May I ask why you don't like Bruce personally or is that too personal?
Sure, I'll try to explain, but I don't know how well.
It's mostly just ... well, "air-raid siren" might struck you with awe, but doesn't have to be actually pleasing to your ears. Like I said, Bruce can be a storyteller and can convey emotion and all those high notes he hits and the consistency of his voice are all admirable and I respect him for that.
But personally, his voice can be somewhat grating to me, especially throughout the whole album. A bit too much histrionics. Maiden in general, compared with other bands, are already kinda "hectic", that is, every member is a bit attention grabbing, 'cause you get 'Arry's unusually expressive and present base and Nicko's busy drumming (which I already compared to bands with
actual multiple drummers, like the Allmen, it honestly gives me a very similar feel). Even with Mastodon, for example, where Dailor overplays everything like shit you don't have to notice at least Sanders' base all that often.
So with all this internal competition for the listener's attention, the dominating aspect of Bruce might be very intense and can induce headaches if taken by larger quantities. Also his tembre is, well, not really my favourite.
+ and that's where we get really personal ... well, while I don't know him
at all, while I don't think about him, while I don't judge him... his personality, as it may be discerned in his singing, in his lyrics, in the little backstage info I ever heard and in his onstage ramblings seems to
really not be my cup of tea. Which may be okay, I usually separate the artist from the art, but he is so specific and his singing is so characteristic, it's kinda hard for me sometimes.
That's why - despite him being a much worse singer technically - I actually prefer Blaze. His "veiled", sometimes even broken vocals are nonetheless much more pleasing to me ear and he gives me these vibes of being a much humbler guy.
Let me tell you a story to chill the bones? I'm much more willing to sit down and hear
his tale, if you please. Bruce is more of a very talented jester who will bend over backwards to get your attention (and saying "fuck you, you wanker" if you're not interested, at least in concert
), Blaze is like the guy sitting in the back of the pub, smoking a pipe with a thousand yard stare.
That said, my favouritest-est Maiden album remains AMOLAD. It has been for a quite some time and I consider Bruce's work there to be phenomenal, the album being great thanks to him, not despite him, so there.
