Iron Maiden’s bassist and founder Steve Harris recently opened up about the band’s discography. He acknowledged that the legendary metal group has never achieved what he considers a “perfect album.” His comments were shared in an interview with Louder Sound.
Harris specifically addressed the band’s acclaimed 1982 release “The Number of the Beast.” Many fans consider it their masterpiece.
“I don’t think we’ve ever made the perfect album,” Harris said. “‘Number Of The Beast,’ people think that’s the perfect album, but there are two songs on there that are not as good as the others [referring to Invaders and Gangland]. Not everything’s going to be good, is it?”
Harris’s candid assessment comes as part of a broader discussion. He also defended Iron Maiden’s more controversial albums “The X Factor” and “Virtual XI,” describing them as “really strong, powerful albums” that “people will appreciate them later.”
Harris’s critique of “The Number of the Beast” takes on additional significance when considering the album’s challenging production history and its pivotal role in the band’s evolution.
The recording process for “The Number of the Beast” was notably intense and rushed. Wikipedia reported that the album was completed in only five weeks after the band spent a prolonged period writing new material from scratch. This marked the first time Iron Maiden started an album with very little pre-written material. The approach added considerable pressure to the creative process.
The sessions were further complicated by the band’s transition to a new vocal style with Bruce Dickinson, who had recently joined as frontman. YouTube interviews revealed that Dickinson was heavily involved in the creative process despite contractual constraints that prevented him from receiving official songwriting credits. Producer Martin Birch pushed Dickinson to repeatedly redo vocal parts to achieve the desired atmospheric quality. This resulted in some of the album’s most iconic vocal moments.
The recording sessions were reportedly accompanied by unexplained phenomena that added to the album’s mystique. Loudwire noted that the studio experienced flickering lights and gear malfunctions during production. These incidents contributed to the supernatural atmosphere that would become synonymous with the album’s themes.
Despite these production challenges, “The Number of the Beast” became a defining moment in heavy metal history. Harris’s perfectionist perspective reveals the self-critical nature that has driven Iron Maiden’s decades-spanning career. His honest reflection offers insight into the relentless pursuit of excellence that continues to define one of metal’s most influential bands.
