Powerslave: Remastered

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Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
It's way too easy to write off Iron Maiden as the preserve of maladjusted boys with fluffy, budding moustaches, stuck in the murk of the British 1980s. They were preposterous, they were anachronistic--in utterly appropriate Spinal Tap terms--and their growth rate could not even be charted. But they really do rock, which, as ever, lets them off the hook. Besides which, Powerslave is arguably the best Maiden album precisely because it's so bombastic and lugubrious; it achieves its effect with bludgeoning tactics. Obsessively fast and brutal riffing, interminable repetition and lyrics so epic and gruesome they're irresistible ("The body bags and little rags of children torn in two/And the jellied brains of those who remain, to put the finger right on you"). Grand and absurd, it's also pretty brilliant. --Taylor Parkes

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Customer reviews

review by: TRUE METAL date: 2008-06-26 rating:
TELL ME WHY I HAVE TO BE A POWERSLAVE
This is another magical Iron maiden heavy metal masterpiece. The whole album is a classic and one of their best but it's impossible to pick a best iron maiden album. From the classic Aces High to the classic 13 minutes long Rime Of The Ancient Mariner it's all classic heavy metal. You may be reading the reviews seeing some people saying one song is bad on this album no their isn't this whole album is a masterpiece(as i mentioned already). If i had to pick some favourite songs it would be aces high, flash of the blade, powerslave & rime of the ancient mariner . This is the perfect start to Iron Maiden the albums Number Of The Beast, Piece Of Mind and this are the albums everyone should start off with with maiden. In fact why havnt you bought an iron maiden album yet? BUY BUY BUY BUY!!!!!!!UP THE IRONS

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review by: ANationalAcrobat date: 2008-04-01 rating:
A Golden God
Ah yes Iron Maiden in the 80's, what a band and what an era. It's amazing how I can be so very nostalgic about a period of a band that I never got to experience first hand. Make no mistake about it Iron Maiden was THE heavy metal band of 1980's no one else comes close. Iron Maiden were without doubt the best band to come from the NWOBHM era with a level of professionalism and song craft that exposed the rest of NWOBHM as the village hall tomfoolery it was. `Powerslave' acts as another testament as to why Maiden were able to rise above the Angel Witch's and Samson's of this world and transcend into the realms of absolute greatness...It almost makes you proud to be English!

With Eddie rising from the grave in mummified form after his `Piece of Mind' lobotomy, the band continues and expands on their existing style with `Powerslave' showing a more complex and technical flair that's pretty damn proggy at times. So we have songs that are more epic and ambitious than ever before and prime slabs of pioneering speed metal guaranteed to set your pulse racing. `Powerslave' shows a healthy progression of the Maiden sound which continued throughout the 80's done with the absolute confidence and energy of a young band at the top of their game.

Some fans consider `Powerslave' to be a touch inconsistent, singling out the middle part of the album as mediocre and plagued by filler. Well, although this album is undoubtedly book ended with classics (the opening salvo of `Aces High' and `2 Minutes To Midnight' and the majestic Egyptology of `Powerslave' and Steve's mystical entrancing `Rime of the Ancient Marinere') the albums more humble tracks are certainly not lacking in charm or even some of Bruce Dickinson's fencing obsessed eccentricity. `Losfer Words (Big `Orra)' all things considered however is actually a filler track...but hold on that's exactly what its meant to be a sort of throw away instrumental just displaying Adrian and Dave's undisputed guitar prowess, making it an absolute joy for guitar fans with harmonised layers of complexity that are worth more than any of the knuckleheaded thrash. `Flash of the Blade' again has some very nice riff work and is undoubtedly the work of Bruce with its swashbuckling lyrics. Again, the guitar harmonies are some of the richest and most complex the band have ever attempted. `Duellists' again, features some interesting the harmonies as the bass actually harmonises in 3rds the intro guitar riff rather than just following root notes, which is something very unusual. Bruce, who has been known to get his sword out for the boys, again writes about fencing making it a little more metal than it was pre-1984. `Back in the Village' is somewhat of a lost Maiden classic featuring great energised bouncy riff work and great pounding rhythms from the ever interesting McBrain `Arris duo. So the supposed `filler' just happens to be a joyous listen for any Maiden fan, not bad eh?

Of course we have the albums undisputed classic tracks, the sort which makes you realise that traditional heavy metal can never be replaced be any amount of thrash, black and death metal...its been proven under laboratory conditions, honest! `Rime of the Ancient Marinere' is based on Samuel Taylor Coleridge's `Rime of the Ancyent Marinere'...funny that and it successfully captures all the mysticism, horror, splendour and erm shrieving of Coleridge's work. I'm surprised more metal bands haven't picked up on Coleridge's work as its very gothic and overall metal friendly despite blatant Christian imagery...um I suppose you teen Satanist's better stick to Lovecraft then. Anyway, to truly understand the song you best read the poem in all its seven part glory. Musically, the song is also a masterwork one of Steve's best ever. The signature gallop in E and lots of nice twiddly bits, tempo and mood changes...yes it's prog but done ever so well, please note long songs needn't be exercises in tedium. Then we have Dave and Adrian's best ever bit of guitar interplay in what could be the most metal bit in any song ever! After a long built up, storm cloud noises and a blood curdling scream, Adrian and Dave let rip. Solos which you'll remember from beginning to end until the end of time or Motörhead which ever comes first and the coolest harmonies ever! Its full on heavy metal boner time. `Aces High' in comparison is a short sharp number that'll have you running for you cockpit only to realise that your 68 years to late for the Battle of Britain...but fret not you bought that spit fire for a reason. But its more glorious riffs, harmonies and a guitar dog fight of a lead break, that made one of the greatest concert openers of all time. `Powerslave' itself is another fine example of Bruce Dickinson's writing prowess, as with all rock bands you need at least one Egyptology themed number right? And Maiden's is a corker with token eastern riffs aplomb. Again, we have a fine use of dynamics and tension within a song with a quiet middle section then a full on rocking bit with one of Adrian's finest solos and Dave sounding like he recorded his solo in a windy desert. Another all time metal classic. `2 Minutes to Midnight' bares all the hallmarks of a Adrian Smith number, as in that it's as catchy as the clap and no where near as irritating. Just great riffs and melodies all round.

Each performance on this album is given both clarity and warmth by Martin Birch's wonderful production which is perhaps Maiden's best. The guitars are good and loud and bass overlord Steve Harris is still given weight in the mix, which is fair enough it's his bloody band. Adrian and Dave give an absolutely magical performance here, their styles are so separate and different yet undeniably complimentary, each harmony is a treat even though you get them in pretty much every song I still can't tire of them. Their voices as players are made instantly recognisable throughout with Dave taking the higher part of the harmony and Adrian the lower. Nicko once again proves that you don't need double bass to be a metal drummer, and he does it in still every fill is imaginative and expressive without taking away focus from the guitars and his tone is also worthy of note, nice and round.

This is pretty much a perfect metal album, from the iconic artwork, to the songs production and performances themselves. Looking back I can't help but feel all misty eyed and nostalgic upon a time when trousers were crotch huggingly tight, all rock bands eventually relocated to ancient Egypt and four great men played songs with twiddly guitar riffs, played stadiums and then went down the pub for a pint. God bless you Iron Maiden!

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review by: date: 2007-08-26 rating:
Decent album
Maiden fans will definately like this album but for anyone else it may have to grow on you first. Musically it's pretty good, though shorter song lengths would have been better, the instrumental Losfer Words would have definately benifited from this.
Lyrically it is well thought out, with "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" paying homage to Coleridge by taking excerpts from the poem of the same name.
It also has the set list staple 2 Minutes to Midnight which is a brilliant song.

It is a pretty well rounded album though it may not be quite accessible to those who arn't fans of Maiden, as I wasn't very impressed at my first listen but it does grow on you.

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review by: mark30482 date: 2007-08-09 rating:
Metal at its very best
While not as consistent as Seventh Son, this album has an equally valid claim to be Maiden't best due to the sheer quality of music on offer. Seldom better than when writing songs about war, the band kick off with two on that very theme. Aces High is as adrenaline-soaked as the lives of the fighter pilots it documents, while Two Minutes To Midnight is a suitably sinister-sounding ode to nuclear war. Losfer Words, a rare instrumental, is a nice demonstration of the band's ability as musicians, before a bit of a mid-album lull. Powerslave itself serves as a wake-up call before the final track, the truly epic Rime of the Ancient Mariner, is arguably the best the band has ever commited to vinyl. About a day and a half long, the tale of Coleridge's unfortunate seafarer features everything you would expect from a Maiden album, never mind a song - the musicianship, the vocals, the contrast between heavy and quiet - plus a brief poetry reading. It takes a few listens to truly appreciate the track's greatness, but great is the only word to describe both the song and the LP.


review by: date: 2007-03-26 rating:
Heavy Metal Utopia
This album has to be one of my Iron Maiden favourites. High energy, yet moody; light-hearted (Losfer Words), yet punchy (Aces High, 2 minutes). This album has it all. The epic "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" stands out as an extremely clever piece of music artistry - the eerie effects midway through are magical; followed by the victorious, more upbeat phase. It is SO atmospheric! Bruce's vocals just put the icing on the cake.

This is well worth buying. I own several Maiden albums, but rate this as being one of the best. Buy it, and I'm sure you'll agree !

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