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Iron Maiden and Drake Battling for No. 1 Album in the U.K.

Two very different artists, Iron Maiden and Drake, are duking it out for the No. 1 album in the U.K. this week. Both Maiden and Drake released their much-anticipated new…

Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden

SAN BERNANDINO, CA – AUGUST 20: Singer Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden performs at Ozzfest 2005 at the Hyundai Pavilion on August 20, 2005 in San Bernandino, California.

(Photo by Karl Walter/Getty Images)

Two very different artists, Iron Maiden and Drake, are duking it out for the No. 1 album in the U.K. this week.

Both Maiden and Drake released their much-anticipated new albums on the same day this past Friday, Maiden with Senjutsu and Drake with Certified Lover Boy.

Now, the Official Charts' midweek update reports that Maiden is leading Drake by just 8,000 sales. The metal titans are beating Drake on physical sales and downloads, but Drake has many more streams. Who will come out on top? Time will tell. But, to see Maiden this close with one of the biggest rappers in the world shows the strength of heavy metal.

In other news, Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson was recently forced to quarantine after contracting COVID-19. He was fully vaccinated, and Dickinson tells Rolling Stone he's grateful to have been vaccinated before coming down with the virus, explaining, "... I'm 63 years old. I've pretty much got no doubt that had I not had the vaccine, I could be in serious trouble."

Brian has been working in pop culture and media for about three decades: he’s worked at MTV, VH1, SiriusXM, CBS and Loudwire. Besides working as a writer and an editor-in-chief, he’s also appeared on air as a pundit, guested on radio shows and hosted podcasts. Over the years, he’s interviewed the surviving members of Led Zeppelin, the members of U2, Beyonce, Pink, Usher, Stevie Nicks, Lorde… and is grateful to have had the chance to interview Joe Strummer of the Clash and Tom Petty.