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Iron Maiden vs Metallica (1 Viewer)

Since I started this, I will answer. I was always a lukewarm Maiden fan, but a buddy and I did a run through of their catalogue last fall (my idea) and it all finally clicked. Well, not all because the 90s were a wasteland for them, but their 80s material and all six reunion albums are worthy. I now think they run laps around Metallica, of whom I’m a fan, but let’s be honest, a prolific band they are not. 

 
While Metallica's mid career transition still leaves me kinda under whelmed from a macro perspective with where they went with their career I've never understand the appeal of Iron Maiden, so the answer to this is easy.

 
Advantage Maiden on musicianship and overall epic-ness. But Metallica wins on hooks, and hooks sell. 

 
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I now think they run laps around Metallica
That's pretty bold, though I guess I see your reasoning. 

Maiden's an all time great metal band and I actually really like their last album, but Metallica revolutionized things for me and I listen to them more often. I'm probably in a very small minority that enjoys Judas Priest just as much as Maiden. Love Priest. 

 
Love both, but overall, it's Maiden for me. 

Different styles though - Metallica is thrash, Maiden is more classic "heavy metal" - they are far more melodic, and in my opinion, way more interesting.  The musicianship between the bands tilts pretty heavily in Maiden's favor, as do the vocalists. They both had a great run of albums - Metallica from Kill em All to Justice is great (and we can throw the Black Album in there too). Maiden from Number to Seventh is fantastic. But I would say Maiden never really faltered - their experimentations and later albums are still quite good. Metallica... not so much. Maiden has the better epic / signature songs too. Hallowed, Powerslave, Beast, Rime of the Ancient Mariner... goodness. 

Don't get me wrong - I love me some Metallica. Nothing like some Master of Puppets or For Whom the Bell Tolls to get the blood pumping. But if I had to choose just one, gimme some Maiden. 

 
That's pretty bold, though I guess I see your reasoning. 

Maiden's an all time great metal band and I actually really like their last album, but Metallica revolutionized things for me and I listen to them more often. I'm probably in a very small minority that enjoys Judas Priest just as much as Maiden. Love Priest. 
I’m a longtime fan of Priest, so I doubt I’ll ever put Maiden ahead of them, but I get now why many do. The nostalgia factor is strong for me with Priest. 

 
i love Maiden's ostentatious epicness, which kinda bordered on self-parody at times, imo - but so dramatic and bombastic, it's kitschy to me (the approach, not the musicianship, which is all killer/no filler), and i can eat it up with a friggin' shovel when in the mood. 

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Metallica was never a fave of mine back when they hit with the thrash kidz ... i was still neck deep in goff and HC Punk, mostly the Misfits, and found Metallica to be for the long haired weed knobs. 

then the Garage ep came out, homage to my boys from Lodi on full display ... i then sat with AJFL, K'eA, RTL, MoP (the album, not our Swedish fish friend) and finally understood. 

they played with the loud/fast rules ethos that this devotee of Motorhead and the Ramones loved. 

"One" just floored me. 

not to say it was the only track i enjoyed, but the middle took me to a place, musically, that i hadn't visited yet. 

so, fimme Meatallica - Lars be damned. 

 
"One" just floored me. 

not to say it was the only track i enjoyed, but the middle took me to a place, musically, that i hadn't visited yet. 
Over played or not, JB & KG are right - this is the greatest & best song in the world and they put on a hell of a tribute. 

 
Advantage Maiden on musicianship and overall epic-ness. But Metallica wins on hooks, and hooks sell. 
I totally agree with this, but I like Metallica a tad better because I like hooks.  Bruce Dickinson is one of the most impressive vocalists in all of music

 
I know it's not hip or cool , it's trite, it's a sell out but 

Enter Sandman still gets my blood flowing to this day

 
I know it's not hip or cool , it's trite, it's a sell out but 

Enter Sandman still gets my blood flowing to this day
It’s not a sellout. It’s a good song that is holding up as a timeless classic, regardless of what Metallica fans who still cry themselves to sleep while clutching their Kill ‘Em All CD think. ;)

 
This is a very difficult question and I’m going to give Metallica the slight nod.   I guess.   Metallica, Maiden and Queensryche have been my favorite 3 bands for about 40 years.   QR is always at the top.  Metallica is at the second spot 90% of the time until I get in a Maiden groove.   Number, Piece, Powerslave, 7 Son, are just so good.   

I was a Maiden fan first but then Metallica blew me away (and most of my metalhead friends).  Metallica was dominant in the 80s and pushed Maiden down to the 3 spot.   Metallica dropped below Maiden after after the black album since Metallica lost their way while Maiden stayed true to the galloping bass lines, beautiful guitar work, and Bruce’s powerful vocals.   Eventually, I forgave Metallica and brought them back to the second spot most of the time.   

Both great in concert.   There are no wrong answers here.  

 
I would say Maiden since it's all-time.   Metallica maybe had the better top couple albums but for me it was a 4 album run, then some pretty bad albums after that.  They also did push themselves with their sound more.   Maiden has an epic string of albums that are more consistent from Number - 7th Son.   They also have managed to put out great music for a longer period of time and some of their best albums have been post 2000.  (I really dig Book of Souls).   And Maiden has the better cover art. 

 
Metallica has had a career like Frank Thomas, should have retired before the black album. I like Maiden a little more.   Actually like Megadeth a little more than Metallica also.  

 
I would say Maiden since it's all-time.   Metallica maybe had the better top couple albums but for me it was a 4 album run, then some pretty bad albums after that.  They also did push themselves with their sound more.   Maiden has an epic string of albums that are more consistent from Number - 7th Son.   They also have managed to put out great music for a longer period of time and some of their best albums have been post 2000.  (I really dig Book of Souls).   And Maiden has the better cover art. 
The only album I care for after the 5.98 album is Death Magnetic.  It really was unexpected and good.  I have seen a lot of Metallica live shows in the last 20 years and it just looks “forced”.  I respect everything they have accomplished, but I just don’t care the evolution of the band.

 
The only album I care for after the 5.98 album is Death Magnetic.  It really was unexpected and good.  I have seen a lot of Metallica live shows in the last 20 years and it just looks “forced”.  I respect everything they have accomplished, but I just don’t care the evolution of the band.
I think if Death Magnetic had been released in 1986, it would have been a beloved Metallica album. 

 
I love both. Have seen Metallica more live but was always a Maiden fan. To me it’s Maiden. I just feel they didn’t get the appreciation they deserved. One reason, Metallica came and just took over for reasons that are obvious but Metallica would even say Maiden rocks and were an influence. 

 
I would say Maiden since it's all-time.   Metallica maybe had the better top couple albums but for me it was a 4 album run, then some pretty bad albums after that.  They also did push themselves with their sound more.   Maiden has an epic string of albums that are more consistent from Number - 7th Son.   They also have managed to put out great music for a longer period of time and some of their best albums have been post 2000.  (I really dig Book of Souls).   And Maiden has the better cover art. 
This is a great post.  I've seen Metallica 5 times over the years, but if voting with my pocket book is a metric for who I prefer all time, it'd be Maiden.  I likely would not go see Metallica at this time, but already have Maiden tickets for Detroit this fall and will likely chase them from Chicago and Columbus before.  In addition, if new music provides further support, I think Senjetsu is fantastic (especially the drumming by Niko) and Hell on Earth is a top 10-15 all time favorite.  

 
I always thought people viewed Megadeath as a joke - learn something new everyday.
Nah, I've posted before as well that I think all time Megadeth passed Metallica for similar reasons to my post above about Maiden.  Megadeth is a band that I have appreciated more and more as I get older.  

ETA:  I would personally have them Maiden -- Megadeth-Metallica.      IMO Megadeth has a few more quality albums than Metallica.  

 
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It's not that I'm a huge Megadeth fan, or really big in that genre period. They are simply more melodic and interesting in their sound than Metallica.

 
Nah, I've posted before as well that I think all time Megadeth passed Metallica for similar reasons to my post above about Maiden.  Megadeth is a band that I have appreciated more and more as I get older.  

ETA:  I would personally have them Maiden -- Megadeth-Metallica.      IMO Megadeth has a few more quality albums than Metallica.  
Yeah I’m not sure why I thought that. Maybe Dave Mustaine? 

 
Yeah I’m not sure why I thought that. Maybe Dave Mustaine? 
He can be a bit of a tool, but so are Lars and James.     I think a lot is just how big the other similar acts are, and chances are somebody's on the outside.   Metallica and Maiden get more headlines.  For people who like the metal faster, Slayer takes over the start of that conversation.   I don't think they are Anthrax level for most people, but they are a step below on most people's rankings.   

I wasn't a huge fan in the day - mostly just played the crap out of SoD and PSBWB.   It's mostly been in the last decade that I've really come around on them.  Like Cap'n said above, I think they are more interesting and I would say talented than Metallica as a whole.  

 
He can be a bit of a tool, but so are Lars and James.     I think a lot is just how big the other similar acts are, and chances are somebody's on the outside.   Metallica and Maiden get more headlines.  For people who like the metal faster, Slayer takes over the start of that conversation.   I don't think they are Anthrax level for most people, but they are a step below on most people's rankings.   

I wasn't a huge fan in the day - mostly just played the crap out of SoD and PSBWB.   It's mostly been in the last decade that I've really come around on them.  Like Cap'n said above, I think they are more interesting and I would say talented than Metallica as a whole.  
Yes - I just remember him being a tool on MTV and I wasn’t that deep into the genre so I never really listened to them. My memory is probably hazy but I remembered them as kind of like Creed who followed, the butt of jokes. Obviously I am wrong it seems.

 
re: Megadeth vs Metallica

i was always peripheral on that scene - but when i was around them heads, it seemed like the more knowledgeable cats, the ones who actually played in bands, were always firmly in the Megadeth/Mustaine camp, and held post Cliff era Metallica in a very thinly veiled contempt. 

but, wtf do i know ... i was mostly coked up and failing miserably at aping the bass stylings of Jerry Only/Sid Vicious. 

:shrug:

 
I would say Maiden since it's all-time.   Metallica maybe had the better top couple albums but for me it was a 4 album run, then some pretty bad albums after that.  They also did push themselves with their sound more.   Maiden has an epic string of albums that are more consistent from Number - 7th Son.   They also have managed to put out great music for a longer period of time and some of their best albums have been post 2000.  (I really dig Book of Souls).   And Maiden has the better cover art. 
The Book of Souls has a few songs I really like, but the rest felt like a blur. I need to revisit that one, but it has been tough as the muddy, brickwalled sound really hurts it. 

This is a great post.  I've seen Metallica 5 times over the years, but if voting with my pocket book is a metric for who I prefer all time, it'd be Maiden.  I likely would not go see Metallica at this time, but already have Maiden tickets for Detroit this fall and will likely chase them from Chicago and Columbus before.  In addition, if new music provides further support, I think Senjetsu is fantastic (especially the drumming by Niko) and Hell on Earth is a top 10-15 all time favorite.  
Senjetsu is another I need to give more listens.  Like its predecessor, the sound of it is infuriating, but there seemed to be some gems on there. 

I think if Death Magnetic had been released in 1986, it would have been a beloved Metallica album. 
With a better mix, perhaps. It does have a few songs I like a lot, but I rarely listen to them anymore.   If I listen to Metallica, it's almost always Ride, Master, Black Album or Load. 

 

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