Heavy Maytal : Iron Maiden's "Killers"

This is an important album for the band as it featured Adrian Smith, as well as being the first to be produced by Martin Birch. After the instrumental intro "Ides of March' they start kicking as with "Wrathchild", which might be the best of the Paul era songs. Paul's voice has more command here. The bass line also carries more grit. "Murders in the Rue Morgue" is more grandiose. At just over four minutes, they pack a bunch into this song. The verses are almost more punk-paced, where the chorus has a more signature Iron Maiden hook. Harris' bass playing is the obvious backbone that sets the stage for what was to come here. 

Smith and Murray's guitar harmonies are more fluid on this album than on the debut, with Dennis. "Another Life" finds Clive Burr's playing more confident. Riff-wise, these themes would get a more aggressive re-exploration with the feel of the "Powerslave" album that would come about years later."Genghis Khan" finds them locked in what we now think of as a variation of the Iron Maiden gallop. It's a compact instrumental under four minutes. Despite the opening bass line, "Innocent Exile" is more of a rock song. Di'Anno brings more of a swagger here. 

The title track is a little darker. It is also the only song Paul is credited with co-writing with Harris. Some of the album's best lyrics are featured here. "Prodigal Son" is more of a ballad, which finds strummed guitars rather prominent and some of the album's best guitar solos. It is one of Paul's best vocal performances. "Purgatory" is one of the album's faster songs, with a frantic bass line moving it. "Drifter" is another more rock-oriented song, but it works with the mood of this album, which did not find the band in a total metal prog direction yet.