Great idea for a video! I saw both bands touring with those singers. Judas Priest surprisingly played at a small club in Fort Worth, TX. Watched from the stage rail. Iron Maiden played at a slightly larger venue back in Dallas. They autographed my X-Factor CD booklet afterwards. The mid to late 90's were a weird time for alot of our favorite metal bands. I still had a blast at both shows.
I wish I could have seen both era's live. Tough time for Metal bands I agree, and Blaze and Tim should gernmore respect for carrying the torches. Cheers
Good to hear your thoughts on the albums James and glad you have put a spotlight on these very overlooked albums. At least Maiden still acknowledge this era, playing songs in recent live sets and the albums getting reissued along with all the others, whereas Priest seem to ignore this era for whatever reason. Imagine if they put Cathedral Spires in the set at least! KK's Priest at least put a couple of songs from this era in their live set when I saw them. I think the problem with the Maiden albums is that they also had a change of producer and I think that hit them harder than replacing the vocalist. I think if they could have got Birch to stay on or get someone else in, they would be different sounding albums. The Aftermath and The Educated Fool are a couple of my favourites, I think they're great songs. My ranking would be 1. X Factor. 2. Jugulator. 3. Virtual XI 4. Demolition.
Hey James! Awesome video mate really enjoyed it. Yeah I thoroughly enjoy both X and Virtual a lot more then some of their other albums haha Glad to see someone else shedding light on them! 🔥🤘🏻
I appreciate that you called Virtual XI the correct name lol I’ve heard multiple people on RU-vid call it Virtual IX. Also I pretty much completely agree with you but I LOVE Feed On Me. It is without question my favorite song on Demolition. Even that middle part with the whispered screams has that awesome lead-in back to the main riff again. So badass! Ripper’s vocals are amazing, especially on that song!
While I'm not a fan of Virtual.... I thought Iron Maiden's The X Factor was a great overlooked album from the Blaze Bayley-era. Judas Priest's Demolition is overhated during the Tim "Ripper" Owen-era of Judas Priest. Good stuff James!
Jugulator is heavy & catchy as shit. A stones throw away from Death Metal! Ripper did a great job. I think people dump on it cuz of blind loyalty to Rob.
I still love all these albums, I thought they was fresh when they first was released, my favorites would be X Factor by Iron Maiden and Jugulator by Judas Priest. Great video, love seeing these. I only have the 2 albums I mentioned but I should pick up the others one of these days.
I prefer the Blaze-era of Maiden over the Ripper-era of Priest because they still kept their signature sound even tho X Factor was a bit darker but Virtual XI really set the template for the sound of their post-reunion albums.
Excellent video. Love both Ripper albums and really like 'The X Factor'. 'Virtual XI' is the only Maiden album I dislike, I must admit. "Futureal" and "The Clansman" are songs that I really really like though. "Cathedral Spires" is one of the best Priest songs IMO.
@@mrboulder9714 Even though I personally don't enjoy 'Virtual XI', I agree that it doesn't deserve its bad reputation. I imagine that a lot of those people who bash it never really listened to it.
I have Jugulator on cassette, got it back in 1997, tried recently to get it on cd but very hard to get hold of these days for some reason, very underrated album.
You know, I've been listening to Priest for about 30 years but totally ignored the Ripper era altogether - but recently I fancied having a Priest session and listen to all their albums in order, and decided to give the Ripper albums a listen - and was surprised to find.................they're actually rather good. They don't sound like classic Priest, but in reality they are solid albums. I feel an idiot for not listening to them earlier.
Jugulator is excellent and one of my favourite Priest Albums. Demolition has its moments, but is very average in places too. Cheers for watching fella 👍
@deathtodigital4097 You won't find them either. For some reason, Priest act like the whole era never existed. Its hardly something for them to be embarrassed of either.
Nice reviews! One thing that rarely gets mentioned by Dickinson and halford loyalists is that they quit. They left the bands. The bands bravely continued with new guys. I respect their albums and true fans should appreciate them because, well, they exist. I like all the eras because they’re time capsules for that time. Great reviews!
I nearly mentioned that in the video but I didn't in the end. Yeah agreed, Halford and Bruce quit and then these 'fans' shit kn the new singer because he's not the previous guy. Thanks for watching
Great vid James. I never had issues with these 2 Maiden records or Blaze's vocals. It just clicked with me from the go. The X Factor is fantastic, 2 AM & Blood on the World's Hands are underrated. Virtual XI has a amazing closer, love 'Como Estais Amigos' Agreed with the Judas Priest albums James. Honestly I don't know were it went wrong with 'Demolition', Jugulator was fantastic. However Demolition definitely has its highlights, the main riff from One on One could almost be a Rammstein riff 😅. In any case, just like you I think that Jugulator is the better album here (easily). Cheers James and thank you for making fantastic content 🤘
I always liked x factor , i got it first in a cassette back in 98, but a have a problem with virtual Xl.I like more x factor than some other albums with Bruce after 2000 ‘s.
Hi James!!! cool idea to take a look at this twoi era of Maiden and Priest...... albums i have not liisten in awhile. Remember that i thought X- Factor the songs are kind of meh, with the exception of the first three ones, Virtual XI even it has the great "Clansman" the rest are not that good, imo. I have only listento the first live record Priest did with Ripper and the songs from the first studio alñbum with him are really good, now i have to look after those releases. cheers and be well
This video inspired me to dig out X- Factor and Jugulator. While I think Cathedral Spires is the best song off either album, I'd give the slight edge to Maiden. As for the other 2 albums, I've heard worse, and they both their moments. Cheers!!
Some people just didn't give x factor a chance and it makes me laugh now they say oh theirs a few good songs that sound much better with Bruce singing them. I don't agree i think blaze sounds great on the album and suits those songs and the live versions with Bruce don't sound better than the studio versions with blaze.
I'm with you James I think the only reason these albums get shit upon is because it's not Rob halford or Bruce dickinson singing Jugulator was actually my introduction to judas priest and x factor is one of my top ten maiden albums granted virtual and demolition are weaker but still don't get the hate that gets thrown at them nice video mate!
Totally agree Robert. Some people just don't want change, and it wouldn't have mattered who Priest or Maiden bought in as replacements. Cheers for watching as always fella
I like Iron Maiden up to 1988 including 7th son of a 7th son. Judas Priest I like up to Painkiller nice ranking. is Jugalator heavier than Painkiller? so how many stars do you give both Iron Maiden albums X Factor and Virtual x1?
Wow, one of my people! I actually like all these albums except Demolition. Machine Man is great but I think the rest of it is not Priest. More nu metal than anything. While I don't dislike it it's just whatever to me. I would rate the albums from worst to best: Demolition, Virtual XI, Jugulator and The X Factor. The X Factor's theme, Blaze's voice and the instrumentalization are great! Jugulator goes hard and it works for me. Virtual XI is very different in the Maiden catalogue I feel and it's mostly great! (Could do with a little bit of a rework of The Angel and the Gambler. The pieces are there but it's too long and maybe have some more different lyrics?)
Jugulator and X Factor are amazing and underrated albums. With regard to Angel and The Gambler, shortening it and writing some more lyrics would have improved it. Thanks for watching and commenting. Cheers
I’ve tried for a long time to get into the X Factor and Virtual XI albums. I find the X Factor very boring and its my least favourite Maiden album in their discography, barely a memorable song on it. Accepted wisdom seems to be that Virtual XI is worse than X Factor. I think thats because of that ‘Angel and the Gambler’ song. I do like ‘Futureal’ and ‘The Clansman’ off that album more than any X Factor song. Sorry James but I do think this was an excellent idea to revisit these albums/this era of these legendary bands and a very good video ; I respect your opinion
That's fair enough man, like I say I didn't take to The X Factor straight away. Futureal and The Clansman are amazing songs. Cheers for watching fella as always, and for leaving a comment. It's much appreciated
Alright Mr B , Interesting video but Bruce Dickinson and Rob Halford are World Class singers and the other two a'int. Maiden were in free fall with Bayley , sales plummeting , the cynic in me thinks Dickinsons return was very business orientated !!!!. Stay Safe and Keep Well Mate.
I'm 95% sure that Steve Harris was told by the record company that they weren't going to pay for another album to be recorded unless Bruce was bought back to front the band. Cheers for watching fella. Much appreciated as always
Totally agree with you on the Jugulator album, heavy as F... demolition is a bit pants though, i haven't even listened to the two iron maiden ones as i am not really a fan now, i like the first few albums (the first two especially) but as their songs got longer, my interest got shorter. cheers me ode
The choice is easy for me: I never liked Judas Priest (i still don't understand to this day why this band is popular, i've tried 1000 times to like them since my childhood, but im bored to death every time I listen to them) and X-Factor is one of my favorite Maiden album :P
X Factor is fantastic and doesn't deserve the hate it gets. Fair enough about Priest man. It would be a dull world if we all liked the same thing. Cheers
I like the Blaze albums and I commend Bruce for not being a Diva and actually performing some of them live. I don't have the Ripper albums. I don't like Tim's vocals. He's to over the top for me. Rob knows when to dial it back but Tim doesn't.
Totally agree. Jugulator is fantastic. I'm not supposed to like them anymore cuz their singers got swollen heads. Get the f outta here with that. People can't handle change.
1) X Factor 2) Virtual 3) Jugulator 4) Demolition Three of these four albums are appallingly bad. What’s shocking is that “Virtual IX” sucks….but is somehow better than the generic pabulum “Priest” released during this era.
Stained Class is the best album of either band, but as soon as Maiden debuted, Judas Priest was never better than Maiden at any point in time. Blaze era >>>>>>> Ripper era.
I'll tell you..I like Judgement of Heaven off X factor..that's it!Coming from another band it would be a good album..but this is the Maiden metal machine!!This album sucks!Virtul XI..is worse!
