Iron Maiden were back after the disapointing Piece Of Mind, this time with a revenge. Things start on a rocking note with 'Aces High', with excellent guitar work, trading up to '2 Minutes To Midnight', a great rocker with a slightly overdone instrumental. 'Losfer Words' is a boring, tedious instrumental that never seems to end. 'Flash Of The Blade' is my all-time favorite Iron Maiden song and contains some rocking passages. 'The Duellists' is my 2nd favorite Iron Maiden song, with some great passages! 'Back In The Village' is one of the albums 2 flaws, the track is just annoying. 'Powerslave' features some great egyptian riffs, with a slightly distant chorus. 'Rime Of The Ancient Mariner' is Iron Maiden's best epic, with great power and melodic interludes. Although it isn't Iron Maiden's best, this was a slam-dunk that would hint to future successes.

This was an extreme throwback to the Di'Anno age, and Bruce Dickinson didn't seem to mind. I really don't like this album, it really just dosen't fit the Iron Maiden suit of armor. Overall, most of the tracks here are long, boring, and tedious. The first track is a perfect example. 'Where Eagles Dare' is boring and is way too long. 'Revelations' is easily the worst written song ever, and lacks a backbone. 'Flight Of Icarus' just dosen't cut it. 'Die With Your Boots On' contains the worst Iron Maiden chorus and is just plain boring. 'The Trooper' is Iron Maiden's most overrated song, lacking any backbone at all. 'Still Life' is probably the most underrated, a great tune. 'Quest For Fire', 'Sun And Steel, and 'To Tame A Land' are all just genric rockers that fall flat while trying to be something special. I really think that Iron Maiden hit a landmine here, and it sunk this album.

This was Iron Maiden's breakthrough, as it is the first to feature Bruce Dickinson on vocals. It is extremely overrated, but holds its own. The short rocker 'Invaders' is a great track. The power ballad 'Children Of The Damned' is the best track off the album. The fast rocker 'The Prisoner' is a catchy tune, if not too long. Another fast rocker, '22 Acacia Avenue', is simply a long, boring, mediocre track. The title track 'The Number Of The Beast' is extremely overrated, still good though. The next track 'Run To The Hills' is just a terrible, overrated, boring, repetitive track.
The next tune, 'Gangland', isn't that bad but dosen't hold its own. Next is the meaty rocker 'Total Eclipse' which is simply the worst song Iron Maiden have ever done, as the pace is intoxicating. The albums epic, 'Hallowed Be Thy Name, is an excellent track with some of the best vocals and guiatars on the album.
Overall, it is better, but still not there yet.

Don't get me wrong, this does top the bands first effort. But Killers does not hold its own. As I have said, it is not Paul'Dianno that I find fault with here, but the bands lack of creativity. The band sounds too generic here, and as a result the whole album falls flat. Tracks that are great are few and far between, but they are here, such as 'Murders In The Rue Morge', 'Innocent Exile', 'Prodigal Son', and 'Purgatory'. There are some overrated tracks here as well, such as, 'Wrathchild', 'Genghis Khan', 'Killers', 'Twilight Zone', and 'Drifter'. Then there are the bad tracks, such as, 'The Ides Of March, and 'Another Life'. Overall, Killers is an improvement over their debut, but it still is too generic and punk rock to be accepted.

This lacks the Iron Maiden feel. Yes, Bruce Dickinson isn't here, but that is not what makes it a boring listen. Paul'Dianno holds his own here, as I have no vocal complaints.
And I don't see why so many fans complain about the production as the 'only flaw', as it sounds crisp. But I don't enjoy rock 'n' roll albums, and despite the crushing guitars, that is the true defenition of this album. Yes, some hard rock tracks are listenable such as 'Prowler' and 'Iron Maiden'. Yes, some punk tracks are easy to sit through such as 'Running free' and 'Charlotte The Harlot'. But other tracks are simply annoying and a pain to sit through, such as 'Transylvania', 'Strange World', and 'Sanctuary'. And finally, there are tracks that try too hard to be winners and just comepletely fall flat, such as 'Rememeber Tomorrow' and 'Phantom Of The Opera'. Overall, this one of Iron Maiden's worst efforts, and my least favorite of their albums.