Listening to RUN TO THE HILLS by Iron Maiden and Blindly Reviewing it - ANALYSIS + REACTION

[@TheMusicKingdom]

Anything I really need to hear? Personalized song & album reviews!👇🏼 ko-fi.com/musickingdom/commissions Agree or disagree? What’s your favorite Maiden song? Share your thoughts!

[@AmarokThe7th]

Hey, I really appreciate your sophisticated reactions and would like to drop some suggestions for upcoming videos: Tame Impala - Let it Happen Deftones - Knife Prty Queens of the Stone Age - No one Knows Muse - Supermassive Black Hole Radiohead - Burn the Witch Porcupine Tree - Trains Would love to see one of those!

[@ericbooth3457]

Powerslave is definitely my favorite Iron Maiden song.

[@igorcort]

Rime of the ancient mariner. You must react to "The perfect drug". Nine inch nails.

[@edh9999]

The Prisoner is my all-time favorite Maiden song.

[@quincybuchanan5526]

Love your reactions! A couple songs I'd like to see you listen to next are Mastodon - Blood & Thunder or White Zombie - Black Sunshine

[@paisteplayer1040]

Maiden really didnt write music with main stream radio in mind. Yet... No band on Earth has achieved Maidens success with almost no main stream radio. over 130 millions albums sold. Over 2500 concert's, mostly sold out, across the globe for 40+ years. Legends doesnt begin to describe them... long live the kings !!!!!

[@bazzingabomb]

Iron Maiden don't just sing a song they tell a story....and everybody loves a good story.

[@dillonsronce2583]

It's great that a lot of their songs are basically a history story as well as accurate.

[@bazzingabomb]

@@dillonsronce2583 Yeah they grew up in a time where reading books watching movies and exchanging idea's and thoughts was the done thing. what is it now twitter,facebook,instagram etc. it's now wonder music today is mostly crap but there are good bands out there but we won't ever see another Iron Maiden.

[@eumaeus]

I happened on this channel a few weeks ago and, other than being a lifelong fan of this genre among others, I have to say the format of how these reviews are conducted is hugely impressive. More please!

[@TheMusicKingdom]

Awesome compliment, thanks so much!

[@Elnont]

Bruce is considered one of the best vocalists of all time - once u get to the live stuff you’ll truely see why.

[@jasperlit1345]

Great review! I liked the explanation behind your rating, you gave a fair score. Rime Of The Ancient Mariner would be a good one to review.

[@TheMusicKingdom]

Much appreciated!

[@coyote4237]

Totally agree with Rime. Would like to see the Trooper, too.

[@iantellam9970]

Rime of the Ancient Mariner would be a great one to break down. Especially with reference to the original poem.

[@chrisbanks6659]

Can we just take a moment to appreciate the unique stickmanship of the mighty and never forgotten Clive Burr? May you rest in peace brother. Good review Francis. If you're up for the challenge of a history lesson, try reviewing Alexander The Great from the Somewhere In Time album. Thanks for the content.

[@TheMusicKingdom]

Noted!

[@James_Russell]

This is something different and I enjoyed it very much! Of course, I went back and watched the "Hallowed be thy Name" review after this one. Good stuff. Maiden has quite the catalog, as you probably found out quickly! You guys have something here that is very interesting and unlike most reviews. Subscribed.

[@TheMusicKingdom]

Hell of a compliment! Much appreciated. 🙏🏼

[@GregWilson635]

Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Maiden is arguably one of the greatest metal songs of all time. It's long but well worth a listen , another epic story.

[@sgt.tattoo9609]

I can not wait to see your "Experience" with "Hallowed be thy name." My personal favorite song from Iron Maiden. The album version is great...but the live song in person made my eyeballs sweat. Liked and subscribed.

[@-Heavy-]

I would love to see a review from 'Nevermore - This Godless Endavor',a very underrated band.They owned the Nickname :The best Band you have never heared from.Because they are not very popular,but everybody who hears them,loves them instantly!Thats because the Singer,Warrel Dane is highly skilled,and with Jeff Loomis you have one of the greatest Guitarist ever.Their style is progressive,creativ and very unique.This is truely a hidden gem in Metal music!!!!

[@peterdallas8917]

Highly recommend Empire of the Clouds by Iron Maiden!! 18 minutes of true story music!!❤

[@TheMusicKingdom]

Noted!

[@matje6978]

I concur

[@davidc1450]

Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Maiden. Up the Irons!!

[@raulh8083]

Four words Empire of the clouds

[@bghammock]

Iron Maiden is my all time favorite band and I've been a fan since 1983. Thanks for reminding me how good this song is because, for me, it's been played sooooo much I forget that. It's nice to hear about it through new ears :)

[@joebarrera9741]

Thank you for your reaction I loved it

[@johnflores5286]

I enjoyed your review. This is one of my two all-time favorite metal bands. Seen them four times live. This is a very very deep group. They will take you on a journey. 🤘UP THE IRONS🤘

[@rebeccahopkins9522]

One of the greatest songs that’s ever existed about ethnic oppression, horrific gentrification, and the ruthless slaughter of whole civilizations; with pure emotion, the lyrics speak of the historic decimation of American Indians at the hands of the English and the appropriation of their homeland. Many people don’t even realize what this song is about. But what lies in the lyrics is nothing short of a brilliant and bold political statement against just one part of America’s bloody and ruthless history. At its heart, it’s a protest song representing the cultures and native tribes that were eradicated and pushed back, slaughtered and subjugated, with many of their homes and ways of life destroyed and forever lost; tricked and exploited, their homeland literally stolen out from underneath them. Even to this very day, this horrific historical injustice has never been made right. It’s a travesty really. A very powerful song.

[@heyskipj]

What draws me to this song was how they quickly build its atmosphere. That opening drum riff set the stage, like the marching war drums. Guitar comes in like a bugle or siren. By the opening line, “White man came across the sea. He brought us pain and misery.” The battle is underway. Bassist, Steve Harris delivering the gallop of the horses. Then when the chorus hits the drums are fleeing in full retreat. Great review. Up the irons!

[@mikebrown1966]

Rime of the Ancient Mariner from Powerslave.

[@kardeef33317]

As a Iron Maiden fan for over 40 years. Your scoring is fair. My favorite album is Peice if Mind, Number of the Beast comes in a close 2nd.

[@Nightbreed82]

9:30 - This right here. Well said...Iron Maiden are pros at that balance; their singles are written using a radio-ready format, but are still creative, not basic or cookie-cutter. Their single "Wasted Years" is another great example of that. Another band that became great at that (after years of writing jaw-dropping, long, complex, progressive stuff) is Rush. Check out "Spirit of Radio" by Rush for a supreme example of radio rock at its creative best. I think we can all agree that John Paul sums this concept up perfectly at 10:37 ;-)

[@carlpeterson8182]

Good points. Rush is my favorite band and Maiden is probably my favorite metal band. I am a hard rock and prog rock (to a point) fan instead of metal. I like 70's and 80's metal better (that style) than today's overall. But that is besides the point. Rush and Maiden had little radio play but still had huge and loyal fan bases because they were true to their fans and were both artists. I like when Maiden tried their hand on more progressive songs. Seventh Son and then Powerslave are my favorite albums. But I also like Somewhere in Time and Brave New World (for a newer one). Piece of Mind and Beast are very good also. The one issue I have with Maiden is that they did not change their sound enough. Rush was always pushing themselves even when they went from epic prog masterpieces to shorter songs. But then they changed with the times and used synths (maybe too much at times (Hold your fire). But Rush was so creative and tried new things. Maiden is great but I get a little tired of the galloping sound. But what a great sound Maiden has. Like AC/DC, Maiden has its formula and did it so well it works most of the time.

[@Nightbreed82]

@@carlpeterson8182 Well said, I agree on all points. It's like you hacked my brain and took thoughts right out of my head lol ;)

[@carlpeterson8182]

@@Nightbreed82 You must have great taste and brilliant mind. BTW I probably like Tool a little better than Maiden. I do not usually think of them as metal per se but they fit. Dream theater is up there also. But Maiden is definitely my favorite traditional metal band.

[@tralph40]

You would love Revelations off the Piece of Mind album that followed this one.

[@karadouglass1772]

Another great analysis. I would like to point out one thing though that might be helpful for future reference: Bruce Dickinson is quite a master at diction. The further you go into the rock/metal reaction world, you might have a hard time to simply just understanding the lyrics if you don't have them to see. Just a thought. Keep up the good work! Love from Australia!

[@TheMusicKingdom]

Much appreciated!

[@ernieherrera1034]

Iron Maiden studio albums are just as great to listen to as any live version. The song "Fear of the Dark" is the only one where the live version is way better. All other songs, studio or live are great to listen to.

[@GregWilson635]

First Maiden song I heard back ion 82' when I was 15. It started a 40 year obsession

[@MrDantres]

Nice review, nice video - from a metalhead with an open mind who listens to many other genres.

[@mariohnyc]

You've done Black Sabbath. You've done Iron Maiden. I think it's just a natural progression to check out Judas Priest.

[@palantir135]

Metal has many subgenres like symphonic metal. Have a look at Ghostlove score, live at Wacken, by Nightwish. Progressive metal: The day that the world brakes down by Ayreon.

[@matje6978]

Iron Maiden and Nightwish fan here! I like this elaborate reaction. And I too would love to see your reaction to Ghost Love Score. I hear you say you prefer to react to a studio version. But like the vast majority of Nightwish fans, I very much advise you to go for the live at Wacken 2013 version. The soundquality is exquisite.

[@pavelzelenka5146]

That is kind of benchmark in reactions. I give you a credit again for a really holistic review. As an IM fan, i have seen your 2nd reaction here and it follows the high standard of the 1st one. Well done !

[@TheMusicKingdom]

Much appreciated Pavel!

[@thomasmalmin6194]

Hey, Francis. I appreciated you taking the time to reference the "Satanic panic" of the 80's. I recently watched another reviewer's Maiden video, and he was wondering - if they were so successful - why they'd not gotten more airplay back in their heyday. I realize the imagery the band used, as well as the album title, lent a lot to the stigma, but it's refreshing to see them get their due as musicians instead of perceived devil worshipers. I also appreciated your explanation of the split narrative in the lyrics pre-review. Truth to tell, I remember listening to the song when it first came out, and was a bit perplexed myself. Very much look forward to hearing more Maiden on the channel!

[@TheMusicKingdom]

Thanks Thomas!

[@davepoul8483]

I was 15 when this song/album came out.. me and my mate just said what a fooking great album.. when are we getting tickets to seem them.. we didnt disect or discuse whether Bruce was rapping of trying to copy so snd so... oh the world today.. you put it on listen and enjoy... oh and tell your mates.. Peace n love

[@michaelmcgowen8780]

There is a rather obscure song from the 1970's that dealt with the conflicts between Whites and Native Americans, "The Song of Crazy Horse" by J.D. Blackfoot. The lyrics are even more striking than this song by Iron Maiden (..."Cheyenne ponies with white blood dripping from their feet"...). It was a hit in St. Louis, MO ...and still receives airplay on KSHE-FM in St. Louis (94.7). I am an Iron Maiden fan with my favorite song being "Hallowed Be Thy Name," also on "The Number of the Beast."

[@williambritt4871]

Maiden = History. Great song and Album.. Number of the Beast should be next on your list and I hope you can learn why and how this song is created. Love the reviews cant wait until the next one. Oh by the way Alexander the Great is their best song!!

[@Starman_67]

If you haven't already, you guys need to do Acid Rain - Liquid Tension Experiment & Dance if Eternity - Dream Theater Both instrumental Probs Under a Glass Moon & Bridges in the Sky as a Dream Theater with vocals

[@rickreynolds2140]

Got to watch Maiden live, you can find any song live , one of the best live bands ever

[@borisbabich]

Great, great job again. And, sorry, there's no way you'll get from under our thumb :D Several folks said it - yes, Rime of the Ancient Mariner is megaMaiden. Please do. By the way, one thing - this band is a heck of a show live, and has been for decades. If you get a chance, you won't regret it.

[@Randy_Bentwick]

I agree with your choice of going through their hits and shorter pieces before going on to their longer and more complex pieces first. I really don't think there is any IM output which is bad, but a grounding in their basic style will enable a deeper and more balanced analysis of some of their more 'challenging' pieces.

[@TheMusicKingdom]

Well said!

[@michaelbuttner4262]

Iron Maiden play this Year at the Wacken Open Air as Headliner in Germany

[@Haukevind]

If you want to dip your toes into what was described as extreme metal at the time of it's release, and one of the more expressive songs from an album that made music critics invent a new category of metal they called "avantgarde metal", line up "Celtic Frost - Rex Irae (Requiem)" for inspection at some point.

[@KateLynn-ys4xt]

I would recommend rime of the ancient mariner, paschendale, or empire of the clouds from them Ps. empire of the clouds and the entire Book of Souls album is Bruce singing while having throat cancer

[@Kakascrot]

I find it mind blowing that someone hasn't heard Iron Maiden before, it just shows the different paths we all take in life

[@stagger5863]

My favorite Iron Maiden number, comes from the very same album, that being Hallowed Be Thy Name, for me that number speaks volume, but picking one number out of the Iron Maiden numbers are extremely tuff, just about every number they made/make are very good in its own ranks

[@Moondirts]

Just listen to every album and every song. It's all mind blowing. This album came out when I was in 7th grade. Already a van Halen but this was something new. Then Judas priest etc etc. Rabbit hole.

[@LarryFleetwood8675]

I think it's the perfect heavy metal album, no less.

[@coyote4237]

Your grade was fair. I would suggest you do Rime of the Ancient Mariner, too. My favorite Iron Maiden song is the Trooper.

[@tackle47]

Love your reactions and detail. My only critique is that complexity in a song does not make a better song. I mean if the target of a song is a sub four minute song it just is not aiming to be an opus of progressive strong structure. Similar is production, simple production is in itself an artistic choice. Having layered effects shows production but does it improve a song? I also watched your Heaven and Hell reaction. As a Maiden fan (favorite band) since 1983 really no way I can justify Run to the Hills as a higher score then Heaven and Hell. That I believe looks into some of your metrics you are using to grade. I think Dio, Dickinson and Halford are easily the top 3 classic metal vocalist. But Bruce gets a higher grade for Run because of vibrato which served the song great. Dio got a lower score for not “showing off” his voice. Heaven and Hell in its meaning and tone would not be served by things like vibrato. I guess I am getting at is measuring the song as meeting it’s purpose and in comparison to like songs. Keep up the good work, really enjoy what you are doing.

[@khandragon7950]

Love seeing/hearing people's reactions when first being introduced to bands like Iron Maiden and watching all those preconceptions drain out of their heads as the music fills them.. ;) hehehe You should really check out "Hallowed be thy Name" from them and see just how deep this rabbit hole goes.. ;)

[@TheMusicKingdom]

Already did it! 🤘🏼🔥

[@angusgow1887]

Note Maiden have never written songs for radio play. Any time restrictions would have been from recording on to LPs

[@tommattie1240]

Guessing you are a little young to remember the actual era. I really enjoyed the full breakdown. Very in-depth, and fair IMO. The only part that made me kind of chuckle is the mix up/misunderstanding of the music scope of the time. You mention that people say you have to hear it live. Then you mentioned the song is short to make it more radio friendly. That is what I would like to address. In the era, NOTHING released by any metal band (in America) was going to be played on the radio. It just was not a possibility. The formula for metal bands was, release an album, then tour to support it. Kids would come to the concert, and if they liked the show, they would go to the record store, and buy the album. Putting on a killer live performance by a metal band was the most important thing for them to do. Without a great live show, no one knew about, or purchased the albums. That is why Iron Maiden, AC/DC, and Metallica have huge followings, and other bands were one trick ponies.

[@BakardiRamboTTV]

You need to listen to Phoenix by White Ward. Ukranian Avant-garde black metal with noir jazz. Some of the most unique stuff on the planet.

[@Andre-gy2kq]

Nice react. Can i ask for another one? I saw that you like to travel in songs. So I invite you to enter the R101, a British airship that didn't have a happy ending (true story). It's an 18-minute piece of art. Artist: Iron Maiden Music: Empire of the Clouds Thank you, keep reacting!

[@Dad_Thunder]

Aces High! Aces High!

[@andrewlaw]

Love to see you listen to This Time by Life Of Agony. It made the top 100 songs in the Rolling Stones best songs list.

[@toooldtogrowup1580]

Buying this album when it came out and to this day is one of my favorites. There really wasn't much like it back then. I am curious how you would rate the most influential album i ever bought The Ramones first album which has their iconic song Blitzkreig Bop on it. It is considered by many to be the birth of punk rock and everything is basic but when the radio was dominated by soft rock and disco I was like oh this is my kind of music.

[@davidmarkham1812]

I really enjoyed your constructive breakdown of this Iron Maiden classic.There are so many songs that you could review but if you want to stay in the studio for a while before watching them live I would suggest these two.Alexander the Great or Empire of the Clouds.Both are based on historical events and showcase the talent this band has for writing and playing.Thanks once again for your channel

[@TheMusicKingdom]

Much appreciated!

[@Justin-td4bb]

I agree. Listen to the album version first. Iron maiden live is an acquired taste 😅

[@gogokrista]

If I were to choose favorite Maiden moments, the drums in the chorus would be very high on that list.

[@89801wink]

If you want to check out some lyrical/compositional expertise, check out Paschendale, or Rhime Of The Ancient Mariner.

[@sveetiew]

Bruce dickinson has wrote three books about history:)

[@esteban280889]

Empire of the clouds is a modern masterpiece if looking for newer maiden

[@SylviusTheMad]

Reviews of Dio Sabbath get blocked because Sharon wants people to forget Sabbath ever did anything without Ozzy.

[@TheMusicKingdom]

Seriously??

[@JestaKilla]

I would like to recommend the song But Mostly Metal, by Toehider, which is one insanely talented guy named Michael Mills.

[@jeremiahrose4681]

very fair rating.

[@klonker797]

Great review! Next you should react to time rime of the ancient mariner or Alexander the Great

[@XxJalelxX]

Do Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner, you will get a better story and more production . Epic song

[@RÅNÇIÐ]

Gotta do "Fear Of The Dark" for sure.

[@dillonsronce2583]

My favorite maiden song is fear of the dark.

[@rong5666]

Where Eagles Dare from Piece of Mind

[@samikoljonen2646]

Big part of every good Iron Maiden songs is basist Stve Harris :)

[@dillonsronce2583]

One of the greatest things in this song is the way Steve Harris plays bass because it sounds like a sounds like a horse running.

[@Uuusssaaas]

You really do need to review Maiden live. Studio albums don't do their songs justice. There is a reason why almost every tour turns into a live album and a video recording. (And fans own and listen/watch every single tour recording. ) It's also the reason why they still headline major festivals and sell out national soccer stadiums as 60 and 70-year-old men. Studio recordings don't do their music justice.

[@toomasargel8503]

07:22 start pure heavy metal !

[@paisteplayer1040]

You are only a non-metalhead till you start listening to metal.

[@chrisgonzalez4414]

A radio song , maybe but they still don't get radio play to fans you don't need it if it sounds good it will sell that is their story all day long

[@Harrock]

Do "the evil that men do" or "Wasted Years" next

[@JD.Knight]

Mainly just jealous of your hair 😂 Great reaction tho

[@TheMusicKingdom]

It’s to compensate for my lack of muscles, if we’re being honest 😂

[@JD.Knight]

​@@TheMusicKingdom 😂😂 I'm flying to Slovenia next weekend to watch Bruce Dickinson perform with a symphony orchestra which is going to be amazing. His solo stuff easily stands up to Maiden stuff.

[@TheMusicKingdom]

Oh shit!!!

[@redmagekiller]

Listen to hallowed be the name by Iron Maiden

[@rowanstar6664]

Where is the Black Sabbath or Ozzy?! Check out some War Pigs or Perry Mason

[@TheMusicKingdom]

This channel’s review of Sabbath was blocked in the US, so I uploaded it to Patreon for free 👍🏼

[@rowanstar6664]

@Music Kingdom thanks for replying! I will check it out but I suggest listing to some of Sabbath's early stuff and Ozzy's solo stuff because it was so incredibly influential to the genre as we know it today!

[@gannetsquadron]

We did woke before it was fashionable and didn’t get offended ….. now there is a concept.

[@TheMusicKingdom]

Boom.

[@jeffrydiamond]

Maiden's lyrics benefited from Bruce being a voracious reader of history.

[@yogithebeast1990]

Iron maiden phantom of the opera

[@alsimons7925]

sufdio always 1st then live 💯

[@Rawwwbitxh]

Hallowed by the name live 1982 hammersmith at next!!..

[@brucedickinson12]

children of the damned off same album

[@ahmettahsinertas2652]

Advice you Dance of the Death

[@esteban280889]

Hallowed be thy name or Rime of the ancient mariner is def better representation of the band.

[@horohoro69]

Man... Even for their time, Maiden has famously shit production. The rawness brings flavor in my opinion but dang, 7.5 sounds very generous ! Production quality definetly isn't what makes their songs great.

[@toomasargel8503]

05:44 Metal are 34 subgenres . That is heavy metal at litlle spice of trash metal and little % of power metal .

[@richardweilandt3315]

Bubba, I think your wrong. There is no question your rating is influenced by the fact that your not a metal head. If you were, you would have recognized this song for what it was. A story about a time in history. You fail to recognize a key fact. In Heavy Metal there is only 1 other front man in Metal that is Equal to Bruce Dickinson, that front man is Rob Halford of Judas Priest. Iron Maiden is a Mainstream band to climbed to the Top with their style of story telling in song, with no backing from the music industry, limited radio play and the paranoia of the religious fanatics. Each 1 of their songs is unique, each 1 of their songs is non commercial, each 1 of their songs is a power driven symphony of destruction. To say you've heard better, is to lie to yourself. You can not compare an Iron Maiden song to any other Metal song, because no other Metal group writes like Iron Maiden. No sir, you are WRONG. I'm 57 and have been listening to Iron Maiden since I was a 14 year old teenager with a guitar and an attitude.

[@raifthemad]

You say the song isn't perfect. No song is, and I agree, but why bring it up then. Do you even have a concept by which a song could be perfect, if not, then that is a pointless comment. But if you do, why not share it with your audience.