I've just skipped all the above posts, I'll come back to them once I've posted this.
On awaiting this album, I expected a continuation of the Jugulator/Demolition sound with a new twist, and the inevitable hark back to the older era that Rob Halford's voice would bring. I'd say I got what I expected, although musically there was more reference to earlier classic material than I expected, albiet without being a ripoff of it.
That intro to Judas Rising pretty much set the scene at established what was going to come. Nice to hear a bit of shit-hot guitar work on the go. The song wasn't perfect to me because it felt like the entire thing was an intro, yet those guitars and the shreiking powerful chorus make it a fine intro to the album, so I guess it works.
Deal With The Devil Stands out already as my particular favourite, and embodies the 'return to form' fuss. Classic Priest all the way. Then, of course, Revolution follows in another classic Priest vein, a 21st century version of United/Take On The World kind of songs.
Which I guess makes this the appropriate point to make the point that this album once again highlights that part of Judas Priest that has always been with us - their ability to refine their sound and keep themselves sounding modern (although obviously I'm using hindsight here) while still sounding like Judas Priest and staying true to Heavy Metal. I guess the Roy Z sound helps, though this still sounds like a Priest record as opposed to Halford or Bruce Dickinson, because the classic songwriting is their along with their new tricks.
New tricks, like two ballads!
I prefer the second one, whatever it was, didn't seem so much like it was begging for radio play like Worth Fighting For. Haven't had stuff like that since the Killing Machine album (I'm not counting Blood Red Skies, power ballad!). Lochness is the other obvious one too, with it's gruelling length. Still not sure if it works though.
This is my assesment after one listen. I must admit, I have doubts about it's standing in that it didn't grab me in the same way that Stained Class, British Steel, Turbo or Painkiller does with me...whether this is because of a genuine lack of timeless songwriting or my unfamiliarity with the album, we'll see. Many Priest albums took their time to grow on me - I only truly got into Screaming For Vengeance in December, four years after I bought it! - so I'd say there's potential.
I would also like to say, that this album has had a surprising level of interest from my friends. One or two people looking into it that I wouldn't have expected to, and general interest from others. Megadeth and Iron Maiden are the only other bands who I think have got this kind of attention from my circle of friends, though we'll see if anything more comes of it...
Yeah!
