137: Iron Maiden - Powerslave (1984)

March 19, 2024 / Amanda Rodgers

“Why can’t you be heavy with Samuel Taylor Coleridge?”

–Bruce Dickinson

Hear that? There goes the siren that warns of the air raid – or maybe that’s just Bruce Dickinson’s voice. This week, Mike continues his quest to make Discord & Rhyme more metal with the album Powerslave by Iron Maiden. In the popular consciousness, Maiden are known for their goofy album covers and hits like “Bring Your Daughter … to the Slaughter.” But if you dig just a little deeper, they were vanguards of the new wave of British heavy metal, with a seven-album run in the ‘80s that ranks among the greatest winning streaks of the album era, metal or otherwise. Powerslave is arguably their peak, boasting some of their greatest compositions and brainiest lyrics, with subjects running the gamut from The Prisoner to the military-industrial complex to the dawn of British Romanticism. But most importantly, it rocks, and Mike has invited Phil, John, and Rich to discuss eight amazing songs that will put you at a losfer words.

Miscellany

The decaying text effect Mike was thinking of as an analog to death metal vocals is known as Zalgo text.
All 17 episodes of The Prisoner are now free to watch on YouTube, so you no longer have to wait for an ill-timed TV marathon to see it.
The stinger comes from the 2000 computer game Escape From Monkey Island, which John has a longstanding fondness for even if he admits it isn’t very good.

Discord & Rhyme Roll Call

Mike DeFabio (host)
Phil Maddox (moderator)
Rich Bunnell
John McFerrin

Powerslave tracklist

Aces High
2 Minutes to Midnight
Losfer Words (Big 'Orra)
Flash of the Blade
The Duellists
Back in the Village
Powerslave
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

Other clips used

Iron Maiden:

Flight of Icarus
The Angel and the Gambler
Run to the Hills
The Ides of March
Iron Maiden (The Soundhouse Tapes version)
Phantom of the Opera
The Number of the Beast
Intro: Churchill's Speech/Aces High (Live at Long Beach Arena)
The Trooper
The Prisoner
Wasted Years
No More Lies
Moonchild
Hallowed Be Thy Name (Live at Long Beach Arena)

Others:

Samson - Vice Versa
Blue Öyster Cult - ME 262
Budgie - Wild Fire
Riot - Swords and Tequila
Tygers of Pan Tang - Hellbound
Dio - Stand Up and Shout
Saxon - The Power and the Glory
Accept - Flash Rockin’ Man
Praying Mantis - Thirty Pieces of Silver
Jag Panzer - Warfare
Venom - Welcome to Hell
White Spirit - Midnight Chaser
The Moody Blues - The Story in Your Eyes
Bill McClintock - 2 Minutes to L.A.
Stereolab - Ping Pong
Metallica - Orion
Wax Audio - Maiden Goes to Hollywood
Procol Harum - Whaling Stories
Mastodon - Blood and Thunder
Iced Earth - The Coming Curse
Black Sabbath - Neon Knights

Band/album personnel

Bruce Dickinson – vocals
Dave Murray – guitars
Adrian Smith – guitars
Steve Harris – bass
Nicko McBrain – drums
Martin "Pool Bully" Birch – producer, engineer, mixing
Frank Gibson – assistant engineer
Bruce Buchhalter – assistant engineer
George Marino – mastering

Credits

“Discord & Rhyme (theme),” composed by the Other Leading Brand, contains elements of:

Duran Duran - Hungry Like the Wolf
Amon Düül II - Dehypnotized Toothpaste
The Dukes of Stratosphear - What in the World?? ...
Faith No More - Midlife Crisis
Herbie Hancock - Hornets
Kraftwerk - Autobahn
Talking Heads - Seen and Not Seen
Iron Maiden - 2 Minutes to Midnight (this episode only)

You can buy or stream Powerslave and other albums by Iron Maiden at your local record store or the usual suspects such as Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and Amazon. Follow Discord & Rhyme on Instagram @DiscordPod for news, updates, and other random stuff. Editing is by Rich Bunnell, and special thanks to our own Mike DeFabio, the Other Leading Brand, for production and original music. See you next album, and keep as cool as you can.

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tags / Mike DeFabio