This Day in Metal: September 3rd 1984 Iron Maiden Released Powerslave

This Day in Metal: September 3rd 1984 Iron Maiden Released Powerslave

On This Day in Metal, September 3rd 1984 Iron Maiden released Powerslave.

The album's cover artwork is notable for its Ancient Egypt theme. That theme, taken from the title track, was carried over to the album's supporting tour, the World Slavery Tour. This began in Warsaw, Poland, on 9 August 1984; it is widely regarded as being the band's longest and most arduous tour to date, and led to the live album Live After Death.  

The release contains a musical re-telling of Samuel Taylor Coleridge's The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, the lyrics of which include some lines from the poem. At 13 minutes and 45 seconds in length, this was Iron Maiden's longest song for over 30 years until it was surpassed by the 18-minute "Empire of the Clouds" from the 2015 album The Book of Souls.

Powerslave is notable as the band's first album to feature the same personnel as their previous studio release. This lineup would remain intact for two further studio releases. It is also their last album to date to feature an instrumental piece, and the only one until Senjutsu (2021) in which longtime member and guitarist Dave Murray does not have a songwriting credit.

"2 Minutes to Midnight" and "Aces High" were released as singles.

Tracklist

1."Aces High"Steve Harris4:31
2."2 Minutes to Midnight"6:04
3."Losfer Words (Big 'Orra)" (instrumental)Harris4:15
4."Flash of the Blade"Dickinson4:05
5."The Duellists"Harris6:18
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
6."Back in the Village"
  • Smith
  • Dickinson
5:02
7."Powerslave"Dickinson7:12
8."Rime of the Ancient Mariner"Harris13:45

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