Maiden Albums: Head to Head

Vote for your favourite song from each pair

  • Total voters
    34
  • Poll closed .
Forostar said:
When the River Runs Deep:
This is certainly either the worst either the one but worst song for me, from this album. And it also sits very low in the entire catalogue. I find the vocals hard to bear and the chorus monotone: its weakness comes across after a few repetitions. In the last rounds, Nicko's loud slamming on his ride cymbal does not sit well (irritatingly dominant). I am not particularly fond of Dave's solo. I've started to like Adrian's solo more now! The instrumental part reminds me of Don't Look to the Eyes of a Stranger, including Muppet drums (even worse). Overall not the most imaginative song they've done (understatement). Nicko leaves out so many bassdrums (lots of measures without bass drums even) that it sounds... as if he can't play fast anymore. Just handwork, too little footwork. This isn't jazz!
Bottom 5 Maiden album song.
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Gotta agree. Definitely my least favourite from the album. One of the worst reunion era songs, if not the worst. (What's wrong with me, so much negativity lately. :P)
 
Whooten said:
When the River Runs Deep is seriously my favorite song on Book of Souls. Gone are the repetitive riffs that go on for bars too long--the tempo changes come and go in a natural flow--that weigh down so many songs from Where Eagles Dare and on. The chorus and bridge actually have different words in them (i.e., the chorus is not When the River Runs Deep eight times in a row). The solos rip and the flourishes within the verse and throughout the song are compelling. Bruce is not perfect, but his delivery has a snarl and the delivery runs across the melody, rather than trying to keep up with punishing riff (see the song Book of Souls). Nicko's drumming is on fire and the cowbell is a nice flourish. In short, what I live about When the River Runs Deep (and this extends to another song semi-marginalized by Maidenfans: El Dorado) is that it sounds alive, like a breathing animal, straining against its bounds, to lurch out and destroy...(check the lyrics)...fish.

Fates Warning is one of those songs that I hear people too often say, "it's overlooked, seriously have you even heard it lately, or try it again, it's really under-appreciated." I literally can't even remember the song without listening to it (which I do every time these debates come up) and even then I forget what it sounds like within days. And I bought No Prayer for the Dying on the day it was released (before noon, because I was so excited for it).
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I still think it is a mediocre track for Maiden, but this is extremely well-said.
 
If I’m understanding the game right, if you have no strong preference for either song in a match wouldn’t you want to pick the song from the album you prefer?
 
I hope not. That could be (misab)used as an excuse for not wanting to put effort in choosing. I hope people make effort to always choose a song, even if songs are not top 20 top or bottom songs. Albums win from other albums after the song battles are over, not while the battles are still going on.
 
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I picked When the River Runs Deep, but really, I could have gone either way on that one.
 
I love Death and Glory and it was a tough match, but I think RSRD is the better song in construction. DOG is more fun to sing along to, though.
 
Oops, I knew I was supposed to keep that song a secret since it's still a month before release, but I have failed. I have said too much. You know too much. Watch your back tonight, Number 6.
 
Running Silent, Running Deep and the title track prevent No Prayer for the the Dying from being swept by Book of Souls.
Next up a battle of two albums I perceive to be very popular on this forum: Piece of Mind and Brave New World. :jedi:
 
Where Eagles Dare vs The Wickerman
Revelations vs Ghost of the Navigator
Flight of Icarus vs Brave New World
Die With Your Boots On vs Blood Brothers
Cross Eyed Mary vs The Mercenary
The Trooper vs Dream of Mirrors
Still Life vs The Fallen Angel
Quest for Fire vs The Nomad
Sun and Steel vs Out of the Silent Planet
I Got the Fire vs The Apparition
To Tame A Land vs The Thin Line Between Love and Hate

6-5 to Brave New World, although arguably a draw as one of the pairings has two non-album tracks but isn't 'The Apparition' from 'Fear of the Dark' @mckindog?

'Piece of Mine' is my favourite Iron Maiden album but it's heavily loaded with some of the band's all-time great songs at the start of the album. 'Brave New World' is a more consistent album towards the end and has stronger songs than 'Piece of Mind's weak points, but only one or two of 'Brave New World's highlights come close to 'Piece of Mind's.
 
Quest For Fire vs The Nomad is a very interesting match. One of the least popular Golden Era songs vs a song that many view as tarnished due to plagiarism. For the record, I quite enjoy both of them and think both are quite underrated overall. I ended up going for Nomad, but it could've gone either way, honestly.

None of the other battles were all that difficult. I ended up voting 7-4 BNW; the 4 POM songs being: Revelations, Trooper, Still Life, I've Got the Fire.
 
This was a very difficult one. Two great albums, lot of great songs but a choice had to be done so.
Where Eagles Dare vs The Wicker Man
(I love both but Where Eagles Dare is more epic and the Wicker Man is a classic riff song)
Revelations vs Ghost of the Navigator
(once again, very difficult choice but solos are way better in Revelations, the one in GOTN is the only weak point of the song imo)
Flight of Icarus vs Brave New World
(and third tough choice in a row but the instrumental part in BNW is longer and better)
Die With Your Boots On vs Blood Brothers
(I never really like the pre-chorus and chorus of DWYBO, so it was the first easy choice)
Cross Eyed Mary vs The Mercenary (
Am I gonna be alone with this one? But for me Cross Eyed Mary is the best B-side Maiden have done and The Mercenary is just a good song)
The Trooper vs Dream of Mirrors
(no real competition here)
Still Life vs The Fallen Angel
(both are great, maybe the chorus of Fallen Angel made the difference)
Quest for Fire vs The Nomad
(yeah I now plagiarism but I still love the mood of the song. Quest for Fire is just another average/standard song)
Sun and Steel vs Out of the Silent Planet (I used to not care about Sun and Steel but now I don't really see it as a filler, just a good song in an album that has a lot of great ones)
I Got the Fire vs The Apparition
(just because a choice was to be made)
To Tame A Land vs The Thin Line Between Love and Hate
(Even if TTLBTAH is a great way to end a great album, To Tame a Land is one of my very favorite 7+ minute song ever)
 
The opening three songs I give to BNW. Plus The Mercenary and The Apparition.

The 6 other battles: Piece of Mind!
Boots, Trooper, Still Life, Quest, Sun, Tame.
 
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