IRON MAIDEN - POWERSLAVE 12" Vinyl LP Album

- EEC Release with Gatefold Album Cover

Powerslave is the fifth studio album by the English heavy metal band Iron Maiden, released on September 2, 1984 on EMI in Europe and its sister label Capitol Records in the US. It is notable for its Egyptian theme displayed in the album art, as well in the title track's musical style. It contains a musical re-telling of Samuel Taylor Coleridge's "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner", which uses pieces of the original poem as lyrics. Furthermore, it is the longest song Iron Maiden have ever recorded, at a length of 13 minutes and 34 seconds. The album is also notable amongst the band's albums as being the first to feature the same lineup as the previous one. "2 Minutes to Midnight" and "Aces High" were released as singles. World Slavery Tour was the tour supporting the album, which began in Poland, in August 1984. 

 

IRON MAIDEN - Powerslave Eec Release Gatefold 12" LP Album front cover https://vinyl-records.nl

Powerslave: Iron Maiden's Egyptian Odyssey Unfolds in Gatefold Glory
Album Description:

In the heart of Europe, 1984, amidst the rising fervor for heavy metal, Iron Maiden bestowed upon their fans a unique treasure: the EEC release of "Powerslave," a 12" vinyl LP adorned with a majestic gatefold cover. This edition unveiled a visual feast that complemented the sonic journey within, solidifying the album's place as a collector's gem.

Historical Context and Musical Exploration

Following the global success of "Piece of Mind," Iron Maiden embarked on a creative odyssey, delving into themes of historical power and the fleeting nature of human existence. "Powerslave" emerged as a conceptual masterpiece, weaving tales of ancient pharaohs, valiant warriors, and the relentless passage of time, all set against a backdrop of thunderous riffs and soaring vocals.

Musical Genre: The Zenith of British Heavy Metal

This album cemented Iron Maiden's position as trailblazers of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. It showcased their signature sound: intricate dual guitar harmonies, earth-shattering basslines, and Bruce Dickinson's operatic vocals. Tracks like "Aces High" and "2 Minutes to Midnight" ascended to the status of genre anthems, their infectious melodies and propulsive rhythms resonating with metalheads across the continent.

Gatefold Cover: A Visual Spectacle

The EEC release of "Powerslave" boasted a gatefold cover that unfolded to reveal a panoramic tableau of ancient Egypt. Derek Riggs' iconic artwork depicting Eddie as a pharaoh, surrounded by hieroglyphics and pyramids, beckoned listeners into a realm of mystery and grandeur. This visual spectacle enhanced the album's immersive experience, adding another layer of depth to the musical narrative.

Production Team and Recording Studio

The album was helmed by Martin Birch, a seasoned producer renowned for his collaborations with Deep Purple and Black Sabbath. Recorded at Compass Point Studios in Nassau, Bahamas, the tropical setting provided an unexpected backdrop for the album's epic soundscapes. The band embraced the studio's relaxed ambiance, experimenting with new techniques and pushing their creative boundaries.

Track by Track Breakdown

Aces High: A high-octane opener, chronicling a World War II dogfight with Dickinson's vocals soaring above the fray.

2 Minutes to Midnight: An apocalyptic warning of impending doom, driven by a relentless rhythm section and Harris' iconic bass intro.

Losfer Words (Big 'Orra): A raucous instrumental showcasing the band's technical prowess.

Flash of the Blade: A tale of swordsmanship and honor, featuring a dynamic interplay between guitars and drums.

The Duellists: A dramatic ballad evoking the tension of a duel, with Dickinson's vocals painting a vivid picture of the scene.

Back in the Village: A return to the desert setting, with a driving riff and lyrics inspired by the TV show "The Prisoner."

Powerslave: The title track, a sprawling epic that explores the life and death of an Egyptian pharaoh.

Rime of the Ancient Mariner: A 13-minute masterpiece, based on Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem, showcasing the band's ability to blend complex arrangements with lyrical storytelling.

Music Genre:

NWOBHM Heavy Metal 

Album Production Information:

Produced by Martin "Farmer" Birch.
  • Martin Birch – Producer, Sound Engineer

    I first noticed Martin Birch on those early Iron Maiden sleeves—the ones with the typography that felt like a threat. At twelve, I didn’t care about "production value"; I just liked that the guitars didn't sound like mud. He was the man behind the sound mixer, the one who made the snare snap like a dry branch in a cold forest. He was "The Headmaster," and we were all just students of his high-voltage curriculum.

    Birch didn’t just record noise; he organized aggression. By 1972, he was already wrangling the messy brilliance of Deep Purple’s Machine Head, turning Ian Gillan’s banshee wails into something that didn't just clip the tape but lived inside it. In 1980, he pulled off the ultimate renovation, giving Black Sabbath a much-needed shower and a new spine. Heaven and Hell shouldn't have worked, but Martin polished that Birmingham sludge into something operatic and gleaming. It was a pivot that felt like fate, mostly because he refused to let the mid-range get lazy.

    Then came the long, obsessive stretch with Iron Maiden from 1981 to 1992. It was a twelve-year marriage to the fader. From the moment Killers (EMC 3357, for those who care) hit the shelves, the sound was physical. He knew how to let Steve Harris’s bass clatter like a machine gun without drowning out the melody—a sonic miracle that still feels fresh. You can almost smell the ozone and the dust on the Marshall stacks when the needle drops on The Number of the Beast. He stayed until Fear of the Dark, then simply walked away. No victory lap, no bloated memoir. He preferred the hum of the desk to the noise of the crowd, leaving us with nothing but the records and a slight sense of abandonment. But then, when you’ve already captured lightning on tape for twenty years, why bother hanging around for the rain?

    Martin Birch Wiki

    • Record Label & Catalognr:

    EMI 1C 064-24 0200  

    Album Packaging

    This album includes the original custom inner sleeve with album details, complete lyrics of all songs by IRON MAIDEN and photos.

    Media Format:

    12" LP Vinyl Gramophone Record 

    Year & Country:

    1984 Made in EEC
    Band Members and Musicians on: IRON MAIDEN - Powerslave
      Band-members, Musicians and Performers
    • Bruce Dickinson - Vocals
    • Bruce Dickinson – Vocals Bruce Dickinson, born August 1958, is the powerhouse vocalist who propelled Iron Maiden to legendary status. Joining the band in 1981, his operatic range, sharp phrasing, and commanding stage presence reshaped the group’s sound and ambition, defining era-classic albums like The Number of the Beast and Powerslave. Beyond Maiden, he built a parallel career as a solo artist, commercial pilot, author, and broadcaster, giving his legacy a reach that stretches well beyond heavy metal.
      Bruce Dickinson Wiki
    • Dave Murray - Guitars
    • Dave Murray – Guitar

      Maiden’s calm killer: smooth leads, twin-guitar harmony for days, and that melodic bite that makes the “gallop” feel cinematic instead of chaotic.

      Dave Murray (born 23 December 1956, Edmonton, Middlesex, England) is one of the defining lead guitar voices of heavy metal, and in my book he’s the melodic “second spine” of Iron Maiden. His timeline with the band starts early: joining in 1976, getting briefly pushed out in 1977, then returning in 1978 and staying locked in ever since—making him one of the longest-serving members in the whole Maiden saga. During that 1977 gap he spent around six months with Urchin (Adrian Smith’s band), which is a fun little historical glitch in the matrix if you like your Maiden lore messy and human. Beyond the main band, his most notable “outside the mothership” credit is the all-star charity metal project Hear ’n Aid (1985), because apparently even guitar lifers sometimes leave the bunker to do side quests. Dave Murray Wiki

    • Adrian Smith - Guitars
    • Adrian Smith – Guitarist, Songwriter Adrian Smith is one of those players I always associate with Iron Maiden’s classic sound and its later revival. Joining in 1980, leaving in 1990, and returning in 1999, his melodic solos and sharp songwriting helped define albums from The Number of the Beast to Brave New World and beyond.
      Adrian Smith Wikipedia
    • Steve Harris - Bass
    • Steve Harris – Bass Guitar, Songwriter

      Iron Maiden’s engine room: galloping bass lines, history-nerd lyrics, and “captain of the ship” energy baked into every riff.

      Steve Harris (born 12 March 1956, Leytonstone, England) is the rare bassist who doesn’t just hold the floor—he draws the whole blueprint. In my book, he’s the founder and primary songwriter who’s kept Iron Maiden on its rails from 1975–present, with that instantly recognizable “gallop” driving huge chunks of the catalogue. The pre-Maiden grind matters too: first band days in Influence/Gypsy’s Kiss (1973–1974, including a documented gig run in 1974), then the older, blues-leaning Smiler period (1974–1975) where his more ambitious writing basically forced the next step: forming Maiden. Outside the mothership, he’s fronted his own hard-rock outlet British Lion (2012–present), a project that grew out of connections going back to the early 1990s and finally hit the world as his solo debut in 2012.

      Steve Harris Wiki
    • Nicko McBrain - Drums
    • Nicko McBrain – Drums Nicko McBrain, born 1952, is the powerhouse drummer who has driven Iron Maiden’s thunderous engine since joining in 1982. His playing combines brute force with swing and pinpoint timing, giving albums like The Number of the Beast and Powerslave their unstoppable momentum. Before Maiden, his work with Trust and the Pat Travers Band sharpened his style, culminating in a career that redefined metal drumming.
      Nicko McBrain Wiki
    Complete Track Listing of: IRON MAIDEN - Powerslave
      Track Listing:
    1. Aces High (Steve Harris) 4:29
    2. 2 Minutes to Midnight (Bruce Dickinson, Adrian Smith) 5:59
    3. Losfer Words (Big 'Orra) (Instrumental) (Harris) 4:12
    4. Flash of the Blade (Dickinson) 4:02
    5. The Duellists (Harris) 6:06
    6. Back in the Village (Dickinson, Smith) 5:00 (5:20 on the 1998 re-release)
    7. Powerslave (Dickinson) 7:07 (6:47 on the 1998 re-release)
    8. Rime of the Ancient Mariner (Harris) 13:34

    IRON MAIDEN - Vinyl Records Discography Home Page