Iron Maiden. Discography [upd] <iPad>

Prowler , Remember Tomorrow , Running Free , Phantom of the Opera . Why it matters: Phantom of the Opera was the first glimpse of the progressive complexity to come—an eight-minute epic with multiple time changes. The album also introduced their mascot, Eddie , a rotting corpse resurrected from the band’s stage props. Legacy: Inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2021. It remains a blueprint for speed and attitude, though the production is notoriously thin.

Wildest Dreams , Rainmaker , Dance of Death , Paschendale . Why it matters: Paschendale is a top-five Maiden song. It is a brutal, orchestral depiction of WWI trench warfare. The violin intro gives way to seismic riffs. Iron Maiden. DISCOGRAPHY

Maiden is equally famous for their live recordings and visual identity: Prowler , Remember Tomorrow , Running Free ,

Recorded with vocalist Blaze Bayley, these albums were darker and more experimental. Legacy: Inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2021

The concept album. Based on the folklore that the seventh son of a seventh son is born with clairvoyant powers, this is Maiden’s Dark Side of the Moon —a cohesive, synth-laden epic where songs flow into one another. It is the only album to feature a title track that is entirely instrumental.