«Piece of Mind» was released in the summer of 1983 through Capitol Records and was Iron Maiden’s first album with drummer Nicko McBrain in the line-up. The production was handled by Martin Birch, and the album came out heavier than its predecessor, with cleaner guitars, drums that hit like cannons and vocals that climb high.
“`Country: United Kingdom
Style: Heavy Metal / NWOBHM
For fans of: Judas Priest, Saxon
Here Iron Maiden experiment with more complex compositions: more guitar harmonies, quiet intros that explode into a storm of power chords and a rhythm section that drives with the gallop of Steve Harris’s bass. The style is more multi-layered than ever, without losing the immediate energy that made the band stand out, and Bruce Dickinson’s performance gives every track a theatrical depth.
«The Trooper» is the landmark track, with a soldier’s view of his final moments in battle, and it became one of their most recognisable songs. Next to it, «Flight of Icarus» brings to life the Greek myth of Daedalus and Icarus, while «Revelations» gives one of their darkest and most atmospheric moments. «To Tame a Land», inspired by Frank Herbert’s «Dune», «Where Eagles Dare» and «Die With Your Boots On» also stand out.
The album gave the band two videos for MTV, «Flight of Icarus» and «The Trooper», which helped their fame grow in the US. «Piece of Mind» remains one of Iron Maiden’s most loved albums: it keeps the drive of their early years, adds weight and wisdom to the songwriting and shows the era when British heavy metal was growing in fame and ambition.
See also
Iron Maiden – The Number of the Beast and Iron Maiden – Powerslave.
