Metal Reviews

I think Between the Hammer and the Anvil has got to be my favorite Judas Priest Song. In fact I think it is one of the hallmarks of Heavy Metal. You have to figure that Judas Priest was going to be influenced by the European power metal scene, who was in turn heavily influenced by Judas Priest. The problem for those European bands like Gamma Ray, Primal Fear, Running Wild, etc., is that they can't hold a candle to Judas Priest. Painkiller is the golden standard of the modern European heavy metal sound. Every song on that album took the old stuff that JP invented, added some freshness that the newer bands infused into the old JP sound, and totally taught all of them how to do it. The amount of screaming metallic glory encapsuled in this album, is just short of miraculous. But I guess if anyone could do it, its Judas Priest.

Maybe I'm missing something...I think Painkiller is pretty damn good but i definitely don't get...that feeling. haha.

My fav' are Beyond The Realms Of Death and Touch Of Evil.

IMHO I believe that Painkiller is the measuring stick on what REAL metal should sound like.It's defiantly one of the greatest metal albums off all time bar none..

Very well said. This band has some of the best metal songs. Painkiller, Touch Of Evil, One Shot At Glory, The Sentinel, Night Comes Down, Jawbreaker, Dissident Agressor and many many more. Defenders Of The Faith is the next best Priest album that I have listened to after Painkiller.

I think my favorite Judas Priest songs are Painkiller, Hell Patrol and ofcourse Between the Hammer and the Anvil in that order. But since JP have so many amazing songs my top ten is often shuffled according to current mood.

Excellent point, my list shuffles as well. Last week my favorite Judas Priest Song was Tyrant, and before that it was Sinner. Ha ha, my point is that Judas Priest, as well as Iron Maiden, are the kings of heavy metal, more so than Ozzy Osbourne or the guys from Black Sabbath. Black Sabbath laid down a very primitive framework for other bands to follow. Their stuff was more blues oriented, whereas Priest and Maiden added a new dimension that BS lacked: Speed, and some of the most magnificent shredding rock and roll has ever seen. So when Judas Priest writes a power metal song, they are, like the pope issuing a dogmatic decree, are releasing their own metallic decree: "This is what metal should sound like, I know because I helped invent it."

Judas Priest is my favourite band, and its impossible for me to choose a favourite song. Painkiller's always up there, because its fucking Painkiller and its pretty much the epitome of metallness. Tyrant is goddamn awesome, as is Dreamer and Dreamer Deciever, Stained Class, Ram it Down, Let Us Pray/Call for the Priest, Beyond the Realms of Death, The Sentinal, One Shot at Glory... Too many goddamn awesome songs.

yeah, you can't go wrong with Judas Priest. They and Iron Maiden are the reigning kings of metal.

So I have glorious news:

I have just heard from my friend who works at a concert ticket company that this summer, Priest will be going on tour with... HEAVEN AND HELL, MOTORHEAD, and Testament, unfortunately. That is going to be one fucking orgasm of a concert.

And yes, HT, Priest and Maiden are pretty much undisputed at the top.

When is the new JP album coming out seems like it's taking forever.

What's so unfortunate about Testament?

Anyway, related to this, I must gloat: I bought tickets to a July Priest concert (Primal Fear opening act, that's a cool bonus), to an August Maiden concert and I just heard Queensryche will come my way in June, with their 3 hours + Mindcrime I and II show. The most torrid heavy metal summer I could ever hope for.

As for my favourite Priest song, very hard to say, but I always had a soft spot for Blood Red Skies, Dreamer Deceiver, Leather Rebel and Jawbreaker. As a matter of fact, my cell phone sings Jawbreaker when someone calls.

Totally agree.

I find Black Sabbath (early Sabbath) BORING compared to Priest and Maiden. Sabbath may have laid down some basic ideas, but Priest DEFINED how heavy metal should sound.

Oh man I hope that comes to this beautiful island! Testament are sweet.

Brahm I am in love right now. LINKY?

I only own 3 Priest albums: Defenders of The Faith (My favorite), British Steel, and Painkiller. I would own more of them but the 3 I have, I bought as the re-release ones with the bonus tracks and when you get em all they have letters on the side, so now I need to buy those ones only to finish what it says, yeah I know what it says already, not hard to figure out, but I want it to look cool on my shelf. Thats my excuse for only owning 3 albums by them, since I havent found any others in those cases.

Best songs: Freewheel Burning (which has just about the awesomeist video ever made for it, lol), Jawbreaker, Painkiller, Between The Hammer & The Anvil, and All Guns Blazing.. Of course it changes from time to time.

If you had the money you could have gotten the box set that has Sin After Sin to Painkiller.

Amen to that.
Best albums with Priest in my opinion are Sad wings of destiny, Rocka rolla, Defenders of the faith, British steel & Painkiller.
Think the old stuff is really good, songs like Run of the mill, Beyond the realms of death, victim of changes...well folks, magic, pure magic.
Other songs that are worth mentioning, and yes the list could almost go on forever when it comes to Priest but I dont have that time to write so...Bloodred skies, Freewhel burning, Riding on the wind, Painkiller, Exciter, Judas rising, One shot at glory, Breaking the law, Steeler, The sentinel....fantastic songs!

Don't forget Leather Rebel. Another one of my favorite songs on Painkiller (probably also the most "old-school" of the songs on that album).

So did I see Blitzkrieg do a medley of The Hellion/Electric Eye, Beyond the Realms of Death, Metal Gods, You've Got Another Thing Comin',and Hell Bent For Leather last night?

I sure did!