Today I will be reviewing the new album of Heavy Metal legends Judas Priest, with their latest release “Firepower”. I went straight to the local record shop and bought the red vinyl edition today. Here are my opinions on it!
01. Firepower opens the album with a heavy yet melodic riff and already makes the listener ready for this beast of a release. Classic Judas Priest style and powerful vocals from Rob make this a killer opening song. Amazing lead guitar work as we would expect from the band just adds to the catchy riffs perfectly.
02. Lightning Strike is the only track I have heard prior to now and already love it and play it a lot. Catchy vocals, great lyrics and killer hooks. A Judas Priest anthem for sure! The band have certainly kept their amazing songwriting ability after many years of Heavy Metal hits!
03. Evil Never Dies has a much heavier riff than the first two which is really nice. The whole song has a beautiful creeping rhythm and slower tempo, really breaking it apart from the first couple which were far more upbeat. A nice break in the album for sure.
04. Never The Heroes has a nice futuristic intro, and back come the epic riffs. In terms of production this song is done to perfection. A nice melodic piece, it continues nicely from the previous song well. This song is so catchy, definitely looking forward to seeing the band live again (they were amazing the first time for one) as I think this song will sound great in concert!
05. Necromancer brings the heavier sounds and faster riffs back. Much thrashier and a real headbanger for sure! The guitar work is amazing, the vocals piercing and the drums perfectly timed. This song sounds like something straight out of the bands early days.
06. Children of the Sun has a more stoner metal feel to the opening riff, like something from Orange Goblin, it’s a really cool way to go into this punchier song. For Judas Priest this song doesn’t seem to follow their normal formula which is very nice to hear something so refreshing from a band who have so solidly created great music expanding and doing so well.
07/08. Guardians opens with beautiful piano playing, which is joined by synth sounding guitar leads, a lovely harmony. Rising From Ruins flows from it and we are rejoined by the glorious riffs, shrouded in great solos. This song has a more ballad like feel which breaks up the album nicely, something Priest seem to do well. The song is still heavy just it really has a nice laid back feel to it. Something about it feels like a Manowar song to me. Probably my favourite so far joined with Lightning Strike.
09. Flame Thrower is more like the earlier songs keeping the album striding on! For me the riffs aren’t quite as catchy but it is still a good song. The vocals however are really soaring through the mix perfectly.
10. Spectre is a really cool track following nicely from the previous but with a more sludgy pace, this album all comes together so tightly and has a really classic Heavy Metal feel to it to me. The whole thing so far has just been one head banging hit after another.
11. Traitors Gate has a nice acoustic opening which kicks into what I can only describe as the best guitar riff of the album so far. This song needs to be played live in the bands set as far as I am concerned. A new favourite for me on the album. Rob Halford has lost no vocal power since the start of their career. Songs like this is why the band will always be kings in the world of Metal. The chorus is so punch, the verses so rhythmic, it’s just a perfect Heavy Metal song.
12. No Surrender continues well from the last track, a lovely opening solo and more punching musicianship with yet more powerful vocals. This track has more of a Power Metal feel than the others to me. Really catchy chorus lyrics I must add.
13. Lone Wolf is more like Children of the Sun with its stoner metal riffs. This song has a more main stream feel to it, which isn’t inherently a problem at all, it is still a great song, just not as much something for me as the others. Still plenty to enjoy!
14. Sea of Red is the final track of the album, which as always with Judas Priest has felt like a journey. Once again we are greeted with beautiful acoustic guitar work. This song leads out such a powerful album incredibly well.
Overall I found the album to be a great release from Judas Priest with plenty of melody, riffs, solos and soaring vocals. The mixing was excellent and it’s just full of anthems. Looking forward to seeing the band live again and hopefully more music is to come! -8/10
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