Iron Maiden's third studio album, The Number of the Beast, released in March 1982, marked a definitive moment in heavy metal history.
It was the band’s first album to feature vocalist Bruce Dickinson, the former Samson frontman whose operatic "air-raid siren" range replaced the abrupt, punkier stylings of the fired Paul Di'Anno, and introduced the phrase "Scream for me [insert name of city]! into the metal lexicon. The album was also the pinnacle of the NWOBHM movement, the moment that separated Maiden from the nearly-rans, the also-rans and the never-rans.
Thematically, The Number of the Beast explores mythology, history, horror literature, and, uhm, sex work. The title track, with its chanted, punch-the-air chorus ('Six! Six Six!' etc.), famously sparked controversy, leading to accusations of Satanism and album burnings in the United States, which only fuelled the album's notoriety and commercial success. People never learn.
Other standout tracks included the rattling Run To The Hills, with Clive Burr's iconic drum intro, and the epic, nearly ten-minute closer Hallowed Be Thy Name – the tale of a prisoner about to be executed. The latter showcased a new level of songwriting maturity and complexity, while 22 Acacia Avenue didn't.
The album's impact was immediate. It became the band's first to top the UK Albums Chart and made significant inroads into the US market. It would go on to reach platinum status in four countries (US, UK, Canada and Australia) and gold in many more.
How much do you know about The Number Of The Beast? Find out below, and let us know how you did in the comments (and no Googling!).
