songs ever off one of the best albums ever. Why this song is down here can only be explained by the wealth of masterpieces that Iron Maiden has produced over the years. For me, this song is one of their best.

God damn, this is really overlooked compared to Run to the Hills, Hallowed Be Thy Name, Number of the Beast, and even 22 Acacia Avenue. I think this is better than those three songs except for Hallowed. The opening drum and riffs are just so cool. The solo is a freaking work of art, and that chorus - oh boy, that chorus. "Not a prisoner, I'm a free man!" It's my favorite chorus of all time.

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