JUDAS PRIEST – Screaming For Vengeance (30th Anniversary Edition)

August 25th, 2012 by jason

Sony

Who’d have thought it’s 30 years since this classic metal album (makes me feel so old), but this band defined heavy metal and this album was classic upon release in 1982. And it gets a full expansion here.

The album opens with the instrumental builder The Hellion that leads to Electric Eye, a perfect start that has opened many a show (or encore) since. This is anthemic, blistering and perfect period British metal that still stands up today.

Wall to wall classic, the solid Bloodstone is reminiscent of Alex Harvey’s Sultan’s Choice, and Take These Chains features a chunky rhythm and screaming guitar.

Halford’s vocals go to melodic to banshee and a back, and no two guitarists traded riffs and solos like Downing and Tipton. The title track heads off at 100mph and takes you on a hair raising journey, and You’ve Got Another Thing Coming has always been a fan favourite.

If you don’t have this album already, now’s your chance, if you do, you’ll prob want this one too. Why? Well there’s loads of bonus tracks. There’s the studio track Prisoner Of Your Eyes, and 5 live tracks (presumably from the 1982 show as the track on the previous remaster, details are scant). Judas Priest have always been a top live band and any and all live material should be sought out.

The second disc is a live DVD filmed in the US in 1983. An open air show, it opens with Hellion/Electric Eye and is just an amazing show. Heading Out On The Highway indeed, these Metal Gods work the crowd well, Tipton looks so relaxed and Halford loves teasing the crowd. Breaking The Law is cracking, and well, you know the classics, they all get prime showing here, as does the motorbike on Hell Bent For Leather.

The only down side on the packaging (I’m being picky here) are sleevenotes that state more obvious than facts, the lack of detailed information (like where the live audio tracks come from), the lack of the lyrics in the booklet there were in the previous release, and the typos on the rear.

But all that aside it’s the music that we’re here for and that really is blisteringly brilliant.

****1/2

Joe Geesin

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