I just bought the new Judas Priest Box set "Metalogy" which is much better than I expected. The last time I was this surprised by a boxed set was actually when I picked up "Best of the Beast" by Iron Maiden. Both bands hold up remarkably well, especially during this dearth of quality hard rock & metal. My question to you metal fans: Which box is better (or simply, which band is better) in your mind. I had always leaned toward Maiden, but this Priest collection is pretty damned impressive.
Don't think that I'm really expecting a bunch of responses, as if I were asking which band is better, Modest Mouse or Franz Ferdinand. It's a bit more "vintage," but come on. Help a brother out and give me your opinion.
Posts: 314 | Location: Cali | Registered: 14 May 2004
Priest is better. I don't listen to a ton of metal, but I would definitely say that I liked what I've heard from Judas Priest more than what Iron Maiden I've heard.
Posts: 571 | Location: Detroit (suburbs) | Registered: 18 May 2004
I think both are very important bands in rock history, but for me I would go with Iron Maiden. Maiden's first couple of albums with Paul Dianno singing are vastly underrated rock albums, and after ditching him and moving on with Bruce Dickinson they put out their metal masterpiece, Number of the Beast. Up until Seventh Son of a Seventh Son they put out consistently good albums, and shockingly, their last album was actually pretty good too! Not to take anything away from Judas Priest, who were one of the first rock bands with two seriously shredding lead guitar players, and whose career was very similar to Maiden's, but I personally would give the slight edge to Iron Maiden. Also, Steve Harris is one of my favorite bass players of all time!
EDIT-I also love the video for Freewheel Burning from Priest's Defenders of the Faith album! Truly an 80's video classic!
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Smenkharon,
"If it were beneficial, their father would produce children already circumcised from their mother. Rather, the true circumcision in spirit has become profitable in every respect." -Jesus, from the Gospel Of Thomas
After having blown my brains out for the last week on the Judas Priest box set, I have to tell you that I think "Victim of Changes" is one of the hardest, straight ahead rock songs in the history of hard music. I'd definitely put it up there against "Number of The Beast" (Maiden), "War Pigs" (Sabbath), and "Dead Skin Mask" (Slayer) as the strongest metal songs ever...
Posts: 314 | Location: Cali | Registered: 14 May 2004
Maiden is the better band...listen to old priest vs. old maiden - the priest stuff tends to sound really dated, maiden seems to carry over better. I like both bands alot - Aces High, 2 Minutes to Midnight, Wasted Years...Maiden just has the better songlist I think. Iron Maidens songs just carry over through the years better - better songwriting - I could go on, but I won't.
I love 70s Priest. For their time, they were one of the few bands who played the right solos at the right time. Sad Wings, Stained Class and Sin after Sin are superb albums. Hellbent for Leather's decent but marks their descent into silly arena anthems.
As to Maiden, their early albums till Somewhere in Time are real good. Their top albums are the first two, Powerslave and SIT. The Di'Anno era was completely unique, bridging NWOBHM with a punk attitude (check out the song themes).
Double guitar attack - Priest wins...Can't touch Tipton/ Downing. And now Janick Gers makes it worse for Maiden.
Bass playing - Steve Harris's the daddy. Maiden easily.
Drumming - Considering the instability of the Priest lineup as to the drummer, Maiden gets a victory. Plus Clive Burr's drumming in Number of the Beast album is killer. Nicko is good too.
Vocals - Close but Rob Halford wins it. Di'Anno is unique and Bruce may be the air-raid siren but both can't touch Rob.
Songs (most importantly) - Both have classics, but Maiden has a bit more. Plus those cliched galloping bass lines are irresistible.
A narrow victory for Maiden.
Posts: 198 | Location: Charlottesville, VA | Registered: 07 March 2005
Originally posted by Hemorrhoids: Double guitar attack - Priest wins...Can't touch Tipton/ Downing. And now Janick Gers makes it worse for Maiden.
I would say that Smith and Murray (the guitarists in the band's prime) are superior to Tipton and Downing. You're right as far as Gers is concerned, however. Why they kept him around after Virtual XI is a mystery to me.
Originally posted by Hemorrhoids: Double guitar attack - Priest wins...Can't touch Tipton/ Downing. And now Janick Gers makes it worse for Maiden.
I would say that Smith and Murray (the guitarists in the band's prime) are superior to Tipton and Downing. You're right as far as Gers is concerned, however. Why they kept him around after Virtual XI is a mystery to me.
Originally posted by Hemorrhoids: Double guitar attack - Priest wins...Can't touch Tipton/ Downing. And now Janick Gers makes it worse for Maiden.
I would say that Smith and Murray (the guitarists in the band's prime) are superior to Tipton and Downing. You're right as far as Gers is concerned, however. Why they kept him around after Virtual XI is a mystery to me.
i play the guitar and i say Judas Priest is better than iron Maiden, smith and murray are great, but downing and specially tipton are better
My favorite bands are Judas Priest & Iron Maiden. I recommend you listen to painkiller for the "FAST" priest. If you wanna hear what's been called the first speed metal song, listen to Judas Priest's Exciter. (1978)If you wanna hear pure classic(radio friendly) metal then listen to the album screaming for vengeance. Oh thats right Judas Priest has everything metal you want because they tried something new with every album... Judas Priest wins. Maiden is amazing for what they do, but only for what they do.
(How can you compare Rob to Bruce? ha) (Hell Bent For Leather... watch out for the ONE anthem "Take On The World")
I think that Judas Priest is better. What I really like about their music are the lyrics. Metal Monsters,Machines, Electric Eye, and stuff like that . I also love Robs voice from songs like Dreamer Deciver and Painkiller. Judas Priest was the band that invented heavy metal from the psychedelic led zeppelin and deep purple.
OK, Judas Priest may have come before Iron Maiden, but Maiden have been Metal gods forever, if only for their consistent down-to-earth, everyone-can-follow-the-beat-to-my-horse-galloping-bass attitude. It's not a matter of who comes first, but a matter of who does the Metal style best, and that honour definitely goes to Maiden.
I have every Maiden album ever made, so of course I will lean towards them. Don't get me wrong, Priest are amazing, but I just think that Maiden have released the bigger quantity of quality stuff, theyve relased so many consistantly good albums over the years, and they have the whole image. I think Maiden have the whole Eddy thing going which obviously has nothign to do with the quality of their music, but it makes them more of an attractive package. I mean I listened to a lot of maiden, and i believe in depth, range and consistantantcy they are better. I mean take sign of the cross for instance? Completly different from any of their other stuff. I mean they did the whole rock number like run to teh hills, and the trooper but they did a lot of other great stuff too, like the wicker man, tail gunna, cna I play with madness, the evil men do, NUmber of the best etc
I listen to both, so my opinion transcends yours. Maiden can get old. A lot of it sounds the same. They are full of classics I give them that. Without changing their sound how will they come up with more material? Now Judas Priest, every one of their albums they tried something new. Such as Turbo, the pop metal sound. with painkiller the really screaming heavy fast sound. Even way back in the 70's when they pioneered metal as we know it with their dual guitar work. I don't even consider them in the same league, which is ok because I don't consider any other band as good as Priest. I guess I consider myself in the same boat as you because I have all Priest's stuff. But i've heard a great majority of Maiden and find some of it unappealing
Originally posted by ZaNMaTo: I listen to both, so my opinion transcends yours. Maiden can get old. A lot of it sounds the same. They are full of classics I give them that. Without changing their sound how will they come up with more material? Now Judas Priest, every one of their albums they tried something new. Such as Turbo, the pop metal sound. with painkiller the really screaming heavy fast sound. Even way back in the 70's when they pioneered metal as we know it with their dual guitar work. I don't even consider them in the same league, which is ok because I don't consider any other band as good as Priest. I guess I consider myself in the same boat as you because I have all Priest's stuff. But i've heard a great majority of Maiden and find some of it unappealing
I don't know how you can say Maiden havn't changed their style over the years. Of course they have! For instance thier first two albums, had a completly different sounds to the following ones, thanks to Paul Di'anno's vocals. I think those first two albums are underrated, but what it definate is that you can hear the difference between the Paul Di'anno Maiden and the Dickinson Maiden. And you can say the same for Blaze Bailey, with his very individual and gothic vocals.
I said a lot of it sounds the same. Especially the sound of their guitars. Priest did something different with every album. Regarding their first 2 albums. I think they are overrated. From what I hear that's the material that people like the hear. The metal with a punk attitude. On their last tour or so didn't they just play stuff from their first 4 albums? Anyway, as I discuss Priest vs Maiden my opinion of Maiden goes down. So lets leave it at this: Priest is in every genre of heavy metal which they created basically every one. Maiden is maybe two. That has almost nothing to do with quality of a band, so that's a good place to leave it. But also you haven't showed anything good about Maiden. I personally think their last few albums were slow, long and boring. Real progressive. Some of it's good but i think their stuff in the beginning was better. It's amazing they came out with Number of the Beast in 82'. Really ahead of it's time. Judas Priest's Stained Class in 78 was way ahead of its time also. You should check it out. This album and others before and after it influenced countless artists such as Maiden. Oh yeah and particularly check out the title track to Stained class. It's awesome, you might like the slow gallop that possibly influenced Maiden's "gallop". Nice talkin to ya (no pun/sarcasm intended)
i would say in concert....priest.I have the screamin for vengeance tour on dvd and i have the seventh son tour from maiden on dvd. The screaming for vengeance tour hands down.
. I also love Robs voice from songs like Dreamer Deciver and Painkiller. Judas Priest was the band that invented heavy metal from the psychedelic led zeppelin and deep purple.
