Disco de Judas Priest: “Demolition [Clean]”

As a fan of both classic and new metal, I'm probably one of the few older Priest fans who revels in the courage Tipton and company have shown with this release. The majority of the spandex generation will not like this album, and Tipton had to know that going in. At a time when they are no longer selling platinum, and rely heavily on their old fan base, Demolition was a courageous move anyway you look at it. This forum that Amazon provides is a valuable resource. It allows, hopefully, people to read these reviews, and see if they might want to spend their hard earned money. Well, to that end, I'm not going to waste too much time saying whether I like it or not, because that doesn't help anyone who doesn't know me. I'm just going to describe it stylistically as much as possible. Demolition is very much a modern metal-core album. Forget what you've heard about it being a return to the classic sound, because it isn't. If you're looking for British Steel ptII this ain't it. As a matter of fact, it sounds, in many ways, even less "classic" than Jugulator did. The falsetto screams and lyrics about creatures are gone. Jugulator, as much as I liked it, still sounded like older musicians trying to sound updated, without really knowing how. Playing 80's song structures with detuned guitars, more distortion, and darker, albeit silly lyrics. On Demolition, they finally got it mostly right. Glen's obviously been listening to alot of modern metal, and Demolition shows it, in a good way. Demolition has all the detuned aggression of Jugulator, but the songwriting is much better over all. Subterfuge is heavy, modern and very catchy. It sounds like what White Zombie would sound like if they were heavier, Rob Zombie could actually sing, and could actually write a good song. Feed On Me is just straight up heavy as lead metal with a great catchy riff. Hell is home has a great catchy vocal hook, and One On One sounds like British Steel run through a graveyard and a ton of bricks. There is some electronic influence, but very little. Like Fear Factory, the synth noise begins some of the songs then (thankfully) goes away. There are no techno beats here. Big, loud, REAL drums, just the way a real man likes 'em. There is some filler IMO, but even the less compelling tracks grow on you if you give them a chance. The biggest thing about this album is that you have to play it a few times before it takes hold, I love newer metal, and even I did. But it paid dividends. As far as the complaint that ripper is singing death-metal...ludicrous. Anyone who says that is 50 years old and has never heard a death metal album. It reminds me of being 16 playing my Rush albums and having my mother yell "Turn off that acid rock! To wrap it up, if you are over 35 and have turned into your parents (this new music is just no talent noise!!!!), then stay away. If you sincerely think that a band should put out 29 albums of the exact same style, ala AC/DC, then don't buy Demolition. If however, you are either open minded to newer metal styles, or at least still have a little of that teenage danger left in your soul, then you are going to like the sonic butt-whuppin' that you're in for with Demolition. C'mon grampa..turn it up just one more time!

Well everyone expects Demolition to sound old fashioned and dated like 70's or 80's Judas Priest. Surprise!! Demolition is actually a huge musical, sound, and production improvement. Demolition is modern with very cool special guitar effects, and vocal effects. The reason why old school fans are bashing this album is because the guitars, bass, and vocals sound modern and crystal clear. Also the guitars and drums are extremely heavy! In reality Judas Priest have improved and sound much more polished than they did in the 80's . I can hear Ian Hill's groovy, astonishing bass lines. Ian Hill is a great bassist and for once he is loud and clear in the mix. Demolition is not grunge, rap-metal, or nu-metal...it is 100% Judas Priest on a catagory of it's own. Metal Messiah has a rap-like groove to it, but it's not rapping. Demolition is energetic, aggresive, and awesome Judas Priest at it's best. The best songs are Hell is home, one on one, subterfuge, feed on me,metal messiah, devil digger, lost and found, and machine man. Ripper Owen's voice in concert is always on key,powerful and superb.

It isn' the original Judas Priest but it's still a good album. The guitar riffs are descent and the overall organization of the music is well produced. If you want the original Judas Priest go buy the album and get over the fact Rob is no longer in the band. For everyone who thinks the bands writing is worst now that Rob left are idiots. Rob didn't write the guitar riffs from the earlier albums. Most of the people writing about this are those who can't even play a flute let alone write music.

Ripper Owens proved to be a very accomplished heavy metal singer in his own right but the Rob Halford comparisons would never end because Owens just happened to be singing in a band called Judas Priest. `Demolition', the studio follow up to `Jugulator' which was released in the summer of 2001, is a more diverse record then its predecessor but unfortunately fan indifference still lurked in the marketplace (I'll admit, I bought this album almost seven years after it came out). Melody and acoustics made their return to the Priest sound of the new millennium, but to what avail? The metal world, as scattered as it is in the present day, still would only accept a Priest with Halford but at the time of `Demolition' this seemed like wishful thinking. Interestingly the film `Rock Star' was also released in the summer of '01 but thankfully all references to the `Ripper' story were non-existent as the film proved to be an insult to real metal fans (Mark Walhberg?? Are you bleeping kidding me???) As for the topic in discussion, "Machine Man", "One on One", "Hell is Home" and "Feed on Me" are my personal faves. "Subterfuge" and "Cyberface" are also interesting and "In Between" is the best combo in dynamics out of the three slower acoustic songs. As with `Jugulator', if one compares `Demolition' on its own terms and not as a representative of the Judas Priest catalog, then as a metal fan one should enjoy this last of the `Ripper' albums. As we all know, Halford was brought back and the `Painkiller' lineup was reunited...still haven't had a chance to see these guys on tour - shame on me.

Shhhhhh... Does anyone hear that? It sounds like a woman's voice. Don't you hear it in the distance? It sounds like a lady singing, a rather large lady judging from the tone. Anyway, this CD is great... for getting you tired enough for bed. What happened guys? Did the well run dry? Not one ounce of creativity on this whole CD. *YAWN* I really wanted to like this CD because I am a long time fan, and not liking Judas Priest would be like living as a vegitarian. You need the filet mignon with the baked potato, but sadly this is just the potato. And what is with these cheesy lyrics? I would mention some, but it would take me forever to write this review on account of laughing so much. Wait, I do have to mention one... "So you mother #$*@!&% want to race? You've all got loser tattooed on your face." What grade are you in again? Not to bag on Priest, but come on guys, I KNOW you can do much better than this. Are you guys just in a creative slump? I am willing to wait longer, if need be, for another brilliant album, no matter what the wait. Just don't stay on this path you're on, cos you'll lose me fast. Later