Judas Priest--Screaming for Vengeance (1982)
Rating--9.5
**U.S. Sales Certification--Platinum**
Electric Eye--RealAudio Fever--RealAudio
One of those metal albums that every fan of electric guitar should own. This album broke a lot of
ground in its day, and still stacks up musically to any melodic/power metal released today. The guitar sound is the best yet for
the boys, as it is pure and crisp distortion throughout---without sounding muddled or filtered. Tipton and Downing give a clinic on
blending good rhythms and leads, and avoid stepping on each other's toes in the process. Excellent songwriting, excellent
musicianship.
The transition from "The Hellion" (a brief instrumental) to "Electric Eye" is one of the most powerful musical
connections in metal. Priest's biggest commercial hit hails from this album, in the form of the anthemic "You've Got Another Thing Comin'".
Other, less-heralded highlights abound: "Riding on the Wind" is fast and frenetic, as is the ripping and screaming title track.
"Fever" is an excellen atmospheric piece, and "Devil's Child" is total crunch-and-groove.
Pretty much all
the tracks are superb, when you get right down to it-- those are just my favorites.
HOT CHOPS--Everything!! Ok, let's see... Rob's scream during the chorus of the title song is memorable. Also
check out his emotional vocal work following the solo in "Devil's Child". Oooooooh. How can you deny that?! Bow down,
metal-boy!
TRACK LIST: The Hellion/Electric Eye/Riding on the Wind/Bloodstone/(Take These) Chains/Pain and
Pleasure/Screaming for Vengeance/You've Got Another Thing Comin'/ Fever/Devil's Child
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