The Number of the Beast is the third album by the English heavy metal band Iron Maiden. It was released on 22 March 1982 in the US by Harvest and Capitol Records, and on 29 March 1982 in the UK by EMI Records. Owing to his previous band Samson's ongoing contractual issues, Dickinson could not legally have any writing credit. The recording and mixing of the album had to be completed in only five weeks, after the band had spent too long constructing the new songs. This was allegedly because the group were for the first time creating a new album from scratch, with very little material written prior to the record's pre-production stage. However, live recordings show that five of the album's songs had been premiered live already at a few shows towards the end of the Killer World Tour in November and December 1981. Given that "Invaders" is a re-write of an earlier song, "Invasion", this suggests only two tracks – the title track and "Gangland" – originated after the 1981 tour ended.
Music press reports told stories of unexplained phenomena occurring during the sessions at Battery Studios, such as lights turning on and off of their own accord, and the recording gear mysteriously breaking down. These odd occurrences climaxed with Birch being involved in a car accident with a mini-bus transporting a group of nuns, after which he was presented with a repair bill for £666.
According to US professor Bryan A. Bardine, "this album evokes power, passion and music that present darker themes and images."
The artwork has been parodied by crossover thrash band Stormtroopers of Death for the cover of their 1999 album Bigger than the Devil, and on a T-shirt by Streetwear brand Diamond Supply Co.
"It's probably thick," remarked Kiss bassist Gene Simmons of the sleeve. "It's probably got elves and dragons holding it up!"
In 2015, this cover art makes an appearance in the "Speed of Light" music video depicting Eddie fighting Satan (now known as "The Beast") in a form of Mortal Kombat video game.
Songs
"Run to the Hills" was released as a single on 12 February 1982, two weeks before Iron Maiden's UK tour, acting as a preview for the forthcoming album, which would not be released until two days after the British dates ended. Released alongside a music video, made using live footage and clips from Buster Keaton films, the single performed remarkably well, earning the band their first top ten entry in the UK Singles Chart.
While the title track was considered by many religious groups in the United States as evidence that Iron Maiden was a Satanic band, the song was in fact inspired by a nightmare that bassist Steve Harris had, triggered by watching the film Damien: Omen II late at night. In addition, Harris has stated that the lyrics were also influenced by Robert Burns' Tam o' Shanter. Although the liner notes state that the passage is from Revelation 13:18,
The closing song "Hallowed Be Thy Name" has remained in all but three of the band's setlists since the album's recording (the only exceptions being the Maiden England World Tour 2012–14, the second leg of the Book of Souls World Tour in 2017, and the Future Past World Tour in 2023). On his last radio show for BBC Radio 6, during a segment in tribute to the late Ronnie James Dio, Dickinson mentioned that Children of the Damned was inspired by Black Sabbath's "Children of the Sea".
"The Prisoner" was inspired by the British TV show of the same name, and features dialogue from its title sequence. The band's manager, Rod Smallwood, had to telephone Patrick McGoohan to ask permission to use the audio clips for the song and was extremely hesitant during his conversation with whom Smallwood himself describes as "a real bona fide superstar actor". McGoohan was reported to have said "What did you say the name was? A rock band, you say? Do it." Iron Maiden later made another song based on the series, "Back in the Village" from 1984's Powerslave.
"22 Acacia Avenue", which is the second song in the "Charlotte the Harlot" saga, was originally written by Adrian Smith several years earlier while playing in his old band, Urchin. According to Smith, Steve Harris remembered hearing the song at an Urchin concert in a local park, and modified it for The Number of the Beast album. The Urchin song this song was based on was called "Countdown".
Release and controversy
thumb|left|Bruce Dickinson and Steve Harris performing in 1982. The Beast on the Road tour was marred by several protests organised by religious activists in the US.
The Number of the Beast was released on 22 March 1982 through EMI and its sister label Capitol in the United States. The album was strongly opposed by some social conservatives in the United States, where Iron Maiden were accused of being Satanists. Public burnings of the band's catalogue were organised, although one religious group smashed the records with hammers, for fear of inhaling fumes from burning vinyl. It is unclear whether their caution was based on toxicological or theological concerns. The subsequent tour was subject to boycotts and demonstrations: venues were sometimes surrounded by activists who handed out leaflets and, in one case, a 25-foot cross was carried in protest. the song had actually been written by Harris, Murray, and Burr.
The album was also reissued in 1998 by EMI and Sanctuary/Columbia in the US as an enhanced CD version, which included photos, band history and the music videos for the songs "The Number of the Beast" and "Run to the Hills", in addition to "Total Eclipse", which was restored to the album's track listing (having been excluded from the original edition due to space constraints). This version mistakenly lists the track lengths for "22 Acacia Avenue" and "The Number of the Beast" as 4:49 and 3:50; they are in fact 6:38 and 4:51, respectively.
Reception and legacy
Since its release, the album has received consistent critical acclaim, with AllMusic describing it as "among the top five most essential heavy metal albums ever recorded. A cornerstone of the genre." German reviewer Metal.de added "The Number of the Beast" definitively established Iron Maiden as the undisputed leaders of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. With the exception of one complete dud, the album impresses from start to finish and serves as a masterclass in heavy metal songwriting." Randy of Ultimate Guitar praised the albums instrumentation writing "The musicianship on this album is amazing. Adrian Smith and Dave Murray really gave it their all to make an impression on people, and made some of the most exciting guitar leads and riffs I have ever heard."
Mikesn of Sputnikmusic also gave the album praise stating "The Number of the Beast was Iron Maiden's breakthrough album and a very important one in the band's career. It was their first album to reach #1 in the charts, and spawned hit singles such as the title track and "Run to the Hills", which are still played in concert to this very day. It was instrumental in developing both the band's unique sound, as well as a heavy metal genre just ready to take off." Kerrang! stated that "Number Of The Beast set Iron Maiden on the road to heavy metal glory."
In 1983, Kerrang! published a poll of the greatest metal albums of all time, with Piece of Mind ranking No.1 and The Number of the Beast at No. 2. Q magazine placed the album at No. 100 in its list of the "100 Greatest British Albums Ever" in 2000; in 2001 named it one of the "50 Heaviest Albums of All Time"; and in 2006 placed it at No. 40 in its "40 Best Albums of the '80s" list. In 2002 Spin Magazine dubbed it the 24th greatest metal album of all time. IGN and Metal Rules placed it third and second, respectively, in their lists of the Top Heavy Metal Albums, and Guitar World ranked it at No. 17 on their list of "100 Greatest Guitar Albums of All Time". NME listed the album at No. 14 on its list of 20 Greatest Metal Albums Ever. Classic Rock placed it at No. 15 in their list of the "100 Greatest British Rock Albums", describing it as "the most important metal album of the decade", and it was voted No. 1 in HMV's list of "The Best British Albums of the Past 60 Years" in 2012. The Number of the Beast is one of two Iron Maiden records listed in Robert Dimery's book, 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die (1980's Iron Maiden being the other). In 2017, it was ranked 4th on Rolling Stone list of "100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time". In 2022 it was ranked 4th on Loudwire’s list of the Top 80 Hard Rock + Metal Albums of the 1980s. Number of the Beast ranked number 4th on Metal Hammer Germany’s list of the top 500 metal albums of all time in 2024. Revolver named Number of the Beast the tenth greatest metal album of all time on its list of the 69 Greatest Metal Albums Of All Time.
In 2001, the BBC made a documentary about The Number of the Beast as part of the Classic Albums series, which was released on DVD in the same year.
During the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II on 6 February 1952, The Number of the Beast was voted the best British album of the past 60 years.
In 2022, coinciding with the 40th anniversary of the album's release, Number Of The Beast was named number one of 'The 25 greatest rock guitar albums of 1982' list in Guitar World.
Commercial performance
The Number of the Beast was a big commercial success worldwide. The New York Times reported in 2010 that 14 million copies have been sold and by 2023 it had sold circa 20 million copies worldwide. It was the band's first record to top the UK charts, entering at No.1 on 10 April, maintaining the top position for a further week, and remaining in the Top 75 for a total of 31 weeks. It entered the Billboard 200 at No.150 and peaked at No.33. The album reached the top ten in Austria and Sweden, and No.11 and No.13 in Canada and Norway, respectively.
It was certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) and gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on 4 October 1983 (eventually going platinum in 1986). The album reached No.11 in Germany and was certified gold ten years later. It received a 3× platinum award in Canada for sales exceeding 300,000 units.
The two singles, "Run to the Hills" and the title track, debuted in the UK singles chart at No.7 and No.18, respectively. Both songs entered the Irish Singles Chart in the same order, and reached No.16 and No.19.
Versions and performances by other artists
On 24 October 2002, progressive metal outfit Dream Theater played the original album in its entirety at La Mutualité in Paris, France. The performance was recorded and has been released through the band's YtseJam Records label.
"Children of the Damned" was covered by Swedish band Therion on their 1997 album A'arab Zaraq – Lucid Dreaming. "Run to the Hills" was covered on the tribute album Numbers From The Beast, featuring vocalist Robin McAuley, guitarists Michael Schenker and Pete Fletcher, bassist Tony Franklin and drummer Brian Tichy. A Tribute to the Beast, Vol. 2 features covers of "Children of the Damned", by Sebastian Bach of Skid Row fame, and "Hallowed Be Thy Name", by Iced Earth, who have also covered "Hallowed Be Thy Name" and "The Number of the Beast" on their own album, Tribute to the Gods. "Hallowed Be Thy Name" has also been covered by Machine Head on Maiden Heaven: A Tribute To Iron Maiden, which was released by Kerrang! magazine in 2008, and by Cradle of Filth, while the title track has also been covered by Billy Corgan's band Djali Zwan on the soundtrack of the film Spun. Acoustic reinterpretations of "Children of the Damned" and "22 Acacia Avenue" were included on the album Across The Seventh Sea (2012) by the tribute project Maiden uniteD.
Appearances in other media
Several of the record's songs have been used in video games: "Run to the Hills" is featured in SSX On Tour as the opening theme, Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City, and a cover version is included in Rock Band, the only song in the game listed as 'Impossible' for all instruments. In addition, "The Number of the Beast" (as the original master recording), "Run to the Hills" and "Hallowed Be Thy Name" (the latter being a live recording found on Flight 666) were made downloadable to Rock Band on 8 June 2009; "The Prisoner" was made downloadable on 22 May 2012. "The Number of the Beast" was also featured in Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (master recording), and on Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4. The song features in the film 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple.
Black Kray wears a shirt with the album’s art on the cover of his mixtape “Crack Cloud$ Over Arts Kitchen.”
Track listing
<!-- Do NOT change any song lengths. They are listed here as in Iron Maiden's official website, as well as the original UK release (EMI, EMC 3400) -->
Notes
- Bruce Dickinson was a co-writer on "Children of the Damned", "The Prisoner", and "Run to the Hills", although he could not receive writing credits for contractual reasons.
- Above the song's lyrics in the liner notes, "22 Acacia Avenue" is subtitled "The continuing saga of Charlotte the Harlot".
| title5 = The Number of the Beast
| length5 = 4:25
| title6 = Run to the Hills
| length6 = 3:50
| title7 = Total Eclipse
| writer7 =
| length7 = 4:25
| title8 = Gangland
| writer8 =
| length8 = 3:46
| title9 = Hallowed Be Thy Name
| length9 = 7:08
| total_length = 43:36
Personnel
Production and performance credits are adapted from the album liner notes.
Production
- Martin "Farmer" Birch – production, engineering
- Nigel Hewitt-Green – second engineering
- Derek Riggs – illustration
- Simon Fowler – photography
- Ross Halfin – photography
- Toshi Yajima – photography
- Andre Csillag – photography
- Bob Ellis – photography
- P.G. Brunelli – photography
- Rod Smallwood – cover concept, photography
- Simon Heyworth – remastering (1998 edition)
- Denis O'Regan – photography (1998 edition)
- George Chin – photography (1998 edition)
Charts
Weekly charts
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
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! Chart (1982–1983)
! Peak<br/>position
|-
! scope="row"| Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)
| align="center"| 8
|-
|-
|-
|-
!scope="row"| French Albums (SNEP)
| align="center"| 4
|-
! scope="row"| Finnish Albums (The Official Finnish Charts)
| align="center"| 5
|-
|-
!scope="row"|Italian Albums (Musica e dischi)
| style="text-align:center;"|10
|-
!scope="row"|Japanese Albums (Oricon)
| align="center"| 28
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
|}
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! Chart (1987)
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! Chart (2018–2022)
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Year-end charts
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
! scope="col" | Chart (1982)
! scope="col" | Position
|-
! scope="row" | German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
| 58
|}