MaiZure, 2003

Two guys go up to one another in 1966 and one asks "Hey man! Who did you like better, The Stones or Beatles?". Fast-forward 10 years and the same guy asks the other if Sabbath is better than Zeppelin (Always British bands too). Music in every decade had its opposing forces and the 80s had the British icons Judas Priest and Iron Maiden. This seemingly endless battle between these two metal giants has gone on longer than some of their band member's lives and has even started to cross into new generations. Yesterday, my friend asked me who better, and today I will lay it all down and answer this one, simple question "Who is better? Iron Maiden or Judas Priest?"

Round 1: The attitude

Judas Priest comes out of the corner swinging hard. Classic metal anthems like swift revenge, breaking the law, screeching guitars, turbo/super chargers and fast driving find their way into every punch Priest gives out. What does Maiden counter with? Dark lyrics and minor chords, the same tools that Black Sabbath pulled on Led Zeppelin ten years earlier. I'm sorry, I'll give Sabbath the credit they did it first, but one shouldn't except old tricks to carry them through every fight...after all, has Hulk Hogan's Big Leg Drop worked once since WCW? I don't think so.

Winner: Judas Priest

Round 2: The albums

Maiden had better put up a better fight this round if they want to stand a chance. Lets take a look at the albums under the spotlight. Before you even open the case (or sleeves for you vinyl fanatics), the cover will be in your face. Either Maiden or the record company got their money's worth with the cover art. All of the covers depict a gruesome looking creature draw in a comic book style. Swirling backgrounds and dynamic color schemes probably enticed more than one buyer in the store. Unfortunatly, the effect comes to a grinding halt when one reads the album titles. Number of the Beast? Powerslave? Killers? The "dark" trend in their music is written right on top of the otherwise great covers. Now Priest has catchy titles that fit the metal genre very well with: Screaming for Vengeance, Turbo, Sin After Sin, Hell Bent for Leather. What do we learn from the study of the front of these records? Something we already know...Don't judge a book by it's cover.

Winner: Draw

Round 3: Midnight duel

Both groups released a song with the word midnight in the title so lets see which one comes out on top. Unfortunatly for Maiden, Priest begins their song "Living after midnight" with one of the most memorable guitar riffs in the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, while the competition has a weak intro followed by constant pedal tone muting in "2 miutes to midnight". The lyrics from priest are in their usual fashion: "Living after midnight. Rockin' 'till the dawn. Lovin' till the mornin' and I'm gone", However, Maiden talks about all the evil garbage that goes on at midnight. I like to party, not sit in a dark corner and pout. Although "2 minutes to midnight" is played with a bit more energy than Priests piece, Maiden's solo just stinks. The guitars are way in the back and the pace of the song comes to a near standstill while we wait for this nonsense to finish...definately does not compliment the song!

Winner: Judas Priest

Round 4: Sound & the fury

Ok this catergory is essential when comparing all rock/metal band to one another. I'll let you know right from the start though that Maiden is going to lose and lose big. Why? Because judas priest touts two of the finest ax slingers in metal history: Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing. Their "dueling guitar" and harmony parts became some of the most copied styles in the N.W.O.B.H.M. Who played guitar for Iron Maiden? I guess you can't answer that unless you were asked which year or which album. Yes, Maiden's guitar player changed like the tide, which is a critical no-no in the heavy rock/metal world. Guitars usually dictate the style with these bands, and changing the player every few years is like changing the band name. The winner is clear

Winner: Judas Priest

Round 5: Halford vs. Dickinson

Finally, let's see these two singers face off! I have to begin with a quote from The Allmusic Guide that said it right with their first sentence regarding Bruce Dickinson:

"Perhaps second only to Rob Halford, Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson was the most acclaimed and instantly recognizable vocalist to emerge from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement of the early-'80s."

As I listen to Maiden records, I can't help but feel that Bruce is holding back when he sings, which makes him sound like he is in a choir singing without any feeling. In contrast, Halford is usually heard screaming at the top of his lungs with that axl like vibrato. Ah well, I guess we can't all be rock star singers huh?

5th round knock out for Judas Priest!

MaiZure rating: 8/10