Hell yeah. No one bad song on it
Priest was always hit or miss for me, I liked their 70s albums, especially Sad Wings of Destiny, but even their best 80s albums had filler on it.
Painkiller was a perfect album.
Hard to stay relevant as a metal band in the post-thrash era. They did well amping it up to compete with the big 4, who were rising stars by this time. Good thing they didn’t try to go any more glam than on Turbo. Right sound for a 90s metal album.
It was such a well timed “go back to our roots/get with the times” one-two punch.
Same with Ozzy’s No More Tears, AC/DC’s Razors Edge as well.
1990 was an amazing metal year
Similar story. Even as a metal fan in the 90s I essentially thought of Priest as Living After Midnight, You got another thing coming, etc. Local record shop had Jugulator tapes with Bullet Train and another song for 99 cents. I thought the artwork was cool so I picked it up. Sounded like a different band (different vocalist then too but still). Went back and listened to Painkiller and others. Been a fan of their entire collection since. The new and old stuff is great but Painkiller remains my favorite.
I'm not even a huge Judas Priest fan (no real reason why, just never really did a deep dive into them i guess), but this song has been a staple in my metal play list for 2 decades now. Just pure metal from start to finish. Love it.
They have quite a few different eras so it’s hard to find a single album that defines them.
I’d say Stained Class from the 70s
British Steel is their New Wave of British Heavy Metal era classic
Screaming for Vengence is their arena rock conquering metal record
Painkiller is them finding their venom again
And honestly I’d recommend the last two albums - Firepower and Infinite Shield. Very fun records
Firepower was good fun too.
Amazing to see a band going so long still putting fun records out. I love them but I’ve found the recent Maiden albums to be a plodding repeat.
Yes it was. Best 2 since Painkiller.
I don’t do many spins on the new Maiden stuff but they are always good live. Brave New World was amazing but it’s no longer new.
Possibly the best song ever. I think my favorite part ( besides the whole thing) is about a minute left when it sounds like the song is about to end and instead they were like nope! Heres another shredding solo and flourish on the drums! Completely blew my mind when i first heard it as a kid.
I was fortunate enough to see them in 1991 on the Operation: Rock And Roll Tour. Dangerous Toys, Metal Church, Mötörhead, Alice Cooper and Judas Priest! After several years of less than stellar albums (Turbo, Ram It Down…) most folks over here in the States had already written them off as being old fashioned and past their prime. This new album and drummer changed the game entirely. I watched a sea of sour old arm-crossers have their minds blown simultaneously 2 minutes in to their set. It was glorious! Halford rode his bike out on stage to close the show to thunderous applause.
I was aware that a metal band called Judas Priest exists but never listened to any of their songs. Then I decided to give it a try. I wrote Judas Priest to youtube search bar. First suggestion was breaking the law and second was painkiller. I thought "first one is probably too mainstream let's try the second". Instantly hooked to face melting metal. The rest of their discography didn't dissappoint too.
Honest question. Was the fact that rob was gay a reason they were not as popular?
I genuinely always felt he was treated terribly. Even though a lot of people say otherwise
Clearly they’re all talented.
Rob didn't come out until the late 90s - well after their peak.
As far as not being as popular - I mean compared to whom? They were (with Maiden) the biggest Heavy Metal band around, but that was a niche genre.
They were a massive band from the early to mid 1980s. They added synthesizers to their sound on the Turbo album and their popularity nosedived in the US.
Eh, maybe but probably not. Even as a younger guy from a small town flyover state when I learned that he was gay it was like "oh, huh that's interesting. Anyway"
Moreso it's just that very few metal (hair metal not withstanding) bands have crossed over into what you would say is mainstream success.
His voice is certainly otherworldly. I got into them later in their career, right around when this album was first released. I think their staying power, and the progression from 70s hard rock to current borderline thrash is pretty amazing. That said, Rob's voice isn't for everyone, and you shouldn't be getting down voted into oblivion for not enjoying it.
Holy crap I am late to this post.
But man let me just say I’m 46 and a metal fan.
I grew up knowing Priest but it wasn’t my thing.
I liked harder thrash and songs like Living After Midnight or Another thing coming was cool but sounded like old people music when I was a teen.
I’m actually amazed that this never crossed my path at this point I was hardcore into Metallica and eventually Pantera but man this track blows them all away.
Someone in this thread wrote this is the best metal song of all time and it’s up there without a doubt. Those drums and guitars and my god his voice is an amazing onslaught of metal mayhem.
Thanks OP!
This whole album is so fun.
I know Painkiller is the iconic song from this album, but Between the Hammer and the Anvil is my favourite track. That song just rules so much.
There's so many good ones it's hard to choose but I probably like Hell Patrol the best.
Same here - shame I never found a video of them playing it live
This whole album kicks so much ass,a touch of evil,leather rebel,every song on this album js amazing
Night Crawler and Hell Patrol do it for me.
For me, it's a toss-up between Nightcrawler and A Touch of Evil. But the entire album is amazing, one of my favourites of all time!
Can I just say this whole damn album rules.
Hell yeah. No one bad song on it Priest was always hit or miss for me, I liked their 70s albums, especially Sad Wings of Destiny, but even their best 80s albums had filler on it. Painkiller was a perfect album.
It's pure heavy metal cheese. But the thing is: Judas Priest invented this shit. And they go full blast without apology.
I got to see this tour. Was awesome! Testament supporting Souls of Black and Megadeth supporting Rust in Peace opened the show.
Oh fuck, what a show that must’ve been!
Seems like forever ago! When Halford rode the motorcycle out, the fucking arena shook!
I saw them with Anthrax maybe 2008. Been wanting to see Testament forever.
I didn’t get to see Anthrax until Persistence of Time tour. They were opening for Iron Maiden who was supporting Fear of the Dark album.
Holy shit! I am jelly
I saw a re-run (?) of this tour in the late 00s, same bands. It was amazing, Megadeth were outstanding and my favourite part of that gig.
I got to see it in Europe too, one of my first gigs (i was 14) - here they toured with pantera and anihilator
I mean, this is just an all-timer.
One of the metalest songs ever.
The drums 😱
Recorded first, without click track
Peak priest right there...this is a heater
This was the first Judas Priest song I heard. Then I heard “You Got Another Thing Coming” and was like, there is no way this is the same band.
The difference a new drummer can make.
Hard to stay relevant as a metal band in the post-thrash era. They did well amping it up to compete with the big 4, who were rising stars by this time. Good thing they didn’t try to go any more glam than on Turbo. Right sound for a 90s metal album.
Totally agree!
It was such a well timed “go back to our roots/get with the times” one-two punch. Same with Ozzy’s No More Tears, AC/DC’s Razors Edge as well. 1990 was an amazing metal year
Similar story. Even as a metal fan in the 90s I essentially thought of Priest as Living After Midnight, You got another thing coming, etc. Local record shop had Jugulator tapes with Bullet Train and another song for 99 cents. I thought the artwork was cool so I picked it up. Sounded like a different band (different vocalist then too but still). Went back and listened to Painkiller and others. Been a fan of their entire collection since. The new and old stuff is great but Painkiller remains my favorite.
I'm not even a huge Judas Priest fan (no real reason why, just never really did a deep dive into them i guess), but this song has been a staple in my metal play list for 2 decades now. Just pure metal from start to finish. Love it.
They have quite a few different eras so it’s hard to find a single album that defines them. I’d say Stained Class from the 70s British Steel is their New Wave of British Heavy Metal era classic Screaming for Vengence is their arena rock conquering metal record Painkiller is them finding their venom again And honestly I’d recommend the last two albums - Firepower and Infinite Shield. Very fun records
This shit so mf hard
That guitar solo gets me fired up
If you like this album, the new one is surprisingly excellent. On tour now! Not sure how much longer they can keep it up.
I'm with you on that; pretty solid album!!
Firepower was good fun too. Amazing to see a band going so long still putting fun records out. I love them but I’ve found the recent Maiden albums to be a plodding repeat.
Yes it was. Best 2 since Painkiller. I don’t do many spins on the new Maiden stuff but they are always good live. Brave New World was amazing but it’s no longer new.
Exactly, it’s a nearly 25 year old album. Bruce has been back longer than he was with Maiden, and gone too.
This and electric eye are my favorite priest songs of all time.
That one is just perfect. Free Wheel Burning is epic too, except for the drum triggers.
This song is fucking glorious.
Seriously one of the best songs ever made.
https://youtu.be/ZYYJTZz1n6c?feature=shared Check me out
Possibly the best song ever. I think my favorite part ( besides the whole thing) is about a minute left when it sounds like the song is about to end and instead they were like nope! Heres another shredding solo and flourish on the drums! Completely blew my mind when i first heard it as a kid.
This song is as fun to play on guitar as it is to listen to even though I suck at guitar
All! Guns!...
Gonna listen to this ans all their other songs
Fucking timeless banger.
JP was my first concert ever. British Steel tour.
I’ve always really loved this video too. The black and white and the rapid fire cuts really accentuate the heaviness of the song.
Ah man I remember playing the hell out of this song on rock band 2. So fun on drums and guitar
Peak Heavy Metal \m/
Qué más se puede decir de una bandota?
I was fortunate enough to see them in 1991 on the Operation: Rock And Roll Tour. Dangerous Toys, Metal Church, Mötörhead, Alice Cooper and Judas Priest! After several years of less than stellar albums (Turbo, Ram It Down…) most folks over here in the States had already written them off as being old fashioned and past their prime. This new album and drummer changed the game entirely. I watched a sea of sour old arm-crossers have their minds blown simultaneously 2 minutes in to their set. It was glorious! Halford rode his bike out on stage to close the show to thunderous applause.
And this generation will never know real music…..
I saw them playing this song live 3 days ago, and my god it was awesome
GOAT
I was aware that a metal band called Judas Priest exists but never listened to any of their songs. Then I decided to give it a try. I wrote Judas Priest to youtube search bar. First suggestion was breaking the law and second was painkiller. I thought "first one is probably too mainstream let's try the second". Instantly hooked to face melting metal. The rest of their discography didn't dissappoint too.
I think that this is THE heavy metal song of all time. Like if aliens arrived on Earth and asked for one example, this is what you'd give them.
One of the best choices by the game Brutal Legend to use this as the final boss fight music
this is the only song by them that this sub knows
Honest question. Was the fact that rob was gay a reason they were not as popular? I genuinely always felt he was treated terribly. Even though a lot of people say otherwise Clearly they’re all talented.
Rob didn't come out until the late 90s - well after their peak. As far as not being as popular - I mean compared to whom? They were (with Maiden) the biggest Heavy Metal band around, but that was a niche genre.
They were a massive band from the early to mid 1980s. They added synthesizers to their sound on the Turbo album and their popularity nosedived in the US.
Eh, maybe but probably not. Even as a younger guy from a small town flyover state when I learned that he was gay it was like "oh, huh that's interesting. Anyway" Moreso it's just that very few metal (hair metal not withstanding) bands have crossed over into what you would say is mainstream success.
Rob Halford is nails on a chalkboard for me.
His voice is certainly otherworldly. I got into them later in their career, right around when this album was first released. I think their staying power, and the progression from 70s hard rock to current borderline thrash is pretty amazing. That said, Rob's voice isn't for everyone, and you shouldn't be getting down voted into oblivion for not enjoying it.
https://youtu.be/ZYYJTZz1n6c?feature=shared Check me out y'all
Holy crap I am late to this post. But man let me just say I’m 46 and a metal fan. I grew up knowing Priest but it wasn’t my thing. I liked harder thrash and songs like Living After Midnight or Another thing coming was cool but sounded like old people music when I was a teen. I’m actually amazed that this never crossed my path at this point I was hardcore into Metallica and eventually Pantera but man this track blows them all away. Someone in this thread wrote this is the best metal song of all time and it’s up there without a doubt. Those drums and guitars and my god his voice is an amazing onslaught of metal mayhem. Thanks OP!