Angel of Retribution, in stores March 1, 2005, is the 16th studio album by Judas Priest in 28 years and features the return of original vocalist Rob Halford, last heard on 1990’s Painkiller. Serious Priest fans will snap it up but I don't know if it will win over new listeners.
Believe it or not, but the term “classic Priest” is as meaningless as it is popular. Every album since Turbo has been branded as sounding like “classic Priest” by fans, reviewers and even Priest themselves. I’ll spare that terminology on this review of Angel of Retribution, which is surely one of the weakest Judas Priest albums ever. They are so wanting for ideas that they have on at least four occasions, referenced previous songs in their lyrics, which have also never been as banal.
Still, the guitar playing of KK Downing and Glenn Tipton is meaty and satisfying. It’s also refreshing to hear the familiar vocals of Rob Halford, one of the greatest singers in all of rock. Drummer Scott Travis performs brilliantly and bassist Ian Hill's presence is felt rather than heard...turn it up! To get your money's worth, be sure to buy the special edition with bonus DVD featuring seven favorite tracks. Bundling limited edition DVDs is a great way to combat downloaders and is a trend that I really like.
The songs:
4 out of 5: Angel of Retribution kicks off with “Judas Rising”, a strong opener, but it’s not as catchy as other album openers like Painkiller, Ram It Down, The Hellion/ Electric Eye, and Freewheel Burning, Heading Out To The Highway, Rapid Fire, Exciter, Delivering The Goods, Sinner and Victim of Changes. I won’t mention anything from the Ripper albums.
1/5 "Deal With the Devil" follows but the lyrics are lame and the song goes nowhere. “Blood Red Skies" is referenced early on.
“Gotta deal with the devil
cuz you know that's it's real
gotta deal with the devil
from a heart made of steel”
2/5 Lyrics on “Revolution” like so many Priest songs, seem vague and meaningless; a half-assed attempt to match words to music. They can get away with it when the music is exceptional, but it isn’t here.
3/5 "Worth Fighting For." This feels lightweight for Priest but it shows elements of promise, and grows with each listen. Halford's voice sounds worn out here, though.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - TDavid
Priest is my favorite metal band and I've eagerly been watching the stores as they had originally promised to have this out just after Xmas.
I don't care if this CD sucks, I'll still buy it and probably see them again on tour just for the old stuff. They were outstanding at Ozzfest last yhear.
2 - Temple Stark
Triniman,
I promoted this review to Advance.net. Not too sure if you're new but that means I put it here (and these places) where it could potentially be read by another few hundred thousand readers.
And thanks too for the reference to Manowar. You don't see that much. Death to false metal
3 - Ted
This reviewer is joke. Put no stock in this, and expect the best from the mighty Priest. This album has is a milestone in metal. Don't forget you read that here. Enjoy. Let me know what you think 1 month after release. And down the road, I'll see you at the Priest Shows!
4 - Tom Johnson
Triniman did a fine job of reviewing this album, Ted. You're obviously a hard-core fan and for you, pretty much anything the band puts out is going to be a favorite. Triniman may be a fan, too, but he's also a fair reviewer and wrote without bias how the songs truly felt to him. His song-by-song rating is an excellent idea, and his short, thoughtful responses to each song is very helpful. As much as you will end up liking it, Ted, rest assured that the days of Judas Priest releasing a "milestone in metal" are behind them. That doesn't mean they won't put out music the fans like, it just means they aren't going to be putting out much that will win over new fans.
5 - Marty Dodge
Lets face it, this CD is an excuse to tour again (not a bad thing). Will people in the audience want to hear anything from this release? No, of course not. The fact it isn't complete pants is to be praised. I shall probably get it nonetheless...I even suffered through the crap they put out with Ripper Owens.
Great review and glad to see it picked up...expect my review to follow in a few weeks.
6 - Triniman
I'll predict that next year, Priest will release a live reunion DVD and CD.
7 - Marty Dodge
My buddy over at Brave Words has written his review of this CD. Its a wee bit more complimentary which is impressive coming from the notorious cumudgeon.
8 - Triniman
I certainly recognize the name of Martin Popoff. Brave Words and Bloody Knuckles is also a fine Canadian magazine.
Although he also had an issue with the lyrics, I thought he was generous in his review. The review also seemded just a tad strange to me with his attempts at humour. Still, Martin is extremely knowledgeable about music and that is to be admired.
9 - Will
Total agreement. Been a Priest fan since 1976. I was expecting so much from this CD. Would have been happier with Painkiller mark 2. Nevemind, they are still the greatest Metal band of all time
10 - mega
i have heard the new cd, i couldn't resist downloading when i found it.
I' not a huge Priest fun i like some of their songs but not even half of them.
This new cd comes as a surprise for me.
It is amazing and of course I'm gonna buy it now from the stores with the DVD. I'm so eagerly awaiting the release.
So amazing!
Revolution rocks, so does Judas Rising and almost all the songs
Angel is an amazing ballad far better tha turn on your light, before the dawn etc...
I only reccomend you to buy it. So will I ...
11 - Triniman
Regarding Will's comment about how he would have been content with "Painkiller", part 2, I believe that album was also a weak one.
INHO, the last really good Priest album was "Defenders of the Faith" from 1984. I can recall when it came out, a lot of older Priest fans thought it was weak.
I give Priest credit for attempting something new in "Turbo", but its execution was marred by lots of poor songs. The guitar playing on this album still puts a smile on my face, though.
"Ram It Down" was a return to their usual heaviness, but how many of the songs are worth hearing over and over again? For me, just the title track, "Hard As Iron" and "Blood Red Skies" are worthy of having a place in the Priest cannon. And what stupid song titles, to boot.
"Painkiller" has a promising title track, but it, "All Guns Blazing", "Metal Meltdown", "A Touch of Evil" and the anthem "One Shot of Glory" are the only ones I like here. And not all of them are among the best of Priest.
12 - Lord Requiem
This fag tried to advertise his review over @ http://www.metalcrypt.com -- Which has a much better review of Angel of Retribution anyway. Go read that one. Ignore this shitpile.
http://www.metalcrypt.com/pages/reviewsframe.php?revid=2057
13 - SFC SKI
Between the DVD release of the Electric Eye concert DVD and the Metallogy concert DVD, both concerts form 2 separate concert in the '80's, I'd look forward to antoher great live presentation.
14 - Stephen Crocker
Calling this album "one of the weakest Judas Priest albums ever" is like calling George Bush one of the most intelligent, compassionate and honest presidents in US History. On The Contrary, AOR is the best material Judas Priest have recorded since "Screaming For Vengeance" The songs reflect styles heard throughout the bands spanning thirty year history and will satisfy Judas Priest fans young and old. I urge fans to ignore this reviewer's scathing assessment, while he has a right to his opinion, he is simply way off base. I've listened to AOR fifty or more times and never skip past a track. The songs on this album grow on you rather quickly and are solid from the blistering opening track of "Judas Rising" to the droning and ethereal closer, "Loch Ness." Judas Priest may even receive a grammy node for the beautiful acoustic ballad "Angel." The fact is, I love this album and Judas Priest fans world wide who wait in anticipation of it's release at the beginning of March will too. It's destined to be one of the top metal/ rock albums of 2005 and I suggest the reviewer give an album more than one critical read before writing another misleading and misinformed review
15 - Captain Vallo
Rather a bitter review, but to be fair makes some good points, like there is no 'classic' priest. Their style has varied considerably over the 30 years yet remained well within the confines of heavy metal.
There are no greatest tracks of all time with AoR either, but it is simply a very very enjoyable album that seems to capture a little bit of the 30 years of music whilst remaining consistent sound and feel.
Yes there are corny moments with perhaps too many references to older material, but since when has priest not run it close to being a parody of itself!
This is a great album that once again demonstrates that priest take seriously what they do, but do not take themselves too seriously.
16 - Will Thorp
This review is a waste of time and space. Who is this guy, Comic Bood Guy from The Simpsons? "Worst Priest record ever!" What a waste of time! I want my 2 Minutes and 45 seconds back.
17 - Will Thorp
I agree with Lord Requiem!! This guy is a complete shitpile!!!
18 - Temple Stark
Man - Who knew the Priest were still such a force for vitriol and passion?
19 - mormonthug
Does your mother know you are posting reviews like this??? Please don't quit your day job and take off your sisters bra and panties while you are at it. I find it hard to imagine what is going on in your head. I think you should stick with the pop boy bands from now on and spare the METAL Masses from your dribble. You don't happen to work for your local communuty college by chance????????
20 - crucified
I won't be as crass to say that your review was a complete "shitpile" but I did get a bias feel from it. Further, I would have left it all alone if it were not for the fact that the reviewer said "Painkiller, part2 , I believe that album was also a weak one." which in my mind leads me to believe that he really may not have liked priest all that much to begin with. Most Priest fans along side semi-Priest fans know that the major albums that are well liked and mostly quoted are "Sad Wings of destiny", "British Steel", Screaming For Vengeance", and "Painkiller". Undeniable classics by all who endear Metal and not just Judas Priest alone. To us hardcore fans we can list all of them equaly good. Just to make 1 thing clear....we are not sheep that will eat anything that Priest puts out for the sake that that's what is now available from them, they know it has to meet the standards of their peers and fans. You should check out Robhalford.com, his Quorum is the best ongoing review by fans and spectators alike. That's where you should have started before your wrote your review that way you could have read more about the history of this new album by the METAL GODS. PEACE and please do your homework a bit more. ~ the CRUCIFIED
21 - Immortal Sin
Mormonthug Rules...
You don't happen to work for your local communuty college by chance????????
LOL....
22 - hurricane
i have the new album and its a fantastic heavy metal record. it has all the attributes to become a classic priest album. How anyone can compare this kind of quality to manowar has me completly puzzled!!!
Maybe this guy is a big maiden fan or something........... ;-)
23 - Marty Dodge
How come so many of this lot have heard it already? Nothing like bragging about doing an illegal download on a site like this...real clever.
24 - kevin
Im not going to insult this reviewer
(it's been done already) but if you like
metal and/or Judas Priest do youself
a favor and dont base your decision on
this guy's opinion.
I was prepared for the worst. Im a
longtime Priest fan and have been forced
to suffer thru a decade of terrible
cd's from a Halfordless Priest and even
an Industrial record from the Halford!!
Retribution may not attract many new
fans, but it has something for everyone
who has ever been a fan of this seminal
group
I would rate this cd as good as Defender
s of the Faith. Both are somewhat
derivative and dont break much new
ground, but at this stage of the game
trying to "redefine" metal would be
a dissastor for Priest!! (see the 90's
releases).
25 - Jon
I've heard the new Priest CD and this guy is so wrong.
It's great - absolutely bloody great.
Starts with a monster metal song - carries you through the album with smart, varied, classy songs - light and shade as Halford calls it.
But..Loch Ness is weird - but good on them for not trying to be too commercial or sucking up to idiot Blogcritics who know nothing.
Great CD - thanks Judas Priest.