Let's rank Judas Priest, #7

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
6. Sad Wings of Destiny (1976) 67% of the vote

Sad Wings deservedly takes 6th place. Somehow I figured it'd rank even higher. It is such a beloved classic. And an historic heavy metal milestone.



What iconic cover art, too!

But now.... from here on things get real interesting. We're slowly moving away from universally beloved classics and I have no idea which album wins this round. I don't yet even know how I'll vote myself.

Sin After Sin gets my vote this round.

Sin After Sin

Sin After Sin

My Top 7

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

With Killing Machine still on the board, I will go with that.

Ram it down, damn it .

Gilbert wrote:

Ram it down, damn it .

Ram It Down their throats! Damn it

nevermore wrote:

Sin After Sin gets my vote this round.

Same here



So this is the "loser's bracket" of Priest albums.  Definitely Sin After Sin.

nevermore wrote:

Sin After Sin gets my vote this round.

Same here.

Gilbert wrote:

Ram it down, damn it .

It looks like me, you, and Trouble are the three votes so far for Ram.

I’m number 4 for Ram It Down.
How can you deny Halford 1988 screams during “ Love You to Death “.
And a whip sound.
That earthquake sound in the song “Hard As Iron”
The guitar solo intro for “Heavy Metal” -

Sin after sin for me.

Glower wrote:

I’m number 4 for Ram It Down.
How can you deny Halford 1988 screams during “ Love You to Death “.
And a whip sound.
That earthquake sound in the song “Hard As Iron”
The guitar solo intro for “Heavy Metal” -

It's possibly my least favourite Priest album.

Drums sound like shit, songs are trite leftovers from Turbo sessions and Chuck Berry rolls in his grave anytime Priest's version of Johnny B.Goode comes up.

Oh come on!  How can Ram It Down even remotely compete with Sin After Sin????

I'm not even a "metalhead" and Judas Priest is far from a favorite band for me but comparing those two albums is like the proverbial "apples and oranges" to me, not even close.

Well, I went with Firepower. One of the best metal albums of 2018, maybe the best. Just a great record. A modern day classic.

tohostudios wrote:

Oh come on!  How can Ram It Down even remotely compete with Sin After Sin????

I'm not even a "metalhead" and Judas Priest is far from a favorite band for me but comparing those two albums is like the proverbial "apples and oranges" to me, not even close.

Not a metalhead? Then why are you here lol

Just kidding. But I agree with you about comparing these two albums. I like Ram it Down, but I'm surprised so many people rank it so high over other classics like Sin after Sin and Sad Wings.

KILLING MACHINE

Glower wrote:

I’m number 4 for Ram It Down.
How can you deny Halford 1988 screams during “ Love You to Death “.
And a whip sound.
That earthquake sound in the song “Hard As Iron”
The guitar solo intro for “Heavy Metal” -

Amen to that .

The gates of Valhalla await you, for you are a true defender of the faith .

Sin After Sin

Wrecked Neck wrote:

tohostudios wrote:

Oh come on!  How can Ram It Down even remotely compete with Sin After Sin????

I'm not even a "metalhead" and Judas Priest is far from a favorite band for me but comparing those two albums is like the proverbial "apples and oranges" to me, not even close.

Not a metalhead? Then why are you here lol

Just kidding. But I agree with you about comparing these two albums. I like Ram it Down, but I'm surprised so many people rank it so high over other classics like Sin after Sin and Sad Wings.

I'm mainly here for the witty banter. 

Seriously, I don't consider myself a stereotypical "metalhead" because while I like heavy music, a lot of the "metalhead icons" don't really do much for me.  I'm more into glam/sleaze and punk then straight-ahead metal.  Plus I think when I joined this forum I was going thru a major power metal phase which I've since moved on from but the friends I've made on this board are still here so so am I. 

Glower wrote:

I’m number 4 for Ram It Down.
How can you deny Halford 1988 screams during “ Love You to Death “.
And a whip sound.
That earthquake sound in the song “Hard As Iron”
The guitar solo intro for “Heavy Metal” -

tohostudios wrote:

Wrecked Neck wrote:

tohostudios wrote:

Oh come on!  How can Ram It Down even remotely compete with Sin After Sin????

I'm not even a "metalhead" and Judas Priest is far from a favorite band for me but comparing those two albums is like the proverbial "apples and oranges" to me, not even close.

Not a metalhead? Then why are you here lol

Just kidding. But I agree with you about comparing these two albums. I like Ram it Down, but I'm surprised so many people rank it so high over other classics like Sin after Sin and Sad Wings.

I'm mainly here for the witty banter. 

Seriously, I don't consider myself a stereotypical "metalhead" because while I like heavy music, a lot of the "metalhead icons" don't really do much for me.  I'm more into glam/sleaze and punk then straight-ahead metal.  Plus I think when I joined this forum I was going thru a major power metal phase which I've since moved on from but the friends I've made on this board are still here so so am I. 

And we are happy to have you, brother Toho! You too, brother Wrecked!

tohostudios wrote:

Wrecked Neck wrote:

tohostudios wrote:

Oh come on!  How can Ram It Down even remotely compete with Sin After Sin????

I'm not even a "metalhead" and Judas Priest is far from a favorite band for me but comparing those two albums is like the proverbial "apples and oranges" to me, not even close.

Not a metalhead? Then why are you here lol

Just kidding. But I agree with you about comparing these two albums. I like Ram it Down, but I'm surprised so many people rank it so high over other classics like Sin after Sin and Sad Wings.

I'm mainly here for the witty banter. 

Seriously, I don't consider myself a stereotypical "metalhead" because while I like heavy music, a lot of the "metalhead icons" don't really do much for me.  I'm more into glam/sleaze and punk then straight-ahead metal.  Plus I think when I joined this forum I was going thru a major power metal phase which I've since moved on from but the friends I've made on this board are still here so so am I. 

That's cool, I consider myself a metalhead, but do listen to other types of music too. My music collection is probably about 35% classic rock, with some other small percentages of classical, New age, punk, and techno/industrial. I like some jazz, but haven't bought any of it yet.

And like the sentinel Saud, glad you're here.

The Sin After Sin remaster has a nice bonus track called Race With the Devil. The original is by a great late 60's British proto-metal band called Gun.

If there are some complaints about the modern/loud/cold/limiter-enhanced sound of those Columbia remasters, they still did a bang on job to include some incredible bonus tracks. Some of their best ever ballads are among those.

The live bonus tracks are also great because none are songs that were included in the Unleashed in the East / Priest... Live! albums. I made a live album out of those bonus live cuts. And it's just great. I've been into live stuff lately.

The box to put your CD's in is also nice. Nice and sturdy. Mine is still in good condition despite my greasy hands opening and closing it for nearly 20 years now.

I sold my original prints long ago. But I probably should have kept at least the Defenders of the Faith CD, because the channels for KK & Glenn are inexplicably switched around. A minor nuisance, but I still always feel like swapping my L&R speakers when playing it...

Lari wrote:

The live bonus tracks are also great because none are songs that were included in the Unleashed in the East / Priest... Live! albums. I made a live album out of those bonus live cuts. And it's just great..

Are you talking about the ones that spell out Judas Priest and make their logo when they are put together in order? I have those, and did the same thing with the bonus live tracks lol. I can't find my copy though, so probably have to make another one soon. My only complaint about those reissues was the sound on my ipod sucks. If listening to the actual cds it's not so bad.