JUDAS PRIEST…30 Years and Still SCREAMING!!!!!!
JUDAS PRIEST – Screaming for Vengeance 30th Anniversary edition
As I popped the CD into the player my daughter asked me “Dad, don’t you already have this?”. Of course the answer was yes so she quickly added “Why did you buy it again?’.
The answer is simple…this is one of the single greatest Heavy Metal albums of all time! Yes I have it! Only vinyl (the same copy my Grandma bought me in 1983), on cassette, on CD and now on CD with a bonus live tracks and the DVD of the FUCKIN’ US FESTIVAL!!!!! This is one of my favorite bands with one of my favorite albums and arguably their best album. There are multiple reasons to own multiple copies of this record. Oh and it’s even their top selling album.
Even though I know every word to every song, every riff, and every lead, every drum roll and every scream I still get excited and giddy anytime ‘Screaming for Vengeance’ is played. The album fills me with a joy and energy that is almost indescribable. It’s one of those moments that you feel like you are in the know and sharing something greater than yourself, a cosmic energy born of metal perhaps. You look around as you drive along with the windows down and the tunes cranked (I think in my truck as soon as the first chord of this album is struck my windows start to automatically roll down!)and gaze in wide wonder at the sheeple. Man if they only knew, if they only understood the awesome power of the mighty PRIEST, but yet you sort want to horde their lethal aggression and keep the secret to yourself and the chosen ones. The followers could never understand…they couldn’t handle the truth! Let them parish on the blood stained altar of the PRIEST!!! Proud and confident you turn the sonic assault louder. Death to the week they will fall before you! And so you utter your battle cry…Screaming for Vengeance!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ummm…The album kicks so much ass it’s not even funny. Every single track easily stands on it’s own and is a classic. Bands just done write “albums” anymore. This is solid from beginning to end, no room for second best. If you don’t own it now is your chance to pick up a really cool version of this album. The 5 bonus live tracks really capture the energy of their live show and the 6th bonus track ‘Prisoner of Your Eyes’ actually appeared on a previous re-issue of this same album.
But if that is not enough the DVD of their performance at the 1983 US Festival is worth the price alone. This is a remarkable performance and the only full set of any band to see an official release with exception of maybe TRIUMPH. The video and sound is great and there are 300,000 people there! At the time it was the biggest Heavy Metal concert ever! And…Probably still is in North America. Keep an eye out for the random shoe next to the drum riser by the ramp.
This is a necessary piece of Heavy Metal memorabilia. The CD is must have of anyone who claims to be a “metal head”, “head banger”, “heavy metal maniac” or claims to have any adoration or interest in Heavy Metal at all.
Poseur.
PRIEST!
(Josh Mosh)
ThrashPunx 