20. Bring Your Daughter… To The Slaughter (1990)
The only Maiden track to actually hit UK No.1. Bonkers title, campy as hell, but somehow it slaps like a dragon’s tail. 🐉
19. The Clansman (1998)
From the Blaze Bayley era, but fans STILL chant “FREEDOM!!!” at gigs like it’s Braveheart on steroids. Epic and underrated.
18. Infinite Dreams (1988)
A slow-burner off Seventh Son. Bruce’s vocals here? Lush, spine-tingling stuff.
17. Murders in the Rue Morgue (1981)
Di’Anno-era Maiden – raw, punky, and proper dirty. Eddie’s teeth were as sharp as the riffs back then. 🦷⚡
16. Prowler (1980)
The first track on their debut. You can feel NWOBHM being born.
15. 2 Minutes to Midnight (1984)
Cold War paranoia set to an absolute arena anthem. Still relevant, sadly.
14. The Wicker Man (2000)
Maiden’s big comeback single. A festival pit favourite – all singalong and fists in the air.
13. Aces High (1984)
Scream it with me: “Run! Live to fly! Fly to live! Do or die!!!” 🛩️ Perfect opener.
12. Flight of Icarus (1983)
A rare short and sharp Maiden single. America lapped it up. Bruce soaring like… well, Icarus.
11. Where Eagles Dare (1983)
Nicko McBrain’s first Maiden track. That drum intro? POW! A proper job. 🥁
10. Wasted Years (1986)
Adrian Smith’s masterpiece – nostalgic, melodic, perfect for pint-swinging in the crowd. 🍺
9. Phantom of the Opera (1980)
Seven minutes of pure NWOBHM glory. Still one of the best early Maiden epics.
8. Hallowed Be Thy Name (1982)
Bruce’s storytelling at its peak. If you don’t get goosebumps, check your pulse.
7. Fear of the Dark (1992)
Live version >>> studio version. The crowd singalong is legendary – spine-tingling stuff, mun! 🎤
6. Run to the Hills (1982)
Probably the Maiden song for casual fans – galloping bass, soaring chorus, war-cry energy.
5. The Evil That Men Do (1988)
Seventh Son brilliance. Big hooks, bigger choruses, a live staple.
4. Children of the Damned (1982)
Haunting, heavy, dramatic – one of Maiden’s best deep cuts.
3. Powerslave (1984)
Egyptian mysticism, heavy riffs, Bruce wailing like a Pharaoh rising from the tomb. 🏺
2. Number of the Beast (1982)
The song that caused Tipper Gore and American church groups to lose their minds. Satan never sounded so catchy. 😈
1. The Trooper (1983)
Galloping bass, duelling guitars, Bruce waving the Union Jack like a man possessed. The ultimate Maiden track. End of. 🏇⚔️
💀 Honourable Mentions: “Alexander the Great” (still waiting live, lads 👀), “Seventh Son of a Seventh Son,” “Stranger in a Strange Land,” “Revelations,” “Die With Your Boots On.”
C’mon then, butt – did I nail this list, or are you about to shout “OI! WHERE’S RHYME OF THE ANCIENT MARINER?!” at me? 😅
Michael is the founder, editor, and chief riff wrangler behind The Riff Report, an independent Welsh rock and metal publication built by fans, for fans. With a lifelong passion for loud guitars, unforgettable live shows, and the incredible community that surrounds rock and metal, he created The Riff Report to celebrate everything that makes the scene special—from legendary headline acts and grassroots venues to rising bands that deserve to be heard.
A familiar face at festivals across the UK, Michael spends much of the year covering events including Download Festival, Bloodstock Open Air, Steelhouse Festival, Firevolt, Plumpton Revival, and many more. Whether he’s battling the Welsh weather on a mountainside, surviving a weekend in a muddy campsite, or squeezed against the front barrier with thousands of fellow fans, he’s always searching for the next great story to share.
As editor of The Riff Report, Michael writes festival guides, breaking news, album reviews, gig reviews, interviews, opinion pieces, nostalgia features, and behind-the-scenes stories from across the rock and metal world. His writing combines honest opinions, humour, and a genuine love for live music, bringing readers closer to the bands, festivals, venues, and people that keep the scene alive.
Michael is particularly passionate about supporting independent artists, local venues, charities, and the wider UK rock and metal community. He believes every band deserves a chance to be discovered and every festival has a story worth telling. Through The Riff Report, he aims to shine a spotlight on both the biggest names in rock and the future stars waiting to break through.
When he’s not writing or interviewing artists, you’ll probably find him exploring festival campsites, photographing live shows, chatting with fellow fans over a pint, or planning the next road trip in search of more riffs, bigger crowds, and unforgettable moments.
Above all, Michael believes rock and metal are about more than music—they’re about community, friendship, and creating memories that last a lifetime. That’s exactly what The Riff Report exists to celebrate.
Proudly Welsh. Proudly Loud. Always chasing the next great riff. 🤘
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