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No Prayer for the Dying

by Iron Maiden

Released: October 01, 1990

Heavy metal

musicOnOff editorial

Why This Album Matters

This album matters because its strongest editorial story is: Breakthrough.

The Album

It's the band's first album following the departure of guitarist Adrian Smith and the first to feature Janick Gers. to the Slaughter," originally recorded for the movie "A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child," became the band's only No. 1 single in their home nation of the UK. "No Prayer for the Dying" is an album by the British heavy metal band Iron Maiden, released in 1990.

Stories and details

Interesting Facts

To the Slaughter," originally recorded for the movie…

To the Slaughter," originally recorded for the movie "A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child," became the band's only No. 1 single in their home nation of the UK.

The lyrical themes of the songs range from…

The lyrical themes of the songs range from war to politics to love and death.

The cover art, illustrating the band's mascot Eddie…

The cover art, illustrating the band's mascot Eddie in a graveyard, was shown in a controversial fashion, with Eddie ripping out his own heart.

The single "Bring Your Daughter

The single "Bring Your Daughter...

Watch and listen

Explore the Album

Iron Maiden - No Prayer for the Dying

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Then

Reception

The album has a rawer and more straightforward style than many of Iron Maiden's previous releases, a direction that was generally not well-received by critics and fans, even though the album debuted at No. 2 on the UK Album Charts. Despite the criticism, "No Prayer for the Dying" became a commercial success, particularly in the UK. However, it marked the beginning of a slight decline for Iron Maiden, both commercially and critically, during the 1990s.

Full background

The Complete Album Story

"No Prayer for the Dying" is an album by the British heavy metal band Iron Maiden, released in 1990. It's the band's first album following the departure of guitarist Adrian Smith and the first to feature Janick Gers.

The cover art, illustrating the band's mascot Eddie in a graveyard, was shown in a controversial fashion, with Eddie ripping out his own heart. The single "Bring Your Daughter... to the Slaughter," originally recorded for the movie "A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child," became the band's only No. 1 single in their home nation of the UK.

Despite the criticism, "No Prayer for the Dying" became a commercial success, particularly in the UK. However, it marked the beginning of a slight decline for Iron Maiden, both commercially and critically, during the 1990s.