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Painkiller is one of the heaviest moments in the JUDAS PRIEST discography. The band is revitalized by Scott's arrival. The title track blows open by a showcase drum barrage from the new kid. A subsequent volley of strafing Glenn / Ken riffs are soon followed by Rob's shrieking intensity ! In six-and-a-half hair-raising minutes, it instantly returned the band to the cutting edge of heavy metal. The album's greatest strength is just how well everything melds together. Rob Halford's vocals are a perfect fit for this faster, more power metal-esque sound considering his high operatic approach and charismatic delivery; Glenn and Ken supply endless riffs and entertainingly over-the-top solo trade-offs reminiscent of neo-classical metal; Ian and Scott keep the guitarists in check by providing a powerful rhythm section keeping things in line. There are plenty of anthems that metal fans should instantly recognize here. Of course the legendary title track opens things up in epic fashion with an iconic drum solo and a solo that showcases the guitarists' precise and fluid tapping skills. Metal Meltdown is the other one that goes on the faster end of things, with a trade-off guitar solo section setting the tone for a truly heart-pounding power metal anthem. Rob displays one of the best examples of his vocal power and stamina during the pre-chorus, constantly singing higher and higher with no audible stress on his vocal cords. Other songs, such as Leather Rebel and Hell Patrol decide to take the intensity down a notch and let the listener breathe a bit; the riffs are still as abundant and creative as ever, but just refreshingly different tempos. While this album is indeed very well-composed, the atmosphere and ambition are what take it to the next level; as cliche as the term is, the best word to describe the entire experience is epic. Everything feels big, from the soaring vocals and the guitar duels to the near-constant barrage of intense riffs and power metal-oriented lyrics. Some songs change the atmosphere up a bit, such as the eerie synth-laden power ballad A Touch of Evil or the dark fantasy elements of the highly melodic Nightcrawler. Besides the mammoth title-track, my personal favourite are the epic-sized Between The Hammer And The Anvil where the band creates a tough battle anthem for dangerous men in hard times. It’s the quintessential metal song in so many ways, bigger than life, ready to rumble and guaranteed to gird the loins and puff up the chest of even the biggest nerd. And One Shot At Glory is even bigger and better. Both one of the band’s best denouements and pure metal songs chest thumping war anthem. This album is intense, powerful, consistent, well-written, charismatic, varied and very enjoyable to listen to.Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Superb you made my day. Thanks cd is perfect
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Great cd
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Grateful for a "Nostalgia". Thanks.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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