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Killers (Iron Maiden album)

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Killers
Studio album by
Iron Maiden
Released16 February 1981 (1981-02-16)[1]
RecordedNovember 1980[2] – January 1981[3]
StudioBattery (London)
GenreHeavy metal
Length38:18
LabelEMI
ProducerMartin Birch
Iron Maiden chronology
Live!! +one
(1980) 		Killers
(1981) 		Maiden Japan
(1981)
Singles from Killers
  1. "Twilight Zone" / "Wrathchild"
    Released: 2 March 1981
  2. "Purgatory"
    Released: 15 June 1981

Killers is the second studio album by English heavy metal band Iron Maiden. It was first released on 16 February 1981 in the United Kingdom by EMI Records and on 11 May in the United States by Harvest and Capitol Records.[4] The album was their first with guitarist Adrian Smith, and their last with vocalist Paul Di'Anno, who was fired after problems with his stage performances arose due to his alcohol and cocaine use.[5] Killers was also the first Iron Maiden album recorded with producer Martin Birch, who went on to produce their next eight albums until Fear of the Dark (1992).

Background

[edit]
Killers was the second and final Iron Maiden album with vocalist Paul Di'Anno (shown here in 2008)

Killers is the only Iron Maiden album to feature two instrumentals. It was written almost exclusively by Steve Harris;[6] only "Twilight Zone" and the title track are cowritten.

When considering producers for their debut album, Martin Birch had topped the band’s shortlist however he was busy working on Heaven And Hell with Black Sabbath. Birch later recalled that when Iron Maiden contacted him regarding Killers, they told him: “We didn’t think we were worthy of you. Because of what you’ve done [in the past] and your reputation, we didn’t think you would take us on.” Birch replied: "That was your first mistake, because I was very disappointed that you didn’t ask me."[7]

Except for "Murders in the Rue Morgue" (based on the story of the same name by Edgar Allan Poe)[8] and "Prodigal Son", the songs were written in the years prior to the recording of their debut album.[9] Five of the album's songs featured in the band's live setlists in 1977, when Dennis Wilcock fronted Iron Maiden.[citation needed] "Wrathchild" and "Strange World" appear to be written as far back as 1976 and original singer Paul Mario Day later claimed he had co-written "Strange World".[10] No songs were recorded professionally until the Killers sessions, with the exception of "Wrathchild" (a version recorded in 1979 was featured on the Metal for Muthas compilation).[9] Both "Innocent Exile" and "Wrathchild," are among the first songs Steve Harris had ever written, all the back in 1973.[11]

Steve Harris later noted in the official Iron Maiden book, Run To The Hills "Production-wise, Killers was like chalk and cheese compared to the first album," Harris also acknowledged the lack of brand new material on the record, however he claimed it was nonsensical to deny such good songs a proper release: "The first album was like a ‘best-of’ from our live set, songs which went back years. [For Killers], we still had a lot of really good, strong songs, like Wrathchild, and we didn’t want to lose them."[7]

"The Ides of March" is nearly identical to "Thunderburst", by fellow British NWOBHM band Samson, who featured a pre-Maiden Bruce Dickinson on vocals; however, "The Ides of March" was written during the brief time in 1977 in which future Samson drummer Thunderstick was a member of Iron Maiden. While Harris took sole credit for "The Ides of March", "Thunderburst" is credited to Harris and all four members of Samson's Head On line-up, Bruce Bruce, aka Bruce Dickinson, Chris Aylmer, Paul Samson, and Thunderstick, aka Barry Purkis.

Killers spent eight weeks on the UK chart.[12] The North American edition, which came out a few months later, was initially released on Harvest Records/Capitol Records and subsequently on Sanctuary Records/Columbia Records. The song "Twilight Zone" was added to the album. In Australia, the Skyhooks cover "Women in Uniform" was added instead as a bonus track.

The Killer World Tour featured the band's first US shows, beginning at The Aladdin, Las Vegas, in support of Judas Priest.[13] Subsequently, "Wrathchild" is the only regularly played track from the album, appearing in almost all their tours.

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarStar[14]
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal9/10[15]
Pitchfork7.3/10[16]
SputnikmusicStarStarStarStar[17]
The Daily VaultA−[18]
Ultimate Guitar9.7/10[19]
Metal.de10/10[20]
Metal HammerStarStarStarHalf star[21]

Upon release the album was met with mixed reception Robbi Miller from British music weekly Sounds gave Killers a one-star rating, stating "it’s more of a failure than a triumph." However Steve Harris later noted that Miller had dated, and been dumped by, Paul Di’Anno not long before, although he added that early review copies were sent out with an inferior mix.[11]

However as years have passed the album has retrospectively been viewed as a classic album with Metal Hammer stating "Today, Killers occupies a unique place in the Maiden canon. The textbook ‘difficult second album’, it’s beloved by connoisseurs but not widely revered like the albums either side of it. Yet if it could ever be termed a disappointment, it’s only in comparison to what came after it. For Iron Maiden themselves, it represents the most dramatic transition of their illustrious career, and a key stepping stone to what came next."[11]

Steve Huey of AllMusic gave the album 4/5 starts writing "the teaming of new guitarist Adrian Smith with Dave Murray forms the most formidable twin-guitar attack in heavy metal, outside of Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing. Plus, bassist Steve Harris' busy, driving lines are now consistently audible in the mix. The resulting instrumental fireworks are what truly make the album tick."[22] A reviewer from Ultimate Guitar gave the album a 9.7/10 claiming "I feel that this is one of Maiden's best albums. Not their #1 best, but easily, let's see, yeah, #3. Right behind "Piece Of Mind" and "Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son." In my eyes, it shows a stunning jump from the debut, and was really the first album in which the band established a signature sound.[23]

In 2018, Metal Hammer included the album on its list of the 20 Best Albums of 1981.[24]

Track listing

[edit]

All tracks are written by Steve Harris, except where noted.

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."The Ides of March" (instrumental)1:48
2."Wrathchild"2:54
3."Murders in the Rue Morgue"4:14
4."Another Life"3:22
5."Genghis Khan" (instrumental)3:02
6."Innocent Exile"3:50
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
7."Killers"
4:58
8."Prodigal Son" 6:05
9."Purgatory" 3:18
10."Drifter" 4:47
Total length:38:18
Side two – North American edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
7."Killers"
  • Di'Anno
  • Harris
4:58
8."Twilight Zone"
2:33
9."Prodigal Son" 6:05
10."Purgatory" 3:18
11."Drifter" 4:47
Total length:40:51
Side two – Australian edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
7."Killers"
  • Di'Anno
  • Harris
4:58
8."Women in Uniform" (Skyhooks cover)Greg Macainsh3:07
9."Prodigal Son" 6:05
10."Purgatory" 3:18
11."Drifter" 4:47
Total length:41:25
1995 UK reissue bonus disc
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Twilight Zone"
  • Murray
  • Harris
2:33
2."Women in Uniform" (Skyhooks cover)Macainsh3:07
3."Invasion" 2:38
4."Phantom of the Opera" (live) 6:55
Total length:15:13
1995 US reissue bonus disc
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Women in Uniform" (Skyhooks cover)Macainsh3:07
2."Invasion" 2:38
3."Phantom of the Opera" (live) 6:55
4."Running Free" (live; from Maiden Japan)
  • Harris
  • Di'Anno
3:07
5."Remember Tomorrow" (live; from Maiden Japan)
  • Harris
  • Di'Anno
5:44
6."Wrathchild" (live; from Maiden Japan) 2:52
7."Killers" (live; from Maiden Japan)
  • Harris
  • Di'Anno
4:50
8."Innocent Exile" (live; from Maiden Japan) 3:46
Total length:32:59
1998 remastered edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The Ides of March" (instrumental) 1:46
2."Wrathchild" 2:55
3."Murders in the Rue Morgue" 4:19
4."Another Life" 3:23
5."Genghis Khan" (instrumental) 3:09
6."Innocent Exile" 3:54
7."Killers"
  • Harris
  • Di'Anno
5:01
8."Prodigal Son" 6:12
9."Purgatory" 3:20
10."Twilight Zone"
  • Murray
  • Harris
2:33
11."Drifter" 4:49
Total length:41:21

Covers

[edit]

The song "Wrathchild" was covered by Gallows on the 2008 tribute CD Maiden Heaven: A Tribute to Iron Maiden, released by Kerrang! magazine.[25]

Personnel

[edit]

Production and performance credits are adapted from the album liner notes.[26][27]

Iron Maiden

[edit]

Additional personnel

[edit]
  • Martin "Headmaster" Birch – producer, engineer
  • Nigel Hewitt – second engineer
  • Derek Riggs – cover illustration
  • Dave Lights – cover concept
  • Robert Ellis – photography
  • Rod Smallwood – photography (1998 edition)
  • Dennis Stratton – guitar on "Women in Uniform", "Invasion", and "Phantom of the Opera" (1995 edition)
  • Tony Platt – producer of "Women in Uniform" (1995 edition)
  • Simon Heyworth – remastering (1998 edition)
  • Ross Halfin – photography (1998 edition)
  • P.G. Brunelli – photography (1998 edition)
  • Simon Fowler – photography (1998 edition)
  • Denis O'Regan – photography (1998 edition)
  • George Chin – photography (1998 edition)

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[45] Platinum 100,000^
France (SNEP)[46] 3× Gold 300,000*
Germany (BVMI)[47] Gold 250,000^
Japan (RIAJ)[33] Gold 100,000[33]
Sweden (GLF)[48] Gold 50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[49] Gold 100,000^
United States (RIAA)[50] Gold 500,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Killers certification".
  2. ^ Bushell, Garry; Halfin, Ross (1985). Running Free, The Official Story of Iron Maiden (2nd ed.). Zomba Books. p. 83. ISBN 978-0-946391-84-4.
  3. ^ Bushell, Garry; Halfin, Ross (1985). Running Free, The Official Story of Iron Maiden (2nd ed.). Zomba Books. p. 88. ISBN 978-0-946391-84-4.
  4. ^ "RIAA certifications". Recording Industry Association of America.
  5. ^ Saulnier, Jason (22 November 2012). "Paul Di'Anno Interview, Legendary Singer talks Life on the Road". Music Legends. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
  6. ^ Doran, John (2005). "Murder Most Foul". Metal Hammer Presents: Iron Maiden 30 Years of Metal Mayhem: 144.
  7. ^ a b Lingpublished, Dave (22 March 2026). ""Something had changed. The music was becoming more commercial. We'd lost something of our punk-type edge. It was getting a bit too arty-farty": How Iron Maiden fought back against a press backlash and accusations of "hype" to deliver a classic album". Louder. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
  8. ^ Brannigan, Paul. "Hack Job?". Kerrang! Legends (2): 26–27.
  9. ^ a b Wall, Mick (2004). Iron Maiden: Run to the Hills, the Authorised Biography (3rd ed.). Sanctuary Publishing. p. 183. ISBN 978-1-86074-542-3.
  10. ^ Blabbermouth (27 January 2019). "Original IRON MAIDEN Singer PAUL MARIO DAY Says Dispute Over 'Strange World' Song Is 'Finished With'". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  11. ^ a b c updated, Chris Chantlerlast (2 February 2021). "Why Iron Maiden's Killers is their dark horse classic". Louder. Retrieved 19 May 2026. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  12. ^ The Guinness Book of British Hit Albums, 1996 edition
  13. ^ Wall, Mick (2004). Iron Maiden: Run to the Hills, the Authorised Biography (3rd ed.). Sanctuary Publishing. p. 251. ISBN 978-1-86074-542-3.
  14. ^ Huey, Steve. Iron Maiden - Killers at AllMusic. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  15. ^ Popoff, Martin (1 November 2005). The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 2: The Eighties. Burlington, Ontario, Canada: Collector's Guide Publishing. p. 170. ISBN 978-1-894959-31-5.
  16. ^ O'Connor, Andy (4 December 2018). "Iron Maiden: Killers". Pitchfork. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
  17. ^ Stagno, Mike (27 June 2006). "Iron Maiden - Killers". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  18. ^ McDonald, Riley (2019). "The Daily Vault Music Reviews : Killers". dailyvault.com. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  19. ^ https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/compact_discs/iron_maiden/killers/5899/
  20. ^ https://www.metal.de/reviews/iron-maiden-killers-246095/
  21. ^ https://www.loudersound.com/reviews/iron-maiden-killers-album-of-the-week-club-review
  22. ^ Killers - Iron Maiden | Album | AllMusic, retrieved 19 May 2026
  23. ^ "Iron Maiden: Killers Review". www.ultimate-guitar.com. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
  24. ^ Louderpublished (28 August 2018). "The 20 best albums of 1981". Louder. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
  25. ^ "Kerrang! Maiden Heaven Track Listing Revealed!". Kerrang!. 25 June 2008. Archived from the original on 2 May 2009. Retrieved 9 November 2010.
  26. ^ Killers (Media notes). Iron Maiden. EMI. 2 February 1981.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  27. ^ Killers Remastered (Media notes). Iron Maiden. EMI. 1998.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  28. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  29. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Iron Maiden – Killers" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  30. ^ "Le Détail des Albums de chaque Artiste – I". Infodisc.fr (in French). Archived from the original on 22 October 2014. Retrieved 9 June 2012. Select Iron Maiden from the menu, then press OK.
  31. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 166. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
  32. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Iron Maiden – Killers" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  33. ^ a b c Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005 (in Japanese). Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
  34. ^ "Charts.nz – Iron Maiden – Killers". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  35. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Iron Maiden – Killers". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  36. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Iron Maiden – Killers". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  37. ^ "Official Albums Chart on 22/2/1981 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  38. ^ "Iron Maiden Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  39. ^ "Italiancharts.com – Iron Maiden – Killers". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  40. ^ "Greekcharts.com – Iron Maiden – Killers". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  41. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart on 23/11/2018 – Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  42. ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2020. 47. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  43. ^ "Portuguesecharts.com – Iron Maiden – Killers". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  44. ^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. 1981. Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  45. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Iron Maiden – Killers". Music Canada. 30 January 1991. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  46. ^ "French album certifications – Iron Maiden – Killers" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved 26 April 2013. Select IRON MAIDEN and click OK. 
  47. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Iron Maiden; 'Killers')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  48. ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2011. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  49. ^ "British album certifications – Iron Maiden – Killers". British Phonographic Industry. Select albums in the Formats field. Type Killers Iron Maiden in the "Search:" field.
  50. ^ "American album certifications – Iron Maiden – Killers". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
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