Judas Priest Album: “Metal Works '73-'93”

Released in 1993, Metal Works '73-'93 was the first Judas Priest compilation to be issued and was put out to commemorate Judas Priest's 30th Anniversary.

For a little less than 3 decades, some of the hardest, toughest, and in-your-face metal was put out by a band called Judas Priest, whom any metalhead will instantly recognize. Being one of the few British Metal acts to hit the mainstream, along with Iron Maiden, Judas Priest still resounds firmly in Metal History, with instantly familar songs such as "You've Got Another Thing Coming" and "Breaking The Law" solidifying them as Metal Gods to be reckoned with. Before Metallica bursted into the scene in the late 80s, Judas Priest proudly carried the Speed Metal torch that by the 90's was dimmed, but their legacy has never been distinguished. So, to commerate the 30th Anniversary of Judas Priest, the members got together and chose all their favorite songs from Sin After Sin through Painkiller, and these songs you find on this collection. While this CD technically might not be a "Greatest Hits" or "Best Of" compilation, it still covers all of Judas Priest's most popular songs, so don't fret. So how does Metal Works as a retrospective for Judas Priest measure up? Well, if I must say so, pretty damn well!

PROS-

CONS(THERE AREN'T MANY)-

Overall, Metal Works '73-'93 is one of my favorite compilations, if not my favorite, and it is a glorious retrospective of Judas Priest, one of the greatest Metal bands of their time. Although not as easy to find or buy as Livin' After Midnight, Metal Works is overall the better compilation, and if you happen to find it, I suggest buying it on the spot, as you'll find no Judas Priest retrospective nearly as good as Metal Works.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! FANS OF CLASSIC ROCK, METAL, MODERN ROCK, AND MOST FANS OF ROCK IN GENERAL WOULD HIGHLY ENJOY METAL WORKS! A GOOD INTRODUCTION TO JUDAS PRIEST, BUT IF YOU LIKE METAL WORKS, GO AHEAD AND PURCHASE THEIR ALBUMS!

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This collection is not meant to be a greatest hits, but more of a "favorites" for the bandmembers themselves. This is both good and bad, but how can one really argue with the masters themselves? However, the ommission of any songs from their first two albums (Rocka Rolla and Sad Wings of Destiny), with the exception of the live 'Victim of Changes', leads one to believe that these are favorites within a subset, which compromises the collection. I wonder if Judas Priest could have used Rocka Rolla and Sad Wings of Destiny, whether they would have chosen some of those songs over the ones they actually used. But in the end the songs presented do show the history and diversity of the band, and the liner notes show how personal these songs really are to the bandmembers. If you even want to think you are a Judas Priest fan, you need to have this double CD set in your collection. All hail the Metal Gods!

This is my first time doing a review and what better way to do a review then on one of my favorite bands of all-time: Judas Priest. This 2-disc package has all of the "Metal Gods" classics. Come on, who has never heard "Breaking the Law", "You Got Another Thing Coming", "Painkiller", "A Touch of Evil", etc. Of course tho, they should have at least took the two songs from the Turbo album and in its place, put the awesome tracks, "The Green Manalishi" and "The Ripper". Other than that tho, this truly displays the "Metal Gods" music and should introduce them to a new audience. The "Metal Gods" will live forever and this Greatest Hits package, proves my point. Definitely worth it.

Judas Priest one of the most influential and powerful sounding metal bands of all time here is a run down on their most legitimate compilations.

2 Disc Compilations: Metal Works 73-93 or The Essential Judas Priest? This will come down to personal preference i prefer Metal Works for it compiles most of the best from judas priests prime, essentials includes more singles and has the green manilishi one of my favorites but the chioce is your which has more songs you want.

1 Disc Compilation: Their is only one. Best of: Living After Midnight however their is 2 versions of it. The 16 track version is an attempt to put the best of judas priest on one disc and is a great listen the 18 track version is an attempt to fit as many singles as possible on one disc. The 16 track has live versions (some of judas priests best songs were only great when live) and the 18 track eliminates the live tracks for a few singles that i personally thought were mostly weak tracks but the choice is yours if you must have a 1 cd compilation.

Box Set: Only other compilation i would consider is the 5 disc box set metalogy which has 4 cds of songs and 1 concert dvd but the other 3 compilations i mentioned are better for casual fans.

Conclusion the 2 disc sets really give you alot of great songs and get a good overview of the band but if you dont have time to listen to 2 disc packed full of priest the 1 disc compilation is very good listen to. Could only reccomend the box set for someone who doesnt want buy all priests albums and still wants to hear alot of their music or fanatics who want the few rare songs.

This JP compilation is very good but a lot of great songs are missing here :

- The Green Manalishi (With Two Pronged-Crowns)

- Evening Star

- Rapid Fire

- The Ripper

- Here come the Tears (before Dissident Agressor)

- Starbreaker

- Diamonds and Rust

- ect.