Forostar
Ancient Mariner
I know.
GREATEST METAL ALBUM CUP - Winner: Iron Maiden - Seventh Son of a Seventh Son!
- Thread starter LooseCannon
- Start date
Detective Beauregard
Leviathan of Doggerland
Thanks. I figured he was one of those church burners but I didn’t know the whole story. 23 times?! That’s crazy. Thanks for sharing.
Still, even if Varg was a nice dude, I would have no desire to listen to black metal. I don’t mind a little bit of black metal influence here and there, but as a whole the sub-genre does next to nothing for me.
MrKnickerbocker
clap hands
Alice In Hell is one of my big finds from this game. It’s a really cool album that manages to stray just enough from straightforward thrash to be super interesting. Burzum may have some quality compositions, but I can’t hear them because the album sounds like absolute shit. Annihilator
The New Order is a good album by a quality thrash band, though I do think these early Testament outings are overrated. Slave to The Grind is one of my favorite albums and proof that a hair metal act could transcend into traditional metal. Plus Baz’s singing puts most of the bands on this game to shame. Skid Row
The Dark Saga has fallen in my favorites list year over year, but it still has 3-4 great songs. A Question of Heaven and The Hunter are better than anything I heard on the Overkill album, which was pretty boring IMO. Iced Earth’anon
Pearl Jam gets a pity vote cause it’s gonna lose anyway. I really, really dislike Chuck’s vocals and guitar tones, despite his good writing.
The New Order is a good album by a quality thrash band, though I do think these early Testament outings are overrated. Slave to The Grind is one of my favorite albums and proof that a hair metal act could transcend into traditional metal. Plus Baz’s singing puts most of the bands on this game to shame. Skid Row
The Dark Saga has fallen in my favorites list year over year, but it still has 3-4 great songs. A Question of Heaven and The Hunter are better than anything I heard on the Overkill album, which was pretty boring IMO. Iced Earth’anon
Pearl Jam gets a pity vote cause it’s gonna lose anyway. I really, really dislike Chuck’s vocals and guitar tones, despite his good writing.
This game has taught me that Death is one of those bands I respect but don't like. They've clearly got more chops than a lot of their rivals and there are musical passages in the posted video that grab me. The melodies are seriously wanting, and the singing pushes me away. By definition of being in this game, Pearl Jam is metal and I would much rather listen to Ten.
Overkill is fine — a solid version of a solid subgenre, but it didn't stand out to me in any way. The Dark Saga has better riffs, better melodies and more memorable material.
I could have gone either way on Skid Row versus Testament: two very different versions of heavy, but both pretty well executed. Testament is getting my vote because I am more in the mood for Into the Pit, than In a Darkened Room
I surprisingly enjoyed the Burzum track. It flowed along in the background in the start of my workday like an soundtrack. harsh vocals were underplayed and fit into the atmospheric vibe. No moral dilemmas for me though, because Annihilator was outright good, tasty thrash.
Overkill is fine — a solid version of a solid subgenre, but it didn't stand out to me in any way. The Dark Saga has better riffs, better melodies and more memorable material.
I could have gone either way on Skid Row versus Testament: two very different versions of heavy, but both pretty well executed. Testament is getting my vote because I am more in the mood for Into the Pit, than In a Darkened Room
I surprisingly enjoyed the Burzum track. It flowed along in the background in the start of my workday like an soundtrack. harsh vocals were underplayed and fit into the atmospheric vibe. No moral dilemmas for me though, because Annihilator was outright good, tasty thrash.
Lampwick 43
Barstool Warrior
Voting for all incumbents.
Annihalator moves on past Burzum without any challenges. In League 2: Metallica. Or should I say...Metallica.
Skid Row strikes down Testament, ending their GMAC run. They'll battle W.A.S.P. in the next league.
Iced Earth holds on against Overkill. They've won the right to go up against Mötley Crüe.
Death kills Pearl Jam. We will soon see if they suffer, or deliver, a Mercyful Fate.
Skid Row strikes down Testament, ending their GMAC run. They'll battle W.A.S.P. in the next league.
Iced Earth holds on against Overkill. They've won the right to go up against Mötley Crüe.
Death kills Pearl Jam. We will soon see if they suffer, or deliver, a Mercyful Fate.
Dream Theater - Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From a Memory (1999) How it got here List entries: Metal Kingdom 3 Maidenfans Nominators: @Black Wizard, @Collin, @KidInTheDark666, @Midnight, @Saapanael, @The Dissident, @The Flash | |
| League 3 - Match 25 | vs. |
Running Wild - Death or Glory (1989) How it got here List entries: Metalstorm 25 Maidenfans Nominators: @Forostar Previous Rounds: League 4: Defeated Emperor - Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk 20-9. |
Bruce Dickinson - The Chemical Wedding (1998) How it got here List entries: Metalstorm 54 Maidenfans Nominators: @Ariana, @Collin, @Diesel 11, @Dr Eddie’s Wingman, @FTB, @Jer, @Kalata, @karljant, @LooseCannon, @Mosh, @MrKnickerbocker, @Poto, @The Flash, @Yax | |
| League 3 - Match 26 | vs. |
Gamma Ray - Land of the Free (1995) How it got here List entries: n/a Maidenfans Nominators: @Forostar, @Jer Previous Rounds: League 6: Defeated Rainbow - Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow 16-15. League 5: Defeated Sabaton - The Art of War 15-14. League 4: Defeated Opeth - Ghost Reveries 16-14. |
Dream Theater - Awake (1994) How it got here List entries: Metal Kingdom 11 Maidenfans Nominators: @Collin, @Dr Eddie’s Wingman, @Mosh, @Saapanael, @Shmoolikipod, @The Flash | |
| League 3 - Match 27 | vs. |
Judas Priest - Firepower (2018) How it got here List entries: n/a Maidenfans Nominators: @Collin, @Kalata Previous Rounds: League 6: Defeated Alice in Chains - Facelift 23-8. League 5: Defeated Iron Maiden - The X Factor 16-15. League 4: Defeated Nightwish - Once 21-10. |
Iron Maiden - Brave New World (2000) How it got here List entries: Metalstorm 60 Maidenfans Nominators: @Collin, @Cornfed Hick, @Diesel 11, @FTB, @Kalata, @KidInTheDark666, @LooseCannon, @matic22, @Midnight, @MrKnickerbocker, @phantomoftheicarus, @srfc, @Yax | |
| League 3 - Match 28 | vs. |
Symphony X - V: The New Mythology Suite (2000) How it got here List entries: Metal Kingdom 63 Maidenfans Nominators: @LooseCannon, @MrKnickerbocker Previous Rounds: League 4: Defeated Dream Theater - Black Clouds and Silver Linings 18-11. |
MrKnickerbocker
clap hands
@LooseCannon - the mental anguish of this round may actually crush me. Can you redraw?
I legitimately don’t think I can vote in the last two matches.
I legitimately don’t think I can vote in the last two matches.
Diesel 11
As you scream into the web of silence...
A real heavy-hitting set of match-ups this time.
I don't particularly wanna vote Dream Theater, but Running Wild bore me. With DT there's usually something to hook onto, which makes them a more enjoyable experience overall.
Bruce Dickinson, easy. Still my favorite album ever made. Funny this appeared on my birthday! I hope it wins the entire game.
Judas Priest take this win at supersonic speed. Firepower is one of the greatest pure heavy metal records ever. Enough to top classic Priest material IMO. There's so much fire.
Symphony X to finish things off. BNW is great, but the only Maiden album I'll vote for at this point is Powerslave. V: The New Mythology Suite is the pinnacle of Symphony X's discography (as far as their albums go), and is legitimately a worthy titan to rival Iron Maiden in this match. I knew they're gonna lose, but that album fucking slaps, yo!
I don't particularly wanna vote Dream Theater, but Running Wild bore me. With DT there's usually something to hook onto, which makes them a more enjoyable experience overall.
Bruce Dickinson, easy. Still my favorite album ever made. Funny this appeared on my birthday! I hope it wins the entire game.
Judas Priest take this win at supersonic speed. Firepower is one of the greatest pure heavy metal records ever. Enough to top classic Priest material IMO. There's so much fire.
Symphony X to finish things off. BNW is great, but the only Maiden album I'll vote for at this point is Powerslave. V: The New Mythology Suite is the pinnacle of Symphony X's discography (as far as their albums go), and is legitimately a worthy titan to rival Iron Maiden in this match. I knew they're gonna lose, but that album fucking slaps, yo!
Yes you can! Symphony X are highly likely to go down, so help support them in the face of adversary! If BNW exits, you still have SSOASS to support down the line.
Lampwick 43
Barstool Warrior
Holy hell are there some titans in this round! 
Detective Beauregard
Leviathan of Doggerland
The first two matchups couldn't be easier for me. The last two, though...
Dream Theater with the win in the first match, easily. Running Wild just doesn't compare to one of the greatest concept albums of all time, if not the greatest.
Bruce Dickinson in match two, and again - no contest. As a full experience, I'd take The Chemical Wedding over any single Maiden album.
Match three is tougher. Awake was almost a complete 180-degree turn from the more lively Images and Words, and it showed the band experimenting with their sound. John Petrucci used a 7-string. John Myung made the permanent switch to a 6-string, skipping 5-strings altogether because he's just that bad ass. Firepower, on the other hand, is an amazingly consistent album and easily my favorite by Priest. But in the end, it's a fight against a dark, brooding, technical, beautiful album against a collection of really good straight-up metal tunes. Viewed that way, it's Dream Theater.
I hate the fourth matchup. I hate it. In my opinion, these are two of the strongest records by either band. It saddens me that Symphony X is going to get knocked off here due to Maiden bias, but I have to remind myself that this isn't a Blaze-era album or early '90s Maiden - it's freaking Brave New World. It brought Bruce and Adrian back, established the three-guitar sound, and contains my all-time favorite Maiden song to boot. On the other hand, The New Mythology Suite is one of the greatest concept albums of all time in my book. It may not have the emotional weight of Scenes From A Memory, but the musicianship is top-notch and the vocals are soaring. Just like Brave New World, it is almost a flawless experience from start to finish. This is tough, but my heart lies with Symphony X. In a similar vein to Dream Theater versus Judas Priest above, to me, progressive music is more difficult to write, perform, and keep interesting. That's not to say that Brave New World isn't progressive in its own right, but it's more along the lines of Firepower in that it's a collection of amazing tunes as opposed to being part of a greater whole.
Dream Theater with the win in the first match, easily. Running Wild just doesn't compare to one of the greatest concept albums of all time, if not the greatest.
Bruce Dickinson in match two, and again - no contest. As a full experience, I'd take The Chemical Wedding over any single Maiden album.
Match three is tougher. Awake was almost a complete 180-degree turn from the more lively Images and Words, and it showed the band experimenting with their sound. John Petrucci used a 7-string. John Myung made the permanent switch to a 6-string, skipping 5-strings altogether because he's just that bad ass. Firepower, on the other hand, is an amazingly consistent album and easily my favorite by Priest. But in the end, it's a fight against a dark, brooding, technical, beautiful album against a collection of really good straight-up metal tunes. Viewed that way, it's Dream Theater.
I hate the fourth matchup. I hate it. In my opinion, these are two of the strongest records by either band. It saddens me that Symphony X is going to get knocked off here due to Maiden bias, but I have to remind myself that this isn't a Blaze-era album or early '90s Maiden - it's freaking Brave New World. It brought Bruce and Adrian back, established the three-guitar sound, and contains my all-time favorite Maiden song to boot. On the other hand, The New Mythology Suite is one of the greatest concept albums of all time in my book. It may not have the emotional weight of Scenes From A Memory, but the musicianship is top-notch and the vocals are soaring. Just like Brave New World, it is almost a flawless experience from start to finish. This is tough, but my heart lies with Symphony X. In a similar vein to Dream Theater versus Judas Priest above, to me, progressive music is more difficult to write, perform, and keep interesting. That's not to say that Brave New World isn't progressive in its own right, but it's more along the lines of Firepower in that it's a collection of amazing tunes as opposed to being part of a greater whole.
Diesel 11
As you scream into the web of silence...
The Dissident
Ancient Mariner
Metropolis
Chemical Wedding
Firepower
Brave New World
Only match up where I considered voting differently was the Priest Vs Dream Theater because Awake is an album which has really been growing on me as of late, but Firepower is an amazing album.
Chemical Wedding
Firepower
Brave New World
Only match up where I considered voting differently was the Priest Vs Dream Theater because Awake is an album which has really been growing on me as of late, but Firepower is an amazing album.
Detective Beauregard
Leviathan of Doggerland
Ghost of the Navigator.
Jer
A window to the west, a blazing star above
This may be the most impressive round yet.
I was really into Dream Theater for a while in the mid 90s, but Falling Into Infinity turned me off enough that I stopped paying attention to them and fell out of touch with their discography. So many people gushed about Scenes From A Memory over the years that I finally picked it up a few years ago, and I have to say that it does pretty much live up to the hype. Great songwriting, great performances, perhaps the last truly great Dream Theater album. While this Running Wild album has cool riffs and is probably the best album of theirs I’ve heard to date, it’s just outclassed here. Sorry, @Forostar, but I must affirm The Blashidentnight WizInTheDarcollanael13’s choice here. Winner: Dream Theater
Well, shit. Talk about a clash of the titans. I should know, I nominated both of these albums. To a lot of you this might seem like an easy choice because Bruce and Adrian benefit from Maiden-adjacent bias, but these are both monster albums with only a couple of slightly weaker points. The Chemical Wedding is an amazing album with a totally unique sound that fits the Blake material that inspired it. When over half the album is excellent to nearly perfect, and nothing is less than good, you know you’ve got an all-time classic on your hands. One song after another bowls you over — the title track, “The Tower”, “The Book Of Thel”, “Jerusalem”, “The Alchemist”...stunning stuff. That said, this album does have a couple of songs that are merely good in “Killing Floor” and “Trumpets Of Jericho”, so it’s not unbeatable. Compare that to Land Of The Free, one of the greatest power metal albums of all time, which also slays left and right with “Rebellion In Dreamland”, “All Of The Damned”, “Gods Of Deliverance”, “Salvation’s Calling”, the musical triptych of the title track, “The Saviour”, and “Abyss Of The Void”, and the awesome “Afterlife”. But again, this album has some merely good tracks like “Time To Break Free” and perhaps “Farewell”. I went back and listened to both of these albums again, looked at my past reviews of The Chemical Wedding, and tried to reason this one out — but in the end I think they’re essentially tied. And as a matter of principle, I break ties in favor of the visiting team. Don’t worry, I’m sure The Chemical Wedding will still win, and I won’t be sorry when it does — but congratusorrylations Dr MrJerianarljataxflotoshbocker’s LooseCollindieselman 666, I have to go with your relative-of-dubious-pedigree Fjoroster’s nominee here. Winner: Gamma Ray
I liked Awake a lot when it was new, but I’ve soured on it a bit over time. It’s a little too long, it tries a little too hard to be edgy, and LaBrie sounds ridiculous when he tries to sing “tough”. There’s still a lot of strong material on here, and some great moments, but I rarely come back to this album and I would normally rather listen to Firepower. Sorry, Dr Flashie’s Mollinaelikipodman, but I’m compelled to choose your sperm donor ancestor Ollickata’s nominee this time. Winner: Judas Priest
Brave New World is generally a good album with a few really great songs, but it’s also really uneven and vastly overrated. Meanwhile, this Symphony X album is simply a great album. Congratusorrylations, Dieselmatnightsrfc KallinaxFTBed DickInTheLooseKnickarus, but I have to go with your submerged alternate personality MooseterCockerblocker’s choice here. Winner: Symphony X
I was really into Dream Theater for a while in the mid 90s, but Falling Into Infinity turned me off enough that I stopped paying attention to them and fell out of touch with their discography. So many people gushed about Scenes From A Memory over the years that I finally picked it up a few years ago, and I have to say that it does pretty much live up to the hype. Great songwriting, great performances, perhaps the last truly great Dream Theater album. While this Running Wild album has cool riffs and is probably the best album of theirs I’ve heard to date, it’s just outclassed here. Sorry, @Forostar, but I must affirm The Blashidentnight WizInTheDarcollanael13’s choice here. Winner: Dream Theater
Well, shit. Talk about a clash of the titans. I should know, I nominated both of these albums. To a lot of you this might seem like an easy choice because Bruce and Adrian benefit from Maiden-adjacent bias, but these are both monster albums with only a couple of slightly weaker points. The Chemical Wedding is an amazing album with a totally unique sound that fits the Blake material that inspired it. When over half the album is excellent to nearly perfect, and nothing is less than good, you know you’ve got an all-time classic on your hands. One song after another bowls you over — the title track, “The Tower”, “The Book Of Thel”, “Jerusalem”, “The Alchemist”...stunning stuff. That said, this album does have a couple of songs that are merely good in “Killing Floor” and “Trumpets Of Jericho”, so it’s not unbeatable. Compare that to Land Of The Free, one of the greatest power metal albums of all time, which also slays left and right with “Rebellion In Dreamland”, “All Of The Damned”, “Gods Of Deliverance”, “Salvation’s Calling”, the musical triptych of the title track, “The Saviour”, and “Abyss Of The Void”, and the awesome “Afterlife”. But again, this album has some merely good tracks like “Time To Break Free” and perhaps “Farewell”. I went back and listened to both of these albums again, looked at my past reviews of The Chemical Wedding, and tried to reason this one out — but in the end I think they’re essentially tied. And as a matter of principle, I break ties in favor of the visiting team. Don’t worry, I’m sure The Chemical Wedding will still win, and I won’t be sorry when it does — but congratusorrylations Dr MrJerianarljataxflotoshbocker’s LooseCollindieselman 666, I have to go with your relative-of-dubious-pedigree Fjoroster’s nominee here. Winner: Gamma Ray
I liked Awake a lot when it was new, but I’ve soured on it a bit over time. It’s a little too long, it tries a little too hard to be edgy, and LaBrie sounds ridiculous when he tries to sing “tough”. There’s still a lot of strong material on here, and some great moments, but I rarely come back to this album and I would normally rather listen to Firepower. Sorry, Dr Flashie’s Mollinaelikipodman, but I’m compelled to choose your sperm donor ancestor Ollickata’s nominee this time. Winner: Judas Priest
Brave New World is generally a good album with a few really great songs, but it’s also really uneven and vastly overrated. Meanwhile, this Symphony X album is simply a great album. Congratusorrylations, Dieselmatnightsrfc KallinaxFTBed DickInTheLooseKnickarus, but I have to go with your submerged alternate personality MooseterCockerblocker’s choice here. Winner: Symphony X
Forostar
Ancient Mariner
I gave a sympathy vote to Gamma Ray's Land of the Free. At the time I played it a lot and still recognize its strong and likeable points.
Sympathy vote because it will be annihilated. The Chemical Wedding is, even if it's not without its flaws imo, a hell of an album and I think this one could become the non-Maiden album going furthest in this game. It is by far the most popular album ever discussed here, next to Maiden. If there's one other non-Maiden album that could stop CW, it could be Painkiller (I pray they will not meet, or at least not early).
Running Wild's Death or Glory is such a fine metal album. It really has it all what one could like about our beloved genre. Lots of songs that stick in your head. Next to the rich melodic guitar work, also note the bass playing by Jens Becker on the whole album. Surely some Grosskopf (Helloween) influence. With basslines going their own path, complementing in an excellent manner. Here the whole thing, which I wholeheartedly recommend to give it a listen:
The Battle of Waterloo is a highlight and excellent album closer, but by no means the only thing of quality. Just a great finish.
Even without seeing this clip you can "see" the battle but for your (and my!) pleasure I'll share this awesome combination (the change @ 3:05 is awesome).
Enjoy:
\m/
Sympathy vote because it will be annihilated. The Chemical Wedding is, even if it's not without its flaws imo, a hell of an album and I think this one could become the non-Maiden album going furthest in this game. It is by far the most popular album ever discussed here, next to Maiden. If there's one other non-Maiden album that could stop CW, it could be Painkiller (I pray they will not meet, or at least not early).
Running Wild's Death or Glory is such a fine metal album. It really has it all what one could like about our beloved genre. Lots of songs that stick in your head. Next to the rich melodic guitar work, also note the bass playing by Jens Becker on the whole album. Surely some Grosskopf (Helloween) influence. With basslines going their own path, complementing in an excellent manner. Here the whole thing, which I wholeheartedly recommend to give it a listen:
The Battle of Waterloo is a highlight and excellent album closer, but by no means the only thing of quality. Just a great finish.
Even without seeing this clip you can "see" the battle but for your (and my!) pleasure I'll share this awesome combination (the change @ 3:05 is awesome).
Enjoy:
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