Angel of Retribution

CD: Rs.399, Cassette: Rs.135

When I chanced upon the latest Judas Priest album, my major concern was how to review this album while keeping my dignity intact and not giggling like a school-girl at her first ball. The answer is I cannot. It's Judas F***in' Priest! Hail to the king baby!

The last proper album by JP was back in ‘90 after which Rob Halford was replaced by Tim ‘Ripper’ Owens, only to create some very forgettable albums. Hardcore Priest fans have been waiting for no less than 15 whole years for this album. And ‘Angel of Retribution’ does seem worth the wait. The new direction that JP seemed to have taken on albums like ‘Demolition’ and ‘Jugulator’ is fortunately absent on this album. And with Rob halford claiming his rightful spot behind the mike, this album could not have been any better.

The best thing about this album is that JP have not tried something extravagantly new, but have stuck to the typical JP formula that made their older albums great. The blisteringly fast ‘Demonizer’ and ‘Hellrider’, the ballad ‘Revolution’ and the 80’s sounding ‘Deal with the devil’ are some of the stellar songs on this album. On the downside though the legendary Halford scream does seem to be a tad sparingly used.

So this album has everything that a JP fan could expect from it. And although it could have been better, considering the fact that most members of the JP are 50+ you cannot help but love these guys....

While other rockstars seem to be content on living on royalty checks and making a fool of themselves on reality TV shows, JP have gone out there and actually released an album and proving once again that the cliché of long hair, leather and a shiny bike can never go wrong.

Verdict: In a time when senseless crud is being passed as metal, the mighty Priest have returned to show the kids how its done.

"Certain individuals I like, but overall humans suck... nothing but talking monkeys with car keys....."
- Barney 'Kam' Lee, Drummer, Death/Massacre

- Pratik Kamat