The Metal masses have once again emerged with Iron Maiden’s greatest hits package, "Edward the Great". When this reviewer first heard this CD, I wanted to guage the reactions and vibes that other listeners such as I remember from way back when these songs were first released on vinyl , would exhibit. Of course, I wanted to see if this particular type of Metal could hold up to the styles of Metal that are now prevalent in this era. And what better way than to go on lengthy road trip to a football game in Southern California to watch the Oakland Raiders play against the San Diego Chargers. We hung out in the parking lot and unmercifully cranked the car stereo up to relentless levels and played the entire album twice before the game and once after the game. The results were in. They still rock! Both old and young fans alike came over, asking, “Hey is that Maiden? Crank it up!"and "Play 'Run to the Hills'", "No! Play 'The Number of the Beast" instead!"

I couldn’t believe the massive support and impact this band still has on the Metal Generation. Now that Metal has progressed immeasureably to NuVocal tones of undistinguishable roars and shredding of guitars, Iron Maiden stands as a model of Rock Metal. In their heyday, Iron Maiden was and still are the true talent of the Metal militia. With Bruce Dickinson ( a respectable fencer in Europe and who flies commercial jumbo jets) on vocals, one who is considered one of the great Metal singers of all time and Steve Harris,one of the best Metal/Rock bassist in the genre, Iron Maiden still hold the reigns tightly in Metal.

With such time tested Metal hits albums such as "Killers", "The Number of the Beast", "Piece of Mind", "Powerslave", and my personal favorite, their debut album, "Iron Maiden", with Paul Di`Anno, it's easy to see that this band has created the defining rules of Metal Rock. that many abide by. It really doesn’t seem so long ago that I witnessed this band open for UFO. Iron Maiden have since run mayhem thorughtout the world of Rock for over two decades. Check out "Fear of the Dark", the very last track of this CD and you can hear the intensity and hold that Iron Maiden have on their fans.

Unfortunately, Iron Maiden was rarely ever given much needed play time over the air waves of radio because of their gothically morbid lyrics. Hey, it was the 80s and Nancy Reagan said to "Just say no", but if you were like me, you stayed up late, til the witching hour, and waited for just that one DJ who would play their songs and the quest would be finally accomplished, banging your head unmercifully to the beats of "The Trooper", or the mad head slinging of "The Clairvoyant". And who can forget the simultaneous head banging with your friends in the car was listening to "Bring your Daughter…To the Slaughter". Damn! That was some killer stuff. Iron Maiden was the Metal Band that all the other Metal bands compared themselves with. They truly separated the men from the boys.

On this CD, you have a collection of re-mastered versions of their greatest hits. I can just hear those Fender Stratocasters with their beefed up pickups like they're right in front of me.

As a fan, I want to award this disc with five stars but, being a fan, I know twenty other song selections that should have been included on this CD. But there will alway sbe those complaints on every 'Greatest Hits' package ever produced. This CD is very well produced with the sound significantly better than their original quality due to the remastering of their recordings.

The 22-page booklet provided with the CD is an excellent document for the old and new fans alike. It provides a special message from the band's infamous leader, Steve Harris as well as lyrics and a detailed history of every song. Of course, Iron Maiden wouldn't be Iron Maiden without their ghoulish mascot known throughout the world as Eddie if he didn't grace the cover with yet another pose for the ages.

True Maiden lovers, you need to purchase the meticulously complete box set just released called "Eddie's Archive" with BBC Archive, Beast Over Hammersmith & Best of the B-sides as well as this sampler and intro collection. But that is another review.

Eddie Rules.

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Iron Maiden
Edward the Great

Released: November 26, 2002
Origination Year: 2002
Time: 71:47
Tracks: 16
Produced by: Various
Engineered by: Various
Mastered by: ?
Style: Studio/Compilation
Format: CD
Enhancement: None
Label: Legacy
Website:
www.ironmaiden.com

Run to the Hills
The Number of the Beast
Flight of Icarus
The Trooper
2 Minutes to Midnight
Wasted Years
Can I Play With Madness
The Evil That Men Do
The Clairvoyant
Infinite Dreams
Holy Smoke
Bring Your Daughter...To the Slaughter
Man on the Edge
Futureal
The Wicker Man
Fear of the Dark (Live)