Let's rank Judas Priest, #6

1. Defenders of the Faith (1984) 24% of the vote
2. Painkiller (1990) 30% of the vote
3. Screaming for Vengeance (1982) 29% of the vote
4. Stained Class (1978) 40% of the vote
5. British Steel (1980) 50% of the vote



Fifth place goes to this classic. Home of two of the most well-known Priest songs of all, but just as importantly it contains solid, heavy, deep cuts that sound good to this day.

But who wins next? We've still got some fan favourites and all-time great albums left.

Sad Wings dammit

Sad Wings you losers!

Yea, I'm gonna say Sad Wings too.

Ram it Down .

Sad Wings for me.

There are three good candidates here for me.

The obvious option is Sad Wings. Any album with Victim of Changes, the Ripper, Genocide and Dreamer Deceiver is going to be great. It's also a very important album not only to Priest, but to heavy metal.

The other one I'm liking above others is the Killing Machine. It has just the right amount of pop influence added, but for the most part it's just this heavy and to the point Priest album. Delivering the Goods, Hell Bent for Leather, the title track are all great. Nothing too fancy. Just heavy metal. I always forget how great this album is until I spin it.

The third one I really, really like (and this may come as a surprise) is Jugulator. It was also the first Priest album I bought new when it was released. It's a unique listen and one of a kind in Priest discography. Their heaviest, and it has prime Tim Owens. Cathedral Spires slays, and I like almost all the tracks a lot (Blood Stained is a little dull though). I don't reach for this when I feel like listening to Priest, but I play it when I want something a little more ...brutal. Brutal, but still Priest.

Firepower, too. Damn. I forgot. That's a fine album, too. I feel like voting for it.

Sad Wings

Lots of good albums here. Hell, Redeemer is awesome too.

Gilbert wrote:

Lots of good albums here. Hell, Redeemer is awesome too.

The last two are very good.

I am a big Priest fan, but the reunion did little to me until Redeemer of Souls. Angel of Retribution and Nostradamus left me wanting for more Tim Owens. Sacrilege, I know, but Halford's return did not make up for the loss in youth and raw ability. I was actually happy the band had gotten younger and thus was going to have more years left in them (imagine Owens/Faulkner/Sneap/Travis carrying the torch!).

Not until Redeemer of Souls that is. Old guys Tipton and Halford still had it in them. And that's when they showed it.

I do like some of AoR. Revolution is a cool track. Judas Rising is great. Nostradamus had its moments too. Alone, Visions, etc. But as a whole, those were not great albums.

SAD WINGS

I almost voted Sad Wings but I went with Sin After Sin mainly for nostalgic reasons; it's the first Priest album I heard.  I think if I objectively listen to both albums now I'd probably vote for SWoD but when I hear SAS I still remember that feeling of "WHOA!!!" the first time I heard it.

I also like "Turbo" for similar reasons; that was a major "party album" for my college years.

My Top 6

1. Screaming For Vengeance
2. Stained Class
3. Defenders of the Faith
4. British Steel
5. Sad Wings of Destiny
6. Killing Machine

I voted for Sad Wings of Destiny.

Gilbert wrote:

Ram it Down .

Sad Wings of Destiny is the best. I can't believe the number of people who prefer British Steel to Sad Wings of Destiny.

the sentinel wrote:

Gilbert wrote:

Ram it Down .

Ram it Down and Painkiller have such a similar vibe .

Required Fields wrote:

Sad Wings of Destiny is the best. I can't believe the number of people who prefer British Steel to Sad Wings of Destiny.

This!

I love British Steel but come on!!! lol

I think I'll end this round today. It's not run for long, but let's not kid ourselves - this is basically a walkover.

Lari wrote:

I think I'll end this round today. It's not run for long, but let's not kid ourselves - this is basically a walkover.

Yeah, I think it was over a couple of days ago. The masses have spoken. Next...

Sad Wings Of Destiny

Gilbert wrote:

the sentinel wrote:

Gilbert wrote:

Ram it Down .

Ram it Down and Painkiller have such a similar vibe .

Agreed!

I have always felt that if Priest were allowed to do the "Twin Turbos" double album they wanted to do with some of the heavier songs from "Ram It Down" in 1986 (and added Heart of A Lion track) then Turbo would be looked upon more favorably than it is .