Great Rock Albums of the 70s: Judas Priest- Sin After Sin

Not many metal bands can take a classic folk song like "Diamonds and Rust" sung by Joan Baez and make a true metal anthem out of it. That is exactly what Judas Priest did with the song and to quote Cheryl Cole (Oh God, I can't believe I'm doing this) made the song their own. "Sin After Sin" was the all important follow up to their previous album "Sad Wings of Destiny" and it brought them one precious step closer to the greatness they would eventually come to enjoy.
Back then, Judas Priest were still climbing the ladder to success and still hungry and like the previous album, the hunger is reflected in the music. True, to some, "Diamonds and Rust" might give this album an air of commercial respectability, the other tracks in the album such as "Sinner," "Raw Deal" and "Dissident Agressor," which Slayer would cover eleven years later, show a raw and hungry sound to this band. Plus, the tracks have that unique introduction that when you hear it, you know it's a Priest song.

Track Listing:

1. Sinner

2. Diamonds and Rust

3. Starbreaker

4. The Last Rose of Summer

5. Let Us Prey/Call for the Priest

6. Raw Deal

7. Here Come the Tears

8. Dissident Aggressor

Judas Priest:

Rob Halford- vocals

Glen Tipton- guitar

KK Downing- guitar

Ian Hill- bass

Simon Phillips- drums

This is another great find back in the archives of metal past. Albums like "Sin After Sin" would not only help to pave Judas Priest's way to greatness, it would also contribute to the flood waters which were gathering at the time and would soon overflow its banks to create what we know as heavy metal.

Next post: Lynyrd Skynyrd- Street Survivors

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Great Rock Albums of the 70s: Judas Priest- Sad Wings of Destiny

Many great acts, especially metal ones had to pay their dues before they finallly make it to the big time. This was especially true with the metal gods we worship to day as Judas Priest. When I worshipped these gods in concert two and a half years ago in Cardiff, Wales, Robert Halford told the audience how thrity five years ago, the band would come to Cardiff in a little white van to play at the local pubs and clubs at the time. Back in the 1970s, Judas Priest were virtually unheard of, especially outside the UK and paid their dues by playing all the back holes of Britain and opening for more popular bands of the time like Budgie. Fortunately for us, they perservered and went on to become the great metal act we all know and love.
The downside of many bands once they ascend to the big stage is that much of their earlier work goes unnoticed. Some people will buy a band's earlier stuff upon hearing about it, but it still doesn't get the recognition it deserves as most people seem to be focused on the new stuff. The same can be said for me in regards to Judas Priest. "British Steel" was the first Judas Priest album I ever heard and you could say the rest was history, I became a total Priest fan. It wasn't until a few years later, however, when I heard the song "The Ripper" on a metal compilation album that I went back to the past and investigated earlier offerings such as "Sad Wings of Destiny."
It is often said that before a heavy metal band gets discovered, their hunger is reflected in their music. This is definitely true for "Sad Wings of Destiny." Listening to such tracks as "The Ripper," "Deceiver" and "Genocide" show the hunger. However, the album also shows the unmistakable guitar riffs of Tipton and Downing as well as the unique vocals of Halford that would later eventually enshrine Judas Priest in the annals of metal glory.

Track Listing:

1. Victim of Changes

2. The Ripper

3. Dreamer Deceiver

4. Deceiver

5. Prelude

6. Tyrant

7. Genocide

8. Epitaph

9. Island of Domination

Judas Priest

Rob Halford- vocals

Gelen Tipton- guitars and piano

KK Downing- guitars

Ian Hill- bass

Alan Moore- drums

I recently read a quote by a fan who states that "70s Priest kicks the sh*t out of 80s Priest." I will not get involved in that argument, especially as 80s Priest gets quite a lot of mention in "Rock And Roll Children,"  but I will admit that the 70s albums like "Sad Wings of Destiny" and the one I'll be visiting in my next post show a raw and hungry sound that I really like. So with my teacher head on, your assignment today is go and have a listen to this great diamond in the rough of an album and you will see what I mean.

Next post: Judas Priest- Sin After Sin

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Also available on Amazon, Froogle and Barnes & Noble