IRON MAIDEN - POWERSLAVE 12" Vinyl LP Album

- British Release with Lyrics Sleeve

Powerslave is the 1984 studio album by the British Heavy Metal band "Iron Maiden". Powerslave is notable as the band's first album to feature the same personnel as their previous studio release. This web-page has hi-res photos of the album covers, record label and a detailed description.

 

IRON MAIDEN - Powerslave England Release Incl Lyrics Sleeve 12" Vinyl LP Album front cover https://vinyl-records.nl

Powerslave: Iron Maiden's Egyptian Odyssey in Sound
Album Description:

In the scorching sands of 1984, amidst the rising tide of heavy metal, Iron Maiden unleashed their fifth studio album, "Powerslave." A monumental slab of vinyl, adorned with Derek Riggs' iconic Eddie-as-pharaoh artwork, it transported listeners to a realm of ancient empires and sonic warfare.

Historical Context and Musical Exploration

Following the success of "Piece of Mind," Maiden set out to expand their musical horizons, diving into themes of historical power and the inevitability of human mortality. "Powerslave" was a conceptual journey, weaving tales of pharaohs, warriors, and the relentless march of time, all set against a backdrop of galloping riffs and soaring vocals.

Musical Genre: The Pinnacle of British Heavy Metal

This album solidified Iron Maiden's position as pioneers of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. It showcased their signature sound: intricate dual guitar harmonies, thunderous basslines, and Bruce Dickinson's operatic vocals. Tracks like "Aces High" and "2 Minutes to Midnight" became anthems of the genre, their energetic melodies and driving rhythms resonating with metalheads worldwide.

Production Team and Recording Studio

The album was produced by Martin Birch, a seasoned veteran known for his work with Deep Purple and Black Sabbath. Recorded at Compass Point Studios in Nassau, Bahamas, the tropical setting provided a unique backdrop for the album's epic soundscapes. The band embraced the studio's relaxed atmosphere, experimenting with new techniques and pushing their creative boundaries.

Controversies: None to Speak Of

Unlike some of their earlier work, "Powerslave" did not stir up any major controversies. Its themes, while exploring the darker side of human history, were largely focused on storytelling and mythologizing, avoiding any overtly political or social commentary.

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.

 Collector's info: 

Matrix/Stamper codes: EJ 2402001T 3-5C-1-1 / EJ 2402001 TA-5C-1-1

Music Genre:

Heavy Metal, NWOBHM (New Wave of British Heavy Metal) Music 
 Album Producer: 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:

    EJ 2402001  

    Album Packaging:

    This album includes the original light cardboard custom inner sleeve with album details, complete lyrics of all songs by "IRON MAIDEN and a band photo.  

    Media Format:

    12" LP Vinyl Gramophone Record 

    Year & Country:

    3 Sep 1984 Made in England  
    Band Members and Musicians on: IRON MAIDEN Powerslave
      Band-members, Musicians and Performers
    • Bruce Dickinson - Vocals
    • Bruce Dickinson – Singer

      Samson forged the roar; Iron Maiden turned it into a global alarm system.

      Bruce Dickinson, Bruce Dickinson is the rare frontman who can sound like a human air-raid siren and still tell a story. Before the arenas, I track him in Samson (1979–1981) , where the voice sharpened into steel. He joined Iron Maiden in 1981 and powered their classic run through 1993, then returned in 1999 and has stayed ever since. Between the big chapters he kept moving: a solo career from 1990 onward, plus the short, sharp Skunkworks detour in 1996. On stage he’s theatrical without slipping into pantomime—commanding, precise, and oddly disciplined for heavy metal. Timeline: Samson ’79–’81; Maiden ’81–’93 and ’99–now; solo from ’90; Skunkworks ’96. And yeah, never boring.

      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

      The melodic blade behind Maiden’s heaviest hooks.

      Adrian Smith, Adrian Smith, he writes riffs the way old street poets throw punches: clean, sharp, and memorable. Before the Maiden machine, I hear him in Urchin (1973–1980), already mixing melody with bite. He joined Iron Maiden in November 1980, helped define their twin-guitar gold through 1990, then stepped away as the band’s direction shifted. In the wilderness years he tried A.S.A.P (1989–1990) and led Psycho Motel (1993–1999), plus a stint in Bruce Dickinson’s solo band (1997–1999). Since his return to Iron Maiden in 1999 he’s stayed a key songwriter, while still stretching out with projects like Smith/Kotzen (2020–present). He’s the guy who makes speed feel singable, not just fast for fast’s sake.

      Adrian Smith Wiki
    • 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