JUDAS PRIEST — Rocka Rolla (review)

JUDAS PRIEST — Rocka Rolla album cover Album · 1974 · Hard Rock Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
UMUR
"Rocka Rolla" is the debut full-length studio album by UK heavy metal act Judas Priest. The album was released through Gull Records in September 1974. Everyone is aware of the legendary status Judas Priest have on the metal scene today, but back when this album was recorded they were just another young band struggling to make it, looking up to their idols in acts like Black Sabbath, Wishbone Ash and Uriah Heep, and trying to create a sound of their own in the process. "Rocka Rolla" is often overlooked or forgotten when people discuss the band´s finest achivements, and it certainly sounds quite different from the leather fisted anthemic heavy metal of the late 70s and early 80s that the band are mostly known for, but it´s still a worthy listen and a great album in it´s own right if you adjust your expectations to how it sounds.

The music on the album is predominatly a hard rocking type of heavy metal. Some tracks like "One for the Road" and the title track are to my ears pure hard rock with only few heavy metal leanings, while other tracks like the "Winter" suite, "Dying To Meet You" and "Run of the Mill" are heavier and more metal oriented in style (although all three also feature mellow sections). The band are clearly a bit immature both when it comes to the musicianship and the songwriting, but still manage to sound tight and write memorable material. The sound production could have been heavier, which some of the material would have benefitted from, but it´s a fairly well sounding production as it is.

"Rocka Rolla" is a good quality debut album, that shows promising signs of future greatness. With it´s hard rocking heavy metal sound it´s also quite unique in the band´s discography and to my ears a great listen. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.
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666sharon666 wrote:
more than 2 years ago
Albums like this were the introduction my Dad gave me to music, so although Priest have done better IMO, this one will always be very special to me.
Triceratopsoil wrote:
more than 2 years ago
honestly one of my fave priest albums
siLLy puPPy wrote:
more than 2 years ago
I find this album underrated and underappreciated. I really love it as much as most anything else they've done and it's even better than albums like Turbo and Point Of Entry IMHO
adg211288 wrote:
more than 2 years ago
I rated this about the same initially but I've actually grown rather fond of it now. I don't think it has as many individual standouts like some of their others but as a whole this album just works for me.
Unitron wrote:
more than 2 years ago
Great review, I don't listen to this one much but it's definitely a good debut.

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