Terry's Reviews
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Music Reviews: |
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Judas Priest – Angel of
Retribution Epic – 2005 |
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| The distinct powerful high pitched scream coming
out between Glen Tipton and KK Downing’s guitars in "Judas Rising" ushers
Rob Halford back in the band he helped establish as Heavy Metal Masters. Halford sings
"Deal With The Devil" is if he just got off the Painkiller Tour. He has not lost
even a fraction of his tremendous ability to sing from the bottom to the top of the sound
register. Ian Hill’s bass brings in "Revolution." Scott Travis gives this third tune a cool drumbeat and the song actually sounds like something from Hell Bent For Leather or one of the band’s earlier sounding tracks. Producer Roy Z and Priest have given "Revolution" a retro recording feel. The dark guitar chords of "Worth Fighting For" have a calmness that could only rightfully come from a band as experienced as JP. I liked the way Halford plays his lead vocals off his own back up vocals. KK and Tipton rip heavy riffs in "Demonizer" while Travis abuses his double bass drums. The two legendary guitarists show they’ve still got it as they trade off blinding, screaming guitar notes. Halford helps get the demons out with his voice. Thunderous guitars roar with "Wheels of Fire." Halford sings "Angel" as this where Sad Wings Of Destiny album. The softer guitar approach is really fitting. "Hellrider" is a wicked classic heavy Priest song with molten hot guitars and Travis kicking a machine gun attack of double bass drums. Rob Halford gives the song authentic power. The soloing guitar notes are insanely fast and I love at the end of solo section how the guitars sing out the chorus like back-up vocalists. Piano in "Eulogy" was a beautiful surprise within the Priest soundscape. Screeching, guttural guitars bring "Lochness" up from the watery abyss. Halford, Tipton, Downing, Hill and Travis really stand out in this thirteen and a half minute track. Things get scary and instrumentally terrifying at the 6:45 mark as Tipton leads us into the dark, stormy lake where the monster lives. Interestingly two minutes later the band eases down to produce almost a historic feel to the guitars, Halford’s voice is muted down to make things feel like this monster has been here for a longer than we could imagine. But the band doesn’t let us go out that easy; as Tipton and Downing finish up with harmonic, distorted screaming guitars. The Heavy Metal heavens have opened up and let Judas Priest rain down on our souls. It feels so good to have these guys back where they belong. |
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