Judas Priest's Reviews

Demolition

Welcome back Tipton, Downing, Hill, Travis, and Owens

Starting with the Jugulator album, TDHT&O produced music that was generally the equal of most of the current metal scene, although that was where it stopped.

Now, I can understand a band wishing to evolve with time, but Judas Priest was one of the primary bands that defined Heavy Metal. It doesn't make much sense for the prime movers of this band (Tipton and Downing) to throw away everything that inspired current generations and start to copy the bands they helped to create.

Still, Judas Priest has always been about evolution. No two JP albums were ever the same style. But, there were always elements that "defined" Judas Priest. Rob Halford may have been the voice of classic Priest, but Tipton and Downing provided the canvas that turned Rob's sketches into an expressive painting.

Although the lyrics of Demolition are much better than those in Jugulator, they still seem to miss something they once had. It seems the improvement this time around mirrors that of former bandmate Rob Halford, whose Resurrection album reached new lyrical hights. Adding a little personal struggle to the music seems to be the key. Take Demolition's Bloodsuckers and Close To You for example. Both songs draw a lot of strength from the past struggles of the band, and from Glenn Tipton in particular, whose Father died during the writing phase of Demolition.

So...Where are the lead guitars? Glenn and KK have always been known as very talented lead guitarists, but those skills aren't seen at all on this album. The solos are uncharacteristically simple and the rhythm guitar parts, although catchy, aren't anything special. Even worse, in some songs (Machine Man & One on One for example) the guitar solos are replaced by vocal mediocre midsections that don't even change in harmony from one song to the next.

It also seems that, although JP hired a singer who could do justice to the Judas Priest heritage, they aren't even giving him a chance to use his voice in the same manner. There are almost no lead vocal parts on Demolition that couldn't be sung by any current metal artist. What a waste.

As I indicated earlier, I like this album. For what it is. As long as I don't compare it to Judas Priest music and consider this a sophomore effort from a band with veteran members, it does well with me.

High points on the album are: Bloodsuckers, a song about lawyers and plaintiffs in subliminal message lawsuites, Jeckyll and Hyde for the riffs and occasional literarily inspired reference, and One on One, because it's a great metal stomp song!

G

Buy this album on Amazon at $17.98