Is it really necessary? What, to re-release Run To The Hills (in 2002), The Number Of The Beast (in 2005) and now The Trooper at all, especially given their status as legendary metal anthems is famously cemented in the annals of rock?
The Trooper gets full marks for quality but zero for cynicism. It's a superb head banging beast of a number, and even better live. Which is just as well, seeing as there is a superlative live version of the song (from their brilliant 2003/4 Dance Of Death world tour) here to accompany the studio version. Bruce Dickinson sounds in great form despite his ageing years and Steve Harris' galloping bass has meat and grit of its own. As for the rest of the band, well, they are as tight as ever.
There is no disputing it - The Trooper is a classic song from a classic album (1983's Piece Of Mind) that features regularly on their live set. Inevitably it is all hype to precede their much-anticipated slot on 2005's Reading & Leeds Festivals. But ask yourself one question: why bother when there are different versions of this already available? Of course, it's all about the love of it.
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