The Batlord

Both of these albums basically add a post-thrash element to traditional heavy metal that more or less works. I'd kind of like to see other bands try it a bit more TBH. Halford definitely wins this for me though. Rob has always shown himself to be an unpretentious fanboy for metal, and it shows here. This album is just fun and delightfully low brow. If the music isn't quite on par with Judas Priest, it's still impressive that he can write so well all on his own. Of course it's all elevated by his standout vocal performance, which is as good as anything else he's ever done. He's clearly putting all of his energy into his singing and just having fun doing what he loves to do. After the first half of the album the tracks start to bleed together, but the first half is damn good.

The duet he does with Bruce Dickinson is kind of a missed opportunity though. It's a badass song no doubt, but it goes more for visceral attitude, when a song with both of them on it seems like it should be there to really showcase both of their talents. This is an event decades in the making after all, so I wanted to hear them both really putting their all into it and dominating the track rather than just basically going along with the music. And the lyrics are goofy too. You're two of the most beloved people in metal, and even non-metalheads like you by and large, so nobody hates you, let alone loves to do so.

Bruce's album on the other hand doesn't make nearly as much of an impression. It has good parts, but I can't really think of any songs that really stand out (Not to mention the downtuned guitar tone is pretty boring.) He also comes off like he's taking the thing too seriously. As much as I love him, he definitely gives the impression sometimes that he thinks he's some kind of avant garde metal guy. This is a pretty straight up metal album, and there's a disconnect with how experimental he seems to think it is (from what I gather of the lyrics, the album cover, and the general tone of the album). Rob just sounds like he's having the correct amount of rumpus on his album.

Bruce Dickinson: 0
Halford: 1

Then do it, goram it. Or I'll find you and beat you to death with your own snow.

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Isbjørn

The song "Killing Floor" is pretty bland, and I have no idea why Bruce chose it for the album's single. But the rest is pretty good, even though the downtuned guitar is pretty unnecessary. I'm not really sure whether I should give it 3.5 or 4 out of 5. Guess I should think about that a little.

Then there's the Halford album. It opens with the song "Resurrection", and holy ****, that's one killer song. Mmmph. But the rest doesn't really come close. The duet with Bruce Dickinson, "The One You Love to Hate", is just meh. 3 out of five, maybe?

My vote goes to The Chemical Wedding.

EDIT: The Chemical Wedding gets a 3.5/5. Solid.

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reactpl

Maiden

Unknown Soldier

Oh piss off!

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Metal Wars

Power Metal

Pounding Decibels- A Hard and Heavy History

The Batlord

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Unknown Soldier

Radiohead are crap.

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Metal Wars

Power Metal

Pounding Decibels- A Hard and Heavy History

The Batlord

I used to have a sig that said "RADIOHEAD SUCKS" in big, bolded letters. A great way to passively troll a music forum filled with indie nerds.

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Frownland

Maiden by a long shot.

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Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth.

Carpe Mortem

Hopefully soon I'll have the time to get back into this, its looking like my new job is giving me a $3 hour raise sooner rather than later. Means I can finally quit my night job and have a life.

Full steam ahead, soldiers of metal!

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Hypocrisy

**** It I'll play

DICKENSON - 1

HALFORD - 1