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Post by Monsters of Rock on Mar 20, 2021 16:06:43 GMT 10
Iron Maiden: The Number of the Beast
The Number Of The Beast isn’t a beast of a record. It is an overrated mess that is salvaged by its incredible artwork and four songs; Children Of The Damned, The Number Of The Beast, Run To The Hills, and Hallowed Be Thy Name. Yet I, like many others, love Number Of The Beast and point to it as one of Iron Maiden’s landmark releases. Why? I’m not sure. Yes, the aforementioned classic songs are some of the best that Iron Maiden has ever recorded but the other songs on the album are, honestly, somewhat lacklustre. Nevertheless, The Number Of The Beast is, and will always be, a classic Heavy Metal album that will be adored by millions.
Sonically, the Apple Digital Master is somewhat of a disappointment as the dynamics are crushed too far, resulting in clearly audible compression in the drums. Similarly, the soundstage is shallower than I believe it should be and while I would love to say that the high-resolution equivalent is more open, sadly, based on numbers alone, the Dynamic Range Database reports those remasters as exhibiting the same 7 out of 20 scores as the Apple Digital Master, half that of the 2014 vinyl reissue and the original 1987 CD releases. While Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son also has similar numbers, it doesn’t suffer as much as The Number Of The Beast does. In fact, the Apple Digital Master for Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son sounds, to my ears, perfect!
So, would I recommend the Apple Music release? Well, based on what I hear, no. I am fortunate enough, however, to have the 2014 vinyl single re-issues that were done from the original master tapes at Abbey Road Studios and when comparing those to the Apple Digital Master songs, they are more open and transparent allowing for greater instrument separation and clarity. Although, and this makes things even more challenging, the 2014 vinyl singles lack a little oomph in the low end and midrange thereby making the songs a little more treble focused; a sound signature not uncommon to Iron Maiden but one that I feel lacks overall impact and emotive feeling. Subsequently, I’m unsure if I want to pick up the 2014 vinyl reissue of The Number Of The Beast, done at the same time, using the same process as the singles, as they are radically different to that presented via Apple Music. Seriously, if you have the opportunity to check both versions out, please do for it is as if you’re listening to two different albums and while I tend to prefer a little more low end in my music, I don’t like it to the detriment of all other musical aspects. Similarly, the vinyl reproductions are a little too shrill for my tastes and need a boost in the mid to low end region.
Honestly, why do record labels and artists continue to muck around with their recordings? Why can’t we simply get the same mastering that was available on the original release? If that was perfect at the time, why is there a need for a remaster? Yes, dear reader, these are all valid questions and some that I will need to explore in greater detail, but it is incredibly frustrating for us music lovers to be continually disappointed by reissue after reissue that changes the way our albums sound and as it pertains to Iron Maiden, the difference between vinyl and digital is on the extreme scale and neither, in the case of The Number Of The Beast, could be argued as being necessarily better. Perhaps there is a valid reason why so many people say you haven’t heard an album until you’ve heard an original pressing; for its provenance was less obscure than the remastering efforts that claim to be remastered from the original master tapes but at times sound horrid, thereby bringing the validity of these claims into question.
Invaders is a B-side at best. It isn’t great. As an opener, yes, it sets up the tempo of the album but as a song on its own, it isn’t memorable.
Children Of The Damned should have opened the album and the tuning immediately reminds me of Black Sabbath’s sound signature and Bruce Dickinson’s vocal really sets the tone for the overall style and tonality Iron Maiden would adopt following Paul Di’Anno's departure. Children Of The Damned is a Maiden masterpiece!
The Prisoner has a killer drum and guitar focused-introduction, but the spoken word element is somewhat pointless. Nevertheless, The Prisoner has a chorus that is just too campy for my liking and therefore it isn’t a song that I find myself thoroughly enjoying past the introduction.
22 Acacia Avenue isn’t bad, but it isn’t good either. It merely exists and is, in my opinion, a filler track. That said, the guitar solo is a nice touch.
The Number Of The Beast is sensational!
Run To The Hills is even better than The Number Of The Beast and is one of my all-time favourite Iron Maiden songs. That hook is off-the-charts good and Dickinson’s vocal delivery is utterly perfect.
Gangland is, unfortunately, another filler track.
Hallowed Be Thy Name is an incredible closer and one of Iron Maiden’s very best recordings. Iron Maiden songs don’t get much better than Hallowed Be Thy Name, do they?
Yes, The Number Of The Beast as an album is a mixed bag, but the songs that have become synonymous with Iron Maiden are presented here making The Number Of The Beast a must-own for any Iron Maiden fan.
Subjective Sounds Review website
The Number Of The Beast isn’t a beast of a record. It is an overrated mess that is salvaged by its incredible artwork and four songs; Children Of The Damned, The Number Of The Beast, Run To The Hills, and Hallowed Be Thy Name. Yet I, like many others, love Number Of The Beast and point to it as one of Iron Maiden’s landmark releases. Why? I’m not sure. Yes, the aforementioned classic songs are some of the best that Iron Maiden has ever recorded but the other songs on the album are, honestly, somewhat lacklustre. Nevertheless, The Number Of The Beast is, and will always be, a classic Heavy Metal album that will be adored by millions.
Sonically, the Apple Digital Master is somewhat of a disappointment as the dynamics are crushed too far, resulting in clearly audible compression in the drums. Similarly, the soundstage is shallower than I believe it should be and while I would love to say that the high-resolution equivalent is more open, sadly, based on numbers alone, the Dynamic Range Database reports those remasters as exhibiting the same 7 out of 20 scores as the Apple Digital Master, half that of the 2014 vinyl reissue and the original 1987 CD releases. While Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son also has similar numbers, it doesn’t suffer as much as The Number Of The Beast does. In fact, the Apple Digital Master for Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son sounds, to my ears, perfect!
So, would I recommend the Apple Music release? Well, based on what I hear, no. I am fortunate enough, however, to have the 2014 vinyl single re-issues that were done from the original master tapes at Abbey Road Studios and when comparing those to the Apple Digital Master songs, they are more open and transparent allowing for greater instrument separation and clarity. Although, and this makes things even more challenging, the 2014 vinyl singles lack a little oomph in the low end and midrange thereby making the songs a little more treble focused; a sound signature not uncommon to Iron Maiden but one that I feel lacks overall impact and emotive feeling. Subsequently, I’m unsure if I want to pick up the 2014 vinyl reissue of The Number Of The Beast, done at the same time, using the same process as the singles, as they are radically different to that presented via Apple Music. Seriously, if you have the opportunity to check both versions out, please do for it is as if you’re listening to two different albums and while I tend to prefer a little more low end in my music, I don’t like it to the detriment of all other musical aspects. Similarly, the vinyl reproductions are a little too shrill for my tastes and need a boost in the mid to low end region.
Honestly, why do record labels and artists continue to muck around with their recordings? Why can’t we simply get the same mastering that was available on the original release? If that was perfect at the time, why is there a need for a remaster? Yes, dear reader, these are all valid questions and some that I will need to explore in greater detail, but it is incredibly frustrating for us music lovers to be continually disappointed by reissue after reissue that changes the way our albums sound and as it pertains to Iron Maiden, the difference between vinyl and digital is on the extreme scale and neither, in the case of The Number Of The Beast, could be argued as being necessarily better. Perhaps there is a valid reason why so many people say you haven’t heard an album until you’ve heard an original pressing; for its provenance was less obscure than the remastering efforts that claim to be remastered from the original master tapes but at times sound horrid, thereby bringing the validity of these claims into question.
Invaders is a B-side at best. It isn’t great. As an opener, yes, it sets up the tempo of the album but as a song on its own, it isn’t memorable.
Children Of The Damned should have opened the album and the tuning immediately reminds me of Black Sabbath’s sound signature and Bruce Dickinson’s vocal really sets the tone for the overall style and tonality Iron Maiden would adopt following Paul Di’Anno's departure. Children Of The Damned is a Maiden masterpiece!
The Prisoner has a killer drum and guitar focused-introduction, but the spoken word element is somewhat pointless. Nevertheless, The Prisoner has a chorus that is just too campy for my liking and therefore it isn’t a song that I find myself thoroughly enjoying past the introduction.
22 Acacia Avenue isn’t bad, but it isn’t good either. It merely exists and is, in my opinion, a filler track. That said, the guitar solo is a nice touch.
The Number Of The Beast is sensational!
Run To The Hills is even better than The Number Of The Beast and is one of my all-time favourite Iron Maiden songs. That hook is off-the-charts good and Dickinson’s vocal delivery is utterly perfect.
Gangland is, unfortunately, another filler track.
Hallowed Be Thy Name is an incredible closer and one of Iron Maiden’s very best recordings. Iron Maiden songs don’t get much better than Hallowed Be Thy Name, do they?
Yes, The Number Of The Beast as an album is a mixed bag, but the songs that have become synonymous with Iron Maiden are presented here making The Number Of The Beast a must-own for any Iron Maiden fan.
Subjective Sounds Review website
