Switch Somewhere in Time with Seventh Son and Killers with Iron Maiden and you are a good bit closer to a good ranking.
Killers does not have the epicness of Phantom of the Opera, the awesome instrumental Transylvania, the
of its opening number Prowler (DAT RIFF), or the quality ending track Iron Maiden. Killers is a huge disappointment after the S/t, but a good album still.
Somewhere in Time is decent, but still their worst 80's album. I hate Wasted Years the more I listen to it (ib4shitstorm). Alexander the Great, Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner and Caught Somewhere in Time are the highlights and really good tracks, but does not compare to the perfection of SSoaSS.
Seriously, Moonchild and Infinite Dreams are two of Iron Maiden's best songs ever and to open up an album like that? I think only Powerslave has a similar 1-2 opening punch to an album (Aces High/2 Minutes to Midnight). The title track is nothing short of freaking epic. The Clairvoyant has some of Steve Harris' sexiest basswork ever since Wrathchild, and The Evil That Men Do might be a pit poppish but still an awesome song that I love to death. And Only the Good Die Young is a great song imo, despite what the haters say. The Moonchild reprise at the end makes the album epic and worth of being Maiden's best album.
Paschendale is good but nothing special.
*Loads Shotgun*
This will hurt me more than it will hurt you.