Recommended hard rock and heavy metal

[2025] A roundup 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 have been contributing to music magazines and web media for over 15 years. Although Western music is my main field, I always strive to stay curious with the motto, “I like what I like.” I have experience playing in a band, where I was a bassist responsible for songwriting and composition. Instruments I’ve performed on include bass, guitar, and piano. I resumed piano lessons after turning 40 and have been continuing ever since!
Editor-in-Chief, RAG MUSICKeisuke Hane
Editor-in-chief of RAG MUSIC. After working at a music studio and in wedding sound engineering, joined the RAG MUSIC editorial team in 2016. Experienced with various instruments: marching band in elementary school, clarinet in middle school wind ensemble, and drums in a band from high school onward. Drawing on personal music activities and professional experience, produces daily articles, including song introductions, features on music festivals around Japan, and live reports. Enjoys a wide range of music, from domestic and international rock to, more recently, a broad spectrum of J-pop.

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!

[2025] IRON MAIDEN Popular and Classic Songs Summary (11–20)

The Book of SoulsIron Maiden

Iron Maiden – The Book Of Souls (The Book Of Souls: Live Chapter)

The Book of SoulsIron Maiden

An epic track that showcases Iron Maiden’s musical evolution.

Released in September 2015, the title track from the album of the same name weaves an epic narrative exploring death and the journey of the soul.

Inspired by Mayan civilization, the lyrics probe profound themes of human existence.

Featured on the band’s first-ever double album, the song is marked by intricate arrangements and powerful vocals.

Through references to ancient civilizations and reflections on the afterlife, it offers a grand, distinctly Iron Maiden worldview.

It’s a must-listen not only for heavy metal fans but also for those interested in literature and history.

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The Writing On The WallIron Maiden

Iron Maiden – The Writing On The Wall (Official Video)

The Writing On The WallIron Maiden

This work, the pinnacle of British metal that the UK proudly offers the world and the first since 2016’s “Empire of the Clouds,” was unveiled in July of the same year as the lead track from the band’s 17th studio album, “Senjutsu,” released in September 2021.

“Senjutsu” also made headlines for debuting at No.

3 on the U.

S.

charts, the highest position in the band’s history.

Written and composed by Adrian Smith and Bruce Dickinson, the song carries an American rock flavor while retaining the uniquely British sense of form and grandeur, unfolding dramatically with those signature, cathartic guitar solos sprinkled throughout—quintessential Iron Maiden.

Bruce’s powerhouse vocals—at age 63 in 2021—are genuinely astonishing without exaggeration.

Be sure to check out the music video as well, which plays like a short animated film.

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Days Of Future PastIron Maiden

Iron Maiden – Days Of Future Past (Official Audio)

Days Of Future PastIron Maiden

It’s a track from the September 2021 album “Senjutsu,” notable for its weighty lyrics exploring themes of posthumous judgment and the quest for atonement, depicting unending anguish and chaos.

Characterized by speedy, energetic guitar riffs, it’s highly regarded among fans.

Bruce Dickinson’s powerful vocals and Adrian Smith’s virtuosic guitar work mesh perfectly, showcasing the seasoned strength of the veteran band.

Highly recommended for those who resonate with heavier themes or want to experience Iron Maiden’s present-day sound.

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Caught Somewhere in TimeIron Maiden

Iron Maiden – Caught Somewhere In Time

Caught Somewhere in TimeIron Maiden

Fresh in our memories for opening the Japan tour in September 2024, this track is the majestic title song from their sixth album, Somewhere in Time, released in 1986.

Symbolic of the album’s overarching sci-fi concept, it features a futuristic sound that incorporates guitar synthesizers.

Over its more-than-seven-minute runtime, it paints an epic sonic landscape themed around time and fate.

Anchored by Steve Harris’s powerful bass, the interweaving twin guitars are a major highlight, and Bruce Dickinson’s vocals—expressing a heart swept along by the flow of time—are also not to be missed.

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KillersIron Maiden

Killers (2015 Remaster)

KillersIron Maiden

The title track from their second album, Killers, released in 1981.

The intro, which starts with four-on-the-floor kick drum and a bass riff, is structured to gradually build excitement as if it were designed for call-and-response at live shows—it really makes you want to throw your fist in the air.

The driving guitar phrases and solos riding over the varied rhythm patterns of the bass and drums seem to condense the very appeal of a metal number.

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The Wicker ManIron Maiden

Iron Maiden – The Wicker Man (Official Video)

The Wicker ManIron Maiden

For fans from the 2000s, this might be considered a shocking comeback.

As the first release after the band’s signature vocalist rejoined, this work is Iron Maiden at their very best.

The songs, where heavy riffs and catchy choruses blend exquisitely, will draw in not only heavy metal fans but anyone who listens.

It’s a track truly worthy of opening the album Brave New World, released in May 2000, and it was even nominated for a Grammy.

The lyrics—inspired by the film of the same name—prompt deep reflection on life, death, and inevitable fate.

It’s also a staple in their live shows, so be sure to check it out before you head to a concert.

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[2025] IRON MAIDEN Popular and Classic Songs (21–30)

If Eternity Should FailIron Maiden

Iron Maiden – If Eternity Should Fail [Lyrics]

If Eternity Should FailIron Maiden

This song, which offers a grand musical experience exploring the depths of the soul, opens the band’s 16th studio album, The Book of Souls, released in September 2015.

Its lyrics explore the human condition and the concept of eternity, symbolically depicting humanity’s evolution from primal beginnings to modern society.

Bruce Dickinson’s powerful vocals contrast with the dark monologue of “Necropolis,” which appears as a narrator toward the end, leaving a deep impression on listeners.

It’s a track that condenses the appeal of Iron Maiden, who thrilled Japanese fans with their first visit in six years.

Highly recommended not only for heavy metal fans, but also for those drawn to philosophical lyrics.

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