[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdT0O53IJEE[/youtube]
Metal Insider contributor Anthony Maisano is listening to a different metal album that was released on that day every day.
After the release of Piece of Mind, which I admittedly don’t care for much, Maiden released another classic, Powerslave. For me, this album is Piece of Mind kicked into overdrive, and does everything it was going for better, and way more epically. The title track has one of my absolute favorite Maiden riffs, and has a pretty unique Egyptian feel for the band. The album opens up with what might still be one of Maiden’s most energetic tracks of all time, “Aces High.” Bruce has an amazing high note at the end, and its generally a track that just kicks ass. The closer, “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” pretty much defines what an epic should be. Despite its length, it never has a dull moment the whole way through.
This will be another statement I know I’ll get flak for. I can feel it coming now, but I do feel this is an album that is held up by its more famous tracks. The deeper cuts on the album don’t hold up as strong for me personally. “The Flash of the Blade” is a track that I don’t care for myself, and both “The Duelists” and “Back in the Village,” while not tracks I dislike, aren’t quite as strong as the bigger tracks. Again, I’m pretty sure this will be another unpopular opinion of mine.
Favorite Tracks: “Powerslave,” “Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” “Aces High,” “2 Minutes to Midnight.”
Regardless of how I feel personally about some of the tracks, this is still a classic Iron Maiden album, and very deserving of any metal fan at all listening to. It advanced the bands sounds, and forged across new waters with huge epics and less talked about themes at times. If you haven’t already given this one a listen, don’t waste any more time. If you have, spin a few of your favorite tracks, and up the irons.
