New Priest Album is Finished!

Best Priest album since Jugulator.

It's a good album overall, but the kick drums sound buried in the mix. There's no excuse for bad production when they are on a major label with a big budget.

The production - at least on my car stereo - gave the impression that you had EQ "cut outs" for two guitars, bass, drums, and vocals. It was pretty no-frills. What was interesting is that, even though it was clearly punched into the red, the instruments never sounded like they were fighting with each other.

Granted, it's kind of a blunt instrument as production goes, but I thought it was kind of "brickwalling done right."

I think this album blows away Angel of Retribution.

MetallicSeminarian wrote:

I think this album blows away Angel of Retribution.

I don't know about blows away, but I do like it better than AoR and anything since Painkiller.

007 wrote:

Oh and I have to say the more I listen to Redeemer,the more I like it. It's a definite grower.

This.   

I've been taking my time with this album. I got it the day it was released, so that's 8 days now, and I'm down to the 5 tracks on the second disc. I wanted to hear the earlier tracks again and again repeatedly so I only got to 6 tracks, I think, the first night. And since then it's been like a track or two a day. I've been savoring them, like a bottle of rare scotch.

So now it's the second disc. I think I'll play at least the first two tracks a few times tonight and tomorrow.

I think it'll be a bit sad when I finally reach the end. Redeemer of Souls is quite possibly the last Priest album ever. Not much left to "unwrap" for me. I wish the album would go on forever...

Favourite tracks so far: Halls of Valhalla (sounds like Kenziner), Sword of Damocles (tasty and fresh, Faulkner is great), Cold Blooded (a change of pace)

Faulkner sounds awesome! He's in the left speaker, right? Just destroys everything, and kind of takes over.

The last three songs of the first disc are at a handicap for me, since I've only played them for a couple of days now. So I didn't name any, but in general I think the album is getting better towards the end. The only tracks I don't like a lot so far are the opener Dragonaught, the title track #2, and maaybe Metalizer #9. Everything else is strong. And with the length of the album, that means there's a lot of good stuff!

I've gotten used to the "new Rob" and to me he sounds better now with his limited range than he was with trying forcefully be what he cannot be anymore (he already sounded strained on Angel of Retribution). He's pretty melodic here and uses his voice to complement the songs. If I want the 70's & 80's Rob, I just pop in Stained Class or Defenders of the Faith.

I don't like that "March of the damned" song.

Lari wrote:

Faulkner sounds awesome! He's in the left speaker, right? Just destroys everything, and kind of takes over.

Yep - he also seems to be higher in the mix than Glen too (which surprised me.) I really like his playing.

I don't have a problem with the production. You just need good headphones or up the volume, and the guitars come out and everything comes alive. Just the way I like it. I like the little differences between the sound of each song, giving it a lively atmosphere.

With a nice variety of styles and songs, the length is the real best part. Short, punchy songs, and a lot of them. Everyone can compile their own set of songs to listen to - and change things up according to what kind of Priest they want to hear.

thejokeriv wrote:

Lari wrote:

Faulkner sounds awesome! He's in the left speaker, right? Just destroys everything, and kind of takes over.

Yep - he also seems to be higher in the mix than Glen too (which surprised me.) I really like his playing.

I wonder if that was done on purpose to highlight the new guy ?

I haven't purchased this yet, but I was very underwhelmed by the two tracks that were prereleased.... I will probably grab this release since so many have given this a thumbs up.... But i've been pretty underwhelmed by the stuff since painkiller.....

I've now played the entire album through, bonus disc included, with good headphones enough times to 'know' all the tracks quite well.

I'll grade the tracks, just because in a few years time it will be fun to see what my initial reaction to each song was like.

Spoiler:

I have spun it twice, yet to get into it, maybe after a few spins, it might be more interesting album for me.

Surprising thing is that after I got the new album, I have been playing British Steal and Screaming for Vengeance more.

opinion of new album aside....

Just watched Priest give the new kid (Faulkner) a custom painted Les Paul done by Kounts Kustoms on History Channel. When I can find some photos, I'll post em. It was top shelf (IMHDO)

Witchfinder wrote:

Lari wrote:

mikeinfla wrote:

Debuted at #6 with 32,000 copies sold. Wow, sales ARE down across the board these days.

Nostradamus sold 42,000 copies in US in its first week.

I wonder if that is actually 21,000 copies because Nostradamus was a double album - or is that not how they count sales anymore?

Well, the free ticket to the Masters Of Metal concert (Judas Priest, Heaven And Hell, Motorhead, and Testament) probably didn't hurt the sales .

This album is a grower for sure. Wasn't much impressed upon the first spin, but repeated listens, especially cranked in the car with the volume up and the pedal down, it's got classic Priest all over it. Me likee!!

I can't stop listening to it.   

Me like

I'm digging what I'm hearing so far.... but.....

The Sword of Damolces??? how the blazes do you make that phrase a chorus??? lol.... sort like Loch Ness.... Loch Ness.....???? anyway I digress....

The songs are much better this time at least compared to Nostradamus.....

But the production is still lacking to my ears.... The guitars are thin and nasal sounding, Never been a big fan of Tipton's tone but this time it just seems that they aren't prominent in the mix.... whether its his eq or the mastering eq or just the engineer who should be shot.... the drums are fine and Ian's bass sounds solid.... The guitar should be prominent and when I listen in my car (alpine 3 ways).... it just sounds lost....

Rob sounds good....

November 16 in San Jose, CA .... some friends are already hitting me up to go....so perhaps I will.... Never seen Priest..... I must admit....seen lots of bands some more than once but never Priest for some reason....


Anyway I'll keep spinning this dity.... got the deluxe version but havent spun disc 2 yet....


  

Did anyone else notice that Rob is really pushing his range to the max in the second half of the album? There are a few tracks where I was genuinely shocked he was reaching for, let alone hitting some of the notes in the vocal.

didnt spin it after few times. didnt catch me as i expected so it means it is on the same row as Nostradamus. im gonna buy a shirt with the cover thats all

Okay, so it took about a month of repeated listens (and EQ fiddling), but this album has really grown on me, and I love it. It really is a great Priest album. Took a while for me to recognize it as such, but it's all latched on and I can really groove to it. Seriously, every song on the first disc is either good or great. There are no bummers. Can't say I've really soaked in the second disc, but overall I'm happy. It was well worth the money and I feel that same power listening to it that can only come from a Priest record.

I can see this album being in my top 3 of 2014. So far, there has been a lot of duds in my opinion. But this one has gotten repeated spins and the songs are sticking with me long after the disc is over.

This album isn't really good. Apart from "Battle Cry" and some others, there isn't much that's really worth checking out. This is just a continuation of the Angel of Retribution style, only with duller production and more uninspired songs.