Fear of the Dark

Fear of the Dark is the ninth album on which Iron Maiden, while keeping its former speed, steps into darker, harder riffs and a tension-filled style. Steve Harris’s bass strongly pushes the songs, and the twin guitars layer phrases many times over as if depicting fear and unease. It is a record marking a break in an era, as Bruce Dickinson would leave the band for a time after it. From the big melody of the title track “Fear of the Dark,” known too for its live sing-along, to the dashing “Be Quick or Be Dead,” the weighty “Afraid to Shoot Strangers” and “From Here to Eternity” and “Wasting Love,” the songs hold a power that expands greatly live. Its appeal is that a dark, uneasy atmosphere and Maiden’s grand melody coexist in a distinctive balance. A somewhat rough texture particular to this period also gives the record raw conviction. With Bruce Dickinson’s singing giving the whole an earnest outline, it is an important record capping an era.