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Hernandez
Moises Hernandez

Dr. Nelson

English 1301

3 October 2022

Visual Analysis of Iron Maiden’s The Number of The Beast

Iron Maiden, an English band formed in 1975, is a popular group that bases its music on

the music genre of heavy metal rock. One of its most popular albums is none other than The

Number of The Beast. The album cover was released in 1982, and the unique display of art and

symbolism on it allowed for its success. At first glance, the captivating tagline “The Number of

The Beast” can be found in the center of the album cover (Fig. 1). The album cover also contains

a large corpse with a menacing grin positioned in the middle of the album cover, a devil pointing

at what looks like scaled down people on fire, with a dark cloudy background. This album was

not solely created to just be an album cover. The use of visual elements in the album cover,

including a dark and stormy background that positions the corpse in relief in the center

foreground, and multiple symbolic figures, imply that through corruption and manipulation, there

is chaos and ruin in the story being revealed within the album.

The dark cloudy background is used to evoke ruin and chaos within the album cover.

This is due to the spots of blackness, foggy setting, and specs of thunder found along the album

cover. The color black is a dominant color that can be intimidating to viewers. The foggy

background gives off the feeling of uncertainty, mystery, and obscurity. Finally, the specks of

thunder found across the album cover can be connected to punishment and destruction. Paired

together, these elements combine their energy, creating a new, unique atmosphere. This new
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atmosphere a combination of menace and mystery that inevitably leaves the viewer disturbed,

and aids in intensifying ruin.

The giant corpse, the devil, and the miniature stick figure displayed play a massive role in

the idea of destruction, corruption, and manipulation within The Number of The Beast album

cover. If examined closer, the giant corpse actually resembles Bruce Dickinson, one of Iron

Maiden’s lead singers. From the white long hair to the edgy clothes, it can be presumed that the

corpse is a zombified version of the famous Dickinson. A corpse brought back to life can be

symbolized as corrupt and evil. In addition to a zombified Dickinson, thin strings can be found

running down one hand of the tips of Dickinson’s fingers to a small devil. Strings are typically

attached to objects such as puppets to completely control their actions and movements; strings

are the basis of manipulation. Moreover, the tiny devil also has thin strings running down from

his fingertips to the stick figure. Based on the same hand gesture made by the zombified

Dickinson and the small devil, there is reason to believe that Dickinson is manipulating the devil

and the devil to the small figure. Overall, Dickinson is the primary puppet master through his

manipulative use of strings, controlling the beings beneath him to completely entice chaos.

Along with the devil that is controlled by the giant Dickinson, the tiny stick figure found

under the devil plays a significant part in manipulating the tiny people set on fire. Although the

figure is small compared to the large devil, and the even larger zombified Dickinson, the figure is

significantly bigger than the tiny people found under him. Therefore, the figure has some type of

power or status over the tiny people which can be proven through his size. Due to the devil

controlling the influential figure, the figure himself, as a result, controls the people residing

alongside him. Because of the continued use of puppeteering and control, the idea of corruption

and manipulation is manifested throughout the entire album and the community involved.
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On the album cover, there are deeper details not immediately recognizable at first glance,

such as the little people at the very bottom of the album cover found being set on fire. Fire has

many different meanings;