Powerslave, The only Maiden album I've had for a loooong time until recently, manages to weather the years from my high school days

My favourite album of all time. I NEVER get tired of hearing "Aces High" belting out of the speakers. There is an argument to be made that "Back in the Village" is basically the moment that power metal was born. And then, of course, there is "Rime of the Ancient Mariner"- the epic track to end all epic tracks, at least up until the very same band did "Empire of the Clouds".

Satriani's Surfing with the Alien

Funny you should mention that one. I gave it a spin a few days ago after, like, years. And it still amazes me just how skilled Satch was way back then. The problem is that, while his technique has only gotten better since then, his compositions have gotten kind of boring. The last album of his that I bought was probably Super Colossal, and I can't have listened to it more than four or five times in all the years since then.

starting with the symphonic (Nightwish/Within Temptation)

Ever listened to anything by DELAIN? Their latest album, The Human Contradiction, is very, very good. If you like NIGHTWISH, I think you'll probably like DELAIN a lot. I've seen them play live a couple of times- they opened for SABATON and NIGHTWISH once, which was one hell of an awesome gig- and they are an excellent live act too.

I'm glad – courtesy of Ringo – I got reintroduced to Metal (yes, capital M), starting with the symphonic (Nightwish/Within Temptation) and less so (DragonForce) and then via you getting introduced to Sabaton, and reintroduced to iron maiden.

I don't have "Souls" up right now, but one of the tracks distinctly hearkened back to "Rime of the Ancient Mariner", and I liked it well enough I didn't cut it off over to Rush or Sabaton despite it being a first listen while working out.

Certainly giving it more listens.

And Yeah, while there are a couple Sabbath songs that are decent, I generally don't "get" them, or what the big deal is.