JUDAS PRIEST — Redeemer Of Souls (review)

JUDAS PRIEST — Redeemer Of Souls album cover Album · 2014 · Heavy Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
adg211288
Redeemer of Souls (2014) is the seventeenth full-length album by British heavy metal act Judas Priest. Redeemer of Souls marks the first Judas Priest album to be released in six years following the double disc effort that was Nostradamus (2008) and it is also the first album not to feature guitarist K. K. Downing, who retired from the band in 2011. He has been replaced by Richie Faulkner (Deeds, ex-Lauren Harris), who has been involved with the writing process for the album.

Judas Priest have really slowed down their output in the last couple of decades, making Redeemer of Souls only their fifth album since Painkiller (1990), which was the album that marked the end of Judas Priest releasing a full-length at least every couple of years, something that they'd kept up with ever since debut Rocka Rolla (1974), as well as being singer Rob Halford's last album with them until Angel of Retribution (2005). I haven't been especially impressed by that much the band has done post Painkiller. To me Jugulator (1997) and Angel of Retribution were good efforts (the former based more on its own merits rather than a Judas Priest album) but Demolition (2001) to me was the all time low for Judas Priest. The prior Nostradamus had its moments but the ambitious double album kinda felt like Judas Priest were trying too hard to me and I think they might have come up with a better effort if they'd stuck to a single disc of material.

Redeemer of Souls on the other hand, while no masterpiece to challenge the likes of Painkiller, Sad Wings of Destiny (1976) or Stained Class (1978), sets a stronger impression. To my ears this one is easily their best work in over twenty years. The songs aren't instant classics by any means but quickly show themselves as being more memorable than a lot of the recent Judas Priest work. There's the odd downer moment such as Hell & Back but the material is generally on the same quality level although I will say that the first half of the album feels a bit stronger than the second half with songs like Halls of Valhalla, March of the Damned, Down In Flames and the title track being highlights. There aren't any real surprises on the album for a Judas Priest album in 2014 except for perhaps a brief growling section in Halls of Valhalla. It's traditional heavy metal played by veterans (well and one younger guy) and while it doesn't have the lasting appeal of their older work it's satisfying to know that Judas Priest have still got it. 4 stars.

81/100

(Originally written for Heavy Metal Haven: http://metaltube.freeforums.org/judas-priest-redeemer-of-souls-t3794.html)
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