Judas Priest - Jugulator

And getting down to the bones of the topic - how do you feel about this controversial album in Priest's discography?

Basicly it's an album that has the fanbase totally divided - some people hate it - other love it. Tim "Ripper" Owens is often a big part of that - being called a Halford rip-off and whatnot.

Me personally - I love it. It's probably the darkest, most apocalyptic recording Priest has ever made and one of the heaviest to boot. It has that modern metal flair (ala early Machine Head or Pantera) but it is coupled with Priest-like riffing and overall speed metal flair. I love Owens to boot - I thinks performance is menacing and very powerful - and his voice is well suited for both mid-tempo tracks and speed metal killers.

My personal highlights include - Burn In Hell, Bullet Train, Jugulator, Cathedral Spires, Blood Stained and Death Row. Wish Priest would include some of those songs in the setlist.

It's certainly not one of my fave JP albums, but I spin it every now and again. I don't mind the newer Metal sound and I agree that Owens sounds great on the album. It just seems to me they kept trying to rewrite Painkiller (the song) over and over again; so the album gets old pretty quick. I think the last 2 JP albums are far superior (and get a lot more spin time from me) to both Jugulator and Demolition. Fave tracks: Blood Stained, Burn In Hell, Bullet Train, and the awesome Cathedral Spires. Peace.

I dig it. It isn't Rob Halford, but then Rob himself wasn't really Rob Halford in 1997 so Ripper was the next best thing.

The best thing Priest ever did next to Painkiller. Just 'cause it's under the Judas Priest name doesn't make it bad. It's an awesome and very powerful album.

Fat Freddy wrote:

I dig it. It isn't Rob Halford, but then Rob himself wasn't really Rob Halford in 1997 so Ripper was the next best thing.

Very good point, FF.

ZetaReticuli wrote:

The best thing Priest ever did next to Painkiller.
That's your opinion and that's cool.

Just 'cause it's under the Judas Priest name doesn't make it bad.
No. But, because of that name, it's held to a higher standard. I agree that;s not fair, but it's just the way the music biz works.


It's an awesome and very powerful album.

Agreed. That's why I take it into the basement w/ me to hit the iron.

the sentinel wrote:

It's certainly not one of my fave JP albums, but I spin it every now and again. I don't mind the newer Metal sound and I agree that Owens sounds great on the album. It just seems to me they kept trying to rewrite Painkiller (the song) over and over again; so the album gets old pretty quick. I think the last 2 JP albums are far superior (and get a lot more spin time from me) to both Jugulator and Demolition. Fave tracks: Blood Stained, Burn In Hell, Bullet Train, and the awesome Cathedral Spires. Peace.

I don't think that Jugulator (the album) is a Painkiller-like album. That is Primal Fear's job That said it is less based on melody and guitar interplay and more on sheer intensity and heaviness so you do have a point there Sentinel.

Also Freddy nailed it on the head I think.

What I do find this album similar to is the Fight debut "War Of Words". Kinda similar more thrash-based modern style going on in both albums and there are similiarities sonically.

Jugulator is a great release. First time I heard it,I was blown away.Each song is powerfully written and Owens sounds fantastic.Cathedral Spires is probably my favorite track.

I love that Fight album and it's not a Halford v. Ripper thing, it just sounds more straight ahead "classic" Metal to my ears. Good comparison, Zdan.

the sentinel wrote:

I love that Fight album and it's not a Halford v. Ripper thing, it just sounds more straight ahead "classic" Metal to my ears. Good comparison, Zdan.

Funny part is that if you listen to that Fight album it has more of those midpaced modern metal crushers whereas Jugulator is filled with speed metal killers. But the sound and production of that Fight album is really more classic metal true.

Also would like to see some songs from the Ripper era done by Halford and Priest? I would love Cathedral Spires, Burn In Hell and say Bullet Train.

Zdan wrote:

the sentinel wrote:

I love that Fight album and it's not a Halford v. Ripper thing, it just sounds more straight ahead "classic" Metal to my ears. Good comparison, Zdan.

Funny part is that if you listen to that Fight album it has more of those midpaced modern metal crushers whereas Jugulator is filled with speed metal killers. But the sound and production of that Fight album is really more classic metal true. [/qoute]

It is exactly that. I remember the first time i heard it, back in '93? and thought, "this sounds like something from '85." Very stripped and crunchy.

Also would like to see some songs from the Ripper era done by Halford and Priest? I would love Cathedral Spires, Burn In Hell and say Bullet Train.[/quote]

Agreed! Maybe next tour. Summer of 2011 or something like that.

That would be great. Only problem is that Halford probably sees the Ripper-era as non-existant and non-Priest. Sucks because at least Jugulator was fine, vicious metal release.

I like it a lot. Love Cathedral Spires and Bullet Train.

I love those two songs as well. I *like* a few others...'Burn in Hell'..'Abductors'..title track. The rest, who cares.

ultmetal wrote:

I like it a lot. Love Cathedral Spires and Bullet Train.

Cool to hear that. Your opinion on Ripper on that disc and in Priest in general? Also noticed you like "Burn In Hell" - my total favourite from this disc.

I am a big Ripper fan and I would say of the Ripper era Priest albums that this is my favorite.

Priest rules!

Ripper is great! I liked him in Priest, I like him with Ynqwie, I like him with his solo band.

ultmetal wrote:

Priest rules!

Ripper is great! I liked him in Priest, I like him with Ynqwie, I like him with his solo band.

He is good with Yngwie? I gotta hear that disc then.

As far as Jugulator goes I kinda wish the kept that guitar sound for say "Angel Of Retribution". That razor-sharp, heavy guitar sound would do that album well I think.

I'd love to hear Halford singing Cathedral Spires and Bullet Train.

ultmetal wrote:

I'd love to hear Halford singing Cathedral Spires and Bullet Train.

Me too. Add "Burn In Hell" to that and I would be totally happy. They need to shake up the set list a bit anyway so might as well do this.

the best song is Blood Stained

It's pure camp from the lyrics to vocal delivery to the samples, but it's still fun. There are a lot of albums that perform the same task better though, so I really can't call it any better than ok.

I like the album but it is one of my least favorite Judas Priest albums, Ripper Owens does a great job and the songs are some of the heaviest of Judas Priest's career but not an album I reach for very often.

i don't care for this album. same for Demolition. i did enjoy hearing Owens live with Priest though.

The only real Priest albums have Halford singing...period.

The only good album Ripper has made thus far is The Glorious Burden with Iced Earth and it's an unbelievably good album.