Hallowed Be Thy Name

Iron Maiden, 1982, from The Number of the Beast. Solo by Dave Murray, Adrian Smith.

A condemned man's last hour, told through harmonised leads and two contrasting solos before the final gallop.

Hallowed Be Thy Name closes The Number of the Beast with the story of a condemned man's final hour, and the guitars tell that story as much as the lyrics do. Dave Murray and Adrian Smith build the tension with harmonised leads, then take two contrasting solos: one more fluid and legato, the other sharper and more structured. The shift into the final gallop gives the song its sense of release. It set a template for storytelling in heavy metal and for twin-guitar arrangements. Listen for how the harmonised lines move in parallel, creating a rich, singing texture, and for the transition from the slower, brooding sections to the driving, galloping finale.

Hallowed Be Thy Name by Iron Maiden is ranked #279 in our consensus of 79 guitar-solo lists. The solo is played by Dave Murray, Adrian Smith and the song was released in 1982. It appears on 2 lists, placing as high as #74 (Planet Rock).

In our lists

• The 25 Greatest Metal Guitar Solos — #23
• Twin Guitars & Harmonies — #22
• The Best Iron Maiden Guitar Solos — #1

Sources

• Planet Rock: The 75 Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time — #74
• Guitar Solo Legends: The 100 Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time — Ranked (2026) — #90