IRON MAIDEN – The Trooper / Another Life Blue Vinyl + Poster 7" Vinyl Picture Sleeve

- A rare 2005 collector’s edition celebrating Iron Maiden’s legendary gallop through history

Album Front Cover Photo of IRON MAIDEN – The Trooper / Another Life Blue Vinyl + Poster 7 inch Vinyl Picture Sleeve Visit: https://vinyl-records.nl/

Iron Maiden’s 2005 blue vinyl single “The Trooper / Another Life” captures the band’s ferocious live energy and enduring mythos. Originally written by Steve Harris, this edition was produced by Kevin Shirley and co-produced by Harris, featuring live recordings from Dortmund and Reykjavik. The vivid Eddie artwork and collectible blue pressing make it a must-have for metal fans, merging history, music, and visual art into one furious artifact.

Table of Contents

Album Description:

Iron Maiden’s 2005 blue vinyl single “The Trooper / Another Life” captures the band’s live power during the *Dance of Death* era. Both songs, written by Steve Harris, are performed with the ferocity that defines Maiden’s stage legacy, recorded in 2003 and 2005 before roaring crowds across Europe.

“The Trooper,” originally from the 1983 album *Piece of Mind*, remains a heavy metal war cry inspired by Tennyson’s *Charge of the Light Brigade*. This live version, recorded at Westfalenhalle in Dortmund on 24 November 2003, channels that same galloping rhythm and battlefield intensity with a modern edge.

On the flip side, “Another Life”—first heard on *Killers* (1981)—was recorded live at Egilshollin Arena, Reykjavik on 7 June 2005. It’s less about war and more about restless energy, echoing the band’s early punk-tinged spirit while showing how Maiden’s classic material still ignited audiences decades later.

Produced by Kevin Shirley and co-produced by Steve Harris, these recordings carry the raw punch of Iron Maiden’s live mix without sacrificing clarity. The single’s mastering and mix by Kevin “Caveman” Shirley and Tony Newton keep the energy immediate and the crowd’s roar tangible.

Issued under Iron Maiden Holdings Ltd. and EMI, this collectible pressing stands out not just for its deep blue vinyl but for preserving a perfect snapshot of Maiden’s 21st-century momentum—when their vintage anthems still ruled the stage and the battlefield was a sea of headbanging fans.

Album Key Details: Genre, Label, Format & Release Info

Music Genre:

Heavy Metal / NWOBHM

Rooted in the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, Iron Maiden's style fuses galloping basslines, harmonized guitars, and operatic vocals—defining the sound of 1980s metal while maintaining a ferocious live presence decades later.

Label & Catalognr:

EMI – Cat#: 07243 4 72379 7 4

Album Packaging

P/S Picture Sleeve with bonus poster.

Pressed on translucent blue vinyl, packaged for collectors with Eddie in his iconic “Trooper” uniform charging into battle.

Media Format:

Record Format: 7" Vinyl Single
Total Weight: 120 gram

Year & Country:

2005 – Made in EEC

Production & Recording Information:

Producers:
  • Kevin Shirley – Producer
    Known as “Caveman” for his unpolished, powerful sound, Shirley has produced Iron Maiden albums since 2000, capturing their live energy with clarity and punch.
  • Steve Harris – Co-Producer
    Iron Maiden’s bassist and primary songwriter, Harris ensures the mix reflects the band’s onstage power and signature bass-forward sound.
Sound & Recording Engineers:
  • Tony Newton – Live Recording & Mixing Engineer
    Recorded and mixed the live track “Another Life” in Reykjavik, capturing the raw immediacy of the 2005 performance.
Recording Location:

Westfalenhalle – Dortmund, Germany (24 November 2003)
Egilshollin Arena – Reykjavik, Iceland (7 June 2005)

Mixing Studio & Location:

Mixed by Kevin "Caveman" Shirley and Tony Newton – Locations not officially disclosed, likely mobile studio setups during the tour.

Album Cover Design & Artwork:
  • Melvyn Grant – Cover Artist
    Known for his detailed and dynamic Eddie illustrations, Grant’s artwork on this sleeve revisits the iconic soldier theme of “The Trooper.”

Band Members / Musicians:

Band Line-up:
  • Bruce Dickinson – Vocals
    Bruce Dickinson, born August 1958, is the powerhouse vocalist who propelled Iron Maiden to legendary status. Joining in 1981, his operatic range and electrifying stage presence defined albums like The Number of the Beast and Powerslave. A solo artist, pilot, and author, his legacy spans far beyond metal. Explore his journey here.
  • Dave Murray – Guitar
    Dave Murray, born 1956, is the melodic mastermind behind Iron Maiden‘s signature twin-guitar attack. A founding member, his fluid, expressive solos and harmonized leads have defined the band’s sound since 1975. With impeccable technique and a bluesy yet electrifying style, he’s a pillar of heavy metal guitar. Learn more about his journey here.
  • Adrian Smith – Guitar
    Adrian Smith, born 1957, is the riff architect behind Iron Maiden’s most electrifying anthems. Since joining in 1981, his intricate solos and melodic sensibility have shaped classics like Two Minutes to Midnight and The Trooper. A master of tone and technique, his legacy in metal is unmatched. Explore his story here.
  • Steve Harris – Bass
    Steve Harris , born 1956, is the mastermind behind Iron Maiden’s galloping bass lines and epic compositions. Founding the band in 1975, his songwriting shaped metal anthems like The Trooper and Hallowed Be Thy Name. A pioneer of NWOBHM, his legacy as a bassist and visionary is untouchable. Discover his journey here.
  • Nicko McBrain – Drums
    Nicko McBrain , born 1952, is the powerhouse drummer who has fueled Iron Maiden’s thunderous sound since 1982. With lightning precision and unrelenting groove, he’s driven classics like Powerslave and The Number of the Beast. From Trust to Pat Travers Band, his journey shaped a legendary career. Dive deeper into his story here.

Complete Track-listing:

Tracklisting Side One:
  1. The Trooper Single
    Written by Steve Harris. Recorded live at Westfalenhalle, Dortmund, Germany – 24 November 2003 during the *Dance of Death* Tour.
Tracklisting Side Two:
  1. Another Life
    Written by Steve Harris. Recorded live at Egilshollin Arena, Reykjavik, Iceland – 7 June 2005 by RUV Rs 2. Mixed by Tony Newton.

Disclaimer: Track durations not listed on label. Both tracks are live performances with audience sound preserved in the mix.

Video Clips

Video: Iron Maiden - The Trooper (Live 2003)
Video: Iron Maiden - Another Life (Ullevi 2005 Remastered)

Publishing & Copyright Information:

Published by Zomba Music Publishers Ltd.

EMI is a Capitol music label.

© 2005 The copyright in this sound recording is owned by Iron Maiden Holdings Ltd, under exclusive license to EMI Records Ltd.

© 2005 Iron Maiden Holdings Ltd.

Album Front Cover Photo
Front cover artwork of Iron Maiden’s limited-edition 7-inch single The Trooper / Another Life Blue Vinyl + Poster. The image shows the band’s mascot, Eddie, depicted as a fierce British soldier from the Crimean War, charging across a battlefield with a bloodied sabre in one hand and a torn Union Jack flag in the other. His red uniform is tattered, his expression manic, and his stance powerful. Around him lie fallen soldiers, broken cannons, and rising smoke under a twilight sky. The vivid artwork captures both brutality and heroism, symbolizing Iron Maiden’s fusion of history and heavy metal energy.

The front cover artwork portrays Eddie, Iron Maiden’s skeletal mascot, as a battle-worn British soldier mid-charge on a 19th-century battlefield. Dressed in a torn red coat and blue trousers, he grips a blood-soaked sabre in his right hand and raises a tattered Union Jack with his left, striding over the fallen bodies of soldiers and debris of war. His menacing snarl, glowing eyes, and the chaos around him create a visceral, cinematic moment frozen in time.

Smoke drifts from a shattered cannon at the left, while lifeless hands reach from the mud in the foreground. The blue sky fades into a fiery horizon, suggesting the violence and glory of the battle. The color palette—crimson, bronze, steel, and ash—echoes the themes of courage, mortality, and heavy metal ferocity. At the bottom right, a small yellow label announces the Limited Edition Blue Vinyl release, emphasizing the collectible nature of this pressing.

The image, saturated with motion and symbolism, merges historical imagery with Iron Maiden’s signature visual mythology. It’s not just an album cover—it’s a declaration of war in sound and vision, a perfect visual companion to the thunderous gallop of The Trooper.

Album Back Cover Photo
Back cover of Iron Maiden’s limited-edition 7-inch single The Trooper / Another Life Blue Vinyl + Poster. The layout features a deep black background fading into smoky blue at the bottom, with yellow and white text providing track details, production credits, and publishing information. The A-side lists The Trooper (Live 2003) and the B-side lists Another Life (Live 2005), both written by Steve Harris and produced by Kevin Shirley with co-producer Steve Harris. Credits include mixing by Kevin 'Cavemen' Shirley and Tony Newton. The bottom area contains the EMI and Iron Maiden Holdings Ltd copyright details, Zomba Music Publishers attribution, and promotional blurbs for Iron Maiden’s 2005 UK appearances, including Reading, Leeds, and Hammersmith Apollo. Two thumbnail images of other Iron Maiden releases are shown above a barcode. The design is sleek, professional, and unmistakably mid-2000s Maiden, balancing commercial polish with metal authenticity.

The back cover of the 7-inch single The Trooper / Another Life is a study in contrast and clarity. Set against a black background that fades into swirling blue smoke near the bottom, the white and yellow text stands out with military precision. The track information dominates the top: A Side – The Trooper (Live 2003) and B Side – Another Life (Live 2005), both written by Steve Harris and produced by Kevin Shirley with Harris as co-producer.

Mixing credits name Kevin “Cavemen” Shirley and Tony Newton, with publishing attributed to Zomba Music Publishers Ltd. EMI Records’ logo and copyright lines to Iron Maiden Holdings Ltd. appear neatly below. In the center, details of Iron Maiden’s 2005 UK live dates — Reading, Leeds, and Hammersmith Apollo — are printed in bright yellow, giving the design a promotional edge.

At the bottom, two small reproductions of other Maiden releases are shown alongside the barcode and EMI identifier, framed by a haze of blue mist. The design feels deliberate and organized — a mix of collector’s precision and stage-era flair, perfectly echoing the band’s aesthetic during the early 2000s.

Photo One of the Poster Included
Folded promotional poster for Iron Maiden’s limited-edition 7-inch single The Trooper / Another Life Blue Vinyl + Poster. The image is a large-scale reproduction of the album’s front cover artwork featuring Eddie, Iron Maiden’s mascot, dressed as a British soldier from the Crimean War. He charges across a battlefield with a torn Union Jack flag in one hand and a bloodied sabre in the other. The word ‘IRON MAIDEN’ appears in bold red lettering at the top, with the title ‘The Trooper’ written in gold beneath it. The image reveals visible horizontal and vertical fold lines from the poster’s original packaging. The lower right corner shows copyright credits to Iron Maiden Holdings Ltd and the EMI catalog code. The artwork’s striking detail and sharp contrasts make this poster a centerpiece for collectors and fans.

This large-format folded poster reproduces the powerful front cover artwork of The Trooper / Another Life in all its vivid, explosive glory. The image depicts Eddie charging forward in a red military jacket and blue trousers, sabre drawn and Union Jack flag torn and whipping behind him. The battlefield beneath him is littered with fallen soldiers and broken weapons, painted in fierce shades of brown, green, and crimson.

Across the top, the classic Iron Maiden logo blazes in red with white outlines, while the title The Trooper appears in stylized golden script below. Faint fold lines mark where the poster was once neatly packaged with the limited-edition blue vinyl release, a hallmark of authenticity for collectors.

The artwork’s composition captures the energy of a heavy metal anthem frozen in time — an unrelenting march of sound and image, where history, heroism, and Iron Maiden’s mythology collide. It’s more than a poster; it’s a full-scale battle cry rendered in ink and paper.

Photo Two of the Poster Included
Folded tour poster promoting Iron Maiden’s Dance of Death World Tour 2003–2004, featuring a theatrical depiction of Eddie as the Grim Reaper holding a scythe, standing on a large circular stage patterned in black, white, red, and gold segments. Behind him, a fiery red inferno engulfs the background while a masked female figure, rendered in surreal 3D style, peers from the right edge. The bold white Iron Maiden logo crowns the top, with text announcing 'Dance of Death World Tour 2003–2004' beneath it. At the bottom, the venue 'Westfalenhalle, Dortmund' and date 'Monday 24th November' are displayed in strong white serif type, accompanied by ticketing links and album promotion details for 'Dance of Death.' Horizontal and vertical fold lines indicate that the poster was originally packaged within the limited-edition vinyl set.

This folded tour poster captures the dramatic visual identity of Iron Maiden’s Dance of Death World Tour 2003–2004. Dominating the composition, Eddie appears in full Grim Reaper form, cloaked in black and gripping a shining scythe as he stands on a striking geometric stage patterned in red, gold, black, and white triangles. Behind him, the scene burns with fiery orange and crimson hues, suggesting an infernal theatre of sound and spectacle.

On the right side, a mysterious masked figure, rendered in surreal 3D style, adds an eerie sensual contrast to the scene. Above, the bold Iron Maiden logo and tour title arc across the black header, anchoring the poster in unmistakable Maiden tradition. Below, the venue—Westfalenhalle, Dortmund—and the date—Monday 24th November—are printed in sharp white serif text, flanked by ticket website links and a note referencing the Dance of Death album.

Visible horizontal and vertical folds mark its authenticity as a collectible, originally included with the The Trooper / Another Life Blue Vinyl + Poster edition. The composition fuses theatrical metal iconography with tour promotion, capturing Iron Maiden’s flair for blending death, drama, and design.

Photo of the Blue Vinyl Record
Photograph of Iron Maiden’s limited-edition 7-inch single The Trooper / Another Life pressed on vivid translucent blue vinyl. The record’s central label reproduces the iconic Eddie artwork—depicting the band’s mascot as a grim-faced British soldier charging forward with a bloodied sabre and a torn Union Jack flag. The blue vinyl surface gleams under light, giving it a metallic sheen, while the circular label contrasts the bright sky tones and deep shadows of the illustration. The record’s minimal text layout and clean pressing edges emphasize its collector appeal, making it one of the most visually striking Iron Maiden singles from the 2000s.

This close-up photograph showcases the limited-edition blue vinyl pressing of Iron Maiden’s The Trooper / Another Life 7-inch single. The record’s deep cobalt tone radiates under ambient light, highlighting the smooth grooves and polished finish of the disc. At its center, the label features the unmistakable image of Eddie — the band’s skeletal mascot — charging through battle, sabre raised and Union Jack flag trailing behind him in tatters.

The circular label artwork perfectly aligns with the blue vinyl color, creating a vibrant contrast between the illustration’s warm tones and the record’s cool, luminous hue. Every detail—from the edges of the vinyl to the subtle texture of the print—reflects the care taken in this collector’s release.

Designed as part of the 2005 reissue campaign, this single exemplifies Iron Maiden’s attention to presentation, combining sonic legacy with visual artistry. The result is a piece that bridges nostalgia and modern craftsmanship—a miniature monument to heavy metal history.

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