{"id":44298,"date":"2014-08-18T06:20:56","date_gmt":"2014-08-18T11:20:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/?p=44298"},"modified":"2014-08-18T06:20:56","modified_gmt":"2014-08-18T11:20:56","slug":"judas-priest-redeemer-of-souls-cd-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/2014\/judas-priest-redeemer-of-souls-cd-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Judas Priest | Redeemer of Souls<\/em>"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Justin Gaines<\/span>
\n– Senior Columnist\/News Editor —<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"JudasIt\u2019s been six years since we last saw a new studio album from heavy metal icons Judas Priest, and that was the controversial 2008 release Nostradamus<\/em>. In the years since then, the British legends have embarked on a massive kind-of\/sort-of farewell tour, and most notably have replaced founding guitarist K.K. Downing with a relative unknown named Richie Faulkner. They finally have a new studio album for us though, their 17th overall, titled Redeemer of Souls<\/em>.<\/p>\n

With a title like that, you can be forgiven for expecting perhaps a return to greatness, or at least a return to the classic Judas Priest sound. Redeemer of Souls<\/em> may not be the second coming of Painkiller<\/em>, but it at least finds the band back on familiar territory, much like their 2005 comeback album Angel of Retribution<\/em>. No ambitious multi-disc concept albums here (and for what it\u2019s worth, Nostradamus was a lot better than its critics would have you believe), just simple, straightforward heavy metal songs with catchy rhythms and choruses you can sing along with.<\/p>\n

Just look at the song titles \u2013 \u201cHalls of Valhalla,\u201d \u201cSword of Damocles,\u201d \u201cMarch of the Damned,\u201d \u201cHell & Back\u201d and \u201cBattle Cry\u201d \u2013 and you know exactly what the band was going for here. These are all written in the old school Judas Priest style, and are the album\u2019s best tracks. They\u2019re catchy on the first spin, and with each spin they really sink into your subconscious. As weird as it is to hear a Priest album without Downing, Faulkner and Tipton sound perfect together, delivering (the goods) killer riffs and solos.<\/p>\n

So where does Redeemer of Souls<\/em> fall short? Part of it is how restrained Rob Halford sounds. He\u2019s in his sixties now, so we can\u2019t expect him to sound like he did on Sad Wings of Destiny, but so many of these songs could have been better if he was able to use that trademark scream. His lower register is still right on the money though, and after all these years it\u2019s still one of the best in the business. The production is another issue. It\u2019s hard to describe exactly, but the guitars seem a bit muddy and where things are in the mix seems to vary from song to song. That may be the one defining thing that keeps this from being a really great Judas Priest album.<\/p>\n

Even if it\u2019s not the triumphant return to form it could have been, Redeemer of Souls<\/em> is still a solid, respectable entry from a band that could just as easily have rested on their past laurels and stuck to touring and live releases. Much like Black Sabbath\u2019s 2013 comeback album 13<\/em>, Redeemer of Souls<\/em> is enjoyable when you\u2019re spinning it, but when you\u2019re in the mood for some Judas Priest it\u2019s going to be one of the last albums you reach for on the shelf. Still, if you\u2019re a serious Judas Priest fan, you pretty much have to get a copy.<\/p>\n

Edition Notes: There is a deluxe edition CD version of Redeemer of Souls<\/em> that comes in a digipack and includes a second disc with five new bonus songs. The packaging actually looks cheaper than the basic version (one day the labels will figure out that collectors hate digipacks), but the bonus material makes it a worthwhile purchase. They\u2019re not all great songs (\u201cNever Forget\u201d ought to be called \u201cNever Listen Again\u201d), but how do you say no to five more brand new Judas Priest tunes?<\/p>\n

Genre: Heavy Metal<\/p>\n

Lineup:
\nRob Halford (v)
\nIan Hill (b)
\nGlenn Tipton (g)
\nRichie Faulkner (g)
\nScott Travis (d)<\/p>\n

Track Listing:<\/p>\n

Disc 1
\n1.\tDragonaut
\n2.\tRedeemer of Souls
\n3.\tHalls of Valhalla
\n4.\tSword of Damocles
\n5.\tMarch of the Damned
\n6.\tDown in Flames
\n7.\tHell & Back
\n8.\tCold Blooded
\n9.\tMetalizer
\n10.\tCrossfire
\n11.\tSecrets of the Dead
\n12.\tBattle Cry
\n13.\tBeginning of the End<\/p>\n

Disc 2
\n1.\tSnakebite
\n2.\tTears of Blood
\n3.\tCreatures
\n4.\tBring It On
\n5.\tNever Forget<\/p>\n

Label: Epic Records<\/p>\n

Website: www.judaspriest.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Hardrock Haven Rating: 7.5\/10<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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