Iron Maiden: Album by Album, Updated Edition by Martin Popoff, is a must-read for any heavy metal fan, especially for those who hold Iron Maiden in high regard. This updated edition expands on Popoff's original work by including insights on Iron Maiden's most recent studio album, Senjutsu (2021), making it a comprehensive guide to the band's discography.
Popoff, a seasoned rock journalist intensely appreciating metal, takes readers on an in-depth journey through every Iron Maiden studio album. The book is structured around detailed conversations with metal journalists, authors, and musicians who provide expert analysis, opinions, and anecdotes about each album. This approach gives the book a conversational feel, as if you're sitting down with a group of Maiden enthusiasts, dissecting every riff, lyric, and album cover.
The book's visual aspect is equally compelling. It's richly illustrated with live concert photos, candid offstage shots, and rare memorabilia, including gig posters and album sleeves. These visuals complement the text and serve as a visual history of the band, making the book a treat for the eyes and mind.
Popoff doesn't just focus on the music; he dives deep into the band's history, discussing everything from the early days with original lead singer Paul Di'Anno to the mega tours that followed their later albums. He also highlights the contributions of key band members like bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris, drummer Nicko McBrain, and guitarists Dave Murray, Adrian Smith, and Janick Gers. Even their iconic mascot, Eddie, appears throughout the book, symbolizing the enduring legacy of Iron Maiden.
One of the strengths of *Iron Maiden: Album by Album* is its ability to cater to die-hard fans and newcomers. Whether you're familiar with every track or just discovering the band, Popoff provides enough context and detail to make the book engaging. The sidebars, which include track listings, album personnel, and recording details, are particularly useful for those who want to delve into the technical aspects of the albums.
The updated edition's inclusion of Senjutsu ensures the book remains current and relevant, reflecting the band's ongoing influence in the metal scene. Popoff's passion for the subject shines through in his writing, making this not just a book about Iron Maiden but a celebration of their place in the pantheon of rock music.
Iron Maiden: Album by Album, Updated Edition is essential to any metalhead's library. It's a well-researched, thoughtfully presented, and visually stunning tribute to one of the greatest heavy metal bands ever. Whether you want to reignite your passion for Iron Maiden or explore their music in greater depth, this book is the perfect companion.

I still have those first-release CDs - the ones that formed Eddie's head on their spines! As a lifelong Iron Maiden fan, I've collected countless magazines (most of them now adorn my old school notebooks). Martin Popoff's "Iron Maiden" wasn't just a nostalgia trip; it re-ignited my passion for the band.

This isn't just another biography; it's a deep dive into their history, told with passion and insight. Popoff begins each chapter with the album's history, followed by insightful critical appraisals from various music authorities. His writing is both engaging and informative, and the photos are high-quality. He covers everything from their humble beginnings to their legendary stadium tours.

What sets this book apart is its focus on the music itself. Popoff dissects each album, providing a track-by-track analysis that any Maiden fan will appreciate. While a few of his opinions might differ from my own (taste is subjective, after all!), it's an incredible book, packed with rare photos.

If you're looking for a comprehensive and insightful look at one of the greatest heavy metal bands of all time, "Iron Maiden" by Martin Popoff is a must-have. Run to the hills!

Admittedly I am not a massive fan of the iconic Iron maiden I know some of their iconic songs and even like a few but my husband is a die hard fan so I thought I would read this and get a insight to their inner minds and their songs but this wasn’t exactly what I expected, I thought it would be interviews with the actual band members but it’s more like magazine interviews discussing their work which has been put into a book, and although it is informative it didn’t really give me any great insight to the band, but I’m sure it will make a great gift for a maiden fan.

This is a must-have collectible for Iron Maiden fans! A fantastic book to either read in one go or dip into. Top Canadian rock journalist and massive Maiden fan, Martin Popoff, takes us through every Maiden album, from Iron Maiden to Senjutsu.

Each album’s history is explored, with a mix of facts and chats with 15 contributors involved in the metal scene across the eras – from Blaze Bayley to Megadeth guitarist Marty Friedman, Trivium’s Matt Heafy and The Iron Maidens’ lead singer Kirsten Rosenberg, there’s loads of different expertise represented.

We’ve also got live photos, record sleeves, gig posters, merch and tickets and a huge deep-dive into every era of Maiden and the whole NWOBHM scene. There’s a decent 16 pages per album and lots of photos I’ve not seen before.

This has been a great read – I love the blend of the factual stuff and the different memories and perspectives of the interviewees, who are genuine Maiden fans, and which put each album era into that wider context of punk and metal in both the UK and US, and what makes Maiden special. There’s genuinely something for everyone, whether you’re interested in the production methods and performance of the band as musicians, or how the band has influenced the musicians interviewed, or the wider view of what else was going on musically through the epic history of the band.

If there is anything to know about any Maiden album that is not in this book, I’d be surprised!

I’m not sure just looking at this on my computer is quite enough and I’ll be adding this to my Christmas list so I can enjoy a proper look through all the photos!

This is an updated edition of the (unofficial) book which originally came out in 2018.

This is a detailed, comprehensive, and exciting book about Iron Maiden with information that I have not seen elsewhere.
Great coverage. great selection of photos and information and it is all well-presented.