Album review: PAUL DI’ANNO’S BATTLEZONE – Children Of Madness

August 22nd, 2026 by jason

Cargo/Deko Entertainment [Release date 23.10.26]

Singer Paul Di’Anno found fame as Iron Maiden’s frontman on their first two albums, before recording the more AOR Di’Anno LP, and working with the supergroup Gogmagog. Then in 1986 he returned to a more traditional brutal metal with Battlezone, and released they released their debut Fighting Back that year.

This album, originally released the following year, gets a vinyl and CD release here, and wonderful it is too. I’ve always loved the first two Battlezone albums and they often get overlooked for the more obvious Maiden material.

Alongside Di’Anno are guitarists John Wiggins and Graham Bath (the latter replacing John Hurley), bassist Pete West and drummer Bob Falck (replacing Steve Hopgood).

From the outset, opener Rip It Up sets the scene with some blistering guitar and a classic Di’Anno scream or two. I Don’t Wanna Know follows, and while heavy and solid, it’s a little more melodic, thus a good balance. Third track Nuclear Breakdown is well paced, a steady drums and bass with some subtle shred over the top, rather than making it too thrashy. Then Torch Of Hate, a more up-tempo headbanger. The title track is well worth checking out. That and Whispered Rage together show the range of the band in tempo, feel, atmosphere, and the use of backing vocals and the twin guitar.

The metal itself is good, solid, with Di’Anno’s distinctive rough vocals; this and the band’s debut, also released in CD and vinyl in August this year, means you can get both together. The CD here features a bonus track or two too. Result.

These two album showcase perfectly why this band should have been bigger, and allowed to stand on their own two feet. I’ve always had the feeling that Paul felt handcuffed by the Iron Maiden connection (similarly Graham Oliver and Steve Dawson with Saxon), the original material is strong enough but was never given the chance. Here’s your opportunity to pick up both Fighting Back and Children Of Madness and enjoy them for what they are.

Great stuff. ****

Joe Geesin

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