Iron Maiden - Powerslave
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Free Music Notes for Powerslave
Free Music Review: Maiden's Gift to this World
Hit: 5 Stars
Ah, Powerslave. Iron Maiden's shining masterpiece. My first experience with the band, and an album that completely and totally blew me out of my chair. (or bed, I guess...) I had never heard anything quite like it before, and I seriously doubt an album could ever blow me away like this one did again. This album, in my mind, to this day, remains Iron Maiden's testament and tribute to the world of rock and roll. This epic masterwork has truly changed many things about how I view music, and it opened my eyes to what most music should truly be: reflections of your soul and heart. Those things are more than obvious in this album when you first hear the blistering and amazing guitarwork of Dave Murray and Adrian Smith, the masters of melody. Many people might go their whole lives never really knowing how melodic a genre like metal or rock and roll can be until they hear these guys.
This being my first experience with Iron Maiden, I am obviously slightly biased towards this album for opening my eyes towards Maiden's music. They have certainly released other excellent albums both before and after this one in their lengthy career, many of which I highly reccomend, (in fact, look no further than their excellent sixth album, Somewhere in Time, for some of their best guitar work) but this one still ranks as the top tier in my opinion. It is the perfect culmination of beautiful guitar harmonies, dynamic vocals, and epic song structures. Clearly, the band was setting the bar pretty high for this one, and they delivered perfectly.
This is the kind of album that sucks you in and doesn't spit you back out and let you regain yourself until the very last chord of its epic closing track. "Aces High" remains one of the most brilliant album openers I have ever heard, followed by the equally exceptional "2 Minutes to Midnight." It is then followed by one of Maiden's greatest instrumentals, "Losfer Words", definitely their most melodic. This album also contains another one of my favorites, the extremely underrated "The Duellists," an amazing song with some absolutely fantastic guitar parts towards the middle. I'm sure most of you know about the 2 classic closing tracks of the album by now, "Powerslave" and "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" but in case you don't, let me just tell you that there really is no better way to end an album than with this monolith of a song.
The problem that I have with most of the albums that blow me away the first time I hear them is that typically, after a few listens, the initial magic of the music cannot endure repeated listens and it ends up getting boring. I am happy to say this is not so with this album. If anything, this beauty requires repeated listens to fully comprehend the massive scope of musical skill that's being presented here. THAT'S the beauty of Iron Maiden, and no album showcases that skill better than this one.
So in closing, this is one of those albums that I will always remember, always respect, and always love, by one of the greatest bands of all time, and if you've ever even considered purchasing an album by these musical wizards, look no further than Powerslave.
Free Music Review: Powerslave is a Losfer Words
Hit: 5 Stars
Iron Maiden did not rest on its laurels after a rousing success in the 1983 release of Piece of Mind. The year after, the band released Powerslave, which many Maiden fans praise as arguably the band's greatest work and with good reason. Powerslave is practically an extension of Piece of Mind but with a more melodic tone to it. Here's a track-by-track review:1. Aces High: Metal perfection, that's all you have to say to describe this masterpiece of a song. Tremendous opening riff which sets the table for the structure of the song. Fast, dark riffs throughout with Bruce's vocals at top-notch quality. Awesome solos are thrown in as well. 5/5.
2. Two Minutes to Midnight: Like Aces High, you just know by the opening riff that you'll listen to something special. Overall, superb musicianship, deep lyrics, and a catchy chorus. Most accessible song on this album. 5/5.
3. Losfer Words: Rather repetitive instrumental with a great bouncy quality about it. I personally like the bridge about a minute or less from the end where the riff goes a notch more melodic without losing its quick precision. 4.5/5.
4. Flash of the Blade: Impressive, promising opening riff and intro, but unfortunately, this song is rather tedious and gets old after a while, due partly to Bruce's vocals in the verses and the underlying riff. 4/5.
5. The Duelists: Of the two swordfighting songs, this one is vastly superior to Flash of the Blade. It's serious business from the intro on, with a prevailing dark feel to it. Nice, speedy riffs and drums with Bruce's vocals displaying impressive range. 5/5.
6. Back in the Village: Most lighthearted and upbeat song on the album, in my opinion. Sweet speed riffing on display here. The catchy chorus is what draws me to this song the most. 5/5.
7. Powerslave: Haunting sound effects at the beginning, but broken by some tight riffing and a headbanging drum beat. The chorus parts are quite melodic, in slight contrast. The middle solo starts off like To Tame A Land from Piece of Mind, but gradually turns into a raucous instrumental. Very unique tempo shifts and hence, complex. 5/5.
8. Rime of the Ancient Mariner: A nearly 14 minute epic track based on an epic Samuel Taylor Coleridge poem that keeps you mesmerized every time you listen to it; it never grows old. Sharp opening riff, followed by a steady arrangement of drum and guitar. The chorus is dark but retains that happy-go-lucky sing-along quality about it. As the song progresses, the instruments are more frantic up until the eerily calm middle, and turns into an uplifting tone and comes full circle with a climactic stanza similar to the very beginning. It's hard to describe in great detail about all the styles and tempo shifts used here; you really have to listen to it to describe it. Worth the price of purchase. 5/5.
In short, you can't call yourself an Iron Maiden fan without Powerslave. That plain and simple. If you're new to Maiden, this album is a fine starting point to delve into this legendary British heavy metal band.
Free Music Review: (4.5 Stars)"Classic Maiden"
Hit: 5 Stars
In 1984 Heavy Metal band Iron Maiden once again released a great heavy metal album with "Powerslave".For this album the band explored Egyptian history with the title track,and tought the guitars on "Flash Of The Blade" do have an egyptian sound in one part of the song its not really related to Egypt that much so the cover art even if its really cool is not really appropriate for the album overral.Still don't judge an album by its cover as its what's in it that matters.Powerslave is filled with classic tracks such as the fast "Aces High" or the famous "Two Minutes To Midnight" and its the second of four albums by the classic lineup of Harris-Murray-Dickinson-Smith-McBrain.This album is weaker than its predeccesors "Piece Of Mind" and "The Number Of The Beast" but is still very good and its a timeless album.
The album starts out with what i consider the best opener track of any Maiden album,"Aces High" a fast song,fast guitars,drumming and signing and its not only one of the best songs of the album its one of Iron Maiden's best songs.Next is the catchy "Two Minutes To Midnight" with a great sing along chorus,its a classic."Losfer Words(Big Orra)" is a solid instrumental that features a great guitar solo,its the fourth and last instrumental done by the band up to this point.Then its "Flash Of The Blade" wich i beleve is a great track from this album and an underrated song of Iron Maiden."The Duelist" is nearly an instrumental with Bruce singing not sitting much here,it has a few tempo changes and its mostly good."Back In The Village",its good but i am not too crazy about this one."Powerslave" is another supurb song on this album,the title track is very good,Bruce's vocals and the guitars gives it an Egyptian feel.
Last but not least is 13 and a half minutes song "Rimes Of The Ancient Mariner" based on the famous poem of the same name written in the 18th century.It has many complex arrangements such as a voca-only part latter in the song and tempo changes,its an epic song at best,its probably the song i admire the most of Maiden's career as its quite good and complex,and its a thirteen minutes song that you can actually listen from beggening to end.
The tour for this album,the World Slavery Tour was quite succesfull and got Maiden to play probabaly what was the most physicaly instense tour as it was filled with many,many dates according to the band.I like the Egyptian stage that they used for that era,that was really cool with all the sarcophagus and stuff.This remaster edition has two bonus videos,"Aces High" and "Two Minutes To Midnight" wich are good yes,but there isn't anything else,no bonus song or anything wich is disapointing,but the album as it is is still worth buying.The photos in the booklet are nice too,and there is even a summary of important dates of this album such as single releases,world tour starting and such.This album is strongly recommended,4 and a half stars.
Free Music Review: Tell me why I had to be a powerslave...
Hit: 5 Stars
Powerslave is Iron Maiden's fifth album, and is unique for quite a few reasons. It is the first Maiden album to feature the same lineup as the previous album (Piece of Mind), it contains one of Iron Maiden's most famous and beautiful songs, Rime of the Ancient Mariner (based off the poem by the same name written by Samuel Taylor Coleridge), and has an Egyptian theme on the cover and the title tracks.
INFORMATION:
Powerslave (1984)
Lineup: Bruce Dickinson (lead vocals), Steve Harris (bass, vocals),
Dave Murray (guitar), Adrian Smith (guitar, vocals), Nicko McBrain (drums)
Now here is a breakdown of the songs.
1. Aces High - An excellent opener. Fast-paced with excellent vocals and superb instrumental sections. The song is about planes fighting during WWII. Has a great, catchy chorus. 10/10
2. 2 Minutes to Midnight - A song that really makes you think. Awesome riffs, gruesome lyrics, and a very anti-war song that fuels you up. You may have heard it on GTA Vice City's V-Rock station. 9/10
3. Losfer Words (Big 'Orra) - Iron Maiden's fourth and last instrumental as of now. In case you don't know, the title is actually a change on "Lost For Words (Big Horror). A great song, if only slightly repetitive, yet very enjoyable. Gets you in the mood for what's to come. 9/10
4. Flash of the Blade - Another great song. Due to the high caliber of the album it may get lost amongst the greater ones, but still a song that has merit. Bruce delivers top-notch vocals and instrumentally is excellent. 9/10
5. The Duellists - A song that doesn't really stick out but personally I like it. Has a catchy chorus and overall a song that is worth listening to. 9/10
6. Back in the Village - Perhaps the worst song on the album, and yet it's still a great song. The chorus is kind of subpar but it grows on you. Not the best song but the instrumental parts more than make up for it.
7. Powerslave - One of my favorite Iron Maiden songs. This masterpiece tells the story of a dying Pharaoh who wonders why he is dying, and he is a "god." The riffs really sound Egyptian in a way. The lyrics are exceptional and really paint a picture. Tied for best song on the album (as well as the next/last song). 10/10
8. Rime of the Ancient Mariner - This 13 and a half minute long epic is based off of the famous poem of the same name. I won't ruin any of it, however. This song is a perfect closer for the album. It never drags on, it simply keeps you captivated. Superb bass work from Steve. It uses a few parts of the poem, which is interesting and works very well. In the middle it slows down into a creepy simple tune, with another part of the poem, and then jumps right back into the riff. PERFECT SONG. 10/10
Free Music Review: The Best Iron Maiden album
Hit: 5 Stars
I've noticed that, in all the "Greatest Hard Rock Albums" of all time lists in magazines and on TV, whenever Iron Maiden is listed, their greatest accomplishment is hailed as being "Number Of The Beast." Although it is a good album as well, I'd have to say that "Powerslave" tops it. Mainly because of two outstanding songs here: "Aces High", and "2 Minutes To Midnight". Here's a song by song synopsis of the album:Aces High - I never get tired of this song. The guitar leads are simply amazing, and the solo is great too. The lyrics are interesting and great as well, depicting an British air pilots role during the battle over the English Channel during WWII.
2 Minutes To Midnight - A great song, with deep lyrics, describing the terrors of numclear bombs, supposedly. The gutiar theme is hooky, and Bruce's vocals are good as well.
3. Losfer Words (Big 'Orra) - Probably my least favorite song here. Although it is a unique and good piece of work, it just dosen't meet the standards the rest of the album had set.
4. Flash Of The Blade - Mean and dirty guitar intro, with a biting tone. The story is anotehr of those "ancient combat" ones, that Iron Maiden excelled at writing into songs.
Of course, it's aobut a swordsman.
5. The Duellists - Another one about sowrdfighters. Good tune, one of the best songs here. Not as good as most songs here, but it's still beyond par. All in all, a good song.
6. Back In The Village - A really cool song, although the chorus is somewhat weak, and not as energized as the rest of the song.
Yet, it's killer guitar riffage and driving percussion are simply put, admirable.
7. Powerslave - Probably my second favorite song here. My first being, of course, Aces High. The story is unique and somewhat haunting, but with a rough edge. A wonderful guitar solo, powerful imagery, as well as powerful music blend perfectly into this work of art that is the title track,
8. Rime Of The Ancient Mariner - Clocking in at nearly 14 minutes, "Rime..." is perhaps the best song here. But I still pick "Aces High" as my favortie. It vies for second place with "Pwerslave. Being about 14 minutes, then, it's obvious that the band has quite a bit of stuff to cram in there. And they do. Well-crafted, mapped-out guitar leads, driving rhythms, and so forth all mesh perfectly. The lyrics are good as well, and were inspied by a poem of the same name.
So, to wrap it all up, I'll finish by saying that "Powerslave" is Maiden's best, yes, you should buy it, if that's what you're wondering, and yes, AC/DC is a [great] band. I higly reccomend you check them out, if you haven't already.
Well, I hope my review has helped, and I hope to see an increase in the sales of heavy metal and rock albums, instead of [stuff] like rap, pop, hip-hop, and all that stuff.
See ya later! Love and peace to all!