Judas Priest – Defenders Of The Faith

To be honest, reviewing an album like “Defenders Of The Faith” should be fairly easy.

You’d just need to mention some of its tracks, such as “Freewheel Burning”, “Jawbreaker”, “Rock Hard Ride Free”, “The Sentinel”, “Love Bites” and the duo formed by “Heavy Duty” and the title track.

There you have half a dozen of classic, heavy metal staples. Is there any need to say anything else?

Which is funny because by 1984 Judas Priest had already been not only influential but truly seminal for almost a decade, and fundamental albums such as “Sad Wings Of Destiny”, “Sin After Sin”, “Killing Machine”, “British Steel” or “Screaming For Vengeance” were already in the past, not only helping to define their times’ hard rock and heavy metal scenes but, more than 40 years on, these are still acknowledged as key stylistic touchstones.

So, in an apparent state of grace and only two years after that solid blast of heavy metal called “Screaming For Vengeance” and a hugely successful tour that got them a lifetime ban from the Madison Square Garden, the Priest still had the inspiration to put together a further masterpiece of eighties’ heavy metal.

And what a brilliant album this is.

From its title, we know we are getting a no- nonsense, all- out, heavy metal album, and you just need to listen to any the above mentioned songs to realize that.

Rob Halford’s voice soars high together with K.K. Downing and Glenn Tipton’s already mythical, razor-sharp double guitar attack, all backed by the tight rhythm section held together by the steadfast Ian Hill and Dave Holland, flawlessly rocketing those magnificent ten songs into history.

I’d like to mention “Night Comes Down”, a sometimes overlooked song within such an album packed with classics, which took me through many night walks across my city played in my old cassette Walkman, remaining a personal favourite of mine to this day.

This is too funny or sad I'm not sure. I bet Turbo got a better work over .. Ram it was that even good... Then Painkiller Rob .... Goodbye ... Returns 2004 why do are albums suck ? 2010 KK GOLF BYE Glenn Parkinsons SAD AS JUST ANYTHING SAD... Rob saved by the Covid no more touring PRIEST PLEASE ... IT'S OVER.... Add Maiden and all classic rock 78 year olds.... My dad just ed June 3 2020 77 years old I look at that is just reflect be 50 get some scripts ya know sit back with the correct copies and just reflect.... Ya know someone has to understand this.

I have that one and the right channel and left channel are inverted... So KK is out on the right and Glenn on the left which is not normal.