The Iron Maiden Effect!

Aman Kanth

In the annals of heavy metal, Iron Maiden hardly needs an introduction. A Leyton-based English Metal band formed by the lyricist and bassist Steve Harris in 1975; Iron Maiden has charted a long way since its initiation.With Steve Harris, Dave Murray, Bruce Dickinson, Nicko McBrain, Adrain Smith, Michael Kenney and Janick Gers as its band members, Iron Maiden became one of the most commercially successful heavy metal bands whose lyrics are infused with the mythology, occult, war, fantasy, history, fiction, poetry and death. Iron Maiden has set new grounds in the history of heavy metal. For any metal-head, Iron Maiden is a head-bangers ball! Who can forget Steve Harris’ galloping bass lines infused with awesome guitar shredding, amazing licks and riveting solos by guitar virtuoso Adrian Smith, Janick Gers and Dave Murray, Michael Kenney`s magical fingers on keyboards, Nicko McBrain’s power drumming, and Bruce Dickinson’s great vocals that create an almost inexplicable experience. Well, imagine the psychedelic high of listening Iron Maiden live where thousands of head bangers jive to the Iron Maiden effect? Indeed, how energizing such an experience would be? On February 15, 2009, Iron Maiden performs live in India at Bangalore at the “Royal Challenge Rock in India” as part of its ‘Somewhere Back in Time Tour – 2009’. In addition to Iron Maiden, some of the other bands that can be seen in action include Parikrama, Lauren Harris, Pin Drop Violence, Brandon Ashley and The Silver Bugs, Synaps, Cyanide Serenity, CRI Bands, Kryptos, De-Profundis and Vonomor. Talking of heavy metal as a genre, one can trace its root in psychedelic – blues rock that transformed into the present day heavy metal which comprises of highly amplified thick sounds and speed solos and drumming patterns. However, if Black Sabbath, Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin brought heavy metal, it was Iron Maiden who perfected it and ushered in a new wave of British heavy metal. With fourteen successful studio albums under its belt in addition to nine albums in live version, Iron Maiden is no gadfly in the genre of heavy metal. Anybody who seriously follows heavy metal and stuff like that worships Iron Maiden for what they are! The popularity of Iron Maiden can be gauged from the fact that it has sold more than millions of albums throughout the world. Talking of Iron Maiden’s ‘Somewhere Back in Time’, how can one forget the overwhelming lyrics and rendition of ‘Aces High’- full of amazing bass lines and equally enthralling guitar duels and solos. Same is with ‘The Trooper’ that features Steve Harris staple galloping bass that completely transports the listener in a reverie. ‘Wasted Years’, ‘Children of the Damned’, ‘Run to the Hills’, ‘Powerslave’, ‘Wrathchild’ and ‘Iron Maiden’ are some of the other popular numbers of Iron Maiden (my personal favourites too!) that took the bands popularity to another level. For all those die-hard metal-heads who are ready to hit the shores of Bangalore for the Iron Maiden concert (barring the unlucky ‘one’, destiny’s favorite star-crossed child who satisfies his itch simply by writing this article… bawl!), one thing is for sure, it’s going to be one of the most unforgettable moments of your life. Head-bangers out there let ‘Eddie’ mesmerize your senses and take you to a ‘different world’. Enjoy Iron Maiden concert!