Love them both, but Priest is definitely the more challenging and intelligent musically of the two. Maiden are purely bombastic and chest beating one dimensional metal. Which is great! However Painkiller blows every other band away on that front, and then Priest will hit you with a crushing ballad that tears at your heartstrings.. or they'll do something crazy and uplifting that just fills you with joy. Haha ok I'm going to stop before I get carried away! I vote Priest! :)
You know what though.. I've never heard a single song.. not even one note from anything that they did with Ripper. If anyone is still reading my ramling.. Are "the ripper years" worth trying? Do they come close to classic priest? I just can't imagine Priest without Rob. My ears close up at the thought of it!!
