Judas Priest - Angel Of Retribution
2005 Sony

Track Listing:
1.  Judas Rising
2.  Deal With The Devil
3.  Worth Fighting For
4.  Revolution
5.  Demonizer
6.  Angel
7.  Wheels Of Fire
8.  Hellrider
9.  Eulogy
10. Lochness

Line-Up:
Vocals:  Rob Halford
Guitars:  Glenn Tipton, K. K. Downing
Bass:  Ian Hill
Drums:  Scott Travis

Website:  www.judaspriest.com

Horatio's Rating:  A
Overall Rating:  A

Also be sure to read:
Judas Priest - Jugulator by Horatio
Judas Priest - Killing Machine by Horatio
Judas Priest - Painkiller by Uncle Meat
Judas Priest - Point Of Entry by Horatio
Judas Priest - Priest...Live! by Uncle Meat
Judas Priest - Ram It Down by Horatio
Glenn Tipton - Edge Of The World by Horatio

Horatio's Review:
The biggest mistake made reviewing a new album is reviewing it too soon.  After one airing of 'Angel Of Retribution' I decided it was weak and wrote a review which treated it accordingly.  After a week or two and more listenings I found myself addicted and scrapped the initial review.  I wish I had done that for 'Lionheart'.  What I was thinking I am unsure as this is heavy metal in its purest guise, handled in a way by a band who virtually invented the form.  Priest have made a habit of releasing sub par albums in the last twenty five years, but this might be their most consistent album since 'Killing Machine' (and 'Painkiller', I concede).  Most Priest works contain a few standout tracks and a slew of throwaway cuts, a fact true of supposed classics like 'British Steel', 'Screaming For Vengeance' or 'Defenders Of The Faith'.  But here I sense only a pair of marginal compositions, 'Worth Fighting For' and 'Demonizer', with the rest imminently listenable.  The fourteen year recording break appears to have revitalized Halford and his cohorts.

This is heavy metal.  Nothing pretentious or avant garde or sensationalistic, just a group of veterans pumping out anthem after anthem, with the most traditional metallic sound you're likely to hear in this mediocre age.  What year it is, month, day, doesn't apply to Priest as they've been producing metal like this since time began.  That's why you can't judge this as cornball or dated, or behind the times.  It's what they've always done.  They own the right.  So when you hear terms like 'megatrons' and 'hearts of steel' there really is no sense of irony.  Priest dabble with various era's of their history, ranging from the 'Beyond the Realm Of Death' type ballad 'Angel' to the 'Turbo' inspired riffs of 'Wheels Of Fire' and the 'Painkiller' clone 'Hellrider'.  'Judas Rising' and 'Deal With The Devil' are Priest at their heaviest, while 'Lochness' at an astounding thirteen minutes might be the band's biggest slice of cornball ever.  And that really is saying something.  The chorus, lyrics, guitar work....simply must be heard.  'Demonizer' is this year's metal character portrayal, and a flop while 'Worth Fighting For' is a medium paced sub ballad which feels like a leftover from 'Demolition'.  Aside from that it's true Priest metal, with every member in fine form.  Anyone who professes to dislike this surely wasn't metal to start with.  I almost felt that way, but I wised up.  What more do you want?  Brilliant album from a legend reborn.

Song summaries include...

1. Judas Rising - 'White bolt of lightning, came out of nowhere!'  Nothing more needs to be written.  But I'd be foolish not to mention the riffs, vocals, drumming and bass I suppose, Ian Hill as anonymous as he is.  Makes Saxon look as effective as Dokken.  Proof that metal never dates.  Show me any genre where bands last as long as Priest with continued success and I'll show you an original US metal act in 2005 that doesn't use death metal vocals, thrash riffing and interspersed with melodic sections with all band members wearing Amish style haircuts with hair brushed forward, sporting retro metal shirts.  A

2. Deal With The Devil - Furious piece which chronicles Priest's rise to the top from some depressing backwater beginnings in Birmingham.  'We can't be tamed' sings Rob, even at the age of fifty three!  Never lets up once.  Metal!!  A

3. Worth Fighting For - Marginal at best, far slower and typically many have compared it to 'Point Of Entry'.  It sounds nothing like that to my trained ears.  Some heavy riffing makes it listenable, but this is as close to 'Ripper' as you'll find here.  Just think 'Lost And Found'.  If you remember it.  C

4. Revolution - A track which pleases more with every listen.  A superior anthem that ranks with 'Take On The World' or 'United', especially with the seventies shadings.  Priest can pull this off like no other.  A

5. Demonizer - I'm not sold on this.  It's true Priest must create a requisite character, but this fails to stick in my head after each listen.  Yes, it's a steaming metal fest with the 'Painkiller' sound employed, but I can't get into it.  Actually I just have.  Great track.  It all just clicked.  I needed some sense knocked into me.  After all what would you choose?  This or Hammerfall?  In 2005, Priest and Maiden still haven't been replaced.  B+

6. Angel - I'm somewhat relieved Priest opted to revisit their seventies roots as I felt that's what many of their 80's albums missed.  They left their past too far behind.  This ballad could have come from any album circa 1974-78.  Stark and a new suicide anthem for the latest generation of US youth.  'On March 23rd Lee Caputo of Springfield, Missouri was found dead in his vehicle, slumped over his dash due to a self inflicted bullet.  His friend Kenny (no surname given) survived his suicide attempt but was severely disfigured.  In their tape player was a cassette containing a lone track 'Angel' by the British Heavy Metal group, Judas Priest.  The line 'Angel take me far away' was the emphasis for their deaths, claim authorities.  An investigation is pending.  Priest's manager Bill Curbishley could not be reached for comment'.  B

7. Wheels Of Fire - Rough and ready biker anthem with riffs which take me back to the vintage days of 'Turbo' and 'Ram It Down'.  Makes a mockery of Manowar.  A

8. Hellrider - Primal slab of metal which is either a purposely crafted 'Painkiller' clone or simply a leftover from that album.  But as 'Painkiller' worked so well, so does this.  How can you top lines like 'gods of steel', wrath of doom in killing fields' or 'megatron'?  Metal at its heaviest, that simple.  A

9. Eulogy - Another 70's inspired ballad, even more mysterious than 'Angel', especially with the piano use.  Doom in execution, nicely handled.  B

10. Lochness - In all of Priest's canon of rudeness, of which there is an abundance (so much I can't be bothered listing any) this ranks in the top five.  Thirteen minutes, chugging riffs and a chorus you have to appreciate fifty year old men creating.  Rob asks 'Lochness, confess, your terror of the deep!'  Lochness supposedly has existed for hundreds of years so he has the staying power of Priest anyway.  Good solos from the rejuvenated Downing and Tipton who have finally buried that downtuned rubbish of the last two albums.  A classic Priest epic, in all its ludicrousness.  Beats 'Cathedral Spires' anyway.  A

Horatio's Rating:  A

Discography (last updated 6.15.06):
Gull demo - 1971
Rocka Rolla - 1974
Sad Wings Of Destiny - 1976
Sin After Sin - 1977
Killing Machine - 1978
Stained Class - 1978
The Best Of Judas Priest - 1978
Diamonds And Rust Live - 1979
Unleashed In The East Live - 1979
British Steel - 1980
Hero, Hero - 1981
Live In Rainbow Music Hall Denver - 1982
Point Of Entry - 1982
Screaming For Vengeance - 1982
SCOOP 33 EP - 1983
Defenders Of The Faith - 1984
Delivering The Goods EP - 1984
Turbo - 1986
Beyond Metal - 1987
Priest...Live! - 1987
Ram It Down - 1988
The Collection - 1989
Painkiller - 1990
The Sharpest Cuts - 1991
The Ultimate In Heavy Metal split with Black Sabbath - 1991
Judas Priest Star box - 1993
Metal Works '73 - '93 - 1993
Pure Classic Gold - 1993
Prisoners Of Pain - 1996
Jugulator - 1997
Living After Midnight - 1997
Live Meltdown EP - 1998
Live Meltdown - 1998
The Best Of Judas Priest:  Living After Midnight - 1998
Priest Live & Rare - 1999
Simply The Best - 1999
Breaking The Law - 2001
Demolition - 2001
Limited Edition Collector's Box - 2001
Live In London - 2003
Metalogy Box - 2004
Angel Of Retribution - 2005
The Essential Judas Priest - 2006