Judas Priest - Angel Of Retribution
This was Priest's first album with Rob Halford back on vocals and it needed to make a big statement. The first moments of opener, Judas Rising, do exactly that with the 'Victim Of Changes' style intro giving way to a pulsating, chestbeating riff topped off with a ball bursting scream that only Halford can deliver. It's everything I love about the Priest distilled into one song. Pure metal perfection.
Deal With The Devil is a quick, straight ahead number reminiscent of 'Freewheel Burning' which features some solid riffing. Revolution has a commercial industrial feel, sounding like Stabbing Westward covering 'United', but it just doesn't work. The album moves immediately from the weakest track to the strongest in Worth Fighting For. It has a fantastic chorus with a mature, reflective edge, and wouldn't sound out of place on 'British Steel'. High praise indeed.
Demonizer is an aggressive metal tune which nestles somewhere between 'Painkiller' and Fight, and it features some excellent double kick drumming from Scott Travis. Angel is a killer ballad. Stately and graceful, it's a welcome change of pace and a different kind of ballad to what Priest have tried in the past.
Hellrider is thunderous. The pinch harmonics and Halford's trademark screams probably mean mean the track is the closest relation to 'Painkiller's title track. That is a good thing. Eulogy is a chilling, reflective track which references previous songs and albums in its lyrics and feels like it could almost be the band's epitaph.
The closing track, Loch Ness, is a ridiculous. In a good way. It has a very cheesy chorus but is extremely catchy. Imagine a full blown concept album condensed into a single song and you're getting close. This track divides opinion among fans because it is so laughable but I like it. Proof that a good chorus can rescue virtually any song.
Overall, this album is what it needed to be and proves that Priest can still cut it. It is a return to form with nods to past glories, and a few new tricks and surprises thrown in.
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