Judas Priest vs. Suffocation – Metal Madness 2013, Round 1

We finish out the first round of the Devil Horn Region in Loudwire's 2013 March Metal Madness with a matchup feature a pair of enduring metal vets. In one corner, you've got Judas Priest and their 'Screaming for Vengeance' album. In the other, it's Suffocation and their standout effort, 'Effigy of the Forgotten.'

Judas Priest may be one of traditional metal's first wave of acts, but it can be argued that their best work didn't come until the eighth studio album. The memorable instrumental 'The Hellion' followed by 'Electric Eye' gives 'Screaming for Vengeance' a powerful start. The album also has one of the catchiest songs in metal history -- 'You've Got Another Thing Comin',' as well as such standouts as '(Take These) Chains' and the title track.

Suffocation, meanwhile, took the standard metal definition and flipped it on its head with their 1991 death-metal debut, 'Effigy of the Forgotten.' This brutal effort is considered one of the trailblazing albums of the death metal genre, led by such tracks as 'Reincremation,' 'Infecting the Crypts,' the title cut and their powerful album closer, 'Jesus Wept.'

So which album will advance? Does Judas Priest's 'Screaming for Vengeance' or Suffocation's 'Effigy of the Forgotten' deserve to advance in our challenge to find the best metal album of all-time? Vote to advance your favorite to the next round in the Devil Horn region in the poll below.

(This poll will end on Monday, March 18 at 11:59 PM EST. Fans are able to vote once per hour, so keep coming back to make sure your favorite album wins!)

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