JUDAS PRIEST — Angel Of Retribution (review)

JUDAS PRIEST — Angel Of Retribution album cover

Album · 2005 · Heavy Metal

4/5 · 2010-10-03
The Angry Scotsman

Judas Priest, the band that gets heavier with age!

Then again, what else could we expect from the metal gods? Bands tend to mellow with age, of course this is below the Priest, they got heavier and faster with age. I was surprised how much so when I first heard this album years ago, I couldn't believe this was Judas Priest. They have kept up with the times, and produced a heavy metal album for 2005 just as they did back in the early 70's.

The albums starts out strong with Judas Rising. A powerful build leads to the mid paced, heavy and unrelenting song. Scott Travis' double bass drumming may not be a machine gun but the sheer endurance is mind blowing. Epic song, with some great soloing and some impressive rhythm work, (opposed to Priest's usual tremolo picking away).

Deal With The Devil is a more traditional heavy metal song, mid paced, riffy, awesome solos. Straightforward heavy metal song structure and some old school Halford!

Revolution is a very intriguing song. Quite slow and heavy, with some interesting vocals. Amazing riffing. Right now I am slowly rocking my head as I type, it can't be helped.

The next song, Worth Fighting For, is lighter then the previous songs and has a more 70's hard rock feel. Groovy song, mellow vocals and more melodic soloing.

Demonizer on the other hand kick in with a heavy, dissonant, almost Slayer sounding riff. Throw in some pounding drums and chuggy bass. This song has that unrelenting Travis double bass and technical riffing. A real juxtaposition with the previous song.

Wheels of fire. Straightforward song, not much to write home about.

Angel. My favorite song on the album, and maybe one of my favorites from Judas Priest. They can crank out the heavy but here we see they can also write something melodic and beautiful. Sends a shiver through my arms. Amazing song, melodic and beautiful.

That is just to be followed by perhaps the most intense song on the album, Hellrider. Epic intro, crushing riff, more double bass drumming and more high pitched vocals then we've heard thus far. More awesome solos, though Priest does need to watch the pinch harmonic abuse, (in solos and riffs). Last minute and a half is powerful stuff.

Eulogy is a segue, entirely acoustic, slow and mellow clean singing. Transitions right into the grand finale:

Lochness. A 13 minute song!? Yes. I can honestly call this a progressive metal song, (and no not just because its over 10 minutes). Slow and ambient, slow and heavy, mid paced riffing with melodic and unusual soloing over it. The song actually progresses throughout. Very heavy, choppy sometimes surprising riffing a long and interesting song structure this may be the most challenging Judas Priest song I've heard. It's a great one though and has it all. Their career in a microcosm.

This is a great album. When I first came home with it and my mom asked what CD I bought she chuckled at the fact Judas Priest is still around. Well they are and they can still make great metal. Some lackluster songs, and it can drag a bit at times but this is an amazing album. Much heavier then a lot of Priest's work and Halford's vocals are still there, though he uses a lot more clean and "heavy" vocals. Does give the album another heavy touch. Excellent.

Four Stars