Best Tune on "No Prayer for the Dying" by Iron Maiden

No Prayer for the Dying



Recorded (IN A f*cking BARN) June – September 1990 at Barnyard Studios, Essex, England
Released Oct 1 1990
Produced by Martin Birch

Tunes

Tailgunner
Holy Smoke
No Prayer for the Dying
Public Enema No. 1
Fates Warning
The Assassin
Run Silent Run Deep
Hooks in You
Bring Your Daughter...to the Slaughter
Mother Russia

Adrian is out and Janick is in.

So, believe it or not, I decided to give this album a whirl before posting the poll because I've never heard the entire thing due to all the hostile reaction. All I had heard beforehand was Tailgunner, Holy Smoke, and Daughter. I gotta say, it's not actually a terrible record--but it certainly is their weakest hour. In fact, Hooks in You has to be the WORST Maiden tune I've heard so far--that is an insanely annoying, rambling piece. And some of the numbers just kind of come and go like they were thrown together in a rush. The production here is hollow and canned as ever (I mean, a barn for god's sake; it may have worked with Neil Young but not a good idea for these lads). It seems they were going for a more in-your-face hard rock sound, what with Bruce's added vocal grit and some AC/DC-esque riffing. But there are good songs here--Tailgunner is rather rad (my vote), Holy Smoke is fun, The Assassin is slick and threatening, Run Silent Run Deep has some great lyrical work, Daughter is just a good 'ol headbanger, and Mother Russia is totally Harris. I think this record deserves a little more than all the hate I've been hearing, and some songs would be great additions to their setlists.

Plus I just love Janick's style. Dude was/is an amazing replacement/addition to the band.

"Tailgunner" for me. The band sounds like they have run out of steam on this one, and it didn't help that traditional metal had almost completely faded from the scene at this point in time.

I really liked this whole album but I chose Holy Smoke.

I'm going to listen to this for the first time before voting but from the two songs I know, I like Holy Smoke, it sounds like a DiAnno era song and I can always imagine Paul spitting out those lyrics. Bring Your Daughter is a f*cking abomination! On hearing that song I thought 'I'm out!' and I never went back, it was the end of the line with me and Iron Maiden (it had been dwindling since Powerslave)

But in the spirit of these threads I'll give it a listen, if I can make it through Jugulator I can make it through this!

Boris2008 wrote:

I'm going to listen to this for the first time before voting but from the two songs I know, I like Holy Smoke, it sounds like a DiAnno era song and I can always imagine Paul spitting out those lyrics.

Bruce seems to be channeling Paul here and there. Some of these tunes would be a nice fit for him.

Holy Smoke and the title track are pretty good, the rest bored me, the band sound bored on this one.

Went for the title track.

Run Silent Run Deep. This one gets a lot of hate but I don't mind the album.

I'm not a big fan of this album. I really like the song "Mother Russia", though. That song has my vote.

Holy Smoke for me!

Run Silent Run Deep

I love this album.

Their worst album. I don't hate it, but it's pretty bland.

Best track is any one of the first three. Since it's not multiple choice, I guess I'll go with Holy Smoke.

Just finished listening to this in it's entirety for the very first time. I was only familiar with the songs that were on the Maiden DVD's that came out a while back.

I guess "Tail gunner"

This too was a rough listen.

The title track for me.

I actually like this album! It pairs up nicely with Bruce's Tattooed Millionaire record. They definitely lean more toward hard rock than metal, but I don't mind...
I went with Tailgunner, but I also like Holy Smoke a lot too.

Going with "Tailgunner" although it's quite repetitive. I really like the guitar riffs in that one. "Hooks In You" is pretty catchy, too.

I had this on cassette back when it came out, but ended up selling it. I just couldn't get into it and I was starting to like other styles of music at that time. I don't remember the songs at all except "Bring Your Daughter..." (Ugh). I guess I didn't listen to it much back in the day.

"Tailgunner," even tho it's basically "Aces High II: Electric Boogaloo"

voted for BYDttS but NPFD is gr8 tune also.
shame that they didnt play anything from this albim since 2003

I only really dislike Hooks in You. Everything else ranges from tolerate to really enjoy. That kinda blows, though, because one expects Maiden to deliver high caliber material.

My favorite track is Public Enema No. 1. With the title track being a close second.

Mother Russia kills, too.

I went with Holy Smoke.

I actually have always liked this album. And, I love Bring Your Daughter to the Slaughter!

I spun this a second time today, and I gotta say--I really, really like it. Hell, it's better than Seventh Son in my book (I know, bold statement right). Assassin is a complete throwback tune that could've been on Killers, Fates Warning has a sinister drive to it, I love the lyrics to Run Silent, and Public Enema is chock full of hooks. Hooks in You is still awful the second time around (actually it's worse), and I'll always be a proponent for Daughter, I think it's a wickedly fun number. The whole album is rather focused and tight, especially regarding the state of affairs at the time.

I'm wondering, why all the hate for this album? So I thought of a few things that may have tarnished its reputation:

a) the shoddy mix
b) the press
c) Adrian's absence
d) condensed song length (the title track cuts off way too soon)

Thoughts?

corplhicks wrote:

I'm wondering, why all the hate for this album? So I thought of a few things that may have tarnished its reputation:

a) the shoddy mix
b) the press
c) Adrian's absence
d) condensed song length (the title track cuts off way too soon)

Thoughts?

All of those and the fact that Iron Maiden and their brand of metal was no longer cutting edge and they were viewed as yesterday's news.  See also Dio - Lock Up The Wolves for a doppleganger.

I voted "Tailgunner" but I also really like the title track and "Assassin" and "Bring Your Daughter" are good songs as well. Every know and again I get the hankerin' to hear this one and I spin it and the same thing always happens- I get a few songs in and I grow bored and hold on until "Daughter" comes on and shut it off.

Fat Freddy wrote:

"Tailgunner," even tho it's basically "Aces High II: Electric Boogaloo"

Not one of my favorite Maiden albums but I still like it. It's a toss up between the title track and Run Silent. I went with Run Silent by a hair.