Which is your preferred Maiden era: 1980-1993 vs. 1995-present

The Di Anno era & Dickinson pre-departure vs. Blaze episode & everything Bruce reunion

  • 1980 - 1993 (Di Anno & Bruce I)

    Votes: 13 72.2%

  • 1995 - present (Blaze & Bruce II)

    Votes: 5 27.8%
  • Total voters
    18
Now because it means we have the wonderful reunion lineup (well until Nick just left) having a whole range of songs from Dianno, 80's classic Bruce lineup, the Blaze era and the reunion era to do live. I also think Maiden were never better live than they have been in the second Bruce run.
 
95 to present, by a landslide.

SSOASS and FOTD are the only albums in my top 5 from the first era, the rest are from the second. Even the top 10 is mostly dominated by the second era.

There are great songs in the 80s albums, but the reason why Maiden are my favorite band is their 90s and reunion output. Otherwise they would've been one of the many bands that have a couple of legendary albums (as mentioned, SSOASS), that I spin every once in a while, but don't revisit the rest too often. Also I really don't care about Bruce's air raid siren days. Bruce from 95 onwards sounds so much better than he ever did in the 80s, it's not even funny.

So yeah, this question is so obvious to me that it feels like asking me to choose between eating a handful of sand or my favorite meal lol
 
As much as I love the fantastic, timeless, classic 80's material and FOTD - I like the Reunion era even more. Plus the Blaze albums. I think it's magical. Maiden's whole career ofc. Both periods are amazing.
 
My opinion is PURELY based on the studio albums released during a particular time period, as I have yet to see the band live and accordingly, I go for the 1980-93 era. All solid albums (including the first two) with killer tracks, take-no-prisoners approach.

The Blaze albums, though having their own style, I don't think, are on the same level with the previous records, specially those from the 80s.

On paper, the reunion lineup is practically the best of both worlds as proved in the first three 2000s albums but again, I just don't see the last three records competing against their 1980-92 work.
 
I listen more to the newer material, but only a few albums are on par with albums from 1980-1992 era, so I voted the first option
 
I voted era 1. It's not even a question for me. And I don't just count albums, I also count image, attitude and audience.

The albums of the first era were so much better than everything post XF (with the exception of Killers).
The shows were also different. Much less gimmicky, much more straight forward. Frenzied fans in moshpits. No weird costumes in every second song. Metal fans everywhere, instead of weekend rockers with their kids and grannies.
Normal shirt prices. Real opening acts instead of terrible half pop bands. It was more of a real Metal gig, less of an "event".
That's why I stopped going to Maiden gigs after 2008.
 
Option 1 without doubt for me. I think the albums are generally better than the reunion but it`s also linked to the fact that this was the time i found the band and metal for the first time and just thought , oh yes this music is for me.
 
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No contest for me. 1980-93 by far (but based on the material up to 7th Son specifically, NPFD was a huge letdown after SSoaSS and FOTD was not much better).

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