REVIEWS:
Post your comments about Judas Priest
(reviewed by Robert Grazer)
Judas Priest were one of the most influential bands in metal itself, and when it came to power metal they were probably even more important than Iron Maiden. They've been around since the early 70s, (1973, I think), and have released God knows how many albums. This is the only one I currently have, and I'm not all that ready to get any more. Screaming For Vengeance is considered by many to be one of Priest's best albums, an I didn't like it all that much. There were a couple good things about Screaming, but I think from now on when someone points to an Iron Maiden CD and says "Power metal is dated," I'll have to respond "No, you must mean Helloween and Judas Priest" instead of just saying Helloween (although I do like Helloween). Look at the hit from the album "You've Got Another Thing Comin'" and try to tell me that it isn't ten times as dated as any given Maiden track ("Running Free" excepted).
The rest of the songs are pretty dumb too. "Riding On The Wind" has a cool drum part in the beginning, and that's a plus, and the solo is pretty cool as well, but the chorus is simply stupid. "Bloodstone" is a slight improvement, one of the better entries on the album. "(Take These) Chains," however really defines the generic, dated, and cheezy power metal song. It SUCKS! The title track is for the most part just the same, except the guitar solo is the best on the album. "Fever" is a fairly decent ballad, with a nice intro. If you really want to know the truth, the best song on here is the opener. Not "Electric Eye," I'm talking about the forty-five second instrumental "The Hellion." Quite a powerful little piece if you ask me. It isn't as good of an intro instrumental as "Initiation" from Keeper I, yet what's to be expected? You know, if the best song on the album is only forty-five seconds long, you have a problem. Screaming For Vengeance is a collection of fairly catchy, but totally dry and empty songs, and is absolutely not an album I can call a timeless metal classic.
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COMMENTS
I havent heard a whole lot from this band (all i have is The Best of Judas Priest) but i cant even get into that album. I simply cant believe how somebody can compare Downing and Tipton to Smith and Murray, or call the former 'one of the best guitar tandems of all time'. Sure, they;re fairly competent, but i dont hear the brilliant interwoven melodies of Smith and Murray that are all over Powerslave and Seventh Son, or anything else that can particularly be called "revolutionary". I've also never been a fan of Halford. The guy's got a good hard rock singing voice, and arguably more range than Dickenson, but that dumbass shriek get me rolling on the ground more often than not. He certainly doesnt seem to have Bruce's tonality or presence. Granted, all i have is that aforementioned 'greatest hits; compilation, but you'd think that such an album might inspire SOME interest in fording into their other creations.