Producer Kevin Shirley has posted the following message at his official website:

"Spoke to 'Arry (IRON MAIDEN bassist Steve Harris) on Friday, who has decided against mastering the Iron Maiden album (A Matter Of Life And Death), and I'm quite pleased about that, although I did like the mastering job we did in NYC. It means that you will get to hear the new album exactly as it sounded in the studio, no added EQ, compression, analog widening, etc., and I must say, I am pretty happy with the end result. I think some tracks could use a smidge more top end, and others a bump of bottom - but I know 'Arry well enough now to know how wary of outsiders he is, and I fully expected he may have done that, so I made sure I was happy with the results when I printed the mixes in the studio. So, that'll fire you guys on the BB's right up, no doubt! He's off taking a break before all hell breaks loose and the Beast is back on the road, and I, for one, plan to see the shows when they hit the States in the fall. Just a word of advice, make sure you've listened to the album a number of times before you come to a show - it'll make the concert experience unforgettable!"

As previously reported, Iron Maiden's forthcoming single, 'The Reincarnation Of Benjamin Breeg', will be out on August 14th in the following formats:

Limited Edition 2 track CD:
'The Reincarnation Of Benjamin Breeg'
'Hallowed Be Thy Name' (Radio 1 ‘Legends’ Session)

Limited Edition 7” picture disc:
(To include ‘Crossed Gun Logo’ sticker)
'The Reincarnation Of Benjamin Breeg'
c/w 'Run To The Hills' (Radio 1 ‘Legends’ Session)
'The Trooper' (Radio 1 ‘Legends’ Session)

A Matter Of Life And Death, out in early September, will feature the following tracks: 'Different Worlds' (Smith/Harris - 4.17), 'These Colours Don't Run' (Smith/Harris/Dickinson - 6.52), 'Brighter Than a Thousand Suns' (Smith/Harris/Dickinson - 8.44), 'The Pilgrim' (Gers/Harris - 5.07), 'The Longest Day' (Smith/Harris/Dickinson - 7.48), 'Out Of the Shadows' (Dickinson/Harris - 5.36), 'The Reincarnation Of Benjamin Breeg' (Murray/Harris - 7.21), 'For The Greater Good Of God' (Harris - 9.24), 'Lord Of Light' (Smith/Harris/Dickinson - 7.23), 'The Legacy' (Gers/Harris - 9.20).