|  Comments:
When
asked about their first release with all it’s original members
in 15 years, Glenn Tipton said in August of 2004 as a guest on VH1
Classic’s Metal Mania, “This new album is classic “Priest”,
and I don’t think our fans want anything else”. Well
Glenn thanks for caring about real Metal fans; you couldn’t
be more precise or accurate. Angel of Retribution is simply
the best Priest album in 20 years! It’s as if an angel (of
retribution) interviewed me in my dreams, and asked me exactly what
Priest’s new album should entail. This album is everything
that Metal has been missing for more than a decade. Tipton’s
at his finest working side by side with axe mate K.K. Downing and
believe it or not better than ever. Its true! These 2 guitarists
have defied Father Time having lost no clarity or speed and with
all their knowledge are actually better than before.
The
Album starts out with a wonderful riff on “Judas is Rising”
that is just a small prelude of what is to come. The songs solo
is slow and soulful then fast and hard making me question is this
a re-release of old “Priest” or new material? The very
next song “Deal with the Devil” starts out with a classic
fast, hard-charging Priest rhythm, laced by Tipton’s lead
wizardry. You even get the best of Halford’s classic screams
as he bellows out ”Let me hear you roar”. The 3rd song
“Revolution” is truly classic Priest as well, with Halfords
lyrical style even more diverse than before. Next up is “Worth
Fighting For” a simple wonderfully done slow hard charging
anthem.
Song
five “Demonizer” is the best Metal Song on the PLANET.
Outstanding dark Metal lyrics as Halford sings “vengeance
you’ll bring” then a mighty healthy “whooooaaaaa”,
all while the guitars build up steam and more steam “Out Demons
Out” he screams as the guitars launch into the best solo on
any album in history!!!!!!! Yes you read it! Tipton and Downing
rip shred, tap the fret boards and whammy bar their asses into the
history books with this deep dark piece of music. Seriously the
songs solo has so many twists and changes you’ll need a seatbelt.
It starts with a little rough ride ala Slayers Kerry King then goes
to visit Alex Skolnick of Testament before it ends up almost Lynch-like.
As the song ends Halford’s shrill screams actually send all
the demons OUT!
Next
up is the solid “Wheels of Fire” which sounds as if
it was written for Hard core bikers! Harley Davidson should consider
fitting it in, as it’s next corporate jingle!! In the songs
solo the guitar is so clean and crisp it should be illegal. “Angel”
the bands ballad is the best ballad I’ve heard in ages. It
is simply beautiful, stuck in the middle of all this power it sparkles
for its clarity and feeling! Back into the dueling guitar Metal
Madness “Hellrider” starts with magnificent solo-rhythm
work, as the tapping is unbelievable, then Priest launches into
their perfect power rhythms and kicks some more serious ass. The
real solo is 90 seconds and is quick and full of distortion as Downing
and Tipton have another “shredders race” ala Hanneman
and King (Slayer).
The
brief “Eulogy" is dark, deep and so God Damn Priest!
The keyboard work on this song is eerie and dramatically different!
Now to the finale ”Loch Ness’, a few notes are played
and sustained perfectly to start out this historical ride, then
at about a minute the boys start ripping high shrill notes and eventually
the dark slow rhythm kicks in. Power over power over exceptional
lyrics “The mist drifts upon the Water”…Halford
bellows referring to the legendary “Loch Ness”. 13 Minutes
of exceptional guitar work, drums and Halfords voice make this history
lesson anything but boring! Halfway through the song Tipton outdoes
himself again, with a harsh, beautiful, shrill, fast, 2-minute nightmare
of a solo, hearkening images of the actual Loch Ness monster and
the devastation he has supposedly caused. Then just for fun they
throw another distortion filled joyride in at the end.
Bottom
line with Angel of Retribution is that Judas brought the goods!
The albums solo work is as good as heard on a metal album in at
least a decade. Hills bass is dark and deep and Travis’s drums
are rolling thunder from start to finish! And Halford more than
takes care of his part of the bargain screaming enough but not too
much to let us know he still has it. 10 songs of exceptional quality
and character from the originators of the genre, wow what more can
you ask for?
BAND
MEMBERS: Scott Travis-Drums, Ian Hill-Bass, Rob Halford-Vocals,
Glenn Tipton-Lead Guitar, K.K.Downing-Rhythm/Lead Guitars
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