I gotta put my support in for Brave new world. Thin Line Between Love and Hate is just f’ing awesome. I don’t know what it is but that album just does it for me.
IMO they generally got their groove back when The air raid siren returned but yea, not as good as the first era overall.
Of course absolute terrible Maiden is better than the absolute best of any metal band.
Don't know about THEIRs being "awesome", but IMHO, this one certainly is...
Thin Line Between Love & Hate - The Persuaders
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pdov7l1V8xk