Judas Priest Album: “Hell Bent for Leather”

WOW! This CD sounds amazing! It's a little louder than the original CD but not by much. The music has a lot more detail than the original but it's not bright at all. The cymbals, Robs voice & the guitars stand out more but are not harsh. Everything is just sweet & smooth. I'm listening to the over cooked 2001 remaster now & it's much louder, brighter & tinny than the other 2, it's freakin' horrible.

I highly recommend this Audio Fidelity CD to anyone who cares about sound quality.

test equipment

Shandling T100 Tube HDCD player

Denon AVR 4802 Pre-Amp

Conrad Johnson MF-5600 Amp

Definitive Technology BP-2000 Super Tower Speakers.

The precursors to this album are fantastic albums but with this album Judas Priest had found it's definitive sound. The songs sounded catchier,faster and heavier. Not that Priest's former albums didn't have those elements it's still all out metal only on this record it seems much more obvious. The lyrics are also more down to earth and the leather image is making it's impact on the crowd. The rifs are much more built up out of chords than loose notes. It's been highly influencial on the NWOBHM but also on American bands like Motley crue and Twisted Sister and also German bands like Accept and Krokus.It's starts with the thunderous "Delivering the goods" Followed by the swinging "Rock forever". "Take on the world" is anthemic football styled shout-along song and sounds a bit like a precursor to "united" on "British steel". Hell bent for leather and Running wild are terrific fast song as is the Fleetwood Mac cover "Green Manalishi". The piano-ballad "Before the dawn is very beautiful and "Evil Fantasies" sounds like a precursor to "Love you to death" from the Ram it down album. Get this album.

No need to discuss the tunes, let's just talk about the sound! Remaster is an understatement. The master tapes must have been well recorded to begin with and in very good shape. There is no comparison between this effort and the first cd release way back when. In dubbing songs off of this disc and the other JP remasters, my Pioneer CDR machine's signal meter pegs continuously. It's never done that before on any cd being copied. You have never heard Judas Priest unless you have heard these (remastered) discs. Buy or Die.

Released in the fall of 1978, 'Killing Machine' (or 'Hell Bent for Leather) is THE Judas Priest record, the one I cherished the most from my adolescence. 'Sad Wings', 'SAS' and 'Stained Class' are perhaps more innovative but this LP should have a special place in the hearts of not only Priest fans but metal lovers in general. Is it too commercial? Maybe, but compared to their 80's output it's bloody revolutionary! Classics galore cover this disc from the mighty opener, "Delivering the Goods" (a call to arms for sure and one of the band's best), "Hell Bent for Leather" (which along with "Victim of Changes" could be the ultimate Priest track, Tipton is the man!), "The Green Manalishi" (Fleetwood who???), "Rock Forever" (I'm sorry but how the hell can you not like that song!), "Killing Machine"(something about a song about a hired killer is SO metal)and "Running Wild" (awesome fadeout solos from Mr. Downing). I should mention "Evening Star" and "Take on the World", actual hit singles from the band. "TOTW" could be an anthem and I don't care if it seems like an obvious one. (Queen eat your heart out!!!). Never have been crazy about "Evil Fantasies", too bluesy, except for the end which is the best part of the song. Halford is on top of his game no doubt, all business. Yes the songs are shorter, maybe more accessible, but sell outs???!!!! Come on!!! This album kicks arse and any self respecting rock fan should own it. Again, the bonus tracks are a little inappropriate because they are obviously not from the same time period as the recordings on 'Killing Machine'(although "Fight for Your Life" is a very good precursor to "Rock Hard, Ride Free", better than any of the leftover crap from 'Turbo'). Priest would close out the decade in grand style with their first live album from the tour of this record. Beat us to submission indeed!

I simply love this album from beginning to end.

Both the filler and the singles/hits are great.

The extras on the expanded edition are ok. It has a alternate version of "rock hard, rock free" which dosent sound too good and a pretty good live track of "riding on the wind". I wish with these expanded editions they put B-side live tracks from singles from the album. oh well.