(Rated this album with 10 out of 10) Reviewed by
Dave R Goetz
from Rockford, IL United States
I've given it some thought, and I'd have to say that Hell Bent for Leather is the quintessential Priest c.d.! Halford adds some grit to his voice which gives the band a tougher feel. Imagine the complexity of Stained Class mixed with the bare boneness of British Steel. Hell Bent is somewhere in between. But there's a wide diversity of musicianship, too. "Delivering the Goods" is the song that has a British Steel-ish sound. "Rock Forever" has like, this southern-fried Charlie Daniel's band/dual guitar solo sound. "Evening Star" is radio friendly, but it's still cool. "Green Manalishi" just kicks. "Killing Machine" sounds like pimping '70s music. (Halford says, "I never walk the straight line, so never get surprised."). And "Before the Dawn" is their coolest ballad with an awesome K.K. solo. I've never been wild about "Take on the World" and "Evil Fantasies", but even those songs don't diminish the coolness of Hell Bent. (Take on the world sounds as if it would be followed by "We are the Champions"). And without a doubt, this has the best production value of any Priest c.d.!
