Album Review
Judas Priest, a band I'm sure needs no introductions, have had many eras and sounds. In a way they are the most versatile and diverse of the early heavy metal pioneers. When compared to contemporaries like Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden, they certainly stand out for having a very wide range of styles in their catalog.
Yet as much as I adore their 80s NWOBHM style, or their insane 90s speed metal, there is something about their first decade of material that speaks to me the most. Their material in the 70s was just immaculate in my opinion.
One of the most insane facts about this band if you ask me, is that they managed to encapsulate this sound so well in just their second album. Sad Wings Of Destiny, one of my favorite early metal albums and very underrated in my opinion.
This album is just a ton of fun. Though early heavy metal was known for having dark bluesy roots, Priest always knew how to sprinkle that sound with some rock-roll boogie to keep it fun.
There in lies the greatness of this album. There are some very dark and melancholic moments, like the iconic ballad Dreamer Deceiver and Victim Of Changes, but gluing them together is pure driving rock, fast bluesy riffs and solos which if I am being honest I think Priest might have been one of the first to introduce to the genre. This is showcased more in songs like Tyrant and Deceiver. It is such a seamless mix of darkness and fun which just scratches my brain in ways very little early metal does.
Though Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing certainly would have more impressive moments in later albums, they are still on fire here. Pretty much every solo in this thing is so good, the slow ones are so tasty, filled with that bluesy melancholy. And the fast ones are just ripping with energy. The guitar battle in Tyrant is by far the best guitar moment in this album.
But of course, if we're talking about the highlights, we have to mention Rob Halford. The man needs no introduction, he is one of the greatest vocalists in all of metal, pioneer of the epic high pitched vocals most try (and fail) to imitate. His vocals are on full blast here. We get the full range of his capabilities, from his famous screams to surprisingly warm and emotional moments.
Not only is the general sound of this album so good, but it is so well paced too. Clocking in at a mere 39 minutes, it wastes no time, with very little filler, and every song maintaining the momentum of the last. Almost every song is an absolute banger. The best songs here are amongst the best classic heavy metal songs to have ever been written.
Victim of Changes is a classic, bold starter to the album, seven minutes of bluesy goodness. Tyrant and Deceiver are just straight up ripping songs with energy that rivals any modern production. The Ripper by far the most interesting tack, being a pretty theatrical, almost whimsical little tune about Jack the Ripper. It almost reminds me of The Beatles' Maxwell's Silver Hammer, just with a slightly darker tone.
But by far the best song in this album for me is Dreamer Deceiver, their best ballad, one of the best of the genre, Rob Halford's vocals make it soar, going from the lowest of his range to the very top. The live version of it on the BBC is a must watch, and in my opinion, the moment Rob became of the best voices in metal.
I will say, for how great the album is, it does start to lose a little steam towards the end. Epitaph is a ballad I've never enjoyed, even with it's Queen-like harmonies and melodies. And though Island of Domination is not a bad album closer, the rocking driving sound.
My biggest complaint for this album would have to be the production. There are times where the old school, more natural sound suits it perfectly, Dreamer Deceiver is a great example of this, where the slow nature of the song is perfectly complimented by the warmth of the bass and drums, and pierced by Rob's insane screams.
But when it comes to the more energetic tracks, it definitely feels like the songs are limited by the sound. Some riffs sound like they could be huge if the production weren't so dry some times, and sometimes you can even hear the mix peaking, like with the final drum fill of Deceiver.
It is a product of the times, I definitely wish we could get a remix or remaster of it.
Though I am aware this album is very celebrated within fans of Priest, I still think it severely underrated. What Sabbath brought in terms of darkness and atmosphere with their self titled and Paranoid, Priest brought in speed and energy with this album. I personally think this album should be looked back on the same way we look at their legendary works like British Steel and Painkiller.
Ranking
Dreamer Deceiver
Tyrant
Deceiver
Victim Of Changes
The Ripper
Genocide
Island Of Domination
Epitaph
Album Rating
9/10