helterskelter.ca

JUDAS PRIEST
1976 - Sad Wings Of Destiny.
1977 - Sin After Sin.
1978 - Stained Class.
1978 - Killing Machine.
1980 - British Steel.
1981 - Point Of Entry.
1982 - Screaming For Vengeance.
1984 - Defenders Of The Faith.
1986 - Turbo.
1988 - Ram It Down.
1990 - Painkiller.
1997 - Jugulator.
2005 - Angel Of Retribution.
2018 - Firepower.
more JUDAS PRIEST.
way more Helter Skelter.

March 23, 1976 - 2021: 45 years of: Sad Wings Of Destiny.

Hail Great Britain !
Hail JUDAS PRIEST !

The turning-point in the greatest heavymetal band in history. The turning-point in heavymetal history.

JUDAS PRIEST 1974's debut Rocka Rolla LP is a fine colored heavyrock-blues record but this time, the amps are humming and the band goes to 11, into full overdrive. Following the British-path of the CREAM + ZEPP school, they would now forever breakaway beyond the realms of death and craft the true basis of actual heavymetal. BLACK SABBATH are heavy, JUDAS PRIEST are metal, do the math.

"Take another look around, you're not going anywhere !"

The LP opens with heavymetal's greatest song ever, the monstrous "Victim Of Changes". From highs, too glass shattering highs, frontmen Rob Halford provides the pace for bloody heavymetal, for eons to come. From the left K.K. Downing shreds on the Flying V and from the right Glenn Tipton rocks on the SG: there is no escape. The first mid-part is the template for thrashmetal, the quick-punches and later rough rhythms albazed by a smoking feedbacking lead is all it took to create the new genre. The second mid-part breakdown is ethereal magic as the free-style ad-libs builds-up, constructs and climaxes with some of Halford's greatest performance ever. No song as or ever will match the driving feeling this 7:48sec rocknroll journey ...NONE !

Speaking of thrashmetal and wrist-warmers, the killing machine "Tyrant", the firepower of "Genocide" and the turbo riffing of "Island Of Domination" are the best three jugulating examples of actual white heat red hot metal meltdowns.

From whisper to rabid rage, the "Stairway"-type epicness of "Dreamer Deceiver" ascends from subtle to extreme mayhem. Part II with "Deceiver" is a crystal pure commanding all guns blazing heavymetal riffraff. Slowing down for a second, the boys gives us their best QUEEN-impression. The piano-only "Epitaph" ain't no love bites, but a posh mix of falsettos and melodies, that no other hardrock band would produce in this time-space.

Never turn your back on "The Ripper". London's foggy streets never looked so dark, cold and lethal. The intro, the riff, the spine-chilling scream ...all of this sin after sin chaos in merely 0:23sec. Mid-paced with a mid-evil anti-hero as the main character, the machine-man in black comes alive and slashes his way with cut-throat hard as iron heavy-rock.

Sad Wings Of Destiny has rapidly become synonymous with the early era of the PRIEST, as the new decade would turn them into a rock metal-machine we now worship at the altar. With immortal classics like 1980's heavy-duty trendsetting British Steel LP and the bloody 1982 eardrums splitting Screaming For Vengeance LP, JUDAS PRIEST would not only emblazon the look of heavymetal, but the sound and the characteristic of this rebellious-religion.

Album #2 and drummer #3 ...Sad Wings Of Destiny also introduced to the world, a now iconic metallic symbol that would be associated with the almighty faith defending PRIEST forever to come: the Devil's Pitchfork.

Heavymetal is worth fighting for ...so ride on the wind through these pestilence and plagues ...get unleashed ...and rock all around the world !

The band is: JUDAS PRIEST !
The album is: SAD WINGS OF DESTINY !
The fact is: THE GENESIS OF TRUE HEAVY-METAL !

*
Sad Wings Of Destiny = full LP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqSo85W10w4&list=OLAK5uy_lmm2JCbFJnHxIqTjQliJe2NVdHVX0QehM
Live at the Old Grey Whistle Test in 1975
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wvlq1F-X6Ko

April 8, 1977 - 2022: 45 years of: Sin After Sin.

Heavymetal music ...saved by a major record-label ?

Let's face the facts, in 1976, after the majestic Sad Wings Of Destiny LP, the PRIEST's tiny label Gull Records were at the end of the line, financially. Before going belly-up and inadvertently breaking the band, the boys signed with worldwide major-label CBS Records ...JUDAS PRIEST went viral ...and heavymetal went global !

Roll back and take a moment: imagine a diametric 1977 rock-scene without JUDAS PRIEST. Would there have been a SAXON, a DEF LEPPARD, an IRON MAIDEN ...actual NWOBHM and the subsequent glorious 80s hardrock / heavymetal phenomenon ?

Before the "Painkiller", before the "Jawbreaker" and before the "Exciter" ....there was the "Sinner". Speedmetal template for generations to come, including K.K. Downing's Flying-V feedback-lead. The metal-meltdown continues on "Let Us Prey / Call For The Priest" ...another loud speed induced number.

JUDAS slows down for more melodies on the tearful "Last Rose Of Summer" and the unlikely Joan Baez reprise of "Diamonds And Rust". Get back into the hard-edged stuff, with the stomping slashes of "Starbreaker" and the colossal metal-epicness of the record's closer: "Dissident Aggressor".

Still leather-less, the PRIEST's third offering gained much deserved attention and the Roger Glover from DEEP PURPLE produced LP sparked a chain-reaction that will pour more fuel to the fire. The almighty ones shall expend new grounds with the classic dual-1978 point of entries: the firepowering Stained Class LP and the ram it down massacre of Killing Machine LP.

1977-world, please welcome: JUDAS PRIEST !

*
Sin After Sin = full LP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEFeZ0RWlG4&list=OLAK5uy_lwQfGbfLy_frUtMnEJzZ9PE6ShEqPSofE
Interview in Australia in 1977
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBhuKOuIUCo

February 23, 1978 - 2023: 45 years of: Stained Class.

Stand by for Exciter, stand by for the PRIEST.

Following 1977's star-breaking Sin After Sin LP, 1978 would be the year the Priest would become THE PRIEST ! Two stellar LPs in one calendar-year, starting with Stained Class ...a holy lesson in heavymetal.

"DO IT, DO IT, DO IT, DO IT, DO IT..."

Stand by for "Exciter" ...speedmetal, eons before the term was even coined. Fast twin-guitar attacks racing with fast double bass-drums rolls. A blazing lead-vocal line, reaching sky-high decibels, matched with a blazing lead-guitar, this is an imminent immersion in fastest-heavymetal.

Hard rock rhythms crushes on "White Heat, Red Hot", right into the strong title-track "Stained Class", supported by dual syncopated riffing. The rebel-rock SPOOKY TOOTH reprise of "Better By You, Better Than Me" would latter land them in hot water, while the monster of rock duo of "Saints In Hell" and Savage" are enough to wake the dead.

The LPs center-piece remains the immortal voyage of "Beyond The Realms Of Death". Again cut from the "Stairway"-template, this 6:52sec cerebral fix is a dark frolic into the subconscious. The jack-hammering power-chord riff intertwines the acoustic verses. And after the epic 1976 "Dreamer Deceiver", once again lead-guitarist Glenn Tipton sets the world afire with a full blown 1:30sec avalanche of overdriven-blues.

On Stained Class, the new standard is Rob Halford's voice who achieves astronomic notes, that defines the man and solidifies this impressive body of work. The LP went RIAA-certified Gold and also welcomed aboard Les Binks ...drummer #5 for those who are still counting.

Later in October '78 the Priest would forever become THE PRIEST, with the addition of the iconic leather-look with the Killing Machine LP ...released as Hell Bent For Leather LP in the US.

FALL TO YOUR KNEES AND REPENT IF YOU PLEASE !!!

*
Stained Class = full LP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tlEa0rDZbM&list=OLAK5uy_lHUHbKyF3aXd0rlGLJFZwttVNFHjocG-g
Live In Japan in 1978
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYZxCzD2mng

October 9, 1978 - 2023: 45 years of: Killing Machine.

When Judas Priest becomes: JUDAS PRIEST !

Following a savage Halford downtown-London shopping-spree, the band was now completely leathered up. This fashion-move made sense and matched the rebellious-rock included. White heat red hot from February 1978's Stained Class LP, the metal-machine was about to steer a new trend and fully become ...Killing Machines !

"We'll beat you to submission. So you might as well surrender."

Instant jawbreaking as The Priests are "Delivering The Goods". Driving heavymetal with a BDSM-twist, the message is clear: Rob is on top. The pain and pleasure keeps on pouring with "Rock Forever" and the tempting taboos of "Evil Fantasies".

The fine FM-approach of "Evening Star" is a certified foot-stomper while the arenarock-killer "Take On The World" rings aloud across the Atlantic. The fast almost speedmetal "Hell Bent For Leather" and equivaly quick "Running Wild" provides added RPMs, until the crowd consumes the wild night on "Burnin' Up". Heavenly heavymetal with a rockabilly-flair, the British New Wave starts here.

In a long line of epic-powerballads, this time the classic-guitar keyboard-supported dreamer deceiver of "Before The Dawn" paints a very different rock-band and the bonus 1970 FLEETWOOD MAC-reprise of "The Green Manalishi (With The Two-Pronged Crown)" gets churched by The Priest and eventually became mandatory on the setlist.

Adding more horsepower to the machine, the band got endorsements with both Harley-Davison in the US and Triumph in the UK, for extra on-stage machinery. Heavymetal and motorcycles, it was bound to happen. The sound, the look and the killing machines ...Judas Priest were now: JUDAS PRIEST !

The live in Japan companion, the almost too-perfect 1979 Unleashed In The East LP, as been under a cloud of speculations since it's release. In recent times, Halford himself admitted that vocals were re-recorded in the studio ...yet it didn't cool-off sales, as the RIAA-certified Platinum plateau was reached.

Killing Machine was issued as Hell Bent For Leather LP in the USA. The RIAA-certified Gold LP prepared the Red, White & Blue for the imminent incoming 1980 historic biker-rock / metal assault: the rapid fire, living after midnight, law breaking, Metal God rage of British Steel !

*
Killing Machine = video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-wAuanQzGI
Take On The World = video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxzuQi-Xlio
Killing Machine = full LP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLCAH9ZEkYk&list=PLBnJv6rImVe8dWsY0e5jYi_QfFPxP4v7U
Rock Forever = live TV
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37Ycn03HOVA
Take On The World = live at the BBC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VK3NhVr0PV8
Evening Star = live at the BBC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cGdd0myLck
Unleashed In The East = full LP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esDkLrZm0jU&list=OLAK5uy_lRy7h-edrkqN0EXgPVkGAsQKDbhdXo0As

April 14, 1980 - 2020: 40 years of: British Steel.

The greatest Heavy-Metal album by the greatest Heavy-Metal band !!!

Yes, you've heard about IRON MAIDEN, METALLICA and SLAYER ...but it all really started with England's JUDAS PRIEST. The year 1980 is Ground Zero for real heavymetal, the Stonehenges of the genre with albums like: Back In Black, Heaven & Hell, Ace Of Spades ...and British Steel !

British Steel is just that: 100% pure red-blooded raging British heavymetal (aka Steel). Picking-up hints from the street-vibes of the UK-punks of '78, the PRIEST's sixth record forever encompassed:

The heavymetal lifestyle before PRIEST, didn't include leather, chains, spikes, motor-bikes and ear-splitting guitar-solo challenges as a whole ...PRIEST made all that happen !

From Halford's banshee high-pitched vocals, all the way to the creative killing duo of Downing + Tipton's lead-guitar trade-off: PRIEST were at the heavymetal pole-position with an all killers - no fillers trendsetting album !

From the opening razor riff of "Rapid Fire" (UK track-listing), to the heart-pounding drums of "Metal Gods", to the biker-anthems of "Breaking The Law", to the arena-rock-sing-along of "United", to the positive message of "You Don't Have To Be Old To Be Wise", to the rocknroll realities of "Living After Midnight" ...all the way to the ending fast-paced "Steeler" (one of the first speedmetal songs, the first one being another PRIEST track with "Exciter" in 1978) ...British Steel is the full heavymetal package, there is none higher !

JUDAS PRIEST = HEAVY-METAL = BRITISH STEEL

*
Breaking The Law = video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L397TWLwrUU
British Steel = full LP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0yjVypSOCU&list=PLPf69IGxwfBHCkttXq7TtmTKQGxC6cc8u
Live at Top Of The Pops
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBJ8D_cjy28

February 26, 1981 - 2021: 40 years of: Point Of Entry.

Hard to stand-out when you're sandwiched between two of the greatest heavymetal albums of all time !

After 1980's heavymetal gem British Steel and before 82's Platinum-selling metal monolith Screaming For Vengeance, JUDAS PRIEST released 1981's Point Of Entry ...in retrospect, a breath of sough-after fresh air.

Before 86's pop-metal abrupt left-turn Turbo, there was Point Of Entry. The forgotten one, the light-hearted one, the un-metallized one that fans tend to put aside ...but they are dead wrong, as the accomplished fans understood the pattern from Day 1: PRIEST never played it safe and never recorded the same album twice !

Granted, to some extend, Point Of Entry is a softer-British Steel: hints of ACCEPT, roots of AC/DC and shades of SCORPIONS, Point Of Entry is a hybrid hardrock/heavymetal album performed by a heavymetal band yet heavier then the other hardrock acts out there at the time. Also consider that POE is the PRIEST's seven full-length album, they already had the fame and success and now they had the liberty to think out-of-the-box, so this time let's have some fun (see cheesy videos below)

Written and recorded in Ibiza, Earth's everlasting party-place, the union with the PRIEST's sixth member, producer Tom Allom, repeats itself after the British Steel success.

The album opens-up with the landmark rock anthem "Heading Out To The Highway" a rocking track still present in today's setlist, "Don't Go" is a foot-stomper that really shines with Downing's lead-work, "Hot Rockin'" does just that, a faster track that keeps a perfect pacing for the album as a whole. The flanging heavy intro and laid-back drums of "Solar Angels", to the boogie-feel of "You Say Yes", to the bass-driven rhythm of "Troubleshooter" rocking all the way to the album's closer, the positive kick-ass vibe of "On The Run". The album revolves around the epic "Desert Plains", the perfect metal ride-along-song, a story about driving on a motorbike thru the vast hot desert. A number that features some of Halford's strongest vocal performance, in the live environment, ever.

Witness Desert Plains in concert in 1982, heavymetal's best live vocal tracks:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Es9LAHSqmc

Point Of Entry is another living proof to the fact that JUDAS PRIEST is THE premiere heavymetal band of all time. Better and more diverse than it's peers, on both sides of the Atlantic ...PRIEST innovates and is the one unit that can be: bluesy on Rocka Rolla, push biker-rock on Stained Class, solidify heavymetal on Killing Machine, go glamrock on Turbo, perfect powermetal on Painkiller, energize modern thrashmetal on Jugulator and even do the concept-album on the 100min+ Nostradamus !!!

1981's Point Of Entry stands as an iron-fist in a velvet-glove within PRIEST's impressive catalog.

Some of the lukewarm welcome must be attributed to the pale-artwork, hard to come hard again after such previous iconic designs like Sad Wings Of Destiny, Stained Class and British Steel ...yet the best was ahead, AKA the Doug Johnson trilogy-era.

Still going strong, 45+ years of creating, recording and performing heavymetal worldwide, JUDAS PRIEST is the monarchy of heavymetal.

"From desert plains I bring you love !"

*
Heading Out To The Highway = video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKuuHfMx3CQ
Don't Go = video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ROVXf6fZ0U
Hot Rockin' = video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxV7GTbqC10
Point Of Entry = full LP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fe3Z2-hu3KY
Live in 1981 audio
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVfWGrDs3ZE
Live in 1981 video medley
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLLyNDLvyDw

June 23, 1982 - 2022: 40 years of: Screaming For Vengeance.

High-octane heavymetal.

The race is on. The year is 1982, just before the Los Angeles hardrock explosion and parallel thrashmetal creation. European heavymetal was on top of the world. IRON MAIDEN, MOT�RHEAD, SCORPIONS and the genesis of studs and leather: JUDAS PRIEST. And while 1978's Killing Machine LP brought the leather-look, 1980's British Steel LP was the official stamp of approval for Great Britain heavymetal. A new level of heaviness is about to get unleashed in the East, West, North and South: JUDAS PRIEST brings forth more pain and pleasure.

High from above, a winged eagle overheads, please welcome heavymetal's greatest instrumental-intro: "The Hellion". Straight into the battering-ram of "Electric Eye". Hot riffing and fast paced, this exclusive cut defines heavymetal and once again, secures the band on top of the heavymetal food-chain.

More white heat red hot metal firepower is spewed on "Riding On The Wind" and the skull-crushing jack-hammering "Devil's Child", some of Halford's best work behind the mic. The pounding hardrock "Pain And Pleasure" is loudness incarnated, while the speed of the title-track, the "Screaming For Vengeance" statement, is one God made cut that rages beyond the realms of death.

The now immortal single video-hit "You've Got Another Thing Comin'" widened the band's fanbase in America, as well as, bringing more people into the metal-arenas. Part of the now rock / metal folklore, this simple sharp-shooter pushed the LP into RIAA-certified double-Platinum sales threshold. PRIEST were one hot-ticket.

Sin after sin screaming vocals, solid drums and the exciting dual lead-guitar attack of master K.K. Downing and master Glenn Tipton: this is heavymetal, this is JUDAS PRIEST.

The rocka rollers assaulted the US with actual British steel, but now the market and especially MTV was embracing loud-rock and heavymetal to the fullest. So much that the historic edition of 1983's US Festival featured an entire bill of headbangers. JUDAS PRIEST, QUIET RIOT, a young M�TLEY CR�E, TRIUMPH, Ozzy Osbourne, SCORPIONS ...all opening in front of 600000+ rabid VAN HALEN fans. This sweaty event was labeled: Heavy-Metal Day !

The Metal Gods would push the metal-agenda into more overdrive with 1984's upcoming brutal war-cry LP: Defenders Of The Faith.

"I am perpetual, I keep the country clean."

*
You've Got Another Thing Comin' = video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coA75uoMF40
Screaming For Vengeance = full LP
Interview in 1982
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJ4cIOYZIZw
Live in Memphis in 1982
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMJF37BVGTA&list=PL_9gWeiShHFHOSFSVuAhJCjSpdxRtw0kh
Live at the US Festival in 1983
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Db2ghAotCKQ
2022 interview with Rob on the 1982 Tour
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEmGfsfwUhM

January 13, 1984 - 2024: 40 years of: Defenders Of The Faith.

"You think that this feels good, you ain't felt nothing yet !"

Riding on the wind, ready to take on the world, Great Britain's greatest would again, push white heat red hot heavymetal to the breaking-point. Blood stained and feared by the competition, the JUDAS PRIEST sinners where heading out to the highway.

Setting the pace with 1982's Screaming For Vengeance LP, including a very special performance at the May '83 US Festival in California, England's exciters were about to solidify their heavymetal supremacy.

The Hellion flies into Mach IV, it's pistons are revving, as this ultimate metal-machine is "Freewheel Burning". Crystal pure speedmetal riffing and cranium-splitting aggression. The matching MTV-video features headbangers rocking in an arcade-parlor, playing the iconic Pole Position game.

1984's heavymetal shiniest jewel, one of the 80s shiniest moment.

Instant death, as "Jawbreaker" crunches a mile-around. Muscles still contorted, a metal Officer watches from high above his security tower, "The Sentinel" is perpetual ...and keeps the country clean. The fast and dominant guitar-downstroke of "Eat Me Alive" displays all the qualities of actual thrashmetal. This particular track found itself into the P.M.R.C.'s Filthy Fifteen list ...a proud badge of honor, that helped heavymetal into stardom.

Here comes the tears, another giant melo-dramatic powerballad, in the form of an out in the cold chill when the "Night Comes Down". Diametrically, the loud rich bass-intro of "Love Bites" is sure to send anyone into a maelstrom of dementia ...don't let the title fool you, this deep heavy-cut is a statement in the most harden alloys available to man.

The starbreakers are infusing current new technologies into the mix, the techno-vibed "Heavy Duty" might be the turbo-est track here, a glimpse of future rocknroll-flair. The closing-cut is the war-cry heard around the globe and beyond, as legions of devoted heavymetal-fans gather in the march of the damned. JUDAS PRIEST are the pride, passion and power, leading into foreverness, as they truly are: "Defenders Of The Faith".

Following 1982's metal-eagle The Hellion, this time we are blessed by The Metallian. A fully robotic merciless lion graces the sleeve-jacket. The cover is once again illustrated by Doug Johnson, the artist commissioned for all three PRIEST 80s-classics: Screaming, Defenders and Turbo LP-artwork.

RIAA-certified Platinum and still ramming it down, their next move would leave a sour taste in every headbanger's mouths, for decades to come. Teasing the wild nights and hot crazy days of Sunset Strip, the unthinkable would happen in 1986: a full 90� glammed-up PRIEST goes cock-rock with the iconic Turbo LP.

*
Freewheel Burning = video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_s-49rNCdw
Love Bites = video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWFkhLUcvo0
Defenders Of The Faith = full LP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFrG0KQE1E4&list=OLAK5uy_lTSnDkl2BqlprKL15nSa2Ui_2K97WfW9Q
The making of Love Bites video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H99gC43yMeM
Interview in 1984
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzvZIYQU3Os
Live on The Tube in 1984
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImAojUs22rw
Live in Montreal in 1984
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOk-OZwq7JE
Live at Live Aid in 1985
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmVqIgKOgEY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Bd8m4ONod0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihP8ckhqgpI

April 14, 1986 - 2021: 35 years of: Turbo.

Ready for some wild nights ?

1986 - America - the massive tidalwave for hardrock ...and JUDAS wanted a part of it. From Birmingham, the sound and the looks of the almighty PRIEST got a major facelift, West-Hollywood style.

Defending the faith since 1974, sin after sins under British steel, the hell bent for leather rocka-rollers were now entering this new arena. Traditional English-heavymetal in a full 90� from this young new-school made of: hairdos that defies gravity, loud headroom production, made-for-radio powerballads and a sexy rebellious attitude.

The vibe, the darkness, the synth-guitars of "Turbo Lover" mesmerizes. Hooked on deadly diesel, American-teens became lovers on turbo-mode and shifted the action into overdrive. One the band's best sleaze-rock track ...tell me there's no other !

3 - 2 - 1 - GO !

Pistons goes into full RPM on the race-track as you are now "Locked In". Loud guitars, loud drums and loud hardrock, it's heavymetal wrapped in party-rock attitude: PRIEST did it, PRIEST made it happen. Welcome to sin-city, with more lava-like hardrock. Blow your sound-system speakers and rock 'round the clock with "Wild Nights, Hot & Crazy Days" and let it roll worldwide with the wall of sound of "Rock You All Around The World"

Slow down and let the melodies flow on the FM-cut, the chilling "Out In The Cold". The powerballad template, revamped by the great British metal-monarchy. Let Halford's voice take you in the love-zone as the climax explodes at 4:26sec with master axe-men Downing and Tipton under full metal-command. Just one more chance baby, I need all your lovin' tonight !

Want some more ?

Back in the saddle with more ass-kickin' loud arenarock. Look but you can't touch, hands-off as this is "Private Property", where youth is king, hence we don't need no "Parental Guidance". Guilty pain and pleasure: cheesy, yes ...cool, hell-fuckin' yeah !

Unleashed in the live environment, the PRIEST metal-machine came out with a full roar. The enormous stage set, literally a statement that bigger is better, did steer some US-bands to push the boundaries to new heights: see upcoming Girls Girls Girls 87 and New Jersey 89 tours. Particularly on the East-Coast, in the surroundings of the Cap Centre, the rage was burning up. Teenage beer-drinkers and hell-raisers gathered and all of this mayhem was immortalized on tape, as they rabidly waited for the PRIEST's Fuel For Life concert.

Hardrock fans in the mid 80s in America: Heavy Metal Parking Lot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBryTebK2Og

Caught between the WASPs, the CINDERELLAs and the DOKKENs, PRIEST had to try a shot at American-hardrock. A commercial success and a turning-point in the band's career. Still today, the Turbo-era is either loved or hated by heavymetal-fans. Albeit opposition from die-hard old-school 70s-fans, JUDAS did came back with the heavier 1988 Ram It Down LP and later changed the game for everyone under the sun, with the iconic metal-meltdown all guns blazing masterpiece: 1990's Painkiller.

The 80s, Earth's best decade for hard-rocknroll !

*
Turbo = video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhY9GOhFwN4
Locked In = video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zr6rChjsWgs
Turbo = full LP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ietU5yUJ7zk&list=PLdAXwRhDPkPWY3HBKBdgOucKXX7RUBDj4
Press conference in 1986
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yyuYs1oHTI
Live in Montreal in 1986
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3d4poQQVy60
Priest ...Live ! = full LP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xT6c3fDyMZY&list=PLw3BaJwSfPMWMQFWIvxGod_r7PGn5uvW2
Priest ...Live ! = full VHS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oaC0SW1i8M&list=PLFM0NOsrWApSTTh4z7IjHlV7zNcMXLQ5y

May 13, 1988 - 2023: 35 years of: Ram It Down.

For the strong, not for the weak ...the decibel's are racing !

Coming far away from the humongous hairdos of 1986's cheese-fest Turbo LP, the rebirth of the Metal Gods was in motion. Updating their sound, taking notes and taking names, faith defenders JUDAS PRIEST were angry and ready for a hard heavymetal comeback.

A heavy metal fist pounds the Earth as we crumble under a power from above ...let's "Ram It Down". Louder than an atom-bomb, chromium-plated boiling metal, the scene melts away under the fast-metal speed of WW3-style duo lead-guitar decapitation ...call it: the pre-killer !

All leathered up, the killing machine makes it crystal-clear, this bloody assault is pure "Heavy Metal" and resistance is futile ..."Come And Get It" ! Looking for wild nights and hot crazy days, the crew is in the "Love Zone", play tough play rough cause "I'm A Rocker". The bonus "Johnny B. Goode" reprise is a fun take, yet somewhat miscalculated as a single.

Like Judas, the epic melodramatic powerballad pattern arises again, this time with the stratosphere-like "Blood Red Skies" ...a vibe that hasn't been felt since 1984's "Night Comes Down". The LP closes with the doom-stomper "Monster Of Rock", a 5:32sec giant laidback display of power-chords, one that would lay the foundations for 2008's Nostradamus concept-CD.

Like never before...
Under serious 360� attack from both Sunset scene and thrash titans, the British icons did it their way.
Under serious 360� attack from both P.M.R.C. and soon pending Nevada trial, the British icons did it their way.

RIAA-certified Gold, the rebirth was almost complete ...the comeback was almost complete. The rocknroll-timeline was about to change, once again courtesy of the British icons.

The upcoming immortal monolith that follows the string of: 1976's Sad Wings Of Destiny, 1980's British Steel and 1982's Screaming For Vengeance LP. JUDAS MUTHERFOKKIN' PRIEST will dominate heavymetal again and set the pace for the 90s, with the hybrid mix of classic / modern heavymetal: 1990's metal muscular meltdown overkill Painkiller CD.

RIP Dave Holland (1948-2018)

*
Johnny B. Goode = video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zxoGFjFJlk
Ram It Down = full LP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0jVb9TmfRM&list=OLAK5uy_kXlbDxgh_bgrrEl5oRKrRrKTebmvPcDCk
Interview in 1988
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqnsHbon7ec
Rob Halford hosts MTV in 1988
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j20MxkE3Z40
Live in Miami in 1988
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDWBnjaIiDg

September 3, 1990 - 2020: 30 years of: Painkiller.

The greatest heavymetal band of all-time delivering the greatest heavymetal album of all-time.

JUDAS PRIEST is the band and Painkiller is the album !

England's hard as iron Metal Gods have been hot rockin' 'n rollin', faith defendin' and law breakin' under sad wings since 19-fuckin-74. The look, the feel, the sound, the attitude, the voice, the rage ...it's heavymetal and it's all here. Nevermind the bollocks: here's the Painkiller !

Pushing the hell bent for leather-look with 1978's Killing Machine LP, grinding the hardrock-sound with 1980's British Steel LP, riding on the worldwind with 1982's Screaming For Vengeance LP and even fashionising themselves with 1986's Turbo LP ...yet it was all over now.

The past is the past.
Time to step-up the game.
Boys become Men, and then Men become Sirs.
The Marshalls are humming.
The Harley-Davidson is roaring.
A new era is here.
This is 1990: a new decade ...and once again JUDAS PRIEST are setting the pace with more blood red sky heavymetal.

JUDAS PRIEST is the band and Painkiller is the album !

Taking the harmonized-melodies of mid 80s European powermetal, mixed with the new sounds of late 80s American thrashmetal, all recorded using state-of-the-art digital studio-technology under the electric eye of power-producer Chris Tsangarides. The band that started it all were re-writing the heavymetal-handbook and heavymetal history itself, while paving the way for the upcoming centuries of heavymetal bands to follow.

Ladies and Gentlemen, would you please welcome the four horsemen:

JUDAS PRIEST is the band and Painkiller is the album !

...and now stand up, round of applause and please welcome on drums, the American-born: Sir Scott Travis.

The "Painkiller" drum-tornado intro, 30 years later, IS STILL THE ONE to be reckoned with. The title-track attacks, kills and annihilates everything under the sun. Full jawbreaking double-bassdrums roll, remember this was not common in traditional heavymetal at that point, as this signature was predominantly used in the thrashmetal-format only. We all heard the fast PRIEST tracks like "Steeler", "Exciter" and "Sinner" ...but this is pure speedmetal hellion and fury. The hate-level jumps at Mach IV on cue as soon has the guitars kicks-in. The dissident aggressor, the Metal God Rob Halford shouts and desecrates in an unprecedented spew of maniacal vocals. The tale of a winged-robot riding the metal-monster, a dragon / motorbike hellrider, the "Painkiller" is the savior from above, ascending to Earth to save mankind from an imminent apocalypse.

THE GREATEST HEAVYMETAL SONG IN ALL OF HEAVYMETAL'S GLORIOUS HISTORY: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE !

This type of music shall never be the same. Mark your calendars make a raw deal with the devil, as there is a pre-Painkiller and post-Painkiller era in heavymetal's timeline ...and this is just the opening-track, think you'll make it alive ?

Make way and stand by for the new exciter: the "Hell Patrol". Another type of metallic sentinel, this time bound to "Brutalize you, neutralize you, gonna go for your throat as you choke, then they'll vaporize you" ...sounds like fun ain't it ? The clinically-precise lead-guitar intros to the �ber-fast and furious freewheel burning "Metal Meltdown" is a rapid fire of metal-riffs and skull-crushing-rhythms. Ramming everything down, none shall survive this brutal assault.

The album's metallized powerballad, the epic tension-filler "A Touch Of Evil" is a true kiss-of-death metal-track. Slowly burnin' up, the dragonaut-like is a mesmerizing twist of melodies and overdriven-guitar unisons. The organ-like keyboard supports this gigantic piece and features some of the greatest white heat red hot fret-work by lead-guitarist Glenn Tipton, a modern and updated "Beyond The Realms Of Death". Pure evil fantasies, as ecstasy controls you.

The greatest heavymetal frontman / tyrant of all-time yells out the "All Guns Blazing" intro-call. More thrash-infused high-paced demonizing heavymetal takes a stand as the most powerful music in the universe. Lead-guitars abound and slice thru the skin in a lovely fashion. The hardrock flair of "Between The Hammer & The Anvil" takes no excuses with it's Earth-shaking verse-riff and ultra-heavy bridge section that opens up the majestic metal-magic of K.K. Downing and Glenn Tipton, both unified under the high waving Union Jack.

And now the forgotten gem, the last track, the troubleshootin' battle cry of "One Shot At Glory". Not a mere run of the mill track, but a full 6:48sec of suave powermetal melodies. Clever riffs and even more clever dual-unisons, this cut creates and pushes the term: modern powermetal.

JUDAS PRIEST is the band and Painkiller is the album !

While in the midst of one of mankind's most historical event: the Persian Gulf War, the PRIEST would battle another type of evil. The album that almost didn't happen. In a controversial trial in Summer 1990, the band and their record-label were both liable under the US criminal justice-system. Truth, common-sense and the First-Amendment cleared them and from that angst, sadness and turmoil, they saved freedom of speech in rock-music and returned with full screaming for vengeance firepower.

The PRIEST's impressive legacy was already sealed and secured even before the 1990-era. Yet with this new Lochness metal-monster, the sin after sinners have not only busted the bank, but also reset the clocks and gave all those edgy 80s metal-bands a fair run for their money. 30 years later, Painkiller, the heavymetal-masterpiece album still delivers the goods and is still mentioned daily in heavymetal discussions and medias. Not only by it's immense march of the damned comeback, coming back from the lukewarm 1988 Ram It Down LP, but as a whole as it cemented a new musical-genre: modern powermetal.

The immaculate production and it's pristine lethal content are, just like Nostradamus: timeless and immortal. Now once again on top of the heavymetal food-chain, JUDAS PRIEST ARE RUNNING WILD AND REIGNING SUPREME, as they provided MORE leather, MORE studs and MORE heavy duty heavymetal than ever.

From the dawn of creation to the future of mankind, one cold hard fact remains:

In the live environment, the band tagged along with some of the key-players in the thrash-scene, the explosive TESTAMENT and the forerunners MEGADETH on the US-leg, and with the new kids on the block: PANTERA and ANNIHILATOR on the European-leg. The world-tour would even make a stop at the second edition of the now legendary South American festival: the Rock In Rio II in January 1991.

Sadly, the Painkiller album and touring-cycle would be the last Rob Halford wild nights, hot and crazy days-collaboration. Recent years of tension and personal need for other musical endeavors would draw him away from the PRIEST, heading out to the highway into new pain and pleasures: FIGHT and later the reckless TWO. But fear not, you've got another thing comin' as JUDAS would rise from the ruins and eat us alive with new singer, the American-born devil's child: Tim "Ripper" Owens.

From the CBS Records advert: "Painkiller awesome ! backwards or forwards."

*
Painkiller = video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nM__lPTWThU
A Touch Of Evil = video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PW-6FKFnHx8
Painkiller = full CD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nc1ayihR8NA&list=PLPf69IGxwfBFaYBu7pTf6YCABlM7ZL0sq
MTV interview in 1990 at Foundation Forums
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tbgFpr_g8E
Interview in 1990
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5X0ilyHj3NU
Live in Detroit in 1990
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDeBY1rmBmw
Live at Rock In Rio II in 1991
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bt3maQIHV8s
some guy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YatB62FQky0
some girl
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7gr5RMODTw
some kid
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqSx8kfwtpM
some other guy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4ChZpUMO0A

October 27, 1997 - 2022: 25 years of: Jugulator.

Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome to the heavymetal arena: Tim Owens !

After a very, very long silence of nothing, from 1992 to 1996, British Heavy-Metal creators JUDAS PRIEST finally announced that they had found their man. From fan to frontmen, the improbable story of Ripper ...the PRIEST's savior.

A returned JUDAS !
A modern PRIEST !

During the mid 90s all metals were under either extinction or mutation beyond recognition. Even other legends like IRON MAIDEN, SEPULTURA, DANZIG and the almighty METALLICA, were having a hard time being classic metal. But in 1997, a couple of events gave the genre a well deserved ass-kicking. Strong releases by Bruce Dickinson, EXCITER, OVERKILL ...and the return of The Evil Ones: VENOM.

Being a struggling musician in tribute bands in the Akron Ohio region that included a JUDAS PRIEST tribute, the young Owens already had a full-length CD under his belt with WINTERS BANE ...and faith tilted his way. A live video ended up in the hands of JUDAS PRIEST's drummer Scott Travis and he immediately had to share this one of a kind twist of destiny. Rapidly reviewed by the entire band and management, they invited him to England, to confirm that he was the real raw deal. In the studio, within seconds after screaming behind the glass, Tim Owens became the new singer for JUDAS PRIEST. On the spot, Glenn Tipton nicknamed him: Ripper.

The gloomy mechanical intro sets the table for Heavy-Metal Armageddon. Some of the fastest metal unearthed from the band that delivered the goods. "Jugulator" is a monster, in the long line of PRIEST killing machines: "Sinner", "Exciter", "Jawbreaker" and 1990's last horror "Painkiller". Speedmetal riffing, speedmetal drumming and the new voice of heavymetal. The neck-breaking speed might be too much for some to handle, granted, the grinding metal might be too molten for some to handle, granted, to these few fans out there: please head to your local mall for the hippest n�metal trend to suit your needs.

Under these blood red skies, the bloody massacre continues on "Blood Stained" and more lethal thrashmetal is injected on "Death Row". The rage is on full blast and bassdrums are rolling with violence on "Dead Meat", while the slower moody paced-intro of "Burn In Hell" eventually hammers the audience with hard as iron pain and pleasure. The monumental build-up for the second-single "Bullet Train" fully features Tim's muscular falsettos and ensuing metal meltdown.

The in-awe grand-finale "Cathedral Spires" is a beautiful classic acoustic / metal journey. The 9:18sec goliath brings the updated PRIEST into ventures far beyond the realms of death. Dowtuned and deadly, this genocide is of the darkest one this band ever crafted. Epic steps after epic steps, this arenarock climax hallmarks another fine lead trade-off from the Downing + Tipton duo.

In a decaying decade, it is de-factoed that harder music be produced. Ripper is a product of the 80s, supercharged by the early 90s streetmetal revolution. Edgy digital production and while most lyrics deal with death, mutilation and torture, the message is clear: this is a brutal heavymetal album.

Self produced, focused and ready for the onslaught, this modern metallic return has changed the face of classic heavymetal forever, just like British Steel did, just like Screaming For Vengeance did and just like Painkiller did some time ago. The 90s were heavymetal-hostile, yet the excitement over JUDAS PRIEST's return, kick-started the whole 1998-99 Euro powermetal explosion. New blood from heavy key-players like HAMMERFALL and PRIMAL FEAR, all took direct inspirations from the PRIEST. Once again, European bands saves the day.

Blessed by the Ripper, the sentinels would re-conquer from the ground up, this scattered scene and pull it all back under the flag of British Heavy-Metal, with their 1997-98 World Tour.

The following Ripper-led creation would somewhat disappoint fans and critics, as 2001's disastrous Demolition CD would rapidly be swept away under the rug, leaving the door opened for ...Rob Halford's arising with 2005's glorious running wild Angel Of Retribution CD. The 2004-05 era, a cutting-edge time for returns and reunions from ANTHRAX, DEATH ANGEL, EXODUS and the almighty JUDAS PRIEST ...rebirth of classic Heavy-Metal, rebirth of classic JUDAS PRIEST !

"No cage them make can hold me, no law enforced controls me, no trap that sprung stops me for loooooong."

*
Burn In Hell = video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSHngMw9nO8
Jugulator = full CD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgPwa497hm8&list=PLfXQUvgJa36TBsNisqb9w18tLfLCmR8yT
Interview in 1998 in Japan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3o5bmR0NOk
Live in New-York in 1998
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hC47kj1N0Ow
Documentary
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vU57Kj3A0NE
Ripper live in 2017
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmKQzeH9Whg
some guy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxUx6sfyPSU

In 2005, the mighty Metal Gods were resurrected and reunited with the blessing of the Angel Of Retribution, the strongest return of the metal millennium by any metal band.

*
Revolution = video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S68_spOUvdo
Angel Of Retribution = full CD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuIoGWn6Bn8&list=OLAK5uy_lEkx7sufjpgb3YUJnAc9O6ttOBtbQ2R6Y
Rising In The East = full DVD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaU00RaMDfk

JUDAS PRIEST FIREPOWER: l'album heavy-metal le plus puissant dans sa cat�gorie depuis le d�but du mill�naire !

Mon aventure Firepower:

Fan fini depuis 1990, chaque nouvel album du PR�TRE est une c�r�monie m�tallique finement protocolaire. Ma pr�vente fut plac�e le 21 F�vrier sur un site sp�cialis� qui offre des items exclusif pour l'abum. Je commande et paye mon vinyle-double, mon digibook, ma cassette exclusive (300 unit� sur la plan�te) et mon baseball-jersey exclusif.

Tout va bien, keep on rockin' et la date de sortie du 9 Mars approche, j'me dis que j'va recevoir ma commande durant les jours qui pr�c�de, mais non. Le 8 passe, le 9, le 10, le 11, crisse rien dans la fuckin' Poste. Je email la compagnie, questionnant l'�tat de ma commande pour me faire dire qu'il y a eu des "problems with the cassette and vinyl records from our supplier"

CRISSE DE TABARNAK, cette cassette est ultra limit�e et maintenant vendu sur ebay / discog a 90$US. Mon hype est mort, je cancelle ma commande, il me rembourse (avec un taux de change d�valuatif) fini fuck off, je suis en OSTI D'SACRAMANT ...les mains vide, nous sommes le 2 Avril.

Quelques jours plus tard, en magasin j'ach�te le CD normal ainsi que la version digibook (je suis collectionneur, oui je sais, je suis malade). Tr�s amer de cette m�saventure, ts� j'ai pris la peine de PRE-COMMANDER des items � l'avance, pour me faire dire qu'ils sont sold-out 3 semaines plus tard. J'�tais 1 des fuckin' premiers 300 � avoir pass� ma commande pour cette cassette (et le jersey aussi).

Ceci dit, le temps s'�coule et hier apr�s-midi (20 avril) dans ma boite � malle, surprise sur prise, un paquet assez gros, pesant, avec un chandail dedans, pourtant j'ai rien command� ? Eh oui, l'enti�ret� de mon stock y �tait, comme le d�montre la photo ...et tout �a GRATISSSSS. Happy Record Store Day ...KEEP THE FAITH !!!

*
Lightning Strike = video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUzcxJNZKC4
Firepower = full CD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QtjdDiMLVg&list=OLAK5uy_nK6xRglbMQ42asaSb7_KHIXp5w8nVW9fM

more JUDAS PRIEST:

JUDAS PRIEST
&

US Festival
&

Heavy Metal Parking Lot
&

FIGHT
&

2WO
&

HALFORD
&

HALFORD projects