Iron Maiden Albums
Piece of Mind Powerslave Somewhere in Time

 

Powerslave is the fifth studio album by the English heavy metal band Iron Maiden, released on 3 September 1984 through EMI Records in Europe and its sister label Capitol Records in North America. It was re-released by Sanctuary and Columbia Records in the United States in 2002.

The album's cover artwork is notable for its Ancient Egypt theme. That theme, taken from the title track, was carried over to the album's supporting tour, the World Slavery Tour. This began in Warsaw, Poland, on 9 August 1984; it is widely regarded as being the band's longest and most arduous tour to date, and led to the live album Live After Death.

The release contains a musical re-telling of Samuel Taylor Coleridge's The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, the lyrics of which include some lines from the poem. At 13 minutes and 45 seconds in length, this was Iron Maiden's longest song for over 30 years until it was surpassed by the 18-minute "Empire of the Clouds" from the 2015 album The Book of Souls.

Powerslave is notable as the band's first album to feature the same personnel as their previous studio release. This lineup would remain intact for two further studio releases. It is also their last album to date to feature an instrumental piece, and the only one until Senjutsu (2021) in which longtime member and guitarist Dave Murray does not have a songwriting credit.

Album Information

Album Title Album Details Recorded At Band Members
Powerslave Released: 9/3/1984

Label: EMI

Length: 51:12

Tracks: 8
Compass Point
(Nassau, Bahamas)
Bruce Dickinson
Steve Harris
Dave Murray
Adrian Smith
Nicko McBrain

Track Listing

# Title Length
01Aces High4:31
022 Minutes to Midnight6:04
03Losfer Words (Big 'Orra)4:15
04Flash of the Blade4:05
05The Duellists6:18
06Back in the Village5:02
07Powerslave7:12
08Rime of the Ancient Mariner13:45
 Total Length:51:12