Poll: Dance of Death vs. Hell on Earth?

Dance of Death vs. Hell on Earth?

  • Total voters
    48
That's a tough one. They are both 10/10 songs in my book, so I can't really articulate fully why I prefer DoD to it, but I just know in my gut that I do. I think it has to do with the buildup in the song and the abundance of melodies in combination with a set of lyrics I find compelling, which is a semi-rare feat as I rarely pay attention that much to song lyrics
 
The buildup in DoD is so so good, but I'd still go with HoE, as it a song that moves me. DoD is a 9 in my books and HoE a 10.
 
As I've said recently in another thread, HoE is among my favourite Maiden songs, DoD feels to me the most quintessential. I'll give it to HoE, as it is ultimately more poignant (and more untrivial in structure), but it's a tough choice indeed.
 
Both phenomenal songs, but gotta go with DoD.

That one has no downsides or weak parts at all.

As amazing as HoE is, the outro with the super long fade out is unnecessary and drags the song down the tiniest bit.
 
Both are amongst my favorite from the reunion era. I vote Hell on Earth. The verses tickle me in a way few songs do. I'm not a big fan of the celtic riff in Dance of Death, while I hate the intro on Hell on Earth, but so much that I just skip it and pretend it doesn't exist so the song is a 10/10 in my pretend world.
 
I tried to make a top 10 IM list about a year ago. I couldn’t do it, but I made a top 15. Both of these songs were on that list.

But between the two He’ll On Earth is my favorite. It manages to spark emotions in a deeply poignant way.
 
The quiet first two or three minutes of Hell on Earth feel completely unnecessary so not that one. I love DOD
 
Now this is a really tough choice. Both songs are some of Maiden's very best and are classics. Top 10 material. Essential Maiden.
Interestingly, I really wished Hell On Earth's chorus had been repeated at least 2 times more, while Dance Of Death doesn't even need a proper chorus. Beautiful and golden melodies. Two songs with long intros - each of them for me an example of how to create vibe and images with lyrics and instrumental. Buildups and everything. Too long? I guess so, especially the outro, which I don't think is unnecessary. But because of the emotions that Hell On Earth still gives me (that's probably the highest mark for a song), I vote for it by a small margin. Only because of that, despite the no repeated chorus - which is one of the worst decisions in their career! I just love the song. Dance Of Death too, but I guess in a different way. Pure brilliance, every part. What a vibe and song.
 
naranja said:
The quiet first two or three minutes of Hell on Earth feel completely unnecessary so not that one.
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If I have to pick one, I think they could have removed and definitely shortened the outro. Almost 2 minutes long, the intro is over 2 minutes! Maybe Steve didn't want to make the song any longer, especially with the other long epics on the album, and that's why the chorus isn't repeated. Idk.
 
Anyone else get the feeling that Dance of Death was Steve’s attempt to write The Number of the Beast Part II—or at least something in the same realm? I’ve always had that impression. Musically, it’s very solid—sometimes even great—but lyrically, it can feel a bit cartoony or overly premeditated at times, at least to my ears.
 
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