This album is brilliant. How refreshing to hear a heavy metal album here in 2018 that does away with excessive bells and whistles to focus on the core of the genre we love. Furthermore, how satisfying that it comes from the group frequently hailed as the ‘Metal Gods’. There’s something grossly vindicating about Judas Priest showing any newcomer who considers themselves within the NWOBHM perimeters exactly how it should be done. This new record kicks off with the one-two punch of the title-track and “Lightning Strike”, which may as well be “Painkiller” and “Hell Patrol” for the 21st century. The former is a rapid-fire (pun intended) monster which should instantly zip the mouths of naysayers; and the latter is a galloping anthem with one of the best riffs on the album (2:25 – simplicity is the key!). Instead of dropping the ball, Priest opted to keep the energy rolling by knocking out tune after tune of some of their most metal work since 2005. The steamroller riffage of the menacing “Evil Never Dies” is especially headbang-worthy. [1]
The real magic of the album lies in the slower grinders. Take “Spectre”, it’s wispy melody and thrilling harmonized solos recalling early classic “The Ripper”. “Traitor’s Gate” is pure, unadulterated headbangers delight, Halford’s deadly bark soaring over irresistible crunching riffs like its’ 1982 all over again. But the tour de force is “Rising From Ruins”, starting with a piano intro “Guardians” to get things going Sad Wings style. It leads to a slow burning, metallic masterpiece, the clean guitars during the verses teasing a melody like “Victim of Changes” before moving into an anthemic chorus – “We’re standing as one / We’re carrying on / Rising from Ruins” one of Priest’s best to date. Headbanging lives in 2018, who’d have thought it? [2]
The production quality is absolutely spot on. Scott Travis’ legendarily precise kit-work is a pillar of reliability; Ian Hill’s bass rumbles underneath satisfactorily – receiving a few shining moments here and there; Tipton and Faulkner brought a plentiful bag o’ riffs with them, all in that classic Priest, blues-scale vein – beefed up by the band’s meatiest tone since Jugulator. Naturally, Halford’s voice was predicted to be a huge talking point, after his waning performance on 2014’s Redeemer Of Souls. Within seconds, the icon proves his credentials as Metal God. In this humble reviewer’s opinion, this is the best he’s ever sounded. Bold statement, I know, but I’ve always been a fan of his lower range, and his increasing age just means he spends more time in a controlled area. The ear-piercing screams are still present, sprinkled effectively throughout Firepower – (especially the chorus line of “Spectre”). For god’s sake, the man is 66 years old! Hill is 67 and Tipton is a mighty 70! The sheer quality oozing out of these veterans is incredible and fills me with faith for the future. [1]
Structurally, this album is so well crafted. Starting off are five dynamic gems (especially the truly evil-sounding “Necromancer” whose main riff sounds eerily like Iron Mask’s “Holy War”), then dipping the vibrancy down a tad for the hymnal “Children Of The Sun” and the beautiful interlude “Guardians”, just to end on a flourish with blazers like “Flamethrower” and “No Surrender”. It’s this latter half of the album that cynics have latched onto for their criticism. Sure, the lyrics aren’t stunning, but who actually gives a shit? Just shout some stuff about fire and steel that we can all shout along with, then get on with the hefty riffs and blazing solos. Tracks eight through fourteen have been accused of ‘fizzling out’…and I’m starting to think the naysayers have genuinely been listening to a different record. Perhaps it’s because the album ends with the epic, balladic “Sea Of Red”? But when you’ve got the hulking groove of “Lone Wolf” to precede it – with one of Priest’s greatest riffs ever – you have no valid point. [1]
While some of the faster cuts on the album (“Flamethrower”, “Firepower”) are decent, the faster the band seems to play, the more the subtle nuances of this marriage of past and present get lost. At any rate, at least half of this album represents an incredible return to form, melding the classic with the here and now. Exciting stuff. [2]
Tracks
- Firepower
- Lightning Strike
- Evil Never Dies
- Never the Heroes
- Necromancer
- Children of the Sun
- Guardians
- Rising from Ruins
- Flame Thrower
- Spectre
- Traitors Gate
- No Surrender
- Lone Wolf
- Sea of Red
If you like it, please buy it on their official website/merch or any online shop.
Judas Priest - Firepower (2018)
This review written by Larry6990 and dfry on Metallum
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