The Best of the Beast

Iron Maiden

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 24, 1996)
• Original Release Date: September 24, 1996
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Ziriguiboom Brasil
• ASIN: B000006JQ5
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #139,703 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Virus

2. Sign Of The Cross

3. Man On The Edge

4. Afraid To Shoot Strangers (Live)

5. Be Quick Or Be Dead

6. Fear Of The Dark (Live)

7. Bring Your Daughter... To The Slaughter

8. Holy Smoke

9. The Clairvoyant

10. Can I Play With Madness?

See all 16 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Rime Of The Ancient Mariner (Live)

2. Running Free (Live)

3. 2 Minutes To Midnight

4. Aces High

5. Where Eagles Dare

6. The Trooper

7. The Number Of The Beast

8. Run To The Hills

9. Hallowed By The Name

10. Wrathchild

See all 14 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The cover of the Iron Maiden retrospective Best of the Beast features the band's zombie mascot Eddie in seven of the various ghastly guises he assumed for the band's records. The image conveys volumes about the group's brash, visual form of heavy metal. Starting with Maiden's most well known track "Number of the Beast" (which was actually featured on the band's third album), the disc progresses through eight singles recorded during the height of its career and a handful of less memorable cuts that followed its glory years. Galloping beats, twin guitar leads, and eardrum-shattering vocals abound, along with lyrics that could have been plucked straight from the Tales of the Crypt comic books. Overall, a valid collection, but it suffers from the omission of classics like "Die with Your Boots On," "Flight of Icarus," and "Rime of the Ancient Mariner." --Jon Wiederhorn

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very messy... but I rate this 5 stars anyway., May 13, 2002

By	A Reviewer "somereviewer" (somewhere in time) - See all my reviews

A very good introduction to the classic heavy metal band indeed, but I have a few complains, a major complain: This album is too messy. My first complain is: Why in all reasons in the world 'Virus' is the opening track of Maidens' greatest hits?! Don't get me wrong, 'Virus' is an excellent, creative song, and I also understand that it's a brand new song which only appears on 'Best Of The Beast', so maybe because of that they wanted to put it as the opening track, but come on, 'Virus' is too slow and too dark to open the album, and besides I'm sure all fans would be happier if any song by Bruce was the opening track and not the too slow-sung by Blaze 'Virus'.

Ok, when 'Virus' ends, 'Sign Of The Cross' is pumping up. Another bad way for the second track. 'Sign of The Cross' is another dark-sung-by-Blaze-song, and also Maiden's second longest song ever, so after the kinda dark and long 'Virus', it is obvious that a fast classic Maiden song should pump up. But no. We get 'Sign Of The Cross', but it's a good song anyway.

Ok, when 'SOTC' ends, 'Man On The Edge' is pumping up. Finally a fast song... but why is it on Maiden's greatest hits anyway?
Good fun song indeed but not a classic Maiden song in any way.

A few more complains: where is 'Infinite Dreams', or 'Children Of The Damned', or 'Invaders', or 'Killers', or 'The Prisoner, etc? Instead of unnecessary songs like 'SOTC' or 'Man on...' (they should've been selected one of these 2 songs) or 'Holy Smoke' which vocally, is Bruce's worst song ever, which is a shame, or 'Heaven Can Wait' which is unnecessary too, instead of this song for exampe they could've been put other song from "Somewhere In Time", like 'Stranger In A Strange Land'. I just don't understand the silly arrangement and why some unnecessary songs was selected to Maiden's greatest hits too. I just don't understand it.

...But, after all it's contains 2 cd's of Maidens' greatest hits, classic metal songs which will forever remain classic. And if someone is really interested in Maiden songs from all periods, he really should get this album, because it contains most prominent songs of Maiden through all years of Maiden's existance 'til 1996. Let's leave the bad things behind, 5 stars anyway. UP THE IRONS!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unbelievable, January 4, 2003

By	Chark deTweak - See all my reviews

Iron Maiden, for those who don't know, are the best British metal band ever! Steve Harris, the bass player and songwriter, is one of the most unbelievable musicians I have ever heard. The driving bass that plays as fast as the guitars (there are three now, Adrian Smith, Dave Murray, and Janick Gers), and the ripping guitar solos, along with the amazing voice of Bruce Dickinson, combined with Nicko McBrain's crazy drumming style make one hell of a memorable compilation. While lifelong Maiden fans may say that some of the songs should not have been put on this cd, I think it shows the different things the band has tried. While 34 tracks may be a bit much for the part-time metal head, songs like "Rime Of The Ancient Mariner" (which they do as well live as the recording) show why Maiden has lasted this long. If you own all of Maiden's other cds, WHY DON'T YOU OWN THIS ONE? It has tracks that don't appear anywhere else. For those of you who own no Maiden albums, this is one hell of a good start. Maiden is the best metal band still in existance, and it is my humble opinion that they could kick Metallica's [behind] (in music AND soccer) any day.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent introduction to the best heavy metal band ever!, January 11, 2002

By	pomororro (Somewhere in Time) - See all my reviews

This double CD is an excellent compilation of the things that Iron Maiden did from 1978 to 1996. It contains very good material from all their albums, the CD artwork is excellent and it has the lyrics from all the songs there. I think that true fans maybe disappointed for the omission of "Flight Of Icarus", "Revelations", "Infinite Dreams", "Killers", among others, but people new to Maiden will really enjoy this magnificent compendium of songs.

My favorite songs are here, including the epic "Rime Of The Ancient Mariner (Live)", "Aces High" and Di'Anno's years masterpiece: "Phantom Of The Opera". "The Trooper" stands out along with "The Number Of The Beast". The "Running Free" live cut is awesome, even better than the original one (Bruce proves that he is an excellent singer on stage).

The 90's stuff has a lot of power on it. "Be Quick Or Be Dead" is a true Maiden song and "Fear Of The Dark" was recorded with an audience that the band hardly will never forget.

The Bayley's songs are outstandings. They show the full writing ability of the band on "Virus" and Harris's supremacy on "Sign Of The Cross".

This CD is a sample of some of the best Maiden songs ever, despite several tracks missing, such as: "Children Of The Damned", and the aforementioned ones.

It's a shame that this CD is out of print. However, try to get the live albums for a true Maiden experience. "Live After Death" and "Rock In Rio" are just OK!