The differences in aesthetics between 70s progressive rock and the contemporary emerging heavy metal scene are quite obvious, and have even led to strict oppositions between the two, as exampled in Edward Macan's Rocking the Classics. This antagonism between an Apollonian progressive rock and a Dionysian heavy metal may have been overstated, particularly from a musical point of view. The New Wave of British Heavy Metal, especially, should invite us to look closer at the progressive elements surviving in the music of bands such as Iron Maiden. Active on international stages since 1980, Iron Maiden have always displayed some references to the progressive rock canon, even if these are hidden in an almost punk styling in their very first production.

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However, the evolution of the band has been marked by a reinforcement of many progressive markers: long compositions with sophisticated structures, frequent rhythm changes, narrative lyrics rooted in literature or history, concept albums, and even some classical influences on their latest album, whose closing track "Empire of the Clouds" (2015) can arguably be wholly analysed as a convincing progressive piece. Alongside other heavy metal bands like King Diamond or Helloween, Iron Maiden demonstrates how the gaps between prog rock ideals and heavy metal spirit can be bridged, relying on common grounds like instrumental virtuosity, fascination for stories, folk tales and fantastic epics.

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What I am advocating is not an inclusion of Iron Maiden into the progressive rock canon, but rather a re-evaluation of the influence of progressive rock on mainstream heavy metal. Tracking prog markers in widely recognized and successful bands like Iron Maiden should help us see what parts of the prog idiom have travelled the most and reached largest audiences, which is needed in order to establish the actual legacy of progressive rock.

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Keywords: heavy metal, genre, narrative, legacy