Metal Music


Feature Writer: Paul Travers
Paul Travers, Paul Travers

Heavy metal has long had a following of fans known as "metalheads" or "headbangers". Although early heavy metal bands such as Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath attracted large audiences, they were critically reviled at the time. As the original wave of metal bands began to wane, the late 1970s brought the New Wave of British Heavy Metal,

Heavy metal became broadly popular during the 1980s, when many now-widespread subgenres first evolved. Variations more aggressive and extreme than metal music of the past were mostly restricted to an underground audience; others, including glam metal and, to a lesser extent, thrash metal went on to mainstream commercial success. In recent years, new styles such as nu metal have further expanded the definition of the genre.

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Paul Travers

Venom Interview on Black Metal

In: Death/Black Metal

With the release of new album Hell imminent, Venom mainman Cronos talks about the forces that shaped his band and their own influence on the subsequent black metal scene more...

European Rock and Metal Festivals

In: Metal Music (general)

A brief guide to Europe's best hard rock and metal festivals, from Wacken Open Air and Hellfest to Tuska Open Air, Italy's Gods Of Metal and the Sweden Rock Festival. more...

Best UK Rock and Metal Festivals

In: Metal Music (general)

A brief guide to the best in hard rock and metal festivals in Britain this summer, from Download and Bloodstock Open Air to the Damnation Festival, Ghostfest and more. more...

Motley Unveil Crue Fest Tour Dates

In: Metal Music (general)

Motley Crue have announced details of their Crue Fest touring package, with Buckcherry, Trapt, Papa Roach and Sixx:A.M. plus new Motley Crue album Saints of Los Angeles. more...

Deicide on Till Death Do Us Part

In: Death/Black Metal

Deicide drummer and main songwriter Steve Asheim talks about the death metal band's new album Till Death Do Us Part and considers whether it's Deicide's most brutal yet more...

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Paul Travers

May 9, 2008

Iron Maiden Somewhere Back In Time

Brit metal legends Iron Maiden release a compilation album titled Somewhere Back In Time - The Best Of: 1980-1989, concentrating on their classic 80s material.


The face of metal changes but Iron Maiden, it seems, are eternal. Following a successful tour on which they played their then brand new album A Matter Of Life And Death in its entirety and a second leg which saw them splitting the set between that release and all-time classic The Number Of The Beast, the Brit metal behemoths currently have their feet planted firmly in their own past.

Having already embarked on the Somewhere Back In Time World Tour, playing material exclusively from their 80s back catalogue, the band will release a complementary compilation album on May 22. Titled Somewhere Back In Time – The Best Of: 1980-1989, the collection mirrors the current setlist and contains the following tracks…

  • Churchill’s Speech
  • Aces High
  • 2 Minutes To Midnight
  • The Trooper
  • Wasted Years
  • Children Of The Damned
  • The Number of The Beast
  • Run To The Hills
  • Phantom Of The Opera – Live
  • The Evil That Men Do
  • Wrathchild -- Live
  • Can I Play With Madness
  • Powerslave
  • Hallowed Be Thy Name
  • Iron Maiden -- Live
Somewhere Back In Time – The Best Of: 1980-1989 will be released on May 22nd through EMI.

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