One Hour of Metal is where I either put my iTunes on shuffle or tune into a metal internet radio station and for one hour I document what I hear. The good, the bad and the downright awful are always represented with honesty in this segment. Some hours are better than others as you will see in this series. So let’s get started shall we?
This time around I created a Judas Priest playlist on Spotify of nothing but their studio albums, took a deep breath, and hit PLAY. Priest has always been a band that I was a fan of. I wouldn’t consider myself a diehard fan but I always had some sincere admiration and appreciation for the vital role they played in shaping Heavy Metal music as we know it. This was a fun challenge for me as it really made me sit down and “listen” to each of these songs. How did it go? Well, read on won’t ya?
Devil’s Child (Screaming for Vengeance)
I remember thinking this song was so cool when I was a kid and now it’s just as awesome as I remember it. This isn’t one of those songs that I run to when I want to jam some Priest so it’s really cool to be reminded of this gem. The guitar solo totally screams out of nowhere and swoops in to steal your face. That break down in the middle solo section is fucking bad ass and to the song just takes off from there. I may have to re-listen to this one again because this break is bad to the bone and all in all this song just rules face.
Jekyll and Hyde (Demolition)
RIPPAH! This song is really pretty boring and nothing to write home about. It just kinda plods on and just has my ADD kicking in. Tim Owens is a guy that I really wanted to hate but the dude did a stand up job. Stepping into Rob Halford’s shoes is a damn near impossible task and he did the best he could. This album in general wasn’t a favorite of mine but what I did appreciate was that he came in and really worked hard to put his own mark on Judas Priest. He sounded just enough like Halford to pull off the old songs live but he also had his own sound that over the years would become his signature sound.
Locked In (Turbo)
Ahh, a song from Turbo. Much like Iron Maiden, the 80’s found Priest diving into technology and working with synth guitars and other 80’s kind of effects. I can’t tell you the last time I listened to anything from this album and while it sounds a bit dated, it doesn’t sound all that bad. As far as this song goes, this is a totally forgettable song. I think Priest was really reaching for some commercial success with this album and from what I remember they did pretty well with this one. I just think this song is corny and not really good at all.
Genocide (Sad Wings of Destiny)
HAHA! Man, I don’t care what anyone says but this early Priest stuff totally kicks ass. There’s something about hearing Priest in their early form doing something that was totally going against the grain of everything that was going on at the time. It’s kind of like hearing heavy metal as a small child and then watching it grow up to be the massive monstrosity that it would eventually become. This song is totally bad ass and Rob’s vocals totally have me laughing because he sounds so over the top on this. This is a killer tune and I really need to get back to this album. Great track!
Savage (Stained Class)
I’m afraid of listening to this album since it might make me shoot myself in the face. Nah, just kidding. No shooting of faces here; just melting of faces. This song is awesome and this album is awesome. It’s got this killer groove to it that totally has a Sabbath feel to it. This is another song that I feel like I forget about a lot and am glad to get reacquainted with it.
Hot Rockin’ (Point of Entry)
Man, this song sucks. I never thought this song was cool and let’s not even get started on the video. Before we even get started, dial back the gay jokes/comments. Let’s just all agree to agree that this shit sucks.
Between the Hammer and the Anvil (Painkiller)
This album is probably one of my favorite Priest albums. Painkiller was the album that Priest needed to make and it’s so fucking good. This song is a great song and it totally owns. Dark lyrics, melodic guitars, and one of the best produced/mixed albums of their career without a doubt. This song kicks so much ass. Love this one!
Come and Get It (Ram It Down)
This song isn’t that bad. It’s not that great but it’s not bad either. You can hear that gradual growth from Turbo to this one as the dated synth sound has kind of gone away and the guitars are getting heavier while Halford’s voice is getting more and more metal. The guitar solo for this song is off the charts awesome to be honest and totally makes it worth listening to this track. Again, not their worst but far from their best.
Lost and Found (Demolition)
HAHA. Wow. An acoustic Alice in Chains sounding ballad. This song is a big ass bowl of suck. No wonder why die hard Priest fans were so up in arms about this album/lineup. This song is the fucking worst. Wow. I’d rather listen to “Hot Rockin’” than this crapsterpiece.
You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’ (Screaming for Vengeance)
There’s a reason why this song is considered such a classic song. The reason? Well, it kicks ass and it’s an anthem for the masses that never dies. This song is just cool and it stands the test of time extremely well. It’s a good time and it always has me singing along and nodding with a smile on my face. Even at 39 years old, it channels that rebellious teen in me and makes me feel like I can take the world on. Now THAT is a sign of a great song there folks.
Jawbreaker (Defenders of the Faith)
What a way to close out this Hour of Priest. Jawbreaker is a killer track from yet another classic Priest album. This is one of those songs that I call awesomely forgettable. The reason I say that is because, to me, this is a song that I can listen to, totally enjoy it while it’s on but then forget all about it the minute it’s over with. Actually, I feel like most Priest songs are like that in my opinion but this doesn’t make it any less a good song.
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