Judas Priest - Redeemer of Souls (Epic)
Let's start with some common knowledge: This is not the best Judas Priest album of all time. In all honesty it probably wouldn't even reach the top 8 best Judas Priest records of all time. Despite all these, it IS the latest offering by the Metal Gods and the only album released by them in the 10's as well as the first without KK Downing. Additionally, it reached no 6 on the Billboard charts and was received well by music "critics".
Now we reach the critical question: Is it any good? The answer to that is FUCK yes! This has all the hallmarks of a good priest album, catchy fast songs, hymns with a lot of sing along opportunities, Rob has realised that he is not anymore thus offering us tracks that more upto his current vocal abilities rather than those of yesteryear and there are some new ideas, partly courtesy of the long break the band took between records and partly due to the new blood (Richie Faulkner). If you are a fan of Judas Priest you have already heard the record, liked it and it still has a place in your playlist. For the rest, this is simply the latest offering of a great band that has had plenty other more brilliant moments in their career before that and you would be better served checking one of their seminal 70's and 80's offerings before checking this one.
93/100
PS. Below is a live performance of Halls of Valhalla.
Now we reach the critical question: Is it any good? The answer to that is FUCK yes! This has all the hallmarks of a good priest album, catchy fast songs, hymns with a lot of sing along opportunities, Rob has realised that he is not anymore thus offering us tracks that more upto his current vocal abilities rather than those of yesteryear and there are some new ideas, partly courtesy of the long break the band took between records and partly due to the new blood (Richie Faulkner). If you are a fan of Judas Priest you have already heard the record, liked it and it still has a place in your playlist. For the rest, this is simply the latest offering of a great band that has had plenty other more brilliant moments in their career before that and you would be better served checking one of their seminal 70's and 80's offerings before checking this one.
93/100
PS. Below is a live performance of Halls of Valhalla.
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