Cover songs can be highly divisive, especially if they are covers of legendary artists like Iron Maiden. “The Trooper” is from Maiden’s fourth album, Piece of Mind and was written by bassist Steve Harris. The song is a fan and critic favourite and I am sure Silent Skies will divide Iron Maiden fans with their cover of the legendary song.
Taken from their upcoming album, Dormant (September 1, Napalm Records), “The Trooper” is one of 3 covers on the 13 track album. On covering the song, Silent Skies says,
When you work on a world-class song like ‘The Trooper’, you approach it with the utmost respect, eager to honor its essence and craftsmanship. Everyone who hears it recognizes its iconic lyrics and knows that it has stood the test of time – it’s a true classic. As for us, we never quite reflected deeply on the song’s severe lyrics, instead focusing on its raw energy. However, given the current state of the world, we cannot ignore how poignant and relevant its words have become. It’s disheartening to acknowledge that they are more pertinent now than ever before. Nonetheless…
We’ve poured our hearts into this song, with the hope of honoring its message and evoking a different emotional response from listeners than the original. As we embarked on the remaking process, we couldn’t help but again be moved by the lyrics and their stark reminder of the horrors of war. The thought of those in the world who cannot feel safe, who have lost loved ones, and who have no certainty about their future, weighs heavily on our minds. We have strived to infuse our rendition of ‘The Trooper’ with the same intensity and passion as the original, while also recognizing and honoring its powerful message.
Powerful message received.
Silent Skies has respectfully stripped away that raw energy of the original and created a song that is a quiet introspection on the horrors of war. It forces the listener to contemplate action and inaction and it asks the listener to reflect on those fighting for their freedom.
“The Trooper” cover by Silent Skies allows one to ruminate on not only the horrors of war, but how war affects not only those that fight for others and their freedom, but how a future may not exist for some if they give up the fight.
Listen to “The Trooper” below
