(Rated this album with 6 out of 10) Reviewed by
richard recchia
from HI, NY
JUDAS PRIEST got really rough and tough with HELL BENT FOR LEATHER. The songs got shorter and the overall ensemble playing became much tighter.It's much heavier sounding than STAINED CLASS, but only marginally better. Side one has about three or four duds on it with EVENING STAR, ROCK FOREVER and TAKE ON THE WORLD. This last song was the first of JP'S dumb rock anthems, the best of which is without a doubt UNITED from BRITISH STEEL. The title track is actually not that great of a song, tho' it's redeemed a bit by TIPTON'S wonderful guitar solo,which is not done with two handed tapping! Side two, however, is chock full of amazing songs and almost makes up for side one. GREEN MANALISHI is another cover, this time of an old FLEETWOOD MAC song and is one of the best tunes PRIEST has ever recorded. it's a killer heavy metal song, as are the two songs that surround it, BURNIN' UP and KILLING MACHINE. BEFORE THE DAWN is one of JP'S best ballads and once again shows off HALFORD'S incredible emotional and vocal range. this guy could sing ballads as well as he could sing hard, in your face rockers. EVIL FANTASIES is a track that I didn't care for at first, but it's definitely grown on me. As with the remastered versions of SIN AFTER SIN and STAINED CLASS, HELL also comes with lyrics; which, for these guys, is a necessity! I recommend this album, really!
