Tag Archives: The Trooper

Friday Morning Metal – Steve Harris – King of the Bass

That’s not a song, but Metal Hammer readers have voted Steve Harris the best metal bassist ever. Which seems pretty apt, that guy is nuts on the bass.

I think it also helps that he’s writing a lot of Iron Maiden’s songs. Means he gets hands-on with the structure of the songs and how the bass fits into it. A hell of a lot better than most metal bands just tuning the bass out of the mix.

So today we’ll scope out songs I think really show off his chops.

The Duelists: Listen to the guitar solo around the 4 minute mark, you can hear the bass line providing a support structure the whole way through. It fills out the sound nicely

The Trooper: This one is in Rocksmith. And as someone learning to bass, I thought I’d give it a try. It took a few tries before I could do the gallop rhythm while finger picking. But once I got it, it felt awesome. I don’t think I was playing all the notes that are in the song, but I enjoyed the ones I did play.

Hallowed Be Thy Name: Even live the bass is in there kicking ass. Just watch his hand. It looks like he’s picking, that’s all fingers. I have to imagine he doesn’t have fingerprints anymore. Or they spell out “IRON MAIDEN.”

Friday Morning Metal – Iron Maiden – The Trooper

Iron Maiden has a beer! Or Iron Maiden Have a beer! I don’t know which tense is appropriate. Anyway, Robinsons in England has teamed up with Bruce Dickinson to create a beer with the might and majesty of all that is Iron Maiden. It’s called the Trooper, and it’s a sessionable bitter/ESB kind of beer. I do enjoy it quite a bit, it’s light yet has a full flavor. The only bummer is, since it’s shipped across via flaming chariot covered in skulls, it has import pricing, putting it up in line with crazier stouts and double IPAs. It has been on tap from time to time at the Up and Up, and kegs are much tastier than bottles. But if you haven’t had it, go get it!

And to commemorate that great beer, here is the song which helped name the beer. I now imagine during the Crimean War, British soldiers were drinking this after battles.

Friday Morning Metal – IRON MAIDEN

Hey so Monday Iron Maiden are playing White River Amphitheater in Auburn. So I figured you should get as much Maiden as you can. Because, seriously, Iron Maiden.

The Trooper. Probably one of the first Iron Maiden songs I ever heard, thanks to Carmageddon II.

Run to the Hills.

Wildest Dreams. With some funky creepy CG work.

Flight of Icarus. Kinda has a Dio-like Intro. Also he flies. On his way. Like an eagle. Flying as high. As the sun.

Be Quick or Be Dead. Another kickass track I heard while piling into cars in Carmageddon II.

Two Minutes to Midnight.

Aces High. If you hear the Churchill lead in live and don’t get goosebumps, they’ll take your ticket and send you home.

Fear of the Dark. First time I saw them live was the Flight 666 tour. It’s eerie hearing the crowd this locked in. But you’ll be hard pressed to hear another band draw this out of 30,000+ fans.

The Number of the Beast. Because let him who have understanding reckon the number of the beast.

The Wicker Man. Bees? Not the bees!

Wasted Years. They realize they’re living in the golden years.

Can I Play with Madness. When you hear it live it sounds like they yell “Can I play with Agnes?”