(Rated this album with 2 out of 10) Reviewed by
A music fan
from London, UK
Judas Priest's decline from one of the most innovative bands in heavy metal is virtually complete. I know this will make me unpopular with many,but the decline began with Painkiller.The fact that Halford has gone does not bother me too much, because Owens is a good replacement.What does bother me is that Priest have abandoned most of their original character and become a hybrid of thrash metal and nu-metal.Whereas once Glenn and KK played heavy riffs and solos,they always remembered the importance of MELODY..something missing from metal for many many years.Now its all impossily heavy detuned riffs, and chaotic (another reviewer made this point) solos.Listen to some of the technically brilliant,yet still very melodic guitar solos on albums like Stained Class and British Steel and you'll see what I mean. This is Priest once again pandering to metal trends. Their closest contemporary Iron Maiden (always the better band anyway) has stayed true to its vision, and their latest album is still heavy, but maintains a great sense of melody that marks out proper metal.
