JUDAS PRIEST — Angel Of Retribution (review)

JUDAS PRIEST — Angel Of Retribution album cover

Album · 2005 · Heavy Metal

3/5 · 2010-05-25
ydewata

Yes, Judas Priest has returned. Stronger than ever with the new album Angel of Retribution, newly released in 2005. With all regards to the previous singer Ripper Owens, the return of ‘metal god’ vocalist Rob Halford has only proved that Rob was and is the perfect voice for Priest. The album kicks off with a thundering track “Judas Is Rising”, a thrashy modern track very much similar to their last two albums. It is not only the return of Rob Halford that made this one a kick ass record, also their return to glam rock style or I’d call it a ‘crunchy heavy metal Judas Priest recipe with a touch of rock n roll’ in some songs. Yes, the second track “Deal With The Devil” is pretty much rock n roll if you listen to it carefully, and the next thing you know you will bang your head wild! “Gotta deal with the devil/’cause you know that is real/Done a deal with the devil/From a heart made of steel”.

“Revolution” is a guitar driven mid-tempo track and so 80s! This track also seems to mark the reunion of Judas Priest with “Time to come together/Revolution/Living on forever/Revolution”. “Worth Fighting For” is another worth-listening to track. After three opening tracks, I guess you can rest a bit with this song. Driven by Ian Hill’s bass playing, this song could be an instant hit or the next single for the band. Also, this one has one of the best guitar solo that you might not want to miss. The next track, “Demonizer” is pretty much from Jugulator/Demolition musically era, a catchy track with its thrashy guitar-driven with a thundering double bass drums delivered by drummer Scott Travis. Not very much different than the opening track. “Wheels of Fire” is another glam rocker track. How I love to hear Glenn Tipton’s solo and KK Downing’s crunchy rhythm guitar on a song like this! To be honest, I’d prefer them to play this kind of music rather than a trashy heavy metal style which they offered on Jugulator and Demolition albums with Ripper Owens. But I guess I can’t complain much, though.

The first ballad on the album is “Angel”. A somewhat sad song with its beautiful lyrics line “And I know we’ll find/A better place and peace of mind/Just tell me it’s all you want for you and me/Angel won’t you set me free”. Musically less memorable but it has one of the best Judas Priest lyrics. “Hellrider” to my ear is Painkiller 2. Yup, it is pretty much similar although it lacks the energy and power as shown by Painkiller. “Eulogy” is another ballad from this band, a two minutes plus gloomy song (what can you expect? It’s an eulogy) followed by a closer track which probably the longest song Judas Priest ever recorded, “Lochness”, a ten minutes plus track to close this chapter of Angel of Retribution. Guess you already know what this song is all about by looking at the title. Please, be ready. This mid-tempo killer track will torture you apart for the next ten minutes or so.

I’d say that Angel of Retribution is a good return for Judas Priest. They somewhat quite succeed in combining the old materials pre-Painkiller with their new style during the 90s. They still can achieve more beyond this. Let’s give them more time to put back the chemistry that has created those great records during the 80s. Time is all they need and let’s hope that it’s not a one-time reunion. Credit must also be addressed to producer Roy Z. Once again he proved himself to be a talented mastermind on the production side.