Judas+priest

Judas Priest is a pioneering British Heavy Metal band and was a forerunner in the ‘New Wave of British Heavy Metal’ movement, laying the groundwork for the speed and thrash metal of the ’80s and ’90s with numerous classic LPs…

Judas Priest was one of the most influential heavy metal bands of the '70s, spearheading the New Wave of British Heavy Metal late in the decade. Decked out in leather and chains, the band fused the gothic doom of Black Sabbath with the riffs and speed of Led Zeppelin, as well as adding a vicious two-lead guitar attack; in doing so, they set the pace for much popular heavy metal from 1975 until 1985, as well as laying the groundwork for the speed and death metal of the '80s….

Tim "Ripper" Owens, who had previously sung in a Judas Priest tribute band called British Steel, was hired in 1996 as Judas Priest's new singer. This line up released two albums, Jugulator and Demolition, as well as two live double-albums – '98 Live Meltdown and Live in London…

Judas Priest's METALOGY, an impressive four-CD behemoth of a box set that also includes a bonus DVD, proved a fitting tribute to a band celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2004. Kudos to the creative team whose use of studded trim and faux leather texture in the packaging is fitting for a group whose visual legacy is inextricably linked to their own S&M/biker apparel. As impressive as the outside of this package is, the music contained within is more important, especially when you consider that this Birmingham outfit laid down many of heavy metal's stylistic touchstones…

This collection encapsulates Judas Priest's debut (ROCKA ROLLA) and a majority of their classic sophomore album (SAD WINGS OF DESTINY) for Gull Records, along with an early version of "Diamonds and Rust," and mixes them all up in the running order. Seeing as it's missing "Epitaph," "Island of Domination" and the immortal "Ripper" from SAD WINGS, this CD does not allow one to get the band's first two albums in one package. However, the ROCKA ROLLA tracks have been remixed (some fans argue that they are better) and the title track re-edited, and those changes along with the track arrangement and fantasy-inspired cover art make this package worthwhile for obsessive collectors, even though the gatefold vinyl edition was actually more visually striking…

The Best of Judas Priest is a collection of a few select songs from Judas Priest's first two albums, and was released under Gull, the band's former record label…