Comments on: Judas Priest vs Iron Maiden: Choose Your Side

By: Bobisawesome

Bobisawesome — Tue, 01 May 2012 02:14:56 +0000

I think maiden is way better than priest. Steve Harris is an amazing song writer and he was self taught. Bruce dickson is easily one of the best singers in the history of rock and metal even if he is a fashion disaster. Nicko mcbrains is a fantastic drummer who plays insanely cool beats. Then there is the amazing triple guitar attack that perfectly combines power with melody. Then we have priest. They are awesome but come on guys robs vocals can’t even compare to Bruce’s. And I havent even heard anything about priests bass player. They have great guitars but really the main thing priest has is charisma.

By: Joemetalgod\,,-_-\,,/

Joemetalgod\,,-_-\,,/ — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 02:35:54 +0000

I choose Judas Priest mainly becuase they came out way before Iron Maiden did and that in the 1980′s Iron Maiden had opened up for them in for their first concert. Besides I like Judas Priest better becuase they are more fast and Heavy. I will say that Iron Maiden is really good, but not as good as Judas Priest. The duel solo’s of K.K Downing and Glenn Tipton are way better. If u disagree listen to these albums British Steel, Screaming for Vengence, Painkiller, and Angel of Retribution. They are good albums and that Painkiller is probably the heaviest album there is for Judas Priest.

By: brian

brian — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 03:50:40 +0000

U made the proper choice, for u, goatlady. I tend to lean to the Maiden side, but that’s the great thing about art. It’s universally open structured and any one person’s opinion about the product is just as “valid” as another. I’ve always been a huge fan of both bands, though my interest in both has dwindled for periods for various reasons. I feel that Iron Maiden’s total catalog has more depth and overall quality than Judas Priest. And another important factor; Iron Maiden have grown with me while Priest haven’t necessarily done so. Maiden have become a full-fledge prog metal band now (not that they weren’t always?), and I love the “prog metal” offerings of Rush, Voi Vod, and yes Iron Maiden. As such I just can’t enjoy Priest to the same depth, though I really loved “Angel of Retribution” and ensuing live DVD, even saw them play that exact setlist in Columbus, Ohio in 2005(?) with Dio and Motorhead!! I’ve been immersed in Priest a zillion times in my life, just been immersed in Maiden a few more! Favorite albums of each… Maiden: Piece of Mind Priest: Stained Class

By: goatlady

goatlady — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 20:24:43 +0000

Steve, you certainly don’t have to pick one over the other – but asking people to do so evokes some interesting discussions! Thanks for contributing \m/

By: Steve Anderson

Steve Anderson — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 18:56:46 +0000

I was into Maiden first, as a teen back in the 80s. I loved both as a teenager, but definitely prefered Maiden. I stopped listening to any metal from about 1989 to the early 2000s when I realized, damn, that stuff really was the best music ever. So, I went back and started to relisten to all the bands from the 70s and 80s. To my surprise, the second time, I really found I prefered Priest to Maiden. Maiden is still great, but to me it just isn’t as enjoyable to listen to as a middle aged adult as it was as a 14 year old boy. Priest just seems to have held up better over the years to me, and I just have never been able to get into Maiden’s material after Somewhere in Time. Both were definitely innovative and excellent.

To compare them strength for strength, I would definitely give the edge to Maiden for lyrical content and intellectual quality. In fact, besides Rush, I would have to say Maiden was perhaps the most intellectual rock band of all time (sorry if I’m overlooking some other band in saying that). That was probably what drew me to them as a teen. Sadly, the intellectual quality of their lyrics seemed to go down after Powerslave (though still showed flashes of it on Somewhere in Time). Priest’s lyrics, on the other hand, which varied from good (Sentinel is one example) to the downright idiotic (You Say Yes, Parental Guidence, etc). Lyrics have always been one of Priest’s weak points.

Technical/musical aspects:
Singers: though I worshiped Bruce when I was in high school, and he certainly can hit a high note, Halford is the better singer of the two (wider range, more melodic, etc). Both are amazing, but Halford is in a league of his own. Guitars: though both have awesome twin guitar attacks (or use to) KK and Glenn are even better than Adrian and Dave. Bass: Steve Harris wins this one over Ian (sorry). Drums: advantage Maiden on this one, also, Priest looses points for having had a child molestor on the drums. WTF?

What puts Priest over the top in my opinion, however, is the quality of the band over time and across many subgenres of music. The melody and overall enjoyability of the music has become more apparent to me over the years. The fact that Priest had far more mainstream success may partly be due to “selling out” but its got even more do to the fact that they deserved it. They simply wrote more listenable and diverse songs because they were talented enough to do so. They could do albums as different as Killing Machine, Defenders of the Faith, Turbo, and Painkiller, and have mainstream hits from all of them while still retaining a tough, dark, ominous air. To be able to largely create the sound of “classic era” metal, then to turn around and outdo the glam bands on Turbo, and then turn around and outdo the speed bands on Painkiller. Maiden, as great as they were / are, simply can’t claim that.

So, my vote for Priest, if I have to choose one over the other but why should we have to?

By: Mr.Schlong

Mr.Schlong — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 23:16:33 +0000

This is about the music so I really could care less how they dressed. Halford just wore what he would wear going to the bar. Vocal wise? Very close. They both are excellent it depends on your personal preference. I think that Maiden has superior songs as they are more complex, longer, less poppy than Priest. I also prefer Maiden’s guitar work. So I vote IRON MAIDEN and I’ll bet any metal head would choose them also.

By: Cody

Cody — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 03:38:05 +0000

I agree. Maiden uses the same formula for every other song. Priest can hold down a groove, whereas Maiden tends to rely a little to much on scale harmonies at times, making them sound more monochromatic. The riff interplay between Tipton and Downing is priceless. Glenn’s playing just kept getting better and better with every album. Maiden leveled out and haven’t really challenged themselves as guitarists or as a band in forever.

By: hell

hell — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 13:58:17 +0000

Have you heard solo on beyond the realms of Death my friend? That solo kills everything maiden has ever done. ( For me that’s the most original and awesome solo ever composed.)
Maiden guitarists can never match Glenn Tipton. It’s Just a fact.

By: maiden/priest

maiden/priest — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 20:00:51 +0000

solos in 2 minutes to midnight powerslave particularly powerslave are awesome the whole powerslave and somewhere in time album have great solos piece of mind number of the beast and powerslave awesome vocals, vocals and guitar differ maiden have not done any solo like painkiller but to me priest have never done a solo like powerslave with so many emotions perfection (even if its easier) that also ends with great drums, its all different cause maidens formula is more rounded and even priests is more vicious on guitar and high end vocals, there both so great why argue they are both my 2 fave bands with led zep.

By: Serbia

Serbia — Tue, 10 May 2011 16:36:34 +0000

You are right! Iron Maiden could never play any song from Painkiller album (and many other)