Iron Maiden have been carrying the metal flag for nearly 50 years, first emerging as part of the new wave of British heavy metal, and firmly establishing themselves as one of the biggest heavy music acts on the planet. A half century later, the band is as big as ever, selling out arenas and stadiums all over the world with their explosive live shows.
With the band embarking on the North American leg of their “Future Past Tour” this fall (pick up tickets here), and the recent announcement of their 2025 “Run for Your Lives Tour,” what better time to look back at Iron Maiden’s greatest songs.
After making a name for themselves with their first two albums, Maiden truly took off when singer Bruce Dickinson joined the band in time for 1982’s The Number of the Beast, which yielded memorable tunes like “Run to the Hills,” “Hallowed Be Thy Name,” and the title track.
A string of excellent albums followed in the ’80s and early ’90s before Dickinson left the group for nearly a decade. The 21st century has seen Maiden continue to release high-quality music, with their most recent albums The Book of Souls and Senjutsu earning widespread critical acclaim.
Narrowing Iron Maiden’s best songs down to a list of 10 is no easy task, but the tracks mentioned below are all killer. Steve Harris’ galloping bass lines; the electrifying guitar playing of Dave Murray, Adrian Smith, and Janick Gers; the masterful drumming of early member Clive Burr and longtime stickman Nicko McBrain; and, of course, the vocal histrionics of Bruce Dickinson make all these tunes metal classics.
So, strap in, up the irons, and get ready to take flight with Iron Maiden’s 10 Best Songs.
-Spencer Kaufman
Managing Editor, Heavy Consequence