Iron Maiden - The RIFFS of Powerslave 

It wasn't til this past month that I realized the genius of Powerslave. Pure epicness.

Dude, you’re like my fav RU-vid channel right now. I worship Iron Maiden. They’ve been my favorite band since middle school. & I love that this content is all about maiden and breaking their stuff down and talking about it. & you’re also very talented and I’m so impressed with how you can play in the style of all 3 guitarists. Keep it up dude!

One of the greatest albums of all time.

When I was in junior high back in '84, my older brother stole a cassette from someone and told me to hide it. It was Piece of Mind. I started to listen to it and that's when my love for Maiden started. Posters from Spencers at the mall covered my walls and pictures from Hit Parader and Circus magazines covered my doors. I don't know how to read music or play an instrument, but I love watching your videos. Thanks for all you do!!

Adrian's harmonization on losfer words is a matter of study. No theory to explain it, just genius.

Im glad u mentioned "A Matter of Life & Death" as one of your favourite Maiden's album, a very underrated album in my opinion!

Beyond epicness, we need EVERY SONG OF EVERY ALBUM

PowerSlave is a masterpiece

I recently got back into playing guitar after many years of not really playing. Your channel has been a godsend. Thanks so much for that. I admire your passion for Maiden!

The fact that Bruce wrote Powerslave all by himself is a testament to his ridiculous talent within Iron Maiden. What an asset he is, not only is he a fantastic singer & frontman, he's a FANTASTIC songwriter as well.

Powerslave was my cherry-pop to Maiden, too. Although, my favourite will always be the first track to hook me, which was 'Back in the Village' - track 1 side 2 of the cassette... I'm now going to have to pick up my guitar and play through the album... again...

Still my favorite album of all time.

Awesome analysis! Thank you! You took me back to year 84-85 What an amazing sound Maiden had at that time! Something I truly miss after Seventh Son.

Would love to get some AMOLAD videos too, definitely one of my fav albums as well

Another awesome video! I remember going to see them live back in 2006 in Manchester UK, when they played the entire AMOLAD album from start to finish! Adrian broke a guitar string on the solo for different world! Great show though 😊

This one and somewhere in time are definitely my favorite albums as of now

I'm from Costa Rica and just speak spanish, but here on this Channel I can learn english because the guy speak clearly and play guitar with our heroes because each riff is amazing, learn and play at the dame time. LOVE this Channel!!!

Soundwise "Powerslave" is their peak of a record. Clear as Olympus waters when heard through a proper hi-fi device.

Excellent study. I loved the way you teach us the “what if” scales, really appreciate your dedication. And, finally, RIP Dusty 🙌

Tried many, many times to play guitar but I've got two left hands. As a Maiden fan, that's exactly though why I love this channel: makes me appreciate the guitar play of Smith, Gers and Murray (and Harris of course) even more.

The best Maiden album period!!!! Not a bad song on it.

Decades long fan myself. I really appreciate some of the channels deconstructing the various technical aspects of Maiden because it's renewed my love for music all round by giving me a better grasp of music theory. A few videos in and you're my favourite next to Daily Doug and Charismatic Voice. Nice guitar skills.

My first Metal record ever!

Great stuff!! Keep it coming

Love the new backdrop! Looks killer

Powerslave has a simplicity to it, I am not a virtuoso on guitar, but I can play this entire album with ease, and more importantly, I like every song except track 5 and can play for an hour without having to switch discs. Never understood how Back In The Village wasn't one of their most famous songs. It's so fun to play too.

Lots of great stuff in this!

Epic, really good, i enjoyed that a lot!

Just discovered your channel, already a big fan!

Love your deep analysis here. Nice work.

Always doing great!

Great video Nico!

This was just a great lesson! Really enjoyed this, and will definitely watch it and work with it multiple times. The World Slavery Tour was my first live Maiden experience. I remember it quite well for being so many years ago. Definitely made me a fan for life! Like you I remember sitting with my copy of Powerslave and reading the lyrics and looking at the artwork (I had bought it on vinyl, and I remember the album cover being textured… pretty sure that was the first time I had ever seen anything like that). So cool! I like your ZZ Top shirt and appreciated the tribute to Dusty at the end. I just watched the live from Nerdville with Joe Bonamassa episode with Billy Gibbons the other day. Good stuff.

aaahhh... EXCELLENT SERVICE, Nico!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Amazing insights, Nico! Powerslave was also my first Maiden album. Been a fan ever since!

Great overlook and analysis!! Also, I love that you mentioned Phenomena by Dario Argento, such a wild movie!

Love the "dark mode" of your new background! And Powerslave is amazing!

This video and your channel is a true gem! Makes me wanna pick up the guitar and play along with an entire maiden album!

Flash of the Blade has such a damn good main riff, love it got a mention! This is a great video, so much care taken to get the details right. Great work, thank you

Like the new studio! Congrats!

Amazing video! Very interesting! And tone, that tone! Thank you! Up the irons! \m/

Great video Nico! always a joy to see you delve in to the Iron Maiden canon with the passion of a true fan. Kudos for wearing a ZZ TOP shirt. Way to pay respect to the recently departed Dusty Hill! Many blessings a keep on playing.

I love this channel. Keep it up.

Yeeeesss A Matter of Life and Death is one of my favorite IM albums as well! Good taste Nico

This was amazing to watch and listen to.. Thank you for sharing!

Love it! Right, that’s it, I’m learning Back in the Village. Thanks man. 🔥🤘😜🤘🎸🔥

Back in the Village - Main riff learned 👍 now for the next bit.

Really like the stuff you put out. I absolutely love Iron Maiden, and really dig the vids you do. Great player too, keep on keeping on. Up the Irons! 🤘🙏🤘

Thanks for your time and work! I love watching your videos, always a great pleasure. Can't wait for "the riffs of Somewhere in Time" ;-) Up the Irons from Germany! \m/

Oh my word this is a sensational video - what a find! Totally subbed immediately. Only downer was you didn’t launch into the post-instrumental gallop at the end of the Rime breakdown - I was all set to rock out to that! Anyway, you make these riffs look so easy but, as a dreadful guitarist, I know they’re really not. You’re bringing them all to life once more. Thank you!

Great analysis and interpretation, live your videos but this one is really different, on a good way! Hope you can do more of this! Cheers from Portugal 🤘🙏

Great video series. Keep it up. I really like the attention to detail when you are explaining the music theory behind these riffs. Greetings from Greece 🇬🇷 .

Such a great album that I’ve been learning over the past couple decades. Great breakdown and I learned a lot!

Very good thanks for the guide of Powerslave

When I was a teenager my guitar teacher made me always play blues (which is great), but I only wanted to play Maiden songs: where were you back in the days?? Great channel, keep going and up the Irons!

I have played that pentatonic lick from Back in the Village as my go to “Guitar Store” lick since I was 14 years old. If you hit the pinch harmonic right you will always get the respect from your fellow Guitar Center patrons. 😀💯🔥🔥

Hi Mr, you are the first one I hear putting a Matter of Life and Death in your favorite two. I don't feel alone anymore 😂

Awesome video! I am currently recovering from an injury (for a couple months now) but your channel and great explanations feed my love for guitar. Definitely hypes me up to play some more Maiden once I'm healed!

Buen vídeo, enhorabuena!!

You're killing it, Nico!! The tone of that Gold Top is amazing, btw. I LOVE that you give us what the riffs *could* have sounded like, had they not used various other modes and scales. As always, great stuff and keep it coming!! UP THE IRONS!!!

Nico: the finest analysis of Maiden guitar work, positive vibe, gorgeous guitars!

No concert has even come close to the epic Powerslave tour. I was floored! Thanks for a great video. I've been playing guitar for a long time and only recently taken an interest in learning the music theory behind the songs. Your explanations of what makes the songs work is fantastic.

Great video! A matter of Life and Death is an amazing album that gets overlooked alot...seeing it live in its entirety was truly remarkable. Chicago 2006 was an amazing show...I drove 11 hours to see it! Up the Irons!!

After 37 years, I’m still blown away by RotAM every time I listen to it.

Great video! Please show us how to get that tone🙌🏼

Found your Channel while scrolling in one of my insomnia driven episodes. I can't play a lick (no puns, lol) of guitar but the way you break everything down is understandable to my noob ears. Keep it Up!!

Great guitar sound. Raw, heavy and unpolished. Like at a soundcheck. I doubt I heard anyone play a similar sound here. Love your videos, man. Especially the ones where you play the single riffs without drums or bass from the cd (I guess that's what you're playing to when you're doing a whole play through). Keep up the good work!

Brilliant, mate, keep rockin the Maiden absolutely ace, thank you and you've just got a new subscriber cheers 🤘🤘🤘🤘🎸👍👍👍

AMOLAD deserves more love

Another Awesome Video! I think it would definitely be cool if you did this for all of their albums eventually. Another idea is you could do videos where you discus the solos of each album and talk about how each of the players solos evolved. But either way you have definitely become my favorite youtube channel and I’m excited for whatever videos you make. Also September 3rd is my birthday, so thats gonna be an awesome day.

Great explanation!

I was going to mention Beato before I read it in your comments. Well done, very technical and well thought-out explanations. You, mr.Nico, are the Iron-maiden-specialist-Rick-Beato of YT. I hope you realise this is a compliment:-)) By the way, Satriani knows all about the music-making process, scales, modes, etc, he's not just playing at random and let's see if it sounds attractive, just like Rick Beato, and you, Nico. Canada is very lucky to have you!

Night mode: on 🙃 great looking set!!! And, as always, highly valuable stuff

Back in the Village - Intro/main riff learned and next bit (Am pentatonic bit) learned. 🔥🤘😁🤘🎸🔥 Now to practice it relentlessly and commit it to long term memory.

Ciao ciccio! Amazing video as always! Cant wait til you do this for BRAVE NEW WORLD ! Abbraccio

Interesting you noticed Adrian's change in pickng-style on his return. He was quoted in one interview saying he had learned alot about picking from Roy Z during the Bruce solo projects.

Wow you opened my ears to hear 2 minutes to midnight differently. So much more spicy than I was hearing before !!!

Questo format è fantastico, complimenti per tutta la qualità che porti ogni volta! Una piccola curiosità: dicono che Bruce avesse registrato le prime idee per la canzone Powerslave sulla stessa cassetta in cui registrò di nascosto Mission From Arry. Nicko stava per distruggerla ma Bruce disse: fermi tutti, ci sono idee per il prossimo album 😅

my favorite album....one of the best ever

Ciao Nico!! Grande!🤘👋

Great idea to show us the difference between minor modes and aeolian

I just found out your channel today, sent by a fellow great guitarist friend of mine. Excellent channel! Please, make videos only about the solos of the song Powerslave and Rime of the Ancient Mariner, two of my fav solos of all times. Regards

I love that Nico loves AMOLAD as much as I do.

I know very very little about music theory and cannot play an instrument aside from my skin-flute, but these videos are fantastic breakdowns of my favorite band allowing me to appreciate their work more than I already do!

Great youtube channel, with my favourite band in the centre of attention. I've been a fan of IM ever since the beginning, I was 15 when I sat down, put on my headphones only to be blown away by the intro of "The Number of the Beast"... The first two albums were great, but The Beast got me right by the throat. This was a game changer. I've been a fan ever since. Anyway, keep up the good work, Nico. (are you from Italian descent by any chance?)

Can't wait for the riffs of Somewhere in Time

Thank you very much, I play guitar also and I've tried learning iron maiden for years but I'm sure none of what I've learned is the correct way to play like you were demonstrating, when I play it sounds like it alittle but I'm certain I'm using the wrong chords cause I've played along with my iron maiden DVD's and Cd's and especially the live DVD's Adrian and Dave have their fingers in total different areas of the neck but I have fun playing. You're an extremely good guitarist and your Maiden tutorials are amazing and I love learning from you and learning the correct methods. I also have a big problem picking properly, like power slave for instance, I know how to palm mute but doing it 4 times in a row consistently is difficult for me for some reason, I just need to watch more of your tutorials and practice more on proper techniques. Thank you so much for everything you're doing for us all and you have great musical knowledge and technique.

On Rock in Rio Janice plays the opening riff to 2 Minutes to Midnight and it just isn’t the same. They eventually went back to Adrian playing it, which sounds much better. Funny, it’s a simple enough riff, but sounds much better when Adrian plays it!

4:30 just watching your hand movement, I can picture Adrian doing it like that. I'm not even going to confirm this but just believe it because you obviously know your shit. Great vid, bro!

Damn! Studio in the dark really hits different! I'm in 😂

This was amazing! Please do other albums! I'd love to hear you do this with SIT or 7th Son

subscribed...enjoyed it

2:02 never noticed the difference until you pointed it out haha

I love the tone you got with that guitar! Losfer Words is not one of my faves (I like Transylvania and Genghis Khan much better) but this makes me want to revisit it. The whole album, actually. 🎸💛

Great analysis, thanks for the vid! Powerslave has always been my favorite, though Somewhere In Time was the first Maiden I heard, and criminally underrated imo (I still love that one too). I think the only Maiden I didn't care for were the first 2 with the original singer. Certainly not bad, but just not as good as everything else that came after imo. Edited for an funny, but unintentional spelling error 😋

Awesome explanation, Nicko! Just one thing. In the main riff of 'flash of the blade' I think it's not legato. You can hear picking in the recording. Cheers and keep rockin'!

Thanks!

Damn! Now I have to listen the whole album :)

I really hope the guys from Maiden see these videos one day!!

Flash of the Blade is sooooo good