This is why Fear of the Dark ACTUALLY is so important | Iron Maiden Reaction
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- Опубликовано: 12 июн 2024
- Fear of the Dark is possibly the most controversial Iron Maiden album, with some fans shamelessly calling it «a low effort record» , and others proudly considering Fear of the Dark a climax of Iron Maiden’s Golden Era, before Bruce Dickinson left the band in 1993.
Released on the May 11, 1992, Fear of the Dark became the 9th studio album by the be the legendary English Heavy Metal band Iron Maiden. So, as a part of our UP THE IRONS Series let’s take a look at some of the most interesting facts about this album, discuss what is the true reason why so many fans absolutely hate it and then hopefully answer the question of how Fear of the Dark might have actually saved Iron Maiden’s career. Here you go!
00:00 - Intro
00:44 - The most important part
01:14 - The last or the first?
04:38 - Bye, Bruce
07:24 - Artwork
08:41 - Why hate, though?
10:03 - Verdict
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#IronMaiden #HeavyMetal #UpTheIrons
I would love an episode about Bruce leaving the band and his solo career.
Tatttoed Millionaire was probably more of a therapeutic album for Bruce and fairly meh to listen to. But also a bit fun. Tears of the Dragon is still one of my favorite songs of all times. That guitar solo is just brilliant, raw and so aggressive. Overall a great and deep piece. And I think like up towards Chemical Romance you start seeing a bit more of the direction of the 2000+ albums. I honestly don’t know much about the non Bruce Maiden years, only I didn’t like what I’ve heard. Just was missing something.
But I think the albums have just been getting better and richer.
Tattooed millionaire by Bruce dickinson excellent 👌
As soon as Bruce got with Roy Z it was a game changer.
Chemical Wedding is one of my favorite albums hands down
@@kevinmaillet4712 book of thel. Great song
Very underrated album. "Judas Be My Guide" is great. Awesome production by Steve as well.
I meant to say awesome production by Martin as well.
"Wasting Love" is Iron Maiden's most boring song??
Wow....
This man has never experienced unrequited love 🤷♂️😰
A whole album is boring, only exceptional good is be quick or be dead
@@user-pf7qg9lc6p How can you label yourself a music fan if you don't pay attention to THE MUSIC and listen only to the critics?
"Fear Of The Dark" album is heavy, dark and atmospheric!
In my opinion is one of their best albums!
"Wasting Love" is not boring at all!
Wasting love is a great sonng, the rest of the songs are boring lyrically and fear of the dark is particularly tiresome.Please drop it from the set list
What do you expect from presenter looking like ....?
I think it's a great song
it is their most fresh album. It is old and new. It is fashion and awesome, it breathes success. It is ine of the best mixes
i honestly lose the trust on someone who speaks about this album like this and Wasting Love just as boring and period,all a real historical piece of popular art 🖼
Absolutely love this album! The heavy nature of songs like be quick or be dead and fear is the key. The melancholy of childhoods end, wasting love and judas be my guide, pure rock songs such as from here to eternity, chains of misery and week end warrior. And of course the song fear of the dark is an absolute classic!
*What is your favourite track from FEAR OF THE DARK and why?*
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"Afraid to shoot strangers". Lyrics, Music.
"Be quick or be dead". The last Maiden song that made me go "Holy F**k!!" the very first time I heard it.
Wasting Love is great one of my fav Maiden songs...Afraid to shoot strangers awesome...title track is killer....great riffs in Weekend Warrior and in The Fugitive...and in Judas Be My Guide...and in Fear is the key...and in Chains of Misery....yeah all in all killer album...great artwork and everything. Awesome album
You asked in the intro specifically for comments of those who disagree with you... I've been keeping my mouth shut for a loooong time on yours and Andriy's channels. I'm about the music first and believe we are ALL blood brothers! Which is why I try to stay away from politics in a setting such as this. However I would like the perspective of a local I share soooo much in common with! Respectfully I can NOT support the Ukrainian Army. This is because I condemn the Ukrainian National Guard's Azov Battalion based in Mariupol for their use of natzee symbols, anti-Semitic, and anti-Asian beliefs. If we are ALL "Blood Brothers" surely this is not something you can NOT support like me... Lastly if the Russian speakers in the most Western Parts of your country want to speak Russian or hold an election for succession. Why NOT let them? If you know something I got wrong from a local perspective, please correct me. NOR does this mean I support ANY war INCLUDING the Russian side!
"Be quick or be dead" because it's Iron Maiden's most aggressive track. The song is cool and I like its "Die by the sword" vibe.
Fear Of The Dark is my favorite Maiden song. It’s so atmospheric and hooks you, like someone telling scary stories around a campfire at night. I love it so much.
Fear Of The Dark is an underrated album. It has elements that break from the typical Maiden style, likely because of Janick Gers input, who I think always adds something to the grove that Harris or Dickinson never find when they write. It's a good album and one I play regularly when I want to break away from classic or progressive Maiden.
Fear of the Dark is underrated like No Prayers for the dying.
Very different from the previous albums. But that is what makes it interesting. They tried to do something different. Scaled back the production and synths from Seventh Son of a Seventh Son. A few ballads on it. But still lots of introcate guitar work and what not.
It's easily my most played maiden album. Be quick and chains of misery are brilliant and wasting love, while not their best song, is grossly underrated.
It's a highly underrated record! Everyone knows the title track is a classic and "Wasting Love" and "Be Quick or Be Dead" were both minor hits. In my mind, the first eight tracks are all good to great, before losing momentum for tracks 9-11. Then, you have the title track to finish the album in a strong way. "Chains of Misery" and particularly "Childhood's End" are hidden gems.
No, overrated album
@@user-pf7qg9lc6p I mean, like it or don't, but I don't think you can call it overrated, since it wasn't highly rated to begin with.
I love childhoods end and title track but other than that it's over rated
I love that album! It felt like a bit of a comeback after no prayer for the dying.
I love this album as well. However to me it felt more like No Prayer For The Dying was a comeback after Seventh Son.
It's a very good album. As much as I love the Maiden epics, its also nice to hear some straight forward rockers like Chains of Misery. Judas be my Guide is a belter. Variety is the spice of life ✨️
Chains of Misery and Judas be my Guide are my two favourite songs from the album.
Fear of the Dark was the first Iron Maiden album I bought as a teenager. I've always loved the album.
Well of course, if it's your the first album, mine the first album is, the number of the beast in then when i was a kid yet but i don't like fear of the dark
I like that evil laugh Bruce does when he sings Fear of the Dark live and mentions the city. 🙀
I don't understand some people and their revisionist narrative. Nowadays I read there's virtually a general consensus that this is a mediocre, lackluster album; however, when it came out (and even a few years after), pretty much everybody I knew loved it. Not only that, I read raving reviews about it on magazines, and the FOTD world tour was celebrated as a return to form for the band. At least until Bruce Dickinson announced his departure in early '93.
When I first listened to it, I immediately fell in love with it. Must be a generational thing, but I had no problem whatsoever with them attempting to sound more akin with the 90's, and what some people call inconsistency in the collection of songs, I call versatility, and that's one of the things I like best about the album: how varied it is, and I commend the band for daring to try all those nuanced stylistical changes within their particular sound frame.
That being said, I think it's rather unfortunate that, save for the title track (and the occasional comeback of "Afraid to shoot strangers"), the band had decided to completely ignore this album for the past 29 years on the live setting. I know I'm not the only one who wishes to see "Be quick or be dead" or "Wasting Love" played live again (let alone some of the other songs which were never even played, such as "Judas be my guide", "The Fugitive" or "Childhood's end"- which I know will never happen), instead of listening to the title track for the gazillionth time. Oh well.
I fully agree. Back then Maiden was present everywhere. Here in Germany the album went up to #5 in the album charts, in the UK even to #1. The supporting tour resulted in 2 great live albums plus the one from Donington '92. Saying this was a weak album does not sound right to me.
In fact, "Fear of the dark" remains a good album.
My recollection is Maiden had been on an upward path during the 80's, knowing where they were going, until 1985, after Powerslave, they released "Live after Death" and this was a turning point.
They had already accomplished more than most other bands and the 1980's were turning all about synthetic music and fancy stuffs.
Good old heavy metal was being challenged and Iron Maiden are not the kind of band to remain static and just fade away.
So in 1986 and 1988, they released their two albums full of (well not actual synthetizers) synthetic guitar effects.
Straying away from metal roots was daring and both albums were good, but lots of fans were feeling uneasy at this new approach.
In 1989, Adrian Smith released his first own solo album.
In 1990, Maiden decided it was time for going back to their metal roots.
I attended their "No prayer for the dying" concert in Paris and it was a good one.
Still, the situation was a bit fragile as making two 180 degrees round turns within 4 years can leave fans a bit disoriented.
So, this album was some kind of transition.
IMHO, when "Fear of the dark" was released, it was sounding like a sign they were confirming their metal sound and it felt reassuring for the fans.
Too bad, it was not enough and the band was going through major internal issues.
They all had to go try something else, Adrian Smith and Bruce Dickinson left.
But, in the end, that was for the best, they both produced solo albums (even Steve Harris did, eventually), and by the end of the decade, in 2000, it became obvious for everyone this lineup with an heavy metal sound was the true Iron Maiden.
This was good they went to seek other adventures, since they brought back lots of experience and produced awesome albums, eventually, knowing who they were.
Wow, there is allot there to discuss. Great information 👍 The interesting thing for me. All Iron Maiden albums and songs after 7th son are new to me. Maiden was my favorite band as a teen and most of my 20s. Then I dropped out. And went on with life. I didn't even know about Gers coming in. The Blaze Bailey years. I had no idea.
Funny thing. Now I'm obsessed with Maiden again at 55. All because I pulled out my Killers album 9 months ago. And made it a display in the background for my YT vlog Videos. And my 3 year old grandson fell in love with Eddie. And loving the music.
That's how I found this channel. And it's been your videos like this that I have been learning all about my Maiden lost years. So keep doing these. Your Iron Maiden story telling is the best. Thanks for getting me up to speed with my favorite band, ever. That I just rediscovered.
Also, may I suggest checking out Maiden Cartoons. Val created great cartoons of Eddie telling the stories of these great song. And Fear of the Dark is outstanding. My Grandson and I watch those for hours.
Slave Ukraini 🇺🇦🤘
Would love to hear Bruce’s solo career. Also can you do one on Roy Z. He has played with Bruce and Halford. Also can you show what he’s doing now. Thanks.
This is one of my favourite Maiden albums with Fear of the Dark being my all time favourite song. I love wasted love because it is so different and here to eternity always gets stuck in my head.
I love the videos and love the grind even while there’s a war in your country thank you so much god bless you
I liked this album, Be Quick Or Be Dead was an outstanding opening track, artwork was amazing
Yes that song is good but i don't like album
Few people realize that Fear of the Dark was the first Maiden album recorded in digital instead of analogic (CD technology) hence permitting more time of music.
Fear of the Dark is 15 minutes longer than the average 80s and No Prayer albums... This means putting fillers like The Apparition and Week-end Warrior and that explains your "compilation sounding" theory 😉 More you add songs, more it s difficult to maintain the strong homogenous material and vibe of an album.
Up the Irons!🤘
This might be an explanation. However, if you know can put more material on an album, you also know you need to spend more time and effort to make a proper album. You are only bringing up a weak excuse for not having enough creativity in the band back then. Other bands have no issue with creating consistent albums close to 80min long.
Every maiden album has filler. But with this one being a double vinyl release it has a bit more filler than the previous records imo
@@1BioMarco modern iron maiden albums are too long, modern Metallica albums are too long. both bands could easily chop the albums in half and have more material to release for years to come, instead of piling on double album after double album. it's too much sometimes
@@no_stick_drummer2735 You are probably right with Maiden, although I enjoyed especially the last 2 albums a lot. And the band is at an age where I'm eally wondering what you mean with "safe material for years to come" - how many albums are you still expecting from Maiden? The time between albums increased more and more, it was 6 years between Book of Souls and Senjutsu. On one hand enough time to write good material and be creative but on the other hand certainly also no time to hold any material back. For what should they? There will be max 1-2 albums for Maiden before they will retire because of health issues of one of the band mates. Nicko gets 70 in 3 weeks and the next Maiden album would come earliest in 5 years if the band keeps their pace...
Anyway, your comment is actually confirming what I wrote, just from a different angle. My second all-time favourite band is Dream Theater and all the many side projects associated with this band, especially around Mike Portnoy (their ex-drummer), who is handling 5 bands in parallel and is not showing any sign of losing creativity. This said, I'm used to high quality, complex prog metal music that completely fills single CD albums with ease. There is no lack of creativity, the music just flows. And if a song gets 30min long, then it's 30min long. And if there is too much music for a single CD, then it becomes a double CD. Just to explain from where I'm coming from.
The increase in available space on a CD for Fear of the Dark as primary release medium should not be an excuse for putting weaker songs on it. Fear of the Dark was not even 60min long, a CD fits up to 80min. If you know there is more space or more material expected, just write and prepare more before you enter the studio. I don't think Iron Maiden did put tracks on this album just to blow it up on purpose. They were convinced they made the right choice and selection of songs. And I love this album with each of these songs. Even if there were tensions in the band and zero collaboration between Bruce and Steve. This album is THE Maiden album for me that came out when I was 17. I experienced no other Maiden release before or after with that intensity and passion.
And Metallica? Who is Metallica? I remember a band that stopped making good metal music after their black album and went commercial afterwards. IMO this band is completely overrated nowadays. Although the new solo project from Kirk sounds really very interesting and proggy to me.
Okay... who will spot a blooper which shouldn't have been included in the video? 🤣
8:30 ?
But still. 😅
Angel of the Gambler?
Awesome video!! It would be awesome if you do a video of why Bruce left and his solo carrer
I guess it goes to show how closely music is linked to personal experience and nostalgia ( I discovered Maiden in 1990 at 11 years old) but No Prayer and Fear are 2 of my favourite albums. Period.
I'd watch a video about Bruce leaving and his solo career, although most probably know the story pretty well. What isn't well-known (and would make for a good video) is the story of Blaze's firing. The Maiden camp has never officially spoken about it, but Blaze had a biography written of his Blaze Bayley Band by his then-drummer, Lawrence Paterson, which is a pretty good read (AT THE END OF THE DAY). It's pretty much the only source where anyone talks about what happened, and includes stories about the troubles Blaze had on The X Factour (for instance, why he was stuck in one spot onstage through most of each show), the meeting in which he was fired, and how his then-management team @ Sanctuary decided it was a great idea to launch Silicon Messiah in extremely close proximity to Brave New World, and wouldn't let him tour the album for months.
JUDAS BE MY GUIDE is one of my favourite Iron Maiden songs off any of their albums...classic Maiden.
Good to have you back. I hope all is well.
I was at a wedding and they play The Angel and the Gambler. I didn't know how to react. Crappy music all night... then some Maiden.... but...
Glory to Ukraine!
Героям Слава! Thank you! Trying to bring the channel back to live amidst all this madness ;)
Я не люблю Россию.
@@xjapan3
Я не виню тебя.
It was the 2nd Maiden album I bought, and the 1st on CD! Haha! Spent many a time listening to it over and over again on a boombox in my mates garden that summer. Fantastic album!
Amazing album and my interest into Iron Maiden starts there ;) Great artwork too. Other works of Melvyn Grant for Maiden are really good as well in my opinion: Death on the Road life album or Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg single. I super like Judas Be My Guide and I think it is one of the most underrated IM songs. BUT I cannot agree with you about Wasting Love :) Super nice track accompanied with professional video which is not so common for Maiden. And it's a very rare single (hard to get especially NL version on CD)
In '93 I wasn't having a good time. I saw the video for FotD and felt a bit better because at least Maiden was still out there. It still has such a special place in my heart today.
My dad introduced me to Iron Maiden and sorta metal itself by fear of the dark so it’s got a very special place in my heart
When Angel and the Gambler started I suddenly started headbanging as if it were a right tune, then i realised what it was!
I'd love to see you do a piece on Bruce Dickinson's solo career! That would be awesome!!
Fear of the Dark is not a great album, but the song is magnificent. I seen them on the last tour with my eldest son. Tremendous show. That was the first time I had seen them since the 1980s. Should be in the HOF.
Fear of the Dark, the song, is one of the sleepers on the album! Judas my Guide, Chains of Misery, or From Here to Eternity are much better songs in my opinion.
16 songs were written for Fear Of The Dark, I really wanna listen to these 4 that were dropped
Thanks for another thoughtful video. I think that Fear of the Dark is a very good album with about 5 songs that stand the test of time: Be Quick, Fear of the Dark, Afraid to Shoot Strangers, Here to Eternity, and Wasting Love (honorable mention to Judas Be my Guide & The Fugitive). Regarding Wasting Love, I think it's a powerful song both musically and lyrically (as well as one of Maiden's best videos). The refreshing realism of the song is also in line with a number of other tracks on the album (e.g. Be quick or Be Dead and Afraid to shoot strangers). Regarding BD's voice, if anything, the emergent dark raspiness reminded me more of Brian Johnson than PD (listen to Here to Eternity with that reference in mind). Finally, the title track is in my top five Maiden song of all time (so any IM album that produces an instant classic has my vote). Anyway, stay safe and may your country know better days.
When the album came out, I had “moved on” to other genres, getting into a lot of industrial and grunge. So, I never heard the album until years later. It’s not one I listen to a lot, but it’s not terrible by any means. I should listen to it again, soon.
I never was into grunge (except for the Melvins), but around the same time I was listening to a lot of hardcore rap and was becoming a massive fan of the classic 1970s and '80s industrial music (Throbbing Gristle, Cabaret Voltaire, SPK...). I don't know if that played a part, but Fear Of The Dark was actually the first Maiden album I felt disappointed about when it came out. More so than their previous album, which already was a departure from their '80s style. Now I love both of them.
@@frankj10000 I can totally understand that. If I had continued to listen, I probably would’ve been in the same situation. I had picked up listening to all of those you mentioned.
@@frankj10000 Iron Maiden and the Melvins are at the top of my list. Lol, kind of odd, but I have run into a few people with the odd preference I lean toward. I live in a rural area, and somehow the few kids that were into Maiden were also onto the Misfits and the Melvins. Somehow, it makes sense out here. Moo.
@@saltpeter7429 Lol, I don't have that excuse. Urban German kid. It was just that, as a metal fan in the mid '80s, I quickly became interested in that whole hardcore / crossover stuff that was going on at that time and, by chance, stumbled upon the first Melvins album shortly after release. And the album cover was weird enough for me to buy it, without any prior listening. Never regretted it.
@@saltpeter7429 I always thought if you combined the melvins with iron maiden you'd get mastodon during the leviathan era
It was the last Iron Maiden Album that I ever purchased.
I was 22 years old then. I had purchased every album between Piece of Mind and Fear of the Dark with in a weeks time of thier release date. Piece of mind & Live after Death on LP, Powerade and Somewhere in time on Cassette, and the others on CD.
Honestly; I love both Wasting love and The Angel and the Gambler 🤗
The Maiden logo typeface comes from the poster for David Bowie's film "The Man Who Fell To Earth"
Fear Of The Dark was the album that made me a fan of Iron Maiden, it was the first one i've listened. Today and many albums later, and after discovering Maiden's earlier releases, i recognise it's not the most memorable album, but the title track was so important that in 2005 in the early days part one tour they didn't played it (because it was a tour supposed to feature only songs from first four albums), but people wanted so much to listen to Fear Of The Dark, that in the early days part two tour (the one remembering world slavery tour), they played it and never stopped playing since.
In my opinion "Afraid to shoot strangers" has all the elements to be a metal masterpiece, it just falls short. Had it been done a couple of years before, when Iron Maiden were on the crest of the wave, it may have been truly great. Still love it though
Number of the Beast, through to Fear of the Dark, are my favourite albums - and the only ones I am interested in. Been a fan now for 30+ years.
I think Fear Of The Dark is a kick ass album, I especially like Be Quick Or Be Dead. That whole album brings back found memories in my life 🤘🏼
Superficial Lyriics In some places and otherwise boring lyrics throughout the alb. But I take your point, we all have rose coloured glasses, when remembering when we think about the 1st album experience, with a band and, especially maiden
Fear of the Dark was my 1st Iron Maiden album back in the 90's i was only 12 years old and i love it till this day
Fear of the dark is the album with which I discovered Iron Maiden. I actually love Afraid to shoot strangers, I started playing guitar just after I heard this song.
LOVE the live version of the title song, it was what got me into Maiden. After finally getting the studio album it was not the juggernaut I was expecting. Bruce sounds tired and uninspired, no wonder he left afterward. Brave New World was a fresh start and you can hear it again in his voice.
It was my first Maiden album, and that was in the days when a new album cost me my hard-earned newspaper-delivering cash - so a much rarer an event than listening to new music in the streaming era - and it would be listened to intensively.
Be Quick or Be Dead had been the prompt to buy it, but Afraid to Shoot Strangers became a favourite pretty quickly. The title track was one of those later-realised favourites, after not listening for a while then coming back, possibly in the context of - by that time - knowing the live version. And Judas Be My Guide - that was quite the dark horse: pretty good on first listen, but actually probably the enduring favourite all these years later.
That said, for all this having been my first, I'm sure I'd have found another way in if it had never come to be. I can say what my highs and lows of FOTD are, but I honestly just don't care that much about it any more. It feels dated, not classic. If they'd just released their 80s albums then called it a day, then I think - for me - that would have been perfect.
Pilgrim - if you do cover Bruce's solo stuff, please do cover his live performance of "Jerusalem" with Jethro Tull.
Really neat video, and he's always great live! Up the Irons!
Fear of the dark was my first album which came out new after I got into Maiden so it is very special for me.
I loved this album when it came out, and I still love it.
Plus one for chains for misery. Great song. Awesome analysis. Thank you.
The Fear of the Dark track is what got me into Iron Maiden in 2001 after hearing it in a club, and the Fear of the Dark album was my first Iron Maiden purchase. Subsequently, I have bought every Maiden album, and seen them live 3 times.
Bought day it dropped on cassette and listened a lot back in ‘92. However, not one I reach for too often. I actually prefer No Prayer more, another one I bought on cassette when it dropped and still listen to. Also, I am a Janick fan.
If Fear of the Dark was edited down to its best 45 minutes of "KIller, no filler" material, it would be as good as anything that came before it
Youre right 8-9 Songs
What do you mean "Wasting Love" is boring?! I love that song! The entire album is one of my most favorites from the band in fact. 🤘🏻
Like the Black album released nine months earlier, Fear of the Dark took a while to grow on me. It's certainly not my favorite, but listening to it now is more a sentimental thing, bringing back fond memories. Favorite tracks are Be quick or be dead, Childhood end, Wasting Love, The Fugitive, The Apparition and the title track.
Very interesting take on the album. It's definitely better than No Prayer for the Dying. It pales in comparison to Brave New World. I had no idea bout the acoustic thing. That would have been weird but good. I'd love to hear your take on his solo albums. His last three were phenomenal.
I think Fear of the Dark is actually good because it's big variety, yet, that's also what makes many people dislike it. It's an album that will make you have some favorites and that you'll deeply dislike some songs and often skip them when listening, but also, it, because of that, have more chances to have a song that'll make someone like it.
Yes please do a Bruce solo career vid.👍
I would love to hear your take on Bruce's solo work.
That's when I first heard Iron Maiden,same with bands like Metallica,Guns N Roses,Van Halen, Aerosmith and Megadeth it was that era between 1989 to 1992 where I started paying attention to details of the albums where listening to this music in the 80s as a little kid I only knew the bands and songs and that was it. But I started going through their previous albums that came before.
Judas be my guide, Childhood's end , Chains of Misery all great songs imo and yes please do an episode on Bruce's solo work
*Fear of the Dark* is a GREAT album with very good songs, but my favourites will always be *7th Son of a 7th Son* and *Somewhere in Time* .
And even so, I still really much enjoy the experience of blasting the entire Fear Of The Dark album on my Technics stereo.
PS: My neighbors may not agree, but they can stuff it. 😅
It was a cold rainy morning when I was walking to school. My friend let me borrow a cd by "a band I should really check out". While walking & listening to my cd player walkman, the 1st song that caught my attention was Be Quick or Be Dead. Those guitar riffs ripped my brain into shreds! For the longest time I didn't know what album it was on. After some research I found out it was on Fear of the Dark. I finally decided to give the album a listen. I did NOT like it.
BUT.. being patient and appreciating the album for what it is, it grew on me! Yes there are some terrible songs on it. But there are some absolute gems too! Obviously Be Quick, Fear of the Dark & Judas be My Guide are great. Wasting love is actually not too bad, and Childhoods End really spoke to me. The twin guitar riffs after the solos remind me to appreciate my son right now, as a child and not to rush him into adulthood because once he's grown.. that's it. You can't go back to those simpler times. Fear of the Dark is very hit & miss. But when it hits.. it hits fuckin' hard!
Love listening to all of maidens exploits & journeys ...fotd is a classic song for me love to crank it ...I can always count on maiden to get me in the zone & bouncing around ...been a fan since their inception...absolutely love the first two albums , iron maiden & killers & haven't been let down with any release of theirs their is always a few songs on each album that are true maiden & their live show is something to experience.
Thankyou for the commentary & opinion ...it was interesting to hear your views ...sorry about the crap going on in this world that puts you & your country in danger such a sad thing & I hope it comes to an end soon ...no matter what people's opinions are enjoy the journey maiden takes you on & the songs they release because they are one of the best in my opinion & I am glad to see what they grow into next hopefully ...up the irons ...Peace be with us all..much love
It's really a happy and amazing feeling to see you doing videos again. Slava Ukraini from Brazil!
Childhood's End was one of my favorites.
Judas be my Guide may be my favorite song on the album. I’ve always had mixed emotions about the title track, but I realize it should only be listen to live. The guitar solo on Wasting Love is one of the most thoughtful in the entire catalog. I’ve never gotten any enjoyment from Afraid to Shoot Strangers. There’s something about that track that never clicked for me. Personally, I’d have it ahead of Afraid, Prayer, Virtual, Factor, and Souls.
Oh yes please, can you do Bruce's solo stuff,.....pretty please🥺
Up the mighty Irons 🤘🤘🤘🤘
I love every single song on this great album, equally, UP THE IRONS!!!!!!!!!!!
Maiden has never released a "bad" record IMO, but 'Fear Of The Dark is as close as it gets to "bad". For them, anyway :)
The title track is a classic, of course, and there's 2 -3 other good tracks on this record, but the rest are Clunkers.
Totally agree with the “never a bad record” sentiment. Even their worst albums are still worth listening to, even the Blaze era.
Yes it is, all newers are garbages, nothing but garbages
No Virtual XI takes the cake.
Man, I love Wasting Love. Be Quick or Be Dead, the title song, Afraid To Shoot Strangers, From Here To Eternity, Judas Be My Guide, Chains Of Misery... there's a lot of great songs. I really don't understand your opinion on the album overall. Nowadays they never get the same level of song charisma on their albums.
Agreed that Chains of Misery and Judas My Guide are great, but I have a soft spot for the acoustic guitar on Wasting Love.
FotD was the last Iron Maiden studio album I bought (I bought the Real Live/Read Dead albums and saw them at Donnington on the FotD tour) as it marked a clear departure from the old Iron Maiden that I liked. For me the first 5 studio albums are the best, and the first 2 are my favourites.
For me it's one of the 3 best, but my favorites are Fear of the Dark, and Somewhere in Time, followed by Seventh Son and Powerslave, so I guess every person will have different tastes.
The oldtimers will prefer the Fear of the Dark because they miss those initial albums, and will always say "bla bla they don't make albums like in the good old days bla bla", people like me that started listening to them after Powerslave will have different tastes, and we can't discuss tastes.
And it has to do with the kind of music each person loves also, for example I love Paradise Lost's Icon, a very atmospheric album, others will love old-school Iron Maiden albums that look more like hard-rock, etc.
But for me it's probably their best or one of their best 2 albums, maybe Fear of the Dark and Somewhere in Time.
Actually, Steve said he didn't give Jan or Blaze a writing credit on their first Maiden albums. hence no credit for Jan on NPFTD and none for Blaze on X-Factor
The 1992 Fear of The Dark Music Video: compiling the Helsinki audio with Donington Parks Show images are one of the best visual band video edit.
I really appreciate Fear of The Dark. I wish they would play The Fugitive and Childhood's End, which is one of my favorite, alongside the title track and Afraid To Shoot Strangers.
And by the way, I like wasting love (and The Angel and The Gambler, just with it was less repetitive).
When you combine album sales, singles, streams and formats, Fear of the Dark has outsold Somewhere in Time and Seventh Son
I’d like a show on what Bruce did as a soloist
Wasting Love boring? It is a flawless well made love ballad
Blows my mind so many people hate no prayer for the dying or fear of the dark.
Let me put this straight (( no band should make music for their fans)).
((You are a fan because you like their music)). When band start making music they think their fans want. You are no longer a band you're just a slave to the grind. Deal with it
i remember they released be quick or be dead as first song & video off this LP
BQOBD is really fun to play on guitar, that main riff is just great.
Also Wasting Love has Iron Maidens best guitar solo so surprised to see you shitting on it.
It was 100% the climax. It was the first album that had some iffy songs. It was all down hill from there until the Fucking nuclear return that was Brave New World. Holy shit dude what a comeback that was. Nothing but bangers ever since.
My opinion of this is overlooked. Titled tracked song, The Fugitive, Be quick or be dead, From here to eternity and more. Ok it’s underrated.
When i hear the song on the radio i change channel as fast as i can... played to often killed it.
I think 'Fear of the Dark' is a song which sums Maiden up better than Steve Harris's preferred 'Hallowed be thy Name'. I still love the album. Also, you rightly point out that it is a double album, however, the band claimed, when 'Book of Souls' came out, that it, not 'FOTD' was the first double. Odd! Still, FOTD was, I think, a groundbreaking album, for songs like 'Childhood's End,' Wasting Love' and 'The Apparition'. A bitter sweet album, in retrospect, but I still love hearing the title track live.
Thanks for your posts. Stay strong man!
Fear of the Dark is an album that exists. I don't hate it, I don't love it, it is there. I never look forward to listening to it like I do with Powerslave, but I still listen to it.
Maybe if the best songs of No Prayer and Fear of the Dark would form one single album called "No Prayer for the Dark" or "Fear of the Dying", it would sit confortable between the classic era. But those 2 records suffer of the problem of having good songs and bad songs intertwined. I mean, actually I like all songs in No Prayer and 80% of the songs of Fear of the Dark, but the fact that I like it, it doesn't mean I can't see that much of the songs could be a lot better.
My "No Prayer for the Dark" song list would be:
1- Be Quick or Be Dead
2- Public Enema Number One
3- Fates Warning
4- Afraid to Shoot Strangers
5- Judas Be My Guide
6- Bring Your Daughter to the Slaughter
7- Chains of Misery
8- Mother Russia
9- The Fugitive
10 - Fear of The Dark
PS: I love Running Silent Running Deep, The Assassin, Tailgunner, Hooks in You, From Here To Eternity, Wasting Love, Fear is the Key, Childhoods End, I could probably switch any of the 10 songs with these, the only songs that really can't make it are Holy Smoke, The Apparition and Weekend Warrior, though I like Holy Smoke, but it's the weakest track of No Prayer.
Didn’t like it then, but I love it now, chains of misery is my favorite track.
Love you man may God bless you 🙏
Thank you!
I was 16 when Fear of the Dark was released and had been a fan since Somewhere in time. At the time, in the UK, it felt like a resurgence for Maiden after No Prayer. Be Quick or Be Dead did very well as a single and the thrashy vibe seemed to be well received by the fans and the press. I think on the whole the vibe at the time was optimistic. Nowadays I find it difficult to listen to the entire album. I do agree that Afraid to Shoot Strangers and the title track have effectively set the blue print for what Iron Maiden became in the 90s and beyond, and I don’t necessarily mean that as a compliment, as their albums and songs have become overly long and repetitious. These days it’s the shorter, quirkier tracks like The Apparition and especially Judas Be My guide that I enjoy occasionally revisiting.
please do a vid on bruces solo career
As someone who grew up with classic Maiden, these two entries were controlled downgrades of Maiden's declining career in the light of changes in the day. That being said, many individual tracks stand up strong to this day, but listening to these as a single piece is hard to do.
I was sucked up in to the death metal wave of the late 80’s early 90’s so when I heard FOTD I was a bit disappointed. I wanted something hard and technical like 7Th Son or SIT instead I got a bunch of short and seemingly commercial sounding material. As with a few albums in my time, as I got older my tastes changed. I love this album now. It has a wide breath of diversity which is refreshing when I want to hear something different from the band. When I’m in the mood for less epic tracks I reach for this album or NPFTD, they both have very snappy songs that come and go very quickly and efficiently. It’s a nice change of pace at times…
I absolutely love this album and Fear of the Dark is probably my all-time favourite Maiden song.
Bruce video, YES (:
It’s an album that is 50:50. When it hits it hits hard but the filler is NPFTD level dross. The title track is still huge and up with their best. I’d love to. See you do vids on the Big Bruce albums Accident of Birth and Chemical Wedding, those are the two albums that I think motivated Rod Smallwood to get Bruce back into Maiden. My favourite track on FOTD is the title track.