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

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

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

Next session: Sunday 19 January

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 1 December 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 3 December 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)