THE Judas Priest thread - v. new album and tour in 2024

[me7]

I mean that during the production of the BluRay, his annoying fills were mixed at low volume. I conclude that the band is aware that it went out of hand and doesn't want it anymore.

[jjrock88]

I heard that the writing is complete for the new album.  Hopefully this means they will be entering the studio fairly soon.

[Lowdz]

Defenders is still my all time favorite Priest album.   That was my first JP album (I had heard their hits on the radio previously...but Freewheel Burning was what made me go out and actually buy an album).     Still don't get the love for SFV.   No doubt it has some amazing songs.   H/EE is still one of the single greatest opening tracks in the history of metal, Bloodstone is awesome, and even though I've heard it a million times I still love YGATC.     But I give a gigantic "meh" to tracks like Fever, Devil's Child, and Pain and Pleasure.    Take These Chains is pretty good for a single...but gets very old, very fast.

i pretty much agree with everything you wrote here, but what is this "Hell Bent" that you speak of in the next post? It's Killing Machine goddamn it!!! 

[wolfking]

I mean that during the production of the BluRay, his annoying fills were mixed at low volume. I conclude that the band is aware that it went out of hand and doesn't want it anymore.

Oh, I thought you read an interview or something.  On the DVD, his fills are loud and clear, very annoying.

Defenders is still my all time favorite Priest album.   That was my first JP album (I had heard their hits on the radio previously...but Freewheel Burning was what made me go out and actually buy an album).     Still don't get the love for SFV.   No doubt it has some amazing songs.   H/EE is still one of the single greatest opening tracks in the history of metal, Bloodstone is awesome, and even though I've heard it a million times I still love YGATC.     But I give a gigantic "meh" to tracks like Fever, Devil's Child, and Pain and Pleasure.    Take These Chains is pretty good for a single...but gets very old, very fast.

i pretty much agree with everything you wrote here, but what is this "Hell Bent" that you speak of in the next post? It's Killing Machine goddamn it!!! 

It's always Hell Bent to me. 

[Shadow Ninja 2.0]

Been rocking out to Painkiller a lot recently. The only subpar track is Metal Meltdown, and even that one has some cool stuff.

I should get ahold of some of their other albums.

[wolfking]

I don't consider there to be any weak songs on Painkiller.  Even the bonus track Living Bad Dreams is good enough to have been on the album.

Nothing really comes close to Painkiller in that style for Priest.  If you want to check more, you're next best bet would be Defenders.

[Shadow Ninja 2.0]

I'll check out soon! And yeah, Living Bad Dreams is

[wolfking]

From there, it's pretty much a mixed bag.  Jugulator has more of a modern heavy metal thing going on, which you may like.  Other than that, Screaming For Vengeace would be another highlight.  Stained Class is classic too. 

Oh, and Angel of Retribution is a worthy addition to their catalog too, I really enjoyed that one.  Actually, here's a rough order that I would give to a new fan to check out;

Painkiller
Defenders of the Faith
Screaming for Vengeance
Stained Class
Jugulator
Angel of Retribution
Sin After Sin
Sad Wings of Destiny
British Steel
Hell Bent For Leather/Killing Machine
Ram it Down
Turbo
Point of Entry
Rocka Rolla
Demolition
Nostradamus

[Shadow Ninja 2.0]

Whoa, thanks bro!

[wolfking]

Others will disagree with a lot of my list, but you can't miss with the first few.

[jjrock88]

It's been pretty quiet in the Priest camp about the new album. I'm hoping for this year.

[Shadow Ninja 2.0]

Can Rob even sing anymore? I saw a few recent videos that were pretty brutal, to be honest. (brutal as in bad, not like brutal)

[wolfking]

It's been pretty quiet in the Priest camp about the new album. I'm hoping for this year.

To be honest, with Richie in the band, I don't want a new album.  Unless Glenn does all the guitars.  I know that's narrow minded of me, but I can't help it.

Can Rob even sing anymore? I saw a few recent videos that were pretty brutal, to be honest. (brutal as in bad, not like brutal)

The last DVD wasn't too bad, he does what he can.  His last studio recording (IV) he sounded pretty good, but that was a few years ago now.

[TAC]

Others will disagree with a lot of my list, but you can't miss with the first few.

It's about right. I'd move Sad Wings up a few notches, and the Top 3 are the same as mine, albeit in a different order.

[kirksnosehair]

heh, I never really gave Painkiller much attention after a couple of spins.  Weird how it ranks so high with a lot of people.


I'm a pretty serious JP fan, but I don't own all of their albums, but the ones I do own, I'd rank this way:




Sad Wings of Destiny

Stained Class
Screaming for Vengeance

Hell Bent For Leather/Killing Machine
Sin After Sin
British Steel
Rocka Rolla
Point of Entry
Painkiller

Angel of Retribution




Albums I don't have:


Defenders of the Faith
Jugulator
Ram it Down
Turbo
Demolition
Nostradamus

[KevShmev]

I don't quite get the love for Painkiller (the song).  I mean, it's good if you are into that kind of crazy speed metal, but otherwise, pass.  A Touch of Evil and Night Crawler are the clear standouts on that record, IMO, with One Shot at Glory, Metal Meltdown, and Hell Patrol being the best of the rest.

[Shadow Ninja 2.0]

Painkiller is one of my favorite songs, but it's not because I'm enamoured with speed metal, it's just a really great song.

[Lowdz]

I'd rank the albums I own as follows...

Unleashed In The East


Defenders of the Faith
Screaming for Vengeance
Turbo
Killing Machine
British Steel
Point of Entry
Painkiller
Ram it Down
Sin After Sin
Stained Class
Sad Wings of Destiny
Angel of Retribution

Demolition (I don't remember a thing about this album other than Ripper is on it and I think I have a version with an extra disk or dvd?)

Some of those older albums would be higher up the list with better production. They lacked power but some great songs struggling to get out.

[abydos]

You should definitely get Jugulator. Sucks that they didn't continue in that direction, that album is fucking badass.

[ozzy554]

Can Rob even sing anymore? I saw a few recent videos that were pretty brutal, to be honest. (brutal as in bad, not like brutal)

When I saw them he was great, Painkiller was the highlight of the night. I will agree that he sounded rough near the end of the tour, and why they chose to record the last show of the tour i have no idea. The show I attended he sounded a lot better than the one recorded for the dvd.

[El Barto]

heh, I never really gave Painkiller much attention after a couple of spins.  Weird how it ranks so high with a lot of people.


I'm a pretty serious JP fan, but I don't own all of their albums, but the ones I do own, I'd rank this way:




Sad Wings of Destiny

Stained Class
Screaming for Vengeance

Hell Bent For Leather/Killing Machine
Sin After Sin
British Steel
Rocka Rolla
Point of Entry
Painkiller

Angel of Retribution

I might swap Stained and Sad Wings back and forth in the top two, depending on my mood or the day of the week, but otherwise this is real close to my ranking, as well. Studio-wise, that is. Unleashed is the best of them all. I'd also drop BS down a few notches. Great opener and closer, lot of shit in between.

And Defenders is a very good album. When it comes to Priest doing the speed metal thing, I'd take Freewheel Burning over anything from Painkiller (although One Shot at Glory is a very good song).


As for Rob live, he's always used a ton of effects on his vocals, and still does. This and judicious use of screams make him sound just fine, usually. It's definitely a far cry from 1981, but it's rarely bothersome for me. The main exception to that was on the "farewell" tour, where he didn't belt out "condemned to hell!" like he usually did. Really a letdown, since that was always a highlight of an Priest show.

[NotePad]

I haven't listened to too much Priest. I'v listened to Painkiller, Jugulator, and i think that it other then the radio hits. I loved Jugulator, and when i went back and heard Painkiller i realized that Jugulator wasn't as big a change as people seem to say.

I'm wondering, how do AoR and Nostradomus compare to Painkiller? Do they have any of the hard, speed metal-ish elements of Painkiller, and Jugulator?

I also want to add that I think Ripper waa a fantastic replacement. He sounds a lot like Halford and has a very similar range. People seem to blame him for Jugulator and Demolition, but the thing is he didn't write them. Jugulator was written entirely by the 2 guitarists, even the lyrics. Jugulator seems like a kinda natural progression from Painkiller, and Demolition could be considered a step back to earlier stuff.

[wolfking]

You should definitely get Jugulator. Sucks that they didn't continue in that direction, that album is fucking badass.

My fav Priest album.  How they came back with something heavier than Painkiller was just wicked.

I don't quite get the love for Painkiller (the song).  I mean, it's good if you are into that kind of crazy speed metal, but otherwise, pass.  A Touch of Evil and Night Crawler are the clear standouts on that record, IMO, with One Shot at Glory, Metal Meltdown, and Hell Patrol being the best of the rest.

Painkiller is pretty special.  One Shot At Glory I'd say could possibly be the best track though, that is one underrated metal song.  Rob's and Glenn's little climax at the end is one of the best moments in metal.

[me7]

One Shot At Glory I'd say could possibly be the best track though, that is one underrated metal song.  Rob's and Glenn's little climax at the end is one of the best moments in metal.

Indeed, the instrumental section of "One Shot at Glory" is awesome, my favourite part of the album.

[NotePad]

I really like Painkiller (and Jugulator). How do the albums before Painkiller compare? I'v heard the commercial hits and I don't find them attractive, they lack the balls of Painkiller. Do the pre-Painkiller albums have any of the heavy, dark, brutal elements of Painkiller? Or are they more like You'v Got Another Thing Comin?

[wolfking]

I really like Painkiller (and Jugulator). How do the albums before Painkiller compare? I'v heard the commercial hits and I don't find them attractive, they lack the balls of Painkiller. Do the pre-Painkiller albums have any of the heavy, dark, brutal elements of Painkiller? Or are they more like You'v Got Another Thing Comin?

No.

[KevShmev]

I really like Painkiller (and Jugulator). How do the albums before Painkiller compare? I'v heard the commercial hits and I don't find them attractive, they lack the balls of Painkiller. Do the pre-Painkiller albums have any of the heavy, dark, brutal elements of Painkiller? Or are they more like You'v Got Another Thing Comin?

The majority of them are better, especially most of the 70s albums.  Stained Class is probably the one that would be most to your liking.  If nothing else, Exciter will kick your ass.

[El Barto]

Exciter would kick God's ass.

[me7]

From a prog fan perspective, Sad Wings of Destiny is the best starting point. If you want a more straightforward metal record, I'd recommend British Steel.

[NotePad]

The bit of pre-Painkiller JP i'v heard sounds more like a hard rock band, instead of a metal band. But i should listen to more...

[wolfking]

From a prog fan perspective, Sad Wings of Destiny is the best starting point. If you want a more straightforward metal record, I'd recommend British Steel.

British Steel is so overrated.

[me7]

British Steel is so overrated.

It is, but it's a good starting point nonetheless. Just like "Pull me under" is actually a pretty mediocre song by DT standards but a good way to get into the band.

[El Barto]

Like I said earlier, great opener, great closer, nothing but shit in between.

[kirksnosehair]

heh, I never really gave Painkiller much attention after a couple of spins.  Weird how it ranks so high with a lot of people.


I'm a pretty serious JP fan, but I don't own all of their albums, but the ones I do own, I'd rank this way:




Sad Wings of Destiny

Stained Class
Screaming for Vengeance

Hell Bent For Leather/Killing Machine
Sin After Sin
British Steel
Rocka Rolla
Point of Entry
Painkiller

Angel of Retribution

I might swap Stained and Sad Wings back and forth in the top two, depending on my mood or the day of the week, but otherwise this is real close to my ranking, as well. Studio-wise, that is. Unleashed is the best of them all. I'd also drop BS down a few notches. Great opener and closer, lot of shit in between.

And Defenders is a very good album. When it comes to Priest doing the speed metal thing, I'd take Freewheel Burning over anything from Painkiller (although One Shot at Glory is a very good song).


As for Rob live, he's always used a ton of effects on his vocals, and still does. This and judicious use of screams make him sound just fine, usually. It's definitely a far cry from 1981, but it's rarely bothersome for me. The main exception to that was on the "farewell" tour, where he didn't belt out "condemned to hell!" like he usually did. Really a letdown, since that was always a highlight of an Priest show.

Halford always impressed me as a vocalist.  In his prime he was untouchable.  4 octave natural-voice range, damn near perfect pitch in his live performances.  When I saw them with Iron Maiden opening in the front row of the balcony at Orpheum Theater in Boston (around '81 or '82) they were amazingly tight.  Glenn and K.K. really had some terrific chemistry.

[KevShmev]

Exciter would kick God's ass.

 

British Steel is so overrated.

The Rage, Steeler, Rapid Fire, Metal Gods, and Grinder are all great.  The two hits are kind of just okay, but United and You Don't Have to Be Old to Be Wise are both solid.  I'll never get why some fans think this album isn't very good.