Iron Maiden
Powerslave

THE REVIEW

Iron Maiden, fifth act... Powerslave. This CD with a cover that takes us back to the times of ancient Egypt has been one of Iron Maiden's greatest masterpieces. Being the immediate successor to the two legendary CDs "The Number Of The Beast" and "Piece Of Mind," this extraordinary 1984 album often tends to be underrated, without any reason, especially since this CD had a significant influence on the track selection for "Live After Death."
The Iron Maiden lineup in those years introduced us to what might be the quintessential members of the band from the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal: the magnificent guitarist Dave Murray, always in great form, who alongside the legendary bassist, whose thundering bass you can't help but recognize: Steve Harris, formed the soul of the group. The eclectic and highly skilled guitarist Adrian Smith, drummer Nicko McBrain, with this album brilliantly overcoming his second test, and finally the extraordinary singer Bruce Dickinson, capable of truly remarkable vocals.

The first track offered by Iron Maiden is the legendary "Aces High," a song with an overwhelming rhythm, whose flying riffs seem to take us back to the life of a World War II aviator, ready to become "aces of the sky," a superb song destined to enter the legend of the Iron Maiden. The second track, "2 Minutes To Midnight," offers a stunning metal rhythm but is presented with a style that only Maiden guitars manage to make perfect. Also excellent is "Losfer Words," a very remarkable instrumental. "Flash Of The Blade" grabs you like a thunderbolt right from the start with its impressively powerful and fast Main Riff, as well as thanks to the lyrics, concerning the honor of a man and the thrill of the steel blade that kills. "The Duellist" is a song with a very upbeat rhythm, telling us about the frequent duels of the Wild West, where Harris's bass reigns, spurred on by the twin guitars, that after the first two minutes unleash their best. In "Back To The Village," we rediscover a style reminiscent of the early Maiden songs. With "Powerslave," a song based on the slaving power of Egypt, one hears a delightfully refined style, and Dickinson's vocals reach their peak. The arpeggios halfway through the song are splendid, all interspersed with the impressive bass works of Steve. "Rime Of The Ancient Mariner," with its thirteen minutes of song, might seem like a tiresome song at first, but when Steve takes the helm of it all, we discover an extraordinary Maiden style that, with devastating solos and incredible rhythm, encourages us never to stop listening...

In the end, "Powerslave" is a CD that holds up well against its predecessors, where the lineup finds a strong rapport, especially in terms of rhythm. An album perhaps not divine, but certainly one of the best showcased by the legendary Iron Maiden. "Tell me why I had to be a Powerslave..."