Helloween would probably be my choice if I'd heard more though because they seem to have been more consistent over the years (with the exceptions of Chameleon and Pink Bubbles). Metallica have sucked for 10 years.
I went Helloween. I am probably a bigger fan of Metallica's, but I love the long epic Helloween songs like Mission Motherland, Halloween, Kepper of the Seven Keys, The Dark Ride, as well as some of their shorter ones like Eagle Fly Free, if I could Fly, I want Out.... etc.
Oh, and with Helloween, I think Kiske is a better singer than Andi, but the Andi-era material is much, much better than Kiske-era material. But I didn't like The Dark Ride all that much... but Time of the Oath! What an awesome album!!
I voted for Helloween out of spite. Bloody Metallica and their past decade!!
Take out Pink Bubbles and Chameleon, and I think all of Helloween's work is great.
Can pretty much do the same for Metallica if you take out Load and Reload....
Nah. Helloween.
And personally....I love The Dark Ride. It's no Keeper 1 or 2, but still....
Helloween... in spite of the genius of Metallica's earlier albums...
They've been consistently pretty good throughout their career (with the exception of Chameleon! Ugh!) with a few brilliant moments (Keeper I & II, Live In The UK, Better Than Raw, etc.)
Metallica all the way. I can't believe so many people rag on Metallica for what they are doing now. It doesn't change how awesome their earlier shit is...