(Rated this album with 6 out of 10) Reviewed by
Michelle Allen
from Hinesville, GA
Judas priest is back...unfortunately they brought Ripper Owens with them. Demolition is a return to Priest's motif (as opposed to the harder sound of Jugulator). Instrumentally, it rocks. The boys included the typical wide range of songs from slow ballads to hard rocking tunes reminiscent of Halford's Fight. So where does the album lose it's strength. Ripper's voice and lyrics are just not up to the capabilities of the boys instruments. The lyrics are uninspired, childish, and include profanity that Priest has never needed before. Many of the songs are clearly written to allow his voice to sound like Halford's, but he just does not have the high quality. Overall, he reminds me of a little boy standing in his daddy's big dress shoes. Another step down for the boys is that the two songs on the "limited edition Demolition" are just two tracks straight from '98 Meltdown. Was this done for loyalty to the fans or just to try and increase sales? That does not mean that the album is entirely bad either. Several songs are particularly inspired, such as "Hell is Home" and especially "Close to You." Metal Messiah is a tune that does not want to leave my head. All in all, buy it--there is probably something there you will like if you are a die-hard Priest fan. I just can't help but feel it is a very pale reflection of both of Halford's albums.
