Entertainment news and discussion on TalkFuse.
“Steve was so paranoid that someone would leak it onto the internet, and probably with some justification”: The Iron Maiden album that was “locked in a vault” for two years
Iron Maiden completed recording their 17th studio album, Senjutsu, in 2019, but delayed its release for two years because of the pandemic. The band kept the finished record secured on a laptop, reflecting concern that it could be leaked online before an appropriate release could be planned.
The delay left singer Bruce Dickinson frustrated as touring and promotional plans were repeatedly cancelled or postponed. By 2021, as the band prepared to unveil the album, Dickinson and guitarist Janick Gers discussed the long wait behind what was presented as one of Iron Maiden’s most ambitious releases.
In short
- Iron Maiden recorded Senjutsu in 2019 but released it two years later.
- Pandemic disruption delayed the album’s launch and related plans.
- The finished record was tightly guarded against potential online leaks.
Explained simply
Iron Maiden is a legendary British rock band that has been recording for decades. In 2019, they completed their 17th studio album, Senjutsu, but decided to keep it secret rather than release it immediately.
The album was stored on a laptop and kept under tight security because the band feared it would leak online before they could plan a proper release. The Covid-19 pandemic also meant that touring and promotional plans were repeatedly cancelled, making it difficult to schedule an unveiling anyway.
The album remained hidden for two years whilst waiting for an opportune moment to announce it. By 2021, when the band was finally preparing to reveal the record, singer Bruce Dickinson and others were frustrated with the long delay, though the band framed it as allowing time to plan what they described as one of their most ambitious releases.