Among the very first songs that I could hear from Iron Maiden, were the two singles "2 Minutes To Midnight" and "Aces High", as part of a combined 1990 "The First Ten Years" series of Iron Maiden on a CD, and was published with their B-sides. Among the offered titles I bought as Pimpf this issue because my "2 Minutes To Midnight" cover had so much. Although I already knew a bit of Iron Maiden, but on these two singles I should so depart, that I irrevocably mutated to Maiden supporters. Sometime after I had always read only the best of "Powerslave", I obtained at the earliest opportunity, the full album. Given "2 Minutes To Midnight" and "Aces High", the rock, melodic, equipped with gripping riffs, and Maiden in top shape and pure culture are, I could understand the criticism very well, and was downright hippelig on "Powerslave". But when the disc finally turned on the turntable, I was somewhat disappointed.
The album will be accompanied by the furious singles at the beginning, and the powerful title track, as well as the outstanding, almost 14-minute "Rime Of The Ancient Mariner" and surmounted, the songs between them seem to be somewhat in a trough. They are not bad at all, but have, in my view held neither magic nor the power of the 4 best songs from "Powerslave". This is the album in a great part, the shows Maiden best in form, and for this band rather average part, "split", I think. The valley floor at Maiden is however still much higher than the levels of many metal bands.
Considering maybe the background, in the "Powerslave" was, you could possibly come to a statement immediately after the "World Piece" tour designed Maiden in January 1984, a three-week pause, in which they quickly all the songs for " Powerslave "wrote. The songs were in a fairly short period of time between tour and album recording. In August of the same year Maiden were once again on their "World Slavery 'tour. Of course, not a criterion for something durchnittlicheren songs of the album has to be, a lot of good music has emerged in a short and very short time, including of course "Rime Of The Ancient Mariner", which was created according to Steve Harris under enormous time pressure. Here, just good, but also less good come out. That may here now sound somewhat common because riff-emphasized songs like "The Duellists," "Flash Of The Blade" and "Back In The Village" are anything but bad, they just do not work quite as inspired as the most outstanding songs of album. In particular, I can find no pleasure in the somewhat exaggerated choruses that tarnish my impression. A song like "Powerslave" captivates BSP. with oriental-inspired riffs and melodies, you realize that this song was finely worked, and that one has been thinking a lot. I would have certainly pleased as if Maiden the concept of ancient Egypt have music deepened slightly.
The knotless production by Martin Birch, who can sound old-fashioned, at no time "Powerslave", provides nonetheless for a homogenous album that is refined by a great cover artwork. Perhaps stirred the special status of "Powerslave" her not only from his music, but also from the gigantic "World Slavery 'tour, which was crowned with the fascinating live album" Live After Death ". But - no discussion, "Powerslave" of course, should be in every collection, since as a Heavy Metal album, it is undoubtedly still excellent even if in my opinion, minor shortcomings had crept in songwriting.
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