Iron Maiden are recognized for his or her epics, however what are their greatest songs which might be beneath 4 minutes lengthy?

At first, the band’s songwriting was moderately lean, particularly in the course of the Paul Di’Anno interval the place the punk affect was nonetheless poking by means of. And even when Bruce Dickinson changed the gritty singer, Maiden nonetheless blazed forward at racing speeds, indicative of not solely their youth, however common eagerness to show themselves in a fertile heavy steel scene.

The occasional epic and, in rising frequency, songs that eclipsed the 5 and 6 minute mark, have grow to be synonymous with Maiden, particularly during the last 30 years.

When Blaze Bayley was tabbed as Dickinson’s successor within the ’90s, the band’s sharp change in route discovered them repeatedly exploring songs which might be above the eight-minute vary.

While some followers have bemoaned the dearth of hard-charging, quick-hit tracks, different have discovered these daring endeavors fairly rewarding, content material with the again catalog of speedier tunes.

READ MORE: Iron Maiden Albums Ranked Worst to Best

It’s value noting that these grumbles are, inside cause, justified. Iron Maiden have not authored a single track beneath 4 minutes in size since… 2003! However, “Days of Future Past” off 2021’s Senjutsu comes dangerously shut at simply three seconds over the mark.

So, right here, we go — let’s take a look at one of the best of these beloved brief songs!

The Six Best Iron Maiden Songs Under Four Minutes Long

“Wrathchild” (2:55)

Written By: Steve Harris

Album: Killers (1981)

The iconic bass groove of “Wrathchild” performs brilliantly off the heels of Killers instrumental opener “The Ides of March” (one other sub-four-minute observe).

It’s only a plain ‘ol imply track, riddled with the angst of a bastard man trying to find his absent father with revenge on his thoughts.

“Running Free” (3:17)

Written By: Steve Harris / Paul Di’Anno

Album: Iron Maiden (1980)

Iron Maiden have returned time and time once more to this easy, empowering anthem as their set-closer, full with loads of name and response with the gang.

There are so few songs within the Maiden catalog with this degree of naive innocence and is an ideal time capsule. It demonstrates how a lot the band’s members had but to study the remainder of the world, residing carefree in their very own throughout a really thrilling time in what could be an extended and illustrious profession.

Some would argue these boys are nonetheless operating free, turning music right into a residing.

“Be Quick or Be Dead” (3:23)

Written By: Bruce Dickinson / Janick Gers

Album: Fear of the Dark (1992)

The ’90s have been a time of change of everybody, together with Iron Maiden who had ended the ’80s on excessive with Seventh Son of a Seventh Son and one other dominant world tour.

Looking to return to their extra rockin’, street-savvy early days on the daybreak of a brand new decade, Maiden instantly supplied promise that their second ’90s album could be higher than their first.

Album opener “Be Quick or Be Dead” was issued as the primary Fear of the Dark single and stands as probably the most vicious track this band has ever recorded. Dickinson’s raspy snarl is ideal for levying biting criticism at politicians and the venom is coming from an clearly honest place.

“Rainmaker” (3:48)

Written By: Dave Murray / Steve Harris / Bruce Dickinson

Album: Dance of Death (2003)

This is it — the final nice Iron Maiden track beneath 4 minutes!

Unfortunately, now we have to look again greater than 20 years (and at that terrible Dance of Death art work once more) to uncover a Maiden track that is available in beneath that four-minute radar. But at the very least it is a permanent one, which, coincidentally, comes instantly after “Wildest Dream” and its 3:52 runtime.

With its sensible and memorable opening melody, “Rainmaker” simply dusts “Wildest Dreams” and unloads hook after hook after hook. It’s a disgrace Maiden have not performed this one for the reason that supporting tour led to 2004.

“Flight of Icarus” (3:50)

Written By: Adrian Smith / Bruce Dickinson

Album: Piece of Mind (1983)

In 2018, Iron Maiden surprised followers by resurrecting the Piece of Mind hit “Flight of Icarus” for the primary time since 1987. It got here again as one of many premiere elements of the Legacy of the Beast set, with a large Icarus determine behind the group and Dickinson dual-wielding flamethrowers.

While its been standard with followers for greater than 4 a long time, Harris has all the time had an issue with it, not eager on its tempo.

“Run to the Hills” (3:53)

Written By: Steve Harris (Bruce Dickinson uncredited)

Album: The Number of the Beast (1982)

Call it a cop-out, however it will be incorrect to not embrace Maiden’s most radio-friendly track on an inventory similar to this one. Even if it means placing “Can I Play With Madness,” “Judas Be My Guide,” “Futureal,” “Genghis Khan” and, in fact, “Iron Maiden,” off this checklist — how dare we!

“Run to the Hills” is a critically essential a part of Iron Maiden’s profession. Dickinson has even confessed to being impressed by Frank Sinatra’s “My Way,” making use of what he discovered about that track to this The Number of the Beast basic.

While watching a musicologist on a TV present about why “My Way” was the most well-liked track in recorded historical past, the singer discovered it comes all the way down to what’s known as a “rising sixth” (the sixth interval inside a scale).

Clearly, using that was massively helpful.

Other Iron Maiden Songs Under Four Minutes Long

“Another Life”
“Can I Play With Madness”
“Chains of Misery”
“From Here to Eternity”
“Futureal”
“Gangland”
“Genghis Khan”
“Holy Smoke”
“Innocent Exile”
“Invaders”
“Judas Be My Guide”
“Prowler”
“Iron Maiden”
“Purgatory”
“Quest for Fire”
“Sun and Steel”
“The Apparition”
“The Ides of March”
“Wildest Dreams”