For the first time ever, we have an outsider coming in to challenge a Kousin in an Album Gladiator Showdown. Steve Wright from Podder Than Hell and I Remember Now – The Queensrÿche Podcast comes in to challenge Kousin Marvin to a duel. And they used Iron Maiden as their gladiators. Steve wielded the power of Maiden’s third album, the first with Bruce Dickinson, 1982’s The Number of the Beast. Kousin Marvin took the reins of that album’s follow-up, 1983’s Piece of Mind. It is epic!

To reiterate the rules: Each combatant has two in-round deferrals. After a coin flip, the winner can either go first or defer their pick (not counted in their in-round deferrals). The first picker chooses their “gladiator” or song for battle. After a short listen, the opposing picker chooses the song (or gladiator) to battle the round’s opening song. The other two Kousins (or, in this case, three) then vote for the winner. The two pickers can change their vote if they choose to, as well. Whichever song has the most votes… wins. If there’s a tie, it goes to Twitter (or “X” as it’s known now) for tiebreaker votes. If that doesn’t make sense, just give it a listen, and it will become as clear as mud.

There was no “Now Listening” because of the length of the impending battle. Kousin Marvin “Let Us Know.”

Calls from Jim From Irwin, Nick Provenzano From San Francisco, and Jem From Alabama.

How would your Iron Maiden gladiators fare?

Let us know by calling the TLDNetwork (KUZZ Army) hotline and leaving a message for the Kousins at 336-422-NUMB (6862).