Judas Priest - Point Of Entry
1981 CBS

Track Listing:
1.  Heading Out To The Highway
2.  Don't Go
3.  Hot Rockin
4.  Turning Circles
5.  Desert Plains
6.  Solar Angels
7.  You Say Yes
8.  All The Way
9.  Troubleshooter
10. On The Run 

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

Website:  www.judaspriest.com

Horatio's Rating:  B
Overall Rating:  B

Also be sure to read:
Judas Priest - Angel Of Retribution by Horatio
Judas Priest - Jugulator by Horatio
Judas Priest - Killing Machine by Horatio
Judas Priest - Painkiller by Uncle Meat
Judas Priest - Priest...Live! by Uncle Meat
Judas Priest - Ram It Down by Horatio
Glenn Tipton - Edge Of The World by Horatio
Halford - Resurrection by Follow The Hollow

Horatio's Review:
Although a case could be made for 'Sin After Sin', this is certainly the most forgotten Halford-era Priest album.  So forgotten in fact that I've owned the album for ten years and still can't remember more than half the songs off the album.  Priest went on a wild tangent with this album, just one year removed from 'British Steel', an instant metal classic.  Indeed much of 'Point Of Entry' cannot be classified as metal, more along hard rock lines.  It's hard to believe other acts such as Maiden were putting out albums like 'Killers', while Priest were experimenting like this.  You have to bear in mind Priest had existed since the early seventies and had already released six albums however, a band far ahead career-wise than their contemporaries (after all witness Maiden's sixth album 'Somewhere In Time').  This was perhaps a good time to get this out of their system.  It stunted their booming popularity briefly, losing the fans who caught on after 'British Steel'.

While far from their best, there's some interesting work to be found here.  'Heading Out To The Highway' and 'Hot Rockin' are the two 'classic' tracks off the album, but 'Desert Plains', 'Solar Angels', 'On The Run' and 'Don't Go' make the grade, despite being less than heavy.  'You Say Yes' bounces along in near pop fashion, while 'All The Way' is standard hard rock, a million years from 'Rapid Fire'.  'Troubleshooter' could be AC/DC with that riffing, an almost amazing turn of events.  You could draw parallels with 'Turbo' in the commercial sense but it's not as blatant here, lacking the synthesizers of that album, and the huge hooks that were found in tracks like 'Hot Nights, Wild And Crazy Days'.  Let's face it, Priest turned commercial after 'Stained Class', here it wasn't mixed with faster, traditional metal though, making it more obvious.  For example, no 'Screaming For Vengeance' to obscure 'Take These Chains'.  Not Priest's best maybe, but still worth a listen.  I'd be more apt to play this than 'Defenders Of The Faith'.

Song summaries include...

1. Heading Out To The Highway - Videos were made for all three opening tracks, and who can forget the clip for this, featuring Halford in his 1950's greaser wardrobe, looking gayer than he does in leather, as he flags the car race between Tipton and Downing.  Song-wise, a fine piece of lightweight metal with some explosive drum rolls from queer boy Holland and a twin guitar breakdown at the 2.21 mark that you can just envisage the orgasmic facial expressions of both as they play it.  Anthrax ripped it off on their debut, what track it was eludes me.  B+

2. Don't Go - I saw the video for this on VH-1 Classics 'Metal Mania' just a few days back, the video an avant-garde attempt with the band in various odd situations which don't bare repeating.  What does is the moustache Halford was sporting in the clip, a truly ridiculous sight.  B+

3. Hot Rockin - The third video, and maybe the best.  We see Halford driving down the street furiously as some rude 1981 metalhead bangs his head in slow motion on his windscreen.  Then it's off to the gym as the puny members of the band apparently lift a 450 pound stack of weights.  Ian Hill sings out of time, and Halford jerks off with his back to the camera.  On to the performance section as Rob's boots catch fire, while a group of greasy British youths headbang in more slow motion, the power circuits exploding due to the power of this anthem.  A

4. Turning Circles - Impressive melodic hook, with subject matter regarding failed relationships, a long way off 'Metal Gods', the likes of which are non existent here.  B

5. Desert Plains - Halford pays tribute to his beloved Arizona which has been his home since the 80's.  What's more, they actually capture the atmosphere of such geography.  The guitar solos aren't as dynamic as usual, the pair reserved, aiming for effect rather than blistering technique.  B

6. Solar Angels - Minor classic, but one I never listen to fully.  I'm not about to start now, three fifty in the morning and all.  B+

7. You Say Yes - I'm positive there were some disillusioned youth the day they bought this, trying to fathom where the next 'Grinder' was, instead confronted by a poem to Rob's lover whom he is finding himself at opposites with.  B

8. All The Way - Did Poison rip this off?  Listen to the opening riff.  Not too dissimilar from those cats either.  Harmless rock, nothing metal about this whatsoever.  C+

9. Troubleshooter - I just realized I incorrectly named this 'Sharpshooter' in my 'Jugulator' review.  That sounds better, especially with the AC/DC vibe.  C

10. On The Run - Halford's melody lines recall early Priest circa 73-77, if not musically naturally.  That's a reasonable riff and hook to be fair, Priest treading the same ground as Krokus, foot stomping boogie.  B+

Horatio's Rating:  B

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