In early 2010, Iron Maiden reunited with their long-time producer Kevin "Caveman" Shirley at Compass Point Studios in Nassau to record the album before heading to Los Angeles to finish and mix it. The band is very familiar with Compass Point, having recorded "Piece Of Mind" (1983), "Powerslave" (1984), and "Somewhere In Time" (1986) there. "The atmosphere in this studio is exactly the same as it was in 1983, nothing has changed!" comments Bruce Dickinson. "Even that broken blind in the corner. It's also the same carpet. It's almost frightening. But we felt comfortable in this familiar setting, and I think that comes through in the execution and atmosphere of the record."