Best Tune on the Painkiller album by Priest

Released on September 3, 1990.
Recorded Jan-March 1990, Miraval Studios, Correns, France and Wisseloord Studios, Hilversum, Netherlands.
Produced by Judas Priest and Chris Tsangarides.

Personnel- Rob Halford – lead vocals, Glenn Tipton – rhythm and lead guitar,
K.K. Downing – rhythm and lead guitar, Ian Hill – bass guitar, and Scott Travis – drums.
Additional Musician- Don Airey- keyboards on "Touch Of Evil"

The Tunes...
"Painkiller"
"Hell Patrol"
"All Guns Blazing"
"Leather Rebel"
"Metal Meltdown"
"Night Crawler"
"Between the Hammer & the Anvil"
"A Touch of Evil"
"Battle Hymn" (Instrumental)
"One Shot at Glory"

Another album I am totally unfamiliar with besides what is on the Metal Works box set. Those songs were seemingly aggressive, but somewhat pretentious. It would have been more believable if recorded after "Defenders" than what came across as a last ditch effort at whatever they were trying to accomplish.

I truly like every song on this album, but I have to give it to the title track.

Painkiller was the last JP album I bought. Just couldn't get into that much. I think my musical tastes were changing at that time. "A Touch Of Evil" is superb, though. I like the little touch of keyboards in it.

I love this album, has a special place in my memories.

I love almost all songs, but the vote goes for One Shot At Glory.

Man, this one's tough. Every track is really good, but I think my vote's gonna go to Leather Rebel. Runner up would have likely been A Touch of Evil.

This is in my top three Priest albums. My favorite track is the title cut. "Metal Meltdown" is also a favorite.

I take a different view on why this album sounds the way it does, rather than just the "this is a thrash sellout album." One big reason is Priest upgraded their drummer in a huge way and that changed their sound. Mostly, I think they album is so aggressive because the band was completely pissed off after the absurdity that was the subliminal message trial. This album is a big middle finger to that whole episode.

They released this record on my 26th birthday !
Touch Of Evil - Anne Rice would love the song - very vampirish -
right up there with Love Bites - "YOUR POSSESSING ME" - what a yell !!

"Painkiller" = best metal song of all-time

I just listen to this instead...

The title track.

voted for opener, but i like 1st 3 songs. rest is average. always skipping.

I love painkiller, this album is just badass. Voted for the title track. It's a classic.

S.D. wrote:

I just listen to this instead...

?

apples and oranges.

Both are great. Thundersteel is more musically cliché, a bit more hard rock/less aggressive, and under-produced.

Thelemech wrote:

The title track.

Agreed.

Good album , but the best song on it is the title track.

After my very first complete listen...

Too many bridges that clash, choruses that suck and a drummer utilizing pretty much the same patterns used in Racer X.  The exception being "One Shot At Glory". Thus my vote

My

Temple of Blood wrote:

"Painkiller" = best metal song of all-time

This

Not a weak track on the album, in my opinion.

One of the best metal albums ever! There's no weak songs IMO. That being said, I went with "Between the Hammer and the Anvil".

Love this whole album. It was the Priest album that put them at the top for me. I voted for the title track as it just smokes! But tunes like Leather Rebel, Hell Patrol, and Metal Meltdown are just angry and fierce and could have easily been my choice. Battle Hymn/ One Shot at Glory are an excellent combo (much like Hellion/ Electric Eye) and get my dark horse vote. No doubt a huge part of the change in sound was Scott Travis and I feel like he gave the boys a shot in the arm.

Love this album!! The title cut gets my vote just by a very slim margin over Between The Hammer And The Anvil.

Touch Of Evil for me.

Temple of Blood wrote:

S.D. wrote:

I just listen to this instead...

?

apples and oranges.

Both are great.  Thundersteel is more musically cliché, a bit more hard rock/less aggressive, and under-produced.

What do you mean by under-produced? I think it sounds great (apart from the vocals which are a bit much for my taste)

"A Touch of Evil"

"Between the hammer..." mostly for the solo. Average album overall tbh.

Title track.

Incredible song. Screaming metal.