Iron Maiden - Reused and similar riffs and licks

DISCLAIMER: This isn't me saying that Maiden is bad becuase of the recycling of riffs. Many bands have done this.

UP THE IRONS 🤘🤘

[Immersed]

The Legacy appearing multiple times in this video as the song they've come back to borrow from just proves how outstanding that song is. Their most underrated song by a MILE in my book. Arguably their best ever

[cgreene]

I honestly think it’s pretty dope sometimes. It shows that the songs could be connected in some way. And for a band to write that many songs, some riffs and things are gonna be reused a bit.

[dusitn_]

The best part about the time machine's riff that sounds like the book of souls is that it is meant to sound like it, as the book of souls takes place in an ancient civilization and the protagonist of the song is using the time machine to visit

[MKO-USA]

That is providing the Iron Maiden flavor, is one way to link them all and make their music recognizable to their fans. Personally I like it how they connect their music to threads of the past.

[viniciusleaoa]

1:38 this riff is by just 1 minor note difference absolutely IDENTICAL to a riff in the pre chorus of the song The Book of Souls, but faster

[ClemsContent]

Reprising motifs and themes can be really satisfying to listen to. Especially when the lyrics of one song reference another. It's almost like a story unfolding.

[SlyJak]

That Time Machine riff you included at 1:45 is also similar to one from The Book of Souls. Always felt that. And that song's intro is basically Talisman intro if it were drunk. Still manages to sound different though!

Oh yeah, and you forgot a lick from around the middle of The Thin Line Between Love and Hate which sounds very similar to one from When Two Worlds Collide.

[Youdannny]

There's about a half but very distinctive riff in Hell on Earth that to my ear sounds borrowed from When the Wild Wind Blows.

[bazzingabomb]

I remember Janick Gers years ago in an interview saying fear of the dark was one of their previous songs played in reverse. I cant remember which one it was but it was done like that because they were short on time finishing the album of the same name.

[FabioMbo]

No Prayer for the Dying and Fear of the dark both have very similar licks in many songs. Just some changes between them.

[thekenzerine]

The riff from hallowed be thy name, edge of darkness and the time machine is also actually in the book of souls in the prechorus I believe

[coda]

i mean, they've been reusing the galloping rythm all their career and getting away with it lol (which is great, because is their signature sound)

[lukebradford]

IMO none of these are actually intentional. As stated in the description, many bands have 'self-plagiarised'. A recent example would be lyrics from Motorbreath appearing in Lux Aeterna. There's 40 years between the two songs. Admittedly it's much more likely a callback/self-reference, especially considering how similar LA sounds to Kill Em All. I haven't noticed much in the new single Screaming Suicide, except for the word cyanide appearing in the song where Hetfield sings it really similarly to how he does in the song of the same name. The vocal melody is slightly reminiscent of Enter Sandman's and I get Through The Never vibes from the whole thing.

And another thing: Janick wrote Book of Souls and wasn't in the band when Losfer Words was written. Ditto Shadows and Wasted Years. I remember reading an interview where Steve said he gave BoS a pass because of Losfer Words pre-dating Janick's hiring. Seems likely that he would've used the same logic with Shadows. Even then, Shadows' intro doesn't sound that much like Wasted Years' to me.

[wiqtur]

That intro from Legacy, Time Machine and Talisman is also similar to the one from The Book of Souls, it’s a Janick Gers thing.
Also there is a part at the end of the main riff from Fallen Angel that is very similar to the end of thw main riff of Montsegur

[Jeffrgreenmusic]

As Alfred Hitchcock once said, "Self plagiarism is style"

[aimfuldrifter]

Dave's solos are often based on the blues scale, so that's not a surprise. =) Very well observed. I wouldn't say Hallowed Be Thy Name was later transmitted to Edge of Darkness. Those notes have similar "shape" but they are in a different position. All in all a good video.

[torkelsvenson]

The repeating melody after the chorus in Lost in A Lost World is almost identical to the riff between Adrian's and Dave's solos in When the Wild Wind Blows

[torzsokszilveszter]

The interlude sections of When The Wind... and Lost In Lost World is very similar.

[pentalfakos]

Maybe one addition to the wasted years reused riffs, check you Paschendale as well. The tapping lick by Adrian is also very similar

[mihaildosev]

The pre-chorus melody of Powerslave and the intro of Stratego are basically the same. The bridge, after the first solo in When The Wild Wind Blows can be heard on both The Writing On The Wal and Lost In a Lost World. I've encountered a lot of recycling in Maiden, but they're still one of my Top 5 favorite bands.