Loved reading that writeup Tim. Interesting in regards to Jugulator is that they obviously played with different tunings for the first time in their career. From memory, Burn in Hell and Bullet Train are tuned just half a step down to E flat. The title track, Blood Stained, Death Row (could be E flat though), Decapitate and Abductors are tuned one and a half steps down to C sharp and Dead Meat, Brain Dead and Cathedral Spires are tuned all the way down 2 whole steps to C. This is low and unexpected for Priest adding to the surprises of this album.
Jugulator was actually one of the first metal albums I got into. There used to be a second hand cd store around the corner from the music shop I worked at. I got my first few Maiden releases from there and began exploring, hearing Priest not long after. I can't remember which Priest I heard first truthfully but I remember seeing the cover and picking it up. That was one afternoon after school and I had to go back for an after hours study group. I remember the whole time just wanting to go home and crank this album. Got home about 9pm and played it late at night. It scared the shit out of me. The nostalgia factor is big on this one. Hearing the title track for the first time cemented my love for this genre. Great riffs and Ripper crushes this song.
Blood Stained is cool. Not a big Anthrax or AIC but I do hear a Layne Stanley feel in that 2:38 part. This was a song that featured live heavily.
Dead Meat is heavy as fuck, that intro riff blisters, but the lyrics here suck. "we are all dead meat, cut us watch us bleed."
Err.....that's okay, I'm good. The heaviness makes up for it though.
I like that KD and Megadeth references in Death Row. I can totally hear that now. Not my fav on the album but a cool story. Nice bit of trivia that the voice at 2:33 of the victim before the solo is Glenn!
Decapitate is fucking brutal. Those lyrics are bad, but pretty frightenting if you ask me. The guillotine the cuts through the riff a couple of times makes me a bit squeamish truthfully, nice touch. The main riff here I hear a lot of Tony Iommi, even his later solo stuff with Hughes, just reminds me of that. Speaking of the solos, the lead tones are really interesting. Not conventional in any way, very unique.
Burn in Hell is a slap the forehead moment with the lyrics. The "have you got a gun" line makes me cringe. That riff though is fucking groovy! Again, I hear the King Diamond too Tim, especially in that main riff in the quiet section at the start. Glenn has a couple of nice short, subtle leads in this too. And yeah, that 4:21 almost Machine Head like riff is cool as fuck.
The riffing in Brain Dead is some of the best on the whole album, fucking monstrous. Again, don't know much AIC but I can hear Layne singing that. The riffs do keep coming here too. I like that Slayer reference in the solos too. Glenn was a bit looser on this album and more in line with KK's style, it's interesting. Can hear the Megadeth part too.
I love the almost doom feel of Abductors, definite Sabbath vibe. Ha, the "will bleed your mind" is pure King Diamond hey!? Never noticed that! Again like Brain Dead, this one is filled with great riffs.
Bullet Train is probably the most traditional Priest song here, but that riffing right at the start is quick, almost thrash. I don't think I've ever heard Priest do this kind of quick, Iced Earth type riffing I love the tough guy metal gang vocals in the pre chorus. Some growls here would have worked well.
Cathedral Spires is incredible. Tim's vocals at the start are just too fucking good. I love KK's guitar fills in there too, really adds to the atmosphere. Yeah, can hear that heavier 1000 Points of Light riff in there too for sure. Never noticed before it's near identical just tuned lower. Good pick up. In relation to the 70's songwriting, it definitely feels different to the rest of the album even though all the elements are the same as the other songs. Love the melody of the chorus. i love Glenn's solo here too, very tasty (the second one). That little arpeggio thing at 5:24 is so good. The outro is epic as fuck too. Classic Priest song here.