Faster than a laser bullet
If you haven't heard of Judas Priest you're either a hermit, a 15 years old or a 15 year old hermit. Whichever one you are then this compilation album probably isn't for you. For the rest of us who do remember, this is probably a competent if completely un-necessary compilation.
This double disc pillage down memory lane starts with 'Judas Rising' from their latest album, and a more fitting track to kick off with I could not have imagined. It sets out what Judas Priest are in these days of complicated arrangements and blinding musicianship. Judas Priest are metal. There is no sub genre of metal anywhere in their make-up, they are just metal through to the bone and that's exactly what has kept them making albums for over 30 years.
Speaking of time, the next track is 'Breaking the Law' released back in 1980 on the 'British Steel' album, and the difference in tone and delivery is apparent. The song is a simply arranged metal chugger, and if you can remember it invading the British charts, then you cannot stop yourself from singing along with a wry smile on your face whilst being transported back to simpler, denim clad halcyon days. Oh dear, I'm going all dewy eyed.
As the disc continues out come the classics. 'Hell Bent For Leather', 'United', 'Freewheel Burning' to name a few, help to keep you in the retro zone, and I must say I've never heard them sound so good, the quality of the transfer to CD is top notch. I don't remember them sounding this clear back in the day! At last I can finally get rid of that hissing C90 cassettes complete with popping, scratched vinyl sound effects, faded biro-ed track listings and the faint rumble of the album that was on the tape previously.
I do have a question though, why has this compilation been released at all? They have already released three compilations, one of which is the 4 CD 'Metalogy' containing both live and studio tracks covering the whole gamut of Judas's output since day one up to just before the latest album. How many copies of 'The Hellion' or 'Hell Bent For Leather' do you need? It reeks of cash in anyone? It stinks of some record company buying the rights to their back catalogue and milking it for all they can, although this may not be the case.
Strangely and noticeably missing from this CD are any songs featuring singer Ripper Owens. This guy had a fairy tale entry into the world of premier league metal by being picked to sing in his favourite rock band from relative obscurity. Did he wilt? No, he stepped up to the mike and kept the metal behemoth that is Priest rolling along for years, making two studio albums and touring the world before Rob 'metal god' Halford returned to the fold in 2003. Were his albums really that bad? Not from this reviewer's eyes at least.
Now the problem for all you 15 year old hermits out there; most of this compilation stays between the mid 70's to the mid 80's with a couple of tracks from 'Painkiller' and 'Angel of Retribution' thrown in for good measure. There's a big 'Ripper' sized gap in the middle for reasons unknown. So you're sitting in your hermit bedroom wondering about the chrome plated, laser sharp, mass of boiling metal that's louder than an atom bomb beat combo called Judas Priest, and thinking about picking up this compilation. Let me tell you now you won't get it. You see, these songs are meant to be heard by people who were there at the time. They haven't aged particularly well and you'll sit in your pit listening to this double disc wondering what all the fuss is/was about. If you want to hear a more relevant Judas Priest then I would recommend that you go out and buy 'Painkiller' and 'Angel of Retribution' (sorry Ripper). If on the other hand you were there and are looking to replace that awful C90 rattling around in the foot-well of your car that you can't quite bring yourself to throw away due to the nostalgia it conjures, plus you somehow also missed the other three compilations then this CD is a cracker. As a stand alone compilation it deserves a good score, the songs are there and the quality is superb.
All together now 'hell bent, hell bent for leather....'