Artist: Judas Priest
Title: Metalogy (4 CDs 1 DVD)
Genre: Metal
Label: Columbia/Legacy
Website

The ultimate Judas Priest set has arrived! Metalogy is a tribute to the Gods of Metal and one of the forefather's of metal sub genres, covering every aspect of their career on four incredible CDs, totaling 65 tracks and a bonus DVD of a live performance in Memphis in 1982. There is more than enough hard rockin' metal to satisfy any metal head's appetite on this set. Their lyrics were dark and rebellious but you knew it was all an act for a stage show played out in their music, and what the hell, its only rock 'n' roll right?

There is no question that Rob Halford is one of the most recognizable and enjoyable vocalist in rock music, although Ripper Owens did a fine job for a few years filling in his spot while Halford was away making outstanding solo albums, there is only one Halford, and never is it more apparent after listening to this career spanning set. It is interesting, you never hear Judas Priest mentioned in the same breath as some of their contemporaries (i.e. Black Sabbath etc.), yet they were key factors in making heavy metal acceptable on a worldwide level.

Some of their songs have elements of the classic rock sound, which is the one thing that made them so appealing to a larger listening audience, although they maintained their heavy metal image by keeping their foundation of metal intact at all times. This approach and style enabled them to have great success for many years, and one that continues to this day. With the return of Halford to the band and the release of this boxed set, which was perfectly timed, their popularity will surely continue to grow.

Sixty-Five tracks is a lot of music and you would think that you may find yourself bored while listening, trust me, it will not happen. This is some of the most energetic and hard rocking music you will ever have the pleasure to listen to, I promise. Longtime fans of the band will surely gobble up this boxed set. I am sure any rock music fan that purchases this set will feel compelled to grab all the remastered albums available as well (I am). Remastering tracks before putting out such a comprehensive boxed set is very important to the overall success to a project such as this. It paid off, as the tracks sound crisp, clean and clear. Even on a simple car stereo, this music sounds wonderful. There is the expected addition of live and unreleased tracks that you would find on a career spanning boxed set, which always adds a little more spice to the pot.

I never experienced the early years of the band (but plan to with all the remasters), I missed the 70's entirely, my start was with Screaming For Vengeance and I never looked back, now I am sorry that I didn't because I enjoyed the early recordings just as much as the releases in every decade thereafter.

Think you have heard the ultimate metal boxed set of British Steel? Wait until you hear Metalogy, it will make you rethink your position. Judas Priest is more relevant than ever and they are back again 'Screaming For Vengeance" ready to stake their claim as one of the reigning kings of metal.

June 8, 2004

© Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck