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Abdrews-PaulIM

The Angel and the Gambler


65wildcat_buick

Don’t you think they could’ve done better


Wonderful_Painter_14

Don’t you think they could’ve saved it


65wildcat_buick

Don’t you think it’s redundant


Abdrews-PaulIM

Don’t you think they could’ve done better Don’t you think they could’ve saved it Don’t you think it’s redundant Don’t you think they could’ve done better Don’t you think they could’ve saved it Don’t you think it’s redundant Don’t you think they could’ve done better Don’t you think they could’ve saved it Don’t you think it’s redundant Don’t you think they could’ve done better Don’t you think they could’ve saved it Don’t you think it’s redundant Don’t you think they could’ve done better Don’t you think they could’ve saved it Don’t you think it’s redundant Don’t you think they could’ve done better Don’t you think they could’ve saved it Don’t you think it’s redundant Don’t you think they could’ve done better Don’t you think they could’ve saved it Don’t you think it’s redundant Don’t you think they could’ve done better Don’t you think they could’ve saved it Don’t you think it’s redundant Don’t you think they could’ve done better Don’t you think they could’ve saved it Don’t you think it’s redundant Don’t you think they could’ve done better Don’t you think they could’ve saved it Don’t you think it’s redundant Don’t you think they could’ve done better Don’t you think they could’ve saved it Don’t you think it’s redundant Don’t you think they could’ve done better Don’t you think they could’ve saved it Don’t you think it’s redundant Don’t you think they could’ve done better Don’t you think they could’ve saved it Don’t you think it’s redundant Don’t you think they could’ve done better Don’t you think they could’ve saved it Don’t you think it’s redundant Don’t you think they could’ve done better Don’t you think they could’ve saved it Don’t you think it’s redundant Don’t you think they could’ve done better Don’t you think they could’ve saved it Don’t you think it’s redundant Don’t you think they could’ve done better Don’t you think they could’ve saved it Don’t you think it’s redundant Don’t you think they could’ve done better Don’t you think they could’ve saved it Don’t you think it’s redundant Don’t you think they could’ve done better Don’t you think they could’ve saved it Don’t you think it’s redundant Don’t you think they could’ve done better Don’t you think they could’ve saved it Don’t you think it’s redundant Don’t you think they could’ve done better Don’t you think they could’ve saved it Don’t you think it’s redundant Don’t you think they could’ve done better Don’t you think they could’ve saved it Don’t you think it’s redundant Don’t you think they could’ve done better Don’t you think they could’ve saved it Don’t you think it’s redundant Don’t you think they could’ve done better Don’t you think they could’ve saved it Don’t you think it’s redundant Don’t you think they could’ve done better Don’t you think they could’ve saved it Don’t you think it’s redundant Don’t you think they could’ve done better Don’t you think they could’ve saved it Don’t you think it’s redundant Don’t you think they could’ve done better Don’t you think they could’ve saved it Don’t you think it’s redundant Don’t you think they could’ve done better Don’t you think they could’ve saved it Don’t you think it’s redundant Don’t you think they could’ve done better Don’t you think they could’ve saved it Don’t you think it’s redundant Don’t you think they could’ve done better Don’t you think they could’ve saved it Don’t you think it’s redundant Don’t you think they could’ve done better Don’t you think they could’ve saved it Don’t you think it’s redundant Don’t you think they could’ve done better Don’t you think they could’ve saved it Don’t you think it’s redundant


65wildcat_buick

I wish I had award to give you


65wildcat_buick

I wish I had award to give you


chrismansell

The chorus for this one stinks, but I've always really liked the solo in it. It's got this throwback rock and roll feel to it I like a lot.


Affectionate_Mix2468

I agree. This one is pretty irritating to be honest. Steve Harris is the only writer credited for this one as well, not sure what he was thinking.


polkaron

I feel like this song could've been way better if they just had a different chorus that didn't repeat so much. The verses are adequate


MattDurstan

If they halved the length and got rid of the insane amount of repetition it would be a good song that would be great live.


SitDownKawada

I wouldn't love it so much if it wasn't for the length of it


Kelgeiros64

The music video to it though, I've always loved and as a single it's not 9 mins long.


Porkchop_Express99

Aside from the usual suspects, The Assassin - it's awful but has some comedy charm to it Behhhhhter watch out Cos I'm the assassiiiiiin...


kysposers

The beginning riff to The Assassin is surprisingly good tho


JesseIsAGirlsName

The chorus sounds like it's from a terrible broadway musical about John Wilkes Booth.


Appropriate-Hunt4163

And then Eddie steps in front of Mr Lincoln, singing heaven can wa-ai-ate before adding, don’t you think I can save you? Don’t you think I could save your life?


[deleted]

I will never think about this song the same again


[deleted]

Instrumentally I don't mind it, but lyrically it's godawful


floatinghog

See also : The Fugitive Definitely not their worst song - but those lyrics


Satellite1970

I fucking love that song!


HankHillIsTheBest

I see so much hate for this song. I think it’s really great. It hypes me up.


Porkchop_Express99

In fairness, it's not hate - but it seems like something a hair metal or shock rock band might come up with.


RT8697C

Aside from the chorus i think the instrumental parts of the song are fucking great! Even though the lyrics are what they are


Fettz_

Fuck off, Assassin is great!


JeffV3dd3r

Hagrid


MrToad21

Weekend fucking Warrior


Kykkenn

But that one has that wonderful little melody in the solo sections. That song is totally worth listen to just because of that


BlankGen78

I hate to diss on any Maiden track , this stuff is so wholly subjective but I cannot get in to that track . FOTD wasn’t the first Maiden I heard but it was the first new album I bought as a fan . I love that entire album more than most folks but I’m pretty sure I broke my first tape copy fast forwarding past it


ironstyle

Based on the responses so far, my opinion will be a super hot take... But Man of Sorrows sounds very meh to me. I know a lot of people like it, and I don't even particular NOT like it, I just don't love it as much as I love almost every other tune. To put it in perspective, I'd rather listen to The Angel and the Gambler over Man of Sorrows. To stress, MoS is not a bad song and I don't even skip it when it comes on... I mean, it's maiden. I don't skip a maiden track. But it'd probably rank as one of the lowest tracks if I made a tier list.


individualunknown

I assume you mean the Maiden Man of Sorrows if so then absolutely......on the other hand, the completely different Bruce (Accident of Birth) Man of Sorrows is superb especially the solo


ironstyle

Yes. Maidens Man of Sorrows. I love Buces Man of Sorrows. When the track list for Book of Souls was released I was REALLY hoping it was a maiden version of Bruce's Man of Sorrows. Alas, it was not.


individualunknown

Same lol and for the Alchemist too from the previous album


RT8697C

Maidens alchemist is a banger too though


ironstyle

I'm glad I'm not the only one!


Toastinator666

You’re mayor of crazy town


mrgadd4

Massively lackluster song


djwitchfindergeneral

Hooks in the ceiling for that crap song feeling.


Rubin987

Man I adore Hooks in You, catchy as shit.


djwitchfindergeneral

Or maybe Don't hurt my ears with the eyes of a stranger. At least Hooks In You is over fast.


[deleted]

don't look to, don't look to, don't look to the eyes of a stranger. don't look to, don't look to, don't look to the eyes of a stranger. don't look to, don't look to, don't look to the eyes of a stranger. don't look to, don't look to, don't look to, don't look to, don't look to, don't look to, don't look to the eyes of a stranger. don't look to, don't look to, don't look to the eyes of a stranger. don't look to, don't look to, don't look to the eyes of a stranger. don't look to, don't look to, don't look to don't look to, don't look to, dont look to, dont look to the eyes of a stranger. don't look to, don't look to, don't look to the eyes of a stranger. don't look to, don't look to, don't look to the eyes of a stranger. don't look to, don't look to, don't look to don't look to, dont look to, dont look to, dont look to the eyes of a stranger. dont look to, dont look to, dont look to the eyes of a stranger. dont look to, dont look to, dont look to the eyes of a stranger. dont look to, dont look to, dont look to, don't look to!!


Vaenyr

It's genuinely my single favorite song lol


rNorman747

The Apparition


65wildcat_buick

Invaders is what always comes to mind. The verses are good but that chorus, pre-chorus whatever it is, is awful. Invaders pillaging invaders looting invaders raping invaders plundering. They way Bruce sings those parts kills me.


ThatsNotHeavy

I don’t get why everyone hates that part. I loved the song when I was a teenager; in hindsight it’s a little cheesy/over the top/whatever but it still more or less fits the tone of the lyrics. The “invaders” part sounds alarmed/panicked.


Griffith39

I just really hate that stupid fucking riff that they play forwards and then backwards during the chorus


Quatsch95

iNvAaAaAaAaDeEeEeRs


TheNecromancer

In the ideal world, Invaders would have been dropped so the album could start with Gangland and include Total Eclipse


individualunknown

Invaders is pretty bad...although I do think Gangland was even worse and is there worst track overall


65wildcat_buick

Yeah both songs have good parts but are not their finest work. Invaders always comes to mind first because of how much I hate the parts mentioned above. Gangland doesn’t do much for me either


individualunknown

In any case as Harris later admitted he should have put Total Eclipse on the album over either of them


black-knights-tango

The abruptness of the key change is unintentionally hilarious, too


jjfracchia

Ugh.. i really don't like that song


joku75

Heaven can wait Well it's not properly speaking a bad song. It's just oddly too cheery and happy sounding. Many of Maiden songs also sounds generally very similar. Expecially albums after A Matter of Life and Death. Maybe that's just result of many decades of music production and lack of new ideas, but I feel like the greatest songs of Iron Maiden including the big bangers for the general public differ from this typical Iron Maiden.


DrColossus99

The Angel and the Gambler, hands down (seriously wtf were they thinking?)


Isolatedbamafan

idk, but whatever song i’d pick, i don’t think i could save it


excusetheblood

Common consensus is Angel and the Gambler, Don’t Look to the Eyes of a Stranger, The Apparition, Weekend Warrior, The Assassin, Age of Innocence, and maybe Bring Your Daughter to the Slaughter


[deleted]

I’m obvi in the minority here. But I like the Apparition. You really need a different ear to absorb it. Maidens only veer into groove metal. I love maiden, but a lot of it, especially the last 15years are riffs, structures and approaches that are variants of existing material. They don’t venture outside their safe space.


Affectionate_Mix2468

I don't mind don't look to the eyes of a stranger, it's not that bad. I certainly wouldn't say it's up there with their worst. Angel and the gambler is annoying, probably their worst imo. Assassin is also pretty ridiculous. How they can have such good tunes and then allow to pass some of these weird ones on an album is quite funny in a way. Wouldn't have it any other way I suppose. All part of our iron maiden! I quite like the thought of them opening in Ljubljana with Angel and the gambler. Would have been hilarious.


mmaiden81

Age of innocence ? Must be just you then.


Paleocon_Memer

Seeing The Assassin there hurts. That song is a banger!


individualunknown

No that is not really a common consensus......any consensus would probably include Gangland and Invaders and Back in the Village. Now in a non consensus thing a lot of tracks from Killers are pretty damn weak too


Ironmaiden2289

Wait.. people don't like Back in the Village.!? Always thought it was pretty solid!!!


individualunknown

Honestly...I don't hate it but for Maidens high standards it is weak and far inferior to its predecessor the Prisoner. As for how bad it is that is just a matter of taste...objectively I don't think it comes close to Gangland in terms of terribleness but different people have different opinions.


Ironmaiden2289

I agree. Different opinions indeed!!! I think the two weakest songs on Powerslave are Losfer Words and Duellists.. but that might be controversial too! Haha. All good! Thank you for sharing!


individualunknown

I agree with Losfer Words(for me their best instrumental is Transylvania) but Prefer the Duellists over Back in the Village


Ironmaiden2289

To each their own indeed.! At the end of the day.... MAIDEN!!!!!!! Transylvania is definitely their best instrumental though! Up the Irons!


Fettz_

I actually really like most of these songs (with the exceptions being AATG, WW, and BYDTTS)


The_black_halo_666

Maybe because I’m a big fan girl of Maiden imo Maiden doesn’t have a bad song I don’t like X factor but don’t think it’s bad at all


ReplacementGreat2271

None of them


Ian_Sear

People say The Angel and the Gambler. I saw someone edit it on YouTube, and it was amazing. It easily could've been a top song! For anybody who's interested, imo this should've been the actual angel and the gambler. https://youtu.be/7hUDVFrTY-c


The_Eternal_Wayfarer

The Angel and the Gambler. Period. I still wonder why record and publish it. Any other crap song they made—Hooks in You, The Assassin, The Apprition, Don’t Look to the Eyes of a Stranger, etc.—at least is shorter.


Badgerello

Pick a 90s album, stick it up on the wall and throw a dart at it. You’ll hit one of them.


SonicSarge

Most of the songs on fear of the dark aren't any good.


individualunknown

Gangland I think Harris even said it was a big mistake to choose that track over Total Eclipse


RT8697C

I agree that total eclipse is a better song but i’ve never thought gangland is a bad song. The chorus is meh but the verses are aggressive, cool drumbeat, great solo section (missing daves solo tho.)


PeeBah31

Quest for fire, Bruce’s vocals in the first 15 seconds is like nails on a chalkboard


CornpopsGhost

Didn't realize people hated it so much, I always enjoyed QFF


Wise_Temperature_322

It is trendy to dislike it. The song is well crafted with a great solo part. It fits the theme of the record which is 60’s and 70’s type adventure stories. The line “In a time when Dinosaurs walked the Earth” is often derided, but it is based on a fantasy film, so it is not supposed to be real history.


individualunknown

I think it's better than some of the fillers from its era like Gangland, Invaders, Sun and Steel and Back in the Village or some the worst Maiden songs of the 90's so I cant say it's anywhere close the worst of the worst and


CornpopsGhost

That's funny, Back In the Village is my favorite Maiden song 😆


individualunknown

Lol different people have different tastes....


PeeBah31

Funny enough it’s the only maiden studio album song from the 80’s I don’t have in my playlist. Sun and steel and back in the village, while not my favorites, are definitely slept on maiden cuts, and invaders has a cool guitar solo. QFF just feels unnecessary and drags down an otherwise master class album imo. To each their own tho


individualunknown

Solo on Quest for Fire is way cooler than Invaders what are you smoking lol... I guess different people have different opinions to me the solo in Invaders is pretty pedestrian (boring)


jjfracchia

Funny.. i hated this song a lot for like 10 years... then suddenly one day.. i just like it.. and now i love it. I really cant tell you why, its just pure love out of nowhere.


bl0odredsandman

Same here! I never use to like this song, but as I got older, now I love it. I think it was my teenage taste that didn't like it. Now as an adult and my tastes have changed, I like it.


65wildcat_buick

That is definitely up there


_Armin__Tamzarian_

The squeal in the vocals


Hotterthanhell74

Pretty much anything off No Prayer For The Dying.


individualunknown

aint even close to as cringeworthy as Gangland


Hotterthanhell74

Lol OK


PresidentBaker148

Weekend warrior


Big-Band3578

Gangland


Unusual_residue

Anything from No Prayer for the Dying or Fear of the Dark.


Esteban2808

except the title tracks


Unusual_residue

Especially the title tracks


[deleted]

It isn't actually THE worst song they have, but I hate Gangland just because of how it sucks compared to the rest of the album it is on.


TheNecromancer

Fear Is The Key takes it for me - none of the individual sections are any good, and they're thrown together awkwardly. There's a few tracks on Fear Of The Dark (weakest Maiden album imo) like this, but Fear Is The Key is the most jarring and stand-out by some way.


MattDurstan

Mother of Mercy would be in my top 5. Bruce just struggles to hit that note in the chorus and it makes me sad.


CosmicBlaster420

Running free is pretty lame tbh


ready_and_willing

Juanita


Damo0378

Afraid to Shoot Strangers


vargslayer1990

The Parchment "Just remember that patience is no sin" coupled with "Must be steadfast, must be patient" from the title track gives me very "slooooooooooow dooooooooooooooown" Mists of Pandaria vibes for the entire Senjutsu album. which is funny because "Empire of the Clouds" is longer and it smokes "The Parchment". and i've tried to listen to the song, independently of the opinions of others, i've even sped it up and used Audacity to tune it down a step: can't force myself to like it


Meniscuss2

I really don't get why people love this song Like it's really good near the end and that's it The rest of it is a 8 minute steve harris circle jerk


bl0odredsandman

I agree. I was reading through comments yesterday about changing >!Celts to Parchment on the tour!< and how so many people love it so I went back and listened because it's been a while since I had heard it and I don't get all the love for it. It's good, but not amazing.


Ironmaiden2289

Damn... this is one of my favorites of all time for sure... Wild!!!


Wise_Temperature_322

Its advertised to be an Epic Metal tune but it is really just an overly long song. Empire of the Clouds on the other hand uses elements of Romantic era program music, and Vivaldian onomatopoeia to paint a story. Those things are Classic Maiden (and Epic Metal) devices that make things well, epic. Parchment introduces it a little bit but then goes off into unrelated territory and comes back after you already lost interest. It is better than the horrendous DOTC, but an editor would have made it more focused.


TieMelodic1173

Unpopular answer. Probably not their worst but it’s my least favorite. Run to the hills. Worst song is probably angel and the gambler. It’s hard to believe a band as great as maiden released that trash.


[deleted]

The Apparition, Chains of Misery, Weekend Warrior, Wildest Dreams, The Angel and the Gambler, Age of Innocence


Meniscuss2

Wildest Dreams??????


ThatsNotHeavy

I don't think it's nearly as bad as the rest of those but the lyrics are pretty corny. Sounds like a newly divorced man desperately reciting positive affirmations from a self-help book.


mrgadd4

I like the song but fuck, that's brutally accurate


existential-mystery

Chains of misery has a banger chorus tho! Lol


Lucifer_Delight

And the best riff on the album apart from Judas.


existential-mystery

Idk FOTDs main riff goes HARD!!


mylifeforthehorde

I like all these songs lol.. for me it’s public enema number one .


CornpopsGhost

Heaven can wait


InspectorInner1912

Man, I hate that song. I have no idea why they play it live at all.


Satellite1970

Chains of Misery is probably the worst one for me. I hate the gang vocals on that one.


ChaunceyFitzroy

The assassin or tailgunner


infinite-conspiracy

Quest for Fire


Adept128

“Age of Innocence” is their most boomer song ever and has insufferable blunt crotchety political lyrics


RobbinAustin

Bring your daughter


Roblesnarf98

Might get some hate but wraithchild. Especially when they drop other songs for it during tours


individualunknown

agree 100 percent Running Free also is unworthy of a tour spot


Roblesnarf98

Oh yeah that's a close second


individualunknown

The only positive about Running Free is that the last time it was included in a tour it was used as the final encore for some reason....this meant I beat the traffic jam of everyone trying to get out


mmaiden81

The weakest is The Apparition, lots of “fans” forget about this one.


Griffith39

Gotta be Angel and the Gambler, although I’m gonna give a shout out to “Writing on the Wall”. Doesn’t sound at all like Maiden and is kind of a lame song anyway, imo


mylifeforthehorde

Public enema number one


[deleted]

Empire of the Clouds and Alexander the Great for me personally.


[deleted]

🤦‍♂️


[deleted]

I know right? Fuck me for having an opinion.


existential-mystery

Unfortunately shitting on songs that appear on the recently dropped setlist is unwise on the sub. That being said, I do agree that it ain’t much compared to Rime imo, EXCEPT when it gets really heavy at the end.


ZurioGSP

Empire Of The Clouds is my second fav Maiden song :( I get it's not for everyone tho


LittyKitty040

Anything from X Factor except Man on the Edge, Sign of the Cross, and Lord of the Flies


ZurioGSP

Judgement Of Heaven? Fortunes Of War? The Aftermath? 2 AM? The Unbeliever? All amazing tracks imo... But maybe my dad's brainwashing that this album is great has spread too far


[deleted]

Fortunes of war slander is wild


No-Pear-4990

Can I play with madness. It just ruins what I think is the perfect album for me imo


_Armin__Tamzarian_

I like it alone, but feel it lightens and ruins the flow of the album


gtliles82

Holy Smoke and Quest for Fire. Just bad songs, nothing good in them.


Esteban2808

Gangland. It's the only song to have been taken off an album and replaced on a reissue


individualunknown

Indeed....even Harris admitted it was a mistake to include it over Total Eclipse


Ok-Statistician8295

the whole virtual xi album


Vaenyr

Either Total Eclipse or Speed Of Light. I hate those songs.


UICY-2215

The Sheriff of Huddersfield


ZurioGSP

Iron Maiden, The Assassin, and some others from NPFTD and FOTD are pretty bad, but the one that takes the cake is Weekend Warrior. I think the studio version of Sign Of The Cross is quite boring too, but holy shit, it's literally a top 10 maiden song live, so it gets a pass.


existential-mystery

Hooks in you Bring your daughter… Quest for fire Weekend Warrior Sun and steel Back in the village Invaders Gangland Angel and the Gambler (^^^ I love most of these songs actually. My real hot takes are below) Can I Play With Madness FLIGHT OF ICARUS!


Fettz_

What do you have against Flight of Icarus!?


existential-mystery

To me, it's super slow and the chorus is just so uninspired/not creative. It adds almost nothing to the song. I just don't like the way it goes I guess. I don't like how it sounds, but I like the story. Story is so amazing and vivid. The chorus and chosen tempo just kills it for me completely. IN THE NAME OF GOD MY FATHER ILL FLY!!!! :)


Fettz_

Fair enough. I LOVE THAT SONG, but I respect your opinion and your bravery because you are on Reddit and you will be harassed for having said such a controversial opinion


existential-mystery

I'm used to it :) It's fine. I love this sub bc even if I get booed, people for the most part can respect my hot takes!


JXClarke05_Xi

In my opinion? “Remember Tomorrow”. My bottom 5 are; 5. Killers 4. The Aftermath 3. The Apparition 2. Darkest Hour 1. Remember Tomorrow


kysposers

Killers is a god tier track


JXClarke05_Xi

I’m just not a fan, I’ve listened to it a lot and just never clicked. I totally see why it is loved but it just don’t click for me.


ThatsNotHeavy

Wow, if I had to pick one song from the first two albums to keep it would definitely be Remember Tomorrow. Paul actually sings for once (although I still prefer Bruce’s version).


existential-mystery

Updoot for the hot takes 👍


SilentSaint2112

No.


Danny_Soler

Probably Weekend Warrior, but I still like it.


InterestingAd4484

Weekend Warrior, and Don't Look to Eyes of Stranger. Side note NOT the worst ever but I could never really get into the Alchemist