Iron Maiden crowned with KERRANG! Inspiration Award 2013

The 2013 Kerrang! Magazine Award saw a massive list of great bands as their trophy recipient. From Queen, Slayer, Venom, Pantera and other coming on stage to get the honour. But the show's emotional moment was when Scott Ian (Anthrax) gave a speech for a Inspiration Award trophy, which went to Iron Maiden.

In the video released by BBC we saw Scott Ian symbolically present the trophy to the greatest metal band of all time, Iron Maiden. We saw a clip of Steve Harris receiving the trophy while given his 'speech' "We can't be here, because we were into the show.... I just want to say thank you for this twenty years..well, what can I say , amazing.... good luck..."

Scott Ian of Anthrax giving a nice testimony on Iron Maiden

Iron Maiden sure give enough inspirations for us, check the cover of their songs in this blog, and a list of cover albums and tributes.

A complete speech of Scott Ian's speech were posted on his website:

"    I can remember being in the record store the week Judas Priest’s British Steel came out. I was already a Priest fan and was fucking stoked to have a new Priest record to tear my head off. I had British Steel safely tucked under my arm and I was flipping through the record bins, and I saw an album cover that I had never seen before. An album cover to my then 16 year old eyes, that was the coolest fucking thing I had ever seen.

    The name of the band and the logo were so cool I would’ve bought the record just because of that. That logo, in just a few years would define heavy metal. The artwork, a zombie with Johnny Rotten’s hair maniacally staring at me from the cover, telling me that this record HAD to be great.

    This was the only copy they had of this record so I grabbed it and when I got home I couldn’t wait to listen to it. The monster on the cover was compelling me, my hands violently ripping the plastic from the cover, sliding the vinyl out of it’s sleeve, I was sweating with anticipation as I dropped the needle on to track one and the first chords of Prowler assaulted my ears and in that instant, my whole life changed.

    Iron Maiden ruled my world for the next decade. No other band was as big of an influence on Anthrax. Creatively we looked up to them as a band because they did everything their own way, not giving a shit about what was trendy or popular because they were Iron Maiden.

    Professionally we looked up to them because their organization was from band to management to crew an incredible massive machine that would travel the planet on tour and night after night after night never give less than 100%.
    We were lucky enough to be taken under their wing early on, touring with them for months at a time and getting the greatest education a band could ever get. We went to fucking Maiden school and we were better for it.

    Ladies & Gentlemen I am honored to give the Kerrang! Inspiration award to the greatest metal band of all time, Iron Maiden."

Anthrax will playing with Iron Maiden soon in late 2013 for Europe and Israel soon, so, that another lesson Scott! \m/

Full RELENTLESS KERRANG! AWARDS Winners 

1. BEST EVENT
Winner You Me At Six: The Final Night Of Sin

2. BEST BRITISH NEWCOMER – presented by Pistonhead
Winner – Lower Than Atlantis

3. BEST INTERNATIONAL NEWCOMER – presented by Troxy
Winner – Of Mice & Men

4. THE RELENTLESS AWARD
Winner  – Young Guns

5. BEST VIDEO – presented by Kerrang! TV
Winner  – Pierce The Veil ‘King For A Day (feat Kellin Quinn)’

6. BEST SINGLE – presented by Kerrang! Radio
Winner  – Fall Out Boy ‘The Phoenix’

7.  BEST ALBUM – presented by Fireball
Winner  – Biffy Clyro ‘Opposites’

8. BEST LIVE BAND – presented by Relentless Energy Drink
Winner  – Black Veil Brides

9.  KERRANG! INSPIRATION
Winner  – Iron Maiden

10. KERRANG! ICON AWARD
Winner – Venom

11. BEST INTERNATIONAL BAND – presented by Impericon
Winner – All Time Low

12. BEST BRITISH BAND
Winner – Bring Me The Horizon

13. KERRANG! HALL OF FAME
Winner – Pantera

14. KERRANG! SERVICE TO ROCK
Winner – Queen

15. KERRANG! LEGEND
Winner – Slayer

Not presented in the room on the night:
16. BEST TV SHOW Winner – Doctor Who
17. BEST VIDEO GAME Winner – BioShock Infinite
18. BEST FILM Winner – The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
19. BEST COMEDIAN Winner – Louis CK
20. TWEETER OF THE YEAR Winner – Gerard Way
21. HOTTEST FEMALE Winner – Elizabeth Lzzy Hale, Halestorm
22. HOTTEST MALE Winner – Ben Bruce, Asking Alexandria
23. BEST FESTIVAL Winner – Download

Hammer Fight - Be Quick Or Be Dead (2013)

Song : Be Quick Or Be Dead
Performer : Hammer Fight
Origin: US (New Jersey)
Album :  Chug of War, 2013

Hammer Fight is thrash metal band from Atlantic City, NJ, USA. They are fresh from oven and only so far released an EP in 2012. The latest news from them was, a full length debut album titled "Chug of War" was finished in recording kitchen, ready to release but no further news. The tracks can be listen on their official Stereokiller website.

And through this also, we detected a new Iron Maiden's Be Quick or Be Dead cover. Hammer Fight fit their thrash-y sounds into the song. Fit quite well, the vocals come alive with harsh voices. Guitars are clear, the solos come in faithful but of course they getting in some spices. We welcome Hammer Fight into the thrash metal fighting pit, and make sure they get their worth attention as a payback to giving us a new Iron Maiden cover. Support their upcoming debut album, Chug of War as well.

Another enjoyable rendering of Be Quick Or Be Dead in thrash metal spirit.

Styles: Thrash metal
Faithful to Original version: yes
Re-Arrangements: 4, comes with interesting singing style (1=notes per notes, 5=extreme deviation)
Vocals: 4/5
Rhythm guitar: 4/5
Solos guitars: 4/5
Bass: 4/5
Drums: 4/5
Sound and Production: 4/5

new thrash metal band from New Jersey - Hammer Fight , covering Iron Maiden's "Be Quick Or Be Dead"

Chaos Heidi - Infinite Dreams (2013)

Song : Infinite Dreams
Performer : Chaos Heidi
Origin: French
Album :  Youtube released

Chaos Heidi is metal vocalist from French. She is active as singer for Asylum Pyre, a Paris based Progressive Metal. So far, Heidi already recorded at least three Iron Maiden songs, you can check on her other track, Run To The Hills and 2 Minutes To Midnight.

This version of Infinite Dreams perhaps one of rarest to be found, especially sung by a female vocalist. Heidi sing this in great accuracy, converted all Bruce Dickinson's notes into hers. Just a very minor adjustment to the song to fit Heidi's character, but 95% this is notes per notes as original. This mean covering Bruce's trademark screams and the ending descending pitch also welly done. Heidi make this performance into Idols-like standard. They are all in a Youtube video for you to watch. The music itself is a minus one backing track.

You can follow Chaos Heidi in her band Asylum Pyre in their latest album "Fifty Years Later". Meanwhile she also performed with her Iron Maiden cover band in French, city of Martigues. The cover band simple called Maid'n the Beast, you access to their newly created Facebook page here.

Styles: New Wave of British Heavy Metal
Faithful to Original version: yes
Re-Arrangements: original backing track (1=notes per notes, 5=extreme deviation)
Vocals: 5/5
Rhythm guitar: -
Solos guitars:-
Bass: -
Drums: -
Sound and Production: 5/5

Video recording performance of Infinite Dreams cover, by Chaos Heidi

Deathchain - Purgatory (2010)

Song : Purgatory
Performer : Deathchain
Origin: Finland
Album : Sotajumala / Deathchain Split released, 2010

Deathchain is Finland death thrash metal. In the split released with Sotajumala, they covered Iron Maiden's classic "Purgatory". Again, as in Sotajumala, although coming from death metal background, the vocal is not in growling mode. This song with Paul Di'Anno in original form comes alive with crispy riffs and awesome drumming. The vocals mimic Di'Anno style in a good way. The breakdown with bass and drum maintained the spirit of this less performed Iron Maiden's classic.

One of great version of a rare Purgatory.

Styles: thrash / death metal
Faithful to Original version: yes
Re-Arrangements: 3.5/5 - (1=notes per notes, 5=extreme deviation)
Vocals: 4/5
Rhythm guitar: 4/5
Solos: 4/5
Bass: 4/5
Drums: 4.5/5
Sound and Production: 4/5

Listen to the song sample in Youtube

Deathchain from Finland covering Iron Maiden's "Purgatory"

Sotajumala - Prowler (2010)

Song : Prowler
Performer : Sotajumala
Origin: Finland
Album : Sotajumala / Deathchain Split released, 2010

Sotajumala is Finland death thrash metal. In the split released with Deathchain, they covered a good version of Iron Maiden's Prowler. Although coming from death metal background, the vocal is not in growling mode, but in a good thrash feel. Prowler, as usual get an aggressive adaptation on this. The running melody by guitars are clear and nice, solos are good. In the last turn of chorus the vocal added a bit of growling to make this even more 'character'.

Great covered with a touch of thrash metal for Prowler.

Styles: thrash / death metal
Faithful to Original version: yes
Re-Arrangements: 3.5/5 - (1=notes per notes, 5=extreme deviation)
Vocals: 4.5/5
Rhythm guitar: 4/5
Solos: 4/5
Bass: 4/5
Drums: 4/5
Sound and Production: 4/5

Listen to this version on You tube

Sotajumala covering Iron Maiden's Prowler

Anachronaeon - Wasting Love (2011)

Song : Wasting Love
Performer : Anachronaeon
Origin: Sweden
Album : internet release 2011

Anachronaeon is a Sweden death metal band, they were once known as Human Failures. For Iron Maiden's Wasting Love, the band had transformed it into completely different tunes. Only the chorus and several elements take enable us to identify this as the ballad from Fear of the Dark album by Iron Maiden. The style is in death metal, rhythm and other instrumentation are able to lift up the song interpretation. Death metal vocal is enjoyable here. Solo guitars is great and taking most elements from the original, but in faster lead now. The band had ever since released several albums, The Ethereal Throne (2012), The Futile Quest For Immortality (2010) and The New Dawn (2005), so support this talented band.

If you wonder how Wasting Love to be in death metal form, here it is.

Styles: death metal
Faithful to Original version: re-arranged
Re-Arrangements: 5/5 - (1=notes per notes, 5=extreme deviation)
Vocals: 4/5
Rhythm guitar: 4/5
Solos: 4/5
Bass: 4/5
Drums: 4/5
Sound and Production: 4/5

Watch the official Y o u tu be of this song

Anachronaeon to cover Iron Maiden's "Wasting Love", check their other albums as well.