Magica Review

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(More customer reviews)The King of Metal returns with the best Dio album in years! However, this is a CD that grows on you, no fast stuff here, the songs are more in the "Heaven and Hell", "Holy Diver", "Children Of The Sea", "Shame On The Night" style. I must admit I hated the interludes between the tracks (as this is a concept album), but now that Ive listened to it a few more times, I love this whole CD! Standout tracks include "Feverdreams", "Feed My Head", "Eriel", and "As Long As Its Not About Love". All diehard Diomaniacs should get this CD, as well as the more casual Dio fan. However dont expect "Stand Up And Shout", "We Rock", type songs. Ronnie, Craig, Jimmy and Simon have NEVER SOUNDED BETTER! Excellent keyboards by Ronnie and Craig. No fifth star due to the fact that the song tempo's are basically the same, and although Craig sounds great, to be honest-he's no Vivian Campbell as far as soloing goes, but these are the best rythms since "Holy Diver". I give it 41/2 stars. GET THIS CD!

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Domestic edition of the album already being heralded as the best album from Dio since 'Holy Diver'. 14 tracks including 'Discovery', 'Magica Theme' & 'Lord Of The Last Day'. 2000 release. Standard jewel case.

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Defenders of the Faith Review

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(More customer reviews)Here it is. Defenders Of The Faith. With tracks like 'Freewheel Burning', 'Rock Hard Ride Free', 'The Sentinel', and 'Love Bites', this is quite possibly one of the greatest metal albums of all time. I don't agree at all that it's a "sell-out" as a reviewer below put it. The instramentation is all perfect, with it's melodic crunching guitars, thumping heavy drum beats, and Halford's easily distinguishible screaming vocals.
However, it's the remastering itself that I can't help but notice problems. It doesn't sound as crystal clear as it used to, and the hissing is still ever present. Although it's a bit muddy sounding, at least they had the decency to crank up the volume a bit so that it can be played louder.
When it comes to the extra tracks, this album is the worst of the four. The live version of "Heavy Duty/Defenders of the Faith' is great, but there are other better songs that they could have done instead that haven't been played on a live album. I would've liked to hear a live 'Rock Hard Ride Free' instead. The Studio track 'Turn On Your Light' is also the worst of the four new songs. Here's how my evaluation of the four current remasters is:
My Favorite Album-> Defenders Of The Faith
My Least Favorite Album-> Point Of Entry
Best Remaster Extra Tracks-> Point Of Entry
Worst Remaster Extra Tracks-> Defenders Of The Faith
Go Figure. Still, it's an excellent album that everyone should check out. No metal head should be without this fine piece of history.

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Japanese digitally remastered limited pressing of the band's 1984 album with 2 added bonus tracks 'Turn On Your Light' (unreleased) & 'Heavy Duty' (live). Packaged in a miniature LP sleeve. CBS. 2005.--This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

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Death on the Road Review

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(More customer reviews)Believe it or not, before this was released, this legendary British heavy metal band already had seven live albums and at least three greatest hits compilations under their belts. So was it really necessary to release another live album? Do we really need another version of "Run To The Hills" or "Hallowed Be Thy Name?" Anybody who isn't a diehard Iron Maiden fan would say nah. One could even make the case that Maiden's last two compilation discs ("Death on the Road" and the ironically titled "The Essential Iron Maiden") were "sell-outs," or desperate attempts to rake in more money.
But, fortunately, six of the songs on here are from Maiden's 2003 album, "Dance of Death" (since this was recorded on the "Dance of Death" Tour), so, therefore, the live versions of these songs hadn't been heard before.
And "Death on the Road" is still a great live album. Frontman Bruce Dickinson's vocals are top-notch and the rest of the band are in fine form, as well. Bruce really has a wonderful voice, and, as he shows here, his vocal chords are very elastic. Songs like "Wildest Dreams," "Rainmaker," and "Brave New World" are very exciting because Bruce's almost soulful vocals triumph over running rhythms which consist of fast guitars and energetic drum beats. Elsewhere on the first disc, "Wraithchild," "Dance of Death," and "Paschendale" feature great, wild solos, and "The Trooper" and "Lord of the Flies" put catchy "Oooh-oh-oh" sing-alongs on top of walls of wailing guitars.
Later, Bruce digs deep for a lung-stretching vocal performance on the ultra-catchy and famous tune "Hallowed Be Thy Name." Other highlights on the second disc include the slowly solemn "Journeyman" (which is complete with hand claps and crowd singing), and the soaring, perfectly executed, last two songs ("The Number of the Beast," and "Run to the Hills"). Even though we've already heard these songs plenty of times on other discs, no Iron Maiden concert is complete without them.
It's a great performance, but is it worth buying? Well, if you're a casual Iron Maiden fan, you probably don't need any of their live albums; you could probably be suited just fine with "Number of the Beast" and/or "Powerslave." But diehards should pick this up. If nothing else, just buy it and throw it on the pile so you can say you have a complete Iron Maiden collection.

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No Quarter: Jimmy Page & Robert Plant Unledded Review

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(More customer reviews)The 1994 release of Jimmy Page and Robert Plant's "No Quarter" or "Unledded" was part of the MTV unplugged series. It is not a Led Zeppelin reunion, but there are plenty of guest musicians who shine, including Najma Akhtar on vocals and the Egyptian Ensemble, Musicians in Marrakech and the London Metropolitan Orchestra.
Rather than trot out the hits, Page and Plant chose lesser known and acoustic-based tunes, especially from LZIII, and did some significant reworking of songs like "Nodbody's Fault But Mine" and "Kashmir." The result is multi-textured and organic, with an outside feeling.
"Nobody's Fault But Mine" has a country flair, and although Plant's voice sounds strained, he makes up for it with effort.
"Thank You" is a love pledge ballad, and Plant's vocal in a lower register sounds better here.
"No Quarter" is really missing John Paul Jones. Page's guitar playing gets a bit creaky, but overall this song is effectively haunting.
"Friends" brings in some of the traditional North African instrumentation, along with acoustic guitar, and with this number the musicians start to sound more comfortable and relaxed.
"Yallah" is one of three new songs here, with soaring vocals by Plant, strong percussion and an exotic feel sounds like one staring into the desert at sunset.
"City Don't Cry" features more North African instrumentation, a one chord rhythm with strong percussion, and strong vocals from Plant and the backing singers.
"Since I've Been Loving You" seems kind of out of place as the only blues number on the disk, but Page's soloing is crisp and Plant shows some howl. Strings on the blues?
"The Battle of Evermore" is one of the standout tracks, with the instrumental backing, mandolins and outstanding female duet with Plant.
"Wonderful One" is ballad where Plant and Page weave their magic of vocals and guitars.
"That's the Way" is one of my all time favorite songs, and this version does not disappoint. Guitars and banjos and some of the most heartfelt lyrics Page and Plant ever wrote.
"Gallows Pole" is a great acoustic number from LZIII that gets a nice treatment here, especially when it picks up tempo and the other instruments join in.
"Four Sticks" also stands out in this set. It's one of the more obscure tunes from LZIV, but the rapidly strummed guitars, strings and especially the percussion make this an outstanding performance.
"Kashmir" fits the organic, exotic theme of this set perfectly, and while Bonham's physical presence is missed, he's there in spirit. The orchestra playing is excellent, and there are some nice surprises.

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Japanese edition of the Led Zeppelin member's 1994 collaboration album in a miniaturized LP sleeve. Contains 14tracks, including 'Thank You', 'Friends', 'That's The Way', 'Gallow's Pole' and 'Four Sticks'. 1994 Mercury Records release. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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The History Of Iron Maiden - Pt. 1: The Early Days (2DVD) Review

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(More customer reviews)I avoided buying this for a while. Anytime I see old footage and do NOT see 5.1 Digital Dolby, I suspect the worst. Still, with a holiday gift card in my hand and Iron Maiden love in my heart I made the leap.
Disc One: 3.5 stars
Right away I was amazed. I simply could NOT believe how good "Live at the Rainbow" sounded! I mean if this old show sounded like THIS I was in for a real treat. Not being a fan of the D'ianno era I was still interested from the aspect of history. Then the "Beast Over Hammersmith" started. I thought it sounded a bit over done but I dialed my sub woofer down a bit and was generally pleased with the results. I patiently sat through some duplicate songs... waiting for '83. I mean Live at Dortmund was a later show right? The sound was bound to be killer right? Well, it was terrible! Sour mono mixed with periods of the tape being eaten or stretched, you choose, but I was decidely diappointed, especially when I heard snippets from this very show on the interview portion with a very NICE pseudo "surround" (like the first two concerts!). I'm not sure what happened here, but it's quite obvious not enough care was put into this.
Disc Two: 4.5 stars
To say the interview left no stone unturned would be an understatement. I learned so much about how the band was formed and saw so many past members I came to the conclusion most of England at one time was a part of Maiden:) At any rate, my 4.5 stars are definately devoted to the interview which spans 90 minutes and 91 members. It's not without its faults though; they spend way too much time discussing what Steve Harris had for lunch and not enough about why key members left. Still, I love the effort. The rest here does little for me. Never fancied Maiden videos and the rest here is just filler.
Conclusion: If you are looking to rekindle your love for Maiden, look no further. If you too are afraid of the sound quality, rest assured there are better sounding bits out there but nothing captures the essence like hearing the guys that actually created it perform it at the time it was created. It's true, you can't go home again, and that sentiment could never be truer than with music. Cheers to Clive Burr, they should have spent more time with him, both now... and then.

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Studio: Sony MusicRelease Date: 02/01/2005Run time: 315 minutes

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Judas Priest: Electric Eye Review

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(More customer reviews)Bottom line: The "Electric Eye" DVD is an essential collector's item for any Judas Priest fan. This DVD is loaded with great material: 13 music videos, the 19 track Priest...Live! video, 6 rare BBC performances, and a complete discography that plays a full song from each album. The 8 page booklet includes some photos and a note from Rob Halford. The whole package is available for a decent price! Here's what you get:
13 Music Videos:
Living After Midnight (1980)
Breaking the Law (1980)
Don't Go (1981)
Heading out to the Highway (1981)
Hot Rockin'(1981)
You've got another thing Comin' (1982)
Freewheel Burnin' (1984)
Love Bites (1984)
Locked In (1986)
Turbo Lover (1986)
Johnny B. Goode (1988)
Painkiller (1990)
A Touch of Evil (1990)
Priest...Live! - Complete 1986 Dallas, TX Concert during Fuel For Life Tour includes these 19 tracks:
Out in the cold, Locked in, Heading out to the highway, Breaking the law, Love bites, Some heads are gonna roll, The sentinel, Private property, Desert plains, Rock you all around the world, Hellion/Electric eye, Turbo lover, Freewheel burning, Green manalishi, Parental guidance, Living after midnight, You've got another thing comin', Hell bent for leather, Metal Gods (plays over credits)
6 BBC TV Performances:
Rocka Rolla - Old Grey Whistle Test 1975
Dreamer Deceiver/Deceiver - Old Grey Whistle Test 1975
Take on the World - Top of the Pops 1979
Evening Star - Top of the Pops 1979
Living After Midnight - Top of the Pops 1980
United - Top of the Pops 1980

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No Description AvailableNo Track Information AvailableMedia Type: DVDArtist: JUDAS PRIESTTitle: ELECTRIC EYEStreet Release Date: 12/09/2003

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Revenge Review

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(More customer reviews)Being a huge fan since the age I could afford to buy albums, I've waited a long time for a KISS album of this quality. I bought the album in May 1992 when it was released mostly because it was my duty as a member of the KISS ARMY to buy every album of the of the band history including new ones. Was I surprise when I heard 'UNHOLY' co-written by none other than Vinnie Vincent, the most underatted songwriter in hard rock history! That song was our anthem in spring-summer 1992! The song quality of Gene Simmons exceeded his last well known contribution which was the Lick it Up album! I mean, GENE just wanted kick all the grunge bands ass! 'Spit','Domino' and "Thou Shall Not' rocked with the best of them. Paul Stanley writing was up to par, like all the songs he's written. 'Take it Off' and "I just Wanna' stands out. But his song 'Everytime I Look at You' should have been a huge hit not unlike Aerosmith's 'I Don't Want to Miss a Thing'. Oh well, life's not perfect! Anyway, BUY the album if you don't own it! It's the best album KISS released in the non-make-up years!!!!

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2005 Japanese pressing of 1992 original release, comes packaged in a standard jewel case. Mercury.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Dance of Death Review

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(More customer reviews)I've been holding off on reviewing this for a while, because I wanted to soak it in, get a feel for it, make sure I didn't miss anything. And I'm glad I did. The first couple of times I listened to this, it didn't really grab me. There were a couple of songs that stood out, but for the most part, I found it to be a bit boring. Some songs just didn't seem to have that special something that the Maiden classics of yore had. But I listened to it more. And then I realized...
This album is just fantastic. No, really. Expanding upon the more elaborate arrangements of "Brave New World", adding in a bit of the harder feel of the oldschool stuff, and throwing a few surprises our way, "Dance of Death" proves to be a very strong release. It's one of their most diverse and musically ambitious albums to date. Why didn't it register with me before? Well, I really have no idea. I suppose the album is one you've just got to become acquainted with. You're not going to just pop it in, and form an opinion right away. It's gotta sink in a bit, and sink in it did.
The great songs abound. "Rainmaker" and "Wildest Dreams" are fast-paced and melodic, with the kind of vigor that the band hasn't exhibited in years. "Montsegur" has a killer riff, and a performance from Bruce that proves he's still got it. "New Frontier" has a sort of "Somewhere in Time" feel, with a great chorus. There are also a wealth of great epics here, such as "No More Lies", "Pashendale", "Face in the Sand", and the title track. Some of these songs were the ones that took a few listens to get into, but when they finally hit me, they hit hard. My favorite from the album is probably "Age of Innocence". Featuring a brutal staccato riff on the verses, and an overwhelmingly catchy melodic chorus, this is one of their best songs to date. The politically oriented lyrics are also a bit of a departure from their usual lyrical arsenal. The album ends on a great note with the acoustic "Journeyman".
This album as a whole is difficult to describe, because there's just so much cool stuff going on. The guitar work is excellent (as usual), and there's even the occasional string section here and there to enhance the killer melodies. This is the first time the band has used actual strings (until now, they were done on a keyboard), and they really work well. I would actually like to see them go into an even more symphonic direction on subsequent releases. Might not get the best reaction from the purists, but I think it'd be great.
If there's one thing I can complain about here, it's that the production is a bit weak. While it does give the album a rawer, more oldschool feel (as opposed to the more slick and lush arrangements of BNW), it also leaves some of the music a bit pushed back in the mix. Nicko really doesn't stand out like he should. On BNW, he was brought much further up into the mix, and it was easier to focus on what he was doing, but you've really gotta strain a bit more to make out the intricacies of his drumming. Steve's bass doesn't stand out quite as much either (although, admittedly, his basslines have been better). I'm hoping that maybe they'll remix this album some day, but I kinda doubt it.
Anyway, despite taking some time to appreciate, this is a great new release from the kings of metal. Not many bands that have been around for 20 years or more are still making music this good, so it's a real relief to still have Maiden in the business. I caught them on their last tour, and it was possibly the best show I've ever seen. The youthful exuberance that these guys display in their mid to late 40's is just amazing. I have the feeling these guys still have a few good years ahead of them.
I highly recommend this to all of the fans. It may take a few spins, but it's worth the effort.

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Japanese edition of the British metal icons' 2003 album is scheduled for earliest release. Details TBA. Toshiba.--This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

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British Steel (Exp) Review

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(More customer reviews)Reissued in the original non-U.S. running order, this record cemented Judas Priest as the preeminent heavy metal band. I say "heavy metal" because of the music and the themes. On its previous studio records, the band had intermixed Sabbath-type lyrical themes and plodding melodies with songs that could best be described as hard rock (a la AC/DC). They would return to the hard rock format on later (and lesser known) records like 1981's 'Point of Entry' and 1986's 'Turbo'. But 'British Steel' is the first of a line of records that would define heavy metal.
The record had its share of thematic anthems, such as "Breaking the Law" and "United" - paving the way for pop metal of the 1980s (e.g., "We're Not Gonna Take It" by Twisted Sister). But the record also had faster and more intense songs, with lyrics of darker mythology, such as "Rapid Fire" and "Steeler", which were the precursor for a metal style of bands like Metallica that has aged more gracefully.
As for the bonus tracks, "Red, White & Blue" is an anthemic outtake from the 'Turbo' sessions which should have probably remained an outtake. "Grinder" is a good live version of one of the classics on 'British Steel' which was taken (despite what the liner notes say) from a show that was performed and broadcast live on the radio at the height of Judas Priest's career (the 1984 'Defenders of the Faith' tour).

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Killers Review

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(More customer reviews)THE BAND: Steve Harris (bass), Paul Di'Anno (vocals), Dave Murray (guitar), Adrian Smith (guitar), Clive Burr (drums).
THE DISC: 11 tracks clocking in at approximately 42 minutes. All songs written by bassist Steve Harris (and sharing credits with Murray and Di'Anno on one song each). The disc contains a 22-page booklet with a brief intro, lyrics, band pictures and thank you's. The enhanced CD features a nice multimedia section for your PC - including 2 rare videos with Di'Anno singing ("Killers" and "Wrathchild"), the band's catalogue of albums, band history and family tree, and a 1981 tour date listing. Recorded at Battery Studios (London) in 1981. Digitally remastered in 1998. Cover art by the one and only Derek Riggs.
COMMENTS: This album was/is special to me. I bought the vinyl record upon its release and wore it out immediately. I liked it so much I painted the album cover of "Killers" on the back of my jean jacket... not even thinking about what my high school prinicpal would say ("Don't wear it to school anymore"). Iron Maiden was rough and raw here, but they were catchy as Hell. The minute and a half intro of "The Ides Of March" leading into the killer track "Wrathchild" set the stage for a great album. The title cut is still one of my all-time favorites from the band. The 6-minute acoustic (almost friendly) "Prodigal Son" showed a side of the band that you rarely saw (even today). Paul Di'Anno was basically fired from the band due to his (party) accesses, erratic behavior, and strained vocal chords. I believe it was a risk the band was willing to take to record a follow-up to Killers. Little did they know what was in store with their next album - perhaps their best ever, "The Number Of The Beast". It's interesting to think of Maiden had they not found Bruce Dickinson... sorry, I won't go there. "Killers" is a classic from Iron Maiden, and a classic long-haired old school heavy metal release (all metal, not just from Britain). Not quite a 5-star review, but darn near close at 4.5-stars. Great disc.

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CD-Rom enhanced version of the original album that broke the band through in the U.S., re-packaged in a slip-sleeve.-1998

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Somewhere in Time Review

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(More customer reviews)Iron Maiden's golden age started with "Killers" and pretty much ended with "Somewhere in Time". All of the songs on "Somewhere" are ambitious, adding new elements to Maiden's sound. The guitar synth's found on "Somewhere" are present, but not as overpowering as on the follow-up cd "Seventh Son". Everything Maiden fans enjoy about the band are present on "Somewhere". Steve Harris' bass lines crackle, and Dickinson's urgent vocals really carry the album along. The guitar riffs are catchy, and hook you right away. The thing that always impressed me with Iron Maiden, was that, during the 80's most metal bands like Ratt, Posion, Motley Crue etc, were busy playing and singing about rock n' roll, girls and partying. Maiden often based their music on literature; "Murders in the Rue Morgue", poetry: "Rime of the Ancient Mariner", history; "Aces High", "The Trooper" and "Run to the Hills"; religion; "Heaven Can Wait", "Number of the Beast" and mythology "Icarus" and "Poweslave". The great epic metal tunes on Iron Maiden disks defied the conventions of the time, where most bands stuck to radio-friendly, 5 minutes or less rock anthems. Iron Maiden was, and is more than just a standard metal band, and if you are a music fan, you are doing yourself a great dis-service if you don't pick up the disks from the heyday. "Somewhere in Time" features 8 great track, each better than the one before it. Listen to "Alexander the Great" and ask yourself if any other band at the height of their popularity would have been able to put that song on a cd. The guitar riff on "Wasted Years" will be running through your head all day, and you will be humming the chorus of "Heaven Can Wait" for a long time. This is a great album, from a band that always brought a little more to the table than just catchy rock anthems.

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Digitally remastered reissue of their 1986 studio album for EMI. Eight tracks. An enhanced release, it includes the CD-ROM videos to 'Wasted Years' & 'Stranger In Strange Land'. Also includes the original cover art. 1998 Raw Power release.--This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

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British Steel: 30th Anniversary Edition Review

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(More customer reviews)I give this cd 5 stars, in spite of the fact that there are definitely reasons to be disappointed. As others have pointed out, there is nothing new on the cd. It is the same remastered cd that was released several years ago, with the same bonus tracks. I also agree... it would have been nice to see some additional bonus material, especially for those of us who already bought the remastered cd when it first came out.
On the other hand... I have always been a HUGE fan of the song "STEELER." It rocks on the original album version, and anyone who knows the song, knows that the last 2 minutes are basically a blistering guitar solo. It sounds dated on the cd, of course (and Dave Holland's mediocre drumming doesn't help), but i have ALWAYS thought it could be updated and be a great cover for some band... or better yet, by Priest, with Scott Travis and double-bass drums!
Until the 30th anniversary concert, i never thought it would happen. But this song alone is worth the price of purchase. Listen to the live version in Dolby digital surround... loud enough to piss off the neighbors, and with a good subwoofer. You'll see why it's worth the price, and why it should be a song that is MUCH more appreciated than it ever was. An underappreciated song, but a true Priest classic.


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JUDAS PRIEST British Steel: 30th Anniversary Edition DVD + CD (Columbia/Legacy).Released in April 1980, British Steel became Judas Priest s first RIAA platinum Top 40 album in the U.S. Now British Steel s 30th anniversary moment officially arrives, commemorating one of the most influential albums in heavy metal, a record that fellow musicians and disciples credit for unleashing metal from its blues origins. British Steel: Legacy Edition features the 2001 remastered, expanded CD of the original nine-song album, including the hits Breaking The Law and Living After Midnight (plus two bonus tracks). Also included is a DVD which combines a live 16-song concert filmed in 2009 at the Seminole Hard Rock Arena in Hollywood, Florida (the album sequence plus seven more cuts), with a 30-minute The Making of British Steel interview with all four original band members.

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Powerslave Review

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(More customer reviews)Iron Maiden's "Powerslave" was to metal what Michael Jackson's "Thriller" was to pop. If you were a fan of heavy metal in the 80's then this album was the soundtrack to your Saturday night out with the guys. There is just so much on this album to rave about, be it the killer chorus of "2 Minutes to Midnight", the great guitar track of "Flash of the Blade, the cool "Egyptian" sound to the title cut, of the epic "Rime of the Ancient Mariner". There was something here for every metal fan. Iron Maiden has made a career out of defying the norm, and in a time when most bands were riding the metal-pop wave, writing songs about Girls..Girls..Girls, or Talking Dirty to Me, Maiden's subject matter was the RAF during WWII and the Blitz with "Aces High". "Powerslave" is about Egyptian mythology, and the album also features a song about fencing "Flash of the Blade". Not your typical song matter for an 80's metal band. But the highlight of the album for me is "Rime of the Ancient Mariner", based on an 18th Century poem, this 12 minute epic tells the tale of a doomed captain and his ship, and is musically one of the most impressive songs in Maiden's catalog. If you haven't heard this song, then buy this album immediately! It's worth the price of the cd alone. It doesn't matter if you think "Powerslave" is Maiden's best album, or if you like "Beast" or "Piece of Mind" or any one of their other albums better, you have to respect Iron Maiden for what they accomplished with "Powerslave".

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Piece of Mind Review

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(More customer reviews)Given how musical tastes change over the years, it's not uncommon for people to find that the music of their youth isn't quite so appealing anymore. Yet for me, even as I become absorbed by avant-garde, Rock-in-Opposition, 20th/21st century classical, modern jazz, and other wild n' crazy stuff, Iron Maiden remains very endearing. And it's not just nostalgia (distorting the past to fit the sensibilities of the present). Iron Maiden is just a great, great band, and _Piece of Mind_ remains my favorite album in their considerable catalogue (followed by _Seventh Son..._).
Although it will probably pain a lot of hardcore Maiden lovers to hear me say it, but I think Iron Maiden's music has always had a certain metal-pop quality to it. I do NOT mean that Iron Maiden should in any way be associated with pathetic pantywaists like Poison or Warrant (such bands justify the repeal of the First Amendment). But in addition to insatiable metal energy and carnivorous, immortal metal riffs & solos, Maiden has always placed an immense emphasis on vocals, hooks, melodies, and tight songs. Yeah, they're cheesy, but Maiden is comfortable with their intrinsic metal cheesiness, so it works for them rather than against them. (A worse crime than cheesiness is to be completely oblivious to your cheesiness -- for an empirical illustration of this theory, I refer you to the legions of horrible European power metal bands like Stratovarius and Helloween.)
_Piece of Mind_ is an amazing album with not a single weak track. Of course, some songs are still better than others, and those are veritably deserving metal classics. There's "Where Eagles Dare", with its choppy, spitfire riffing; "The Trooper" with its unforgettable, evocative metal gallop and lyrics; and "Flight of Icarus", with its classic chorus and anthemic reach. "Revelations" is an epic that surrounds lyrical moments of beautiful imagery with memorable metal riffing. There is also "Still Life", one of the most tragically underrated Iron Maiden songs, with a mysterious opening that kicks into one of the most infectious and catchy songs in their catalogue. Apparently a lot of people think "Sun and Steel" and "Quest for Fire" are crap or at best inconvenient filler, I really like those songs ("Sun and Steel" especially!). The final epic, "To Tame a Land", suggests the direction the band would take with _Seventh Son_, carefully building until its monumental, epic guitar harmony at the end -- it remains one of the highpoints of their formidable songwriting genius.
It's a classic, and it doesn't really need me saying so. But another positive review never hurt anyone.

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Digitally remastered reissue of their top 20 & platinum 1983album. An enhanced release, it contains the CD-ROM videos to'Flight Of Icarus' & 'The Trooper'. Also contains all nine of the original tracks and the original cover art. 1998 Raw Power release.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Screaming for Vengeance (Exp) Review

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(More customer reviews)The first Priest song I ever heard was "You've Got Another Thing Comin'" back in 1982 when it came out. Oh, man...what an introduction to Judas Priest!! At this stage, I was going on 15, and just beginning to open my mind and my ears to heavy metal. I had previously just assumed that Judas Priest and Black Sabbath were total noise, without even hearing anything by them; such was my prejudice.

The first time I heard "YGATC," I was quite surprised at how melodic it was, at well as being heavy. It sure didn't sound like noise to me! My mind slowly started opening, and eventually, I bought the album on vinyl. Now that I have SCREAMING FOR VENGEANCE (REMASTERED) on CD, I want to share how I feel about each song on it:
"The Hellion" is a nice slow electric (and instumental) buildup to the fast, smokin' "Electric Eye." Rob Halford growls the song out menacingly, his voice going thru a voice synthesizer for an 'electric' feel. "Ridin' On The Wind" is a total blazing, speed-of-light experience which gets your heart beating FAST; it's the precursor to "Freewheel Burning." Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing trade off Stratocaster leads that are sharp enough to cut through marble. One of Priest's fastest songs ever! "Bloodstone" is THE perfect follow-up to "Ridin' On The Wind." It starts with a great slow, but intricate, electric guitar intro which melds into a catchy groove...and then the bass of Ian Hill and the drums of Dave Holland kick in. It's a great mid-tempo metal tune. "(Take These) Chains" is the one slow song on this album; it's a power ballad that existed even before the term first got into use (with Dokken's "Alone Again"). Written by the talented-yet-much-maligned songwriter Bob Halligan, Jr, it has been unfairly criticized by many Priest fans as being boring and trite. I say just the opposite: It is the perfect slow number, placed in just the right spot on the album, which provides a nice respite from the faster, heavier tracks before it and the ones to come after. "Pain and Pleasure" is a pumped-up mid-tempo song with some coy allusions to S&M. But then it's the title song, "Screaming For Vengeance" which is an ultra-blistering, ultra-screaming, ultra-muscular, ultra-speed-metal workout. It screams, shrieks, and skids right into "You've Got Another Another Thing Comin'" which is one of the greatest driving songs ever, and still one of Judas Priest's greatest tunes ever. The guitar solo is to die for. I've heard this song at least a thousand times in my life by now, and I never get sick of it. Next comes "Fever", which starts off soft (and is slower-paced in general) but it eventually turns into another great song to listen to while driving. "Devil's Child" is really cool, with a great Strat lead guitar solo and a catchy chorus ("I believe you're The Devil/I believe you're The Devil's child"). It provided a great end to this album when it was released back in '82.
But wait! Now there's more: We now get a previously unreleased song recorded in 1985 during the TURBO sessions, the seven-minute-plus epic love song "Prisoner of Your Eyes." Uncharacteristically for a Priest song, it begins with slow, swirling keyboards, and builds gradually into a rare Priest epic (that contains one hell of a beautiful extended guitar solo). Then we get a blistering live version of "Devil's Child" to finish things off.
Putting it simply, SCREAMING FOR VENGEANCE is one of the 10 greatest heavy metal albums EVER made. I wish that I could give the Remastered version TEN stars! MOST RECOMMENDED

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Japanese digitally remastered limited pressing of the band's 1982 album with 2 added bonus tracks 'Prisoner Of Your Eyes' (unreleased) & 'Devil's Child' (live). Packaged in a miniature LP sleeve. CBS. 2005.--This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

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Judas Priest - Rising in the East (2005) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The boys were up for the taping of this performance. Rob Halford is on; KK Downing's and Glenn Tipton's guitar playing is tight as the studio versions of the songs. Ian Hill rocks and Scott Travis' drumming is up front and quite impressive.
The difference between the live performance in this release versus the 1986 performance included with the 2003 Electric Eye music video collection DVD is that before the boys took the stage for this performance at the Budokan in Tokyo, Japan, they must have agreed to try to be as true to the studio versions as Rob's voice would allow (give him a break; remember he's been taxing his vocal chords and hitting the high notes in Victim of Changes for like thirty years!).
The sound quality is great. If you've got surround sound you're in for a pounding Heavy Metal treat. The picture is great. And the footage doesn't jump around all the time; the camera gives you more than the typical music video four seconds before jumping to another angle, so you can really feel like you're watching the show live.
Any Priest fan should not pass on this DVD. I'm telling you, the chills were non-stop for me; I couldn't believe they included The Ripper and Exciter. And you get (just about) every other rocker that you really want to see. In other words, Rising in the East is a compilation of terrific live performances of the following:
1. HELLION
2. ELECTRIC EYE
3. METAL GODS
4. RIDING ON THE WIND
5. RIPPER
6. TOUCH OF EVIL
7. JUDAS RISING
8. REVOLUTION
9. HOT ROCKIN'
10. BREAKING THE LAW
11. I'M A ROCKER
12. DIAMONDS AND RUST
13. WORTH FIGHTING FOR
14. DEAL WITH THE DEVIL
15. BEYOND THE REALMS OF DEATH
16. TURBO LOVER
17. HELLRIDER
18. VICTIM OF CHANGES
19. EXCITER
20. PAINKILLER
21. HELL BENT FOR LEATHER
22. LIVING AFTER MIDNIGHT
23. YOU'VE GOT ANOTHER THING COMING

There are no special features here, and that was somewhat disappointing. But believe me this front row seat to a performance by the Metal Gods is well worth it by itself. Buy it.

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After more than 12 years apart Judas Priest and original lead vocalist Rob Halford reunited for a global live concert tour in 2004. They were a main attraction on the sell-out Ozzfest tour playing to enormous and enthusiastic audiences nationwide. Rising In the East was filmed in May 2005 at Tokyo's famous Budokan. The DVD captures the band at their metal best, performing all of the classics-"Electric Eye," "Breaking the Law," "Living After Midnight," "You've Got Another Thing Coming," and much more. Track Listings: Hellion, Electric Eye, Metal Gods, Riding on the Wind, Ripper, Touch of Evil, Judas Rising, Revolution, Hot Rockin', Breaking the Law, I'm A Rocker, Diamonds and Rust, Worth Fighting For, Deal with the Devil, Beyond the Realms of Death, Turbo Lover, Hellrider, Victim of Changes, Exciter, Painkiller, Hell Bent For Leather, Living After Midnight,You've Got Another Thing Coming

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Judas Priest - Live Vengeance '82 (1982) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)You simply won't get a better performance by Priest recorded on video.
This is the real deal, Priest at their best. The guitar attack of Tipton and Downing is amazing, the sound is great, Halford is also singing like never and the set list is very good. The only downside is, of course, Dave Holland's drumming. Funny thing, that guy played greatly in Trapeze, but in Judas Priest his drumming was dumbed down to a laughable point. (probably, following orders from the produceer, Halford, Tipton, etc).
You can't get wrong with this one.

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Item Name: Judas Priest - Live Vengeance '82; Studio:Sony

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