JUDAS PRIEST — Sad Wings Of Destiny (review)

JUDAS PRIEST — Sad Wings Of Destiny album cover Album · 1976 · Heavy Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
5/5 ·
666sharon666
Despite only being released a couple of years after Rocka Rolla, and still containing some material credited to original vocalist Al Atkins, the second Judas Priest album Sad Wings of Destiny is markedly different to their debut. Where Rocka Rolla was a blues based hard rock album typical for the time, Sad Wings of Destiny marks the first example of the heavy metal act that Judas Priest have become one of the best known examples of. As was the case for a lot of their early work there was a drummer change from John Hinch to Alan Moore for this release. Most versions of the album begin with the classic Victim of Changes but others begin with Prelude, which of course actually makes the most sense. I've played the album using both versions of the tracklist and I personally prefer the more well known Victim of Changes led version though, but of course the album still flows pretty well with the other one.

For me Sad Wings of Destiny represents the very best of the 70's Judas Priest work, as well as being one of my favourite records of the group all told. I'd go as far to say that Sad Wings of Destiny is the epitome of 70's heavy metal in general. Victim of Changes is an early example of a metal epic and easily one of the best songs that Judas Priest have ever recorded while in following song The Ripper is an equally good but more to the point style of song. The duo of Dreamer Deceiver and Deceiver are also excellent. The only track I've never been so fond of is the ballad Epitaph actually. It simply pales next to Dreamer Deceiver and not being too much of a ballad person I guess I didn't need two of them on the same album as well. The rest though can still be counted as some of the best Judas Priest songs to date and while many of their albums no doubt deserve classic status, Sad Wings of Destiny, along with the later album Painkiller, is one of the most deserving. It shows off a massive jump in quality from Rocka Rolla and in my opinion is one metal album everyone should own.

Attribution: http://metaltube.freeforums.org/judas-priest-sad-wings-of-destiny-t3779.html
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ProgMetaller2112 wrote:
more than 2 years ago
Yup
aglasshouse wrote:
more than 2 years ago
I agree that this album is the epitome of Judas Priest's amazing 70's work.

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