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[2026] Summary of IRON MAIDEN’s Popular and Classic Songs

music writerKOH-1
Started working as a music writer as a side job while employed at a record shop, and for over 18 years I’ve contributed to music magazines, disc guide books, mooks, and web media. As a writer my main field is Western music, but as a listener for over 35 years, I always try to keep my curiosity alive with the motto “I like what I like.” I have experience playing in bands, where I was a bassist who handled songwriting and composition. Instruments I’ve played include bass, guitar, and piano. I began studying English in my mid-40s and continue to do so today.
Editor-in-Chief, RAG MUSICHane Keisuke
Editor-in-chief of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. After working in a music studio and handling wedding sound, joined the RAG MUSIC editorial team in 2016. Experienced with a variety of instruments: marching band in elementary school, clarinet in junior high school wind ensemble, and drums in a band from high school onward. Drawing on my own musical activities and the experience gained through my work, I produce daily articles, including various song introductions, features on music festivals around the country, and live reports. In music, I enjoy not only rock from Japan and abroad but, lately, a wide range of J-pop as well.

Formed in 1975 and boasting an activity history approaching 50 years, Iron Maiden is the ultimate heavy metal band, still going strong as a fully active act in the 2020s.

In September 2024, they realized their first Japan tour in about six years, electrifying metalheads across the country—a memory still fresh for many.

For those who’ve recently become interested in this iconic band—emblematic of heavy metal not only for their music but also for their mascot “Eddie,” a figure even people who haven’t heard their songs have likely seen—this article compiles and introduces their signature and most popular tracks.

The lineup also includes songs frequently performed at recent live shows, so be sure to check it out!

[2026] A roundup of IRON MAIDEN’s popular and classic songs (1–10)

Phantom Of The OperaIron Maiden

Phantom of the Opera (2015 Remaster)

Phantom Of The OperaIron Maiden

A track included on their debut album Iron Maiden, which went Gold in Japan, the U.S., and Germany, and Platinum in the U.K.

It’s a number packed with advanced musical elements: it moves forward on a shuffle beat, suddenly shifts to an 8-beat rhythm, transitions from a unison guitar-and-bass solo into odd time signatures, and more.

Despite its complexity, the song also stands out for its beautiful choral work, making it a piece that showcases the unfathomable artistry of Iron Maiden.

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Hoshino Takashi

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2 Minutes to MidnightIron Maiden

Iron Maiden – 2 Minutes To Midnight (Official Video)

2 Minutes to MidnightIron Maiden

This song was released as the lead single from their fifth album, Powerslave, in 1984.

Given the Japanese title “Akuma no Saishū Heiki” (“The Devil’s Ultimate Weapon”), the track is written from the perspective of a leader harboring dangerous ideas—sparking world wars and mass slaughter—and its lyrics seem to present a kind of crisis awareness to listeners.

On the other hand, the orthodox guitar riff that runs from the intro into the first verse and the bass line that smoothly drives the groove create a catchy, even exhilarating feel that offsets the heaviness of the lyrics, striking a superb balance.

It’s a quintessential Iron Maiden song, perfectly suited for a single release.

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Hoshino Takashi

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ProwlerIron Maiden

Iron Maiden – Prowler (Live At Ullevi, Sweden)

ProwlerIron Maiden

The opening track of their debut album, Iron Maiden, which helped ignite the NWOBHM music movement that emerged in the UK in the late 1970s.

Its intro—featuring palm-muted guitar riffs overlaid with wah-infused guitar phrases—left a striking impact that suggested the dawn of a new era.

Like progressive rock, the song’s complex structure with shifting rhythms and tempos contrasts with its catchy melodies, making it a hidden gem in the Iron Maiden catalog.

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Hoshino Takashi

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Wasted YearsIron Maiden

Iron Maiden – Wasted Years (Official Video)

Wasted YearsIron Maiden

A track from their sixth album, 1986’s Somewhere in Time.

It features spacious guitar riffs in the intro, interlude, and outro created with a delay effect that produces an echo, making it a bit different from a conventional, straight-ahead metal number.

But when those riffs are combined with catchy, high-register vocals, it becomes quintessential Iron Maiden.

It’s a song that showcases the depth and breadth of the metal genre, proving it’s not just about brute force.

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Hoshino Takashi

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Run to the HillsIron Maiden

Iron Maiden – Run To The Hills (Official Video)

Run to the HillsIron Maiden

A fast-paced track with beautiful choral work, known in Japan under the title “Proud Battle.” It appears on the third album, The Number of the Beast, released in 1982, and its theme is the settlement of the American continent by Europeans and the invasion and plundering of Indigenous peoples.

As the literal title “Run to the Hills” suggests, the guitar riffs and rhythms evoke an all-out sprint, blending with a somewhat exhilarating melody to create an outstanding metal number.

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Hoshino Takashi

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