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(As you can certainly understand, the events following this short notice are naturally fictitious, but they well express the mood I was in).
After this bewildering news, the only thing my mother heard was a desperate “NOOOOO!” followed by a dull thud on the floor, which abruptly and suddenly roused her from bed.
She found me lying on the ground, in the grip of a terrible crisis of conscience accompanied by epileptic phenomena.
Indeed, because the fact that on De-Baser there isn't even a single review of the legendary Judas Priest is really a big curse, especially if it's the metalheads who haven't written it.
So, I promptly set out to remedy the damage and patch the hole by reviewing this 1990's “Painkiller”, probably the most expressive and important masterpiece among the various masterpieces of the Birmingham group, who fortunately also hid as many blunders.
To fully understand the importance of the album in question, it is necessary to analyze the situation in which the Priest found themselves, universally considered the Founders of Heavy Metal (since the debut album “Rocka Rolla” in 1974, the sound was already decidedly heavier than that of other Hard Rock groups like Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, and Led Zeppelin, the heavy music trio of the time).
1990: after the disappointing “Ram It Down”, probably the worst album of their long and phenomenal career, the Priest were no longer considered by the Classic Metal fans of the time, who looked back with regret at the band's old masterpieces, such as “Sad Wings Of Destiny”, “Sin After Sin”, “Hell Bent For Leather” and the more recent “Screaming For Vengeance” or “Defenders Of The Faith”. Precisely due to the lack of technical inspiration and the friction that had developed among the five friends, drummer Dave Holland officially declared his departure from the band, justifying it with a generic “other commitments” and the like.
Robert Halford and company did not give up, however, and immediately began searching for another drummer.
After long auditions and reconsiderations, the great Scott Travis was chosen, undoubtedly the best drummer the Priest (and Classic in general) have ever had. Compact, technical, precise, and fast, the former member of Racer X (a group I've heard has a great bassist whose name I can't recall) provided a new impetus to the band, bringing a pleasant breeze of wild double pedal.
Having regained their technical ability and inspiration, the Priest locked themselves in a French recording studio to play together what would become their last, truly great masterpiece (given Halford's recent reunion with the Priest, I ardently hope that “Painkiller” is not exactly the last, but we'll see), an album of enormous importance not so much for Heavy itself but for the band itself and, obviously, for the fans, stunned by so much good music arriving just when they least expected it.
But let's move on to the album…
The CD opens in a big way, with a wild and driving “Painkiller”, the title-track that immediately showcases Travis's great technical skills and the superb guitar work of Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing (who “dialogue” as they did in the old days, and it's a pleasure). Folks, we are faced with one of the best songs ever written, fittingly covered by the great Chuck (R.I.P.) of Death in his last work “The Sound Of Perseverance”, a magnificent cover in tribute to this gigantic band.
The following songs (“Hell Patron”, “All Guns Blazing”, “Leather Rebel” and the epic “A Touch Of Evil”, to list the best) are of the same, extremely high quality, and show that the Priest still have much to say.
I repeat, excellent guitar and drum work (in my opinion, Tipton and Downing are the best guitarists in Classic Metal, and Travis is truly an exemplary drummer), with Halford absolutely in shape and at the peak of his immense abilities (and just this would suffice for you to buy the CD…), as well as an Ian Hill who, though slightly neglected, offers an excellent performance, confirming himself at the top of my ranking of “plectrum” bassists (listen to the clarity of his sounds and tell me if I'm wrong…).
In short, a CD containing only gems of pure Classic Metal, sublimely played by what are probably the best musicians/composers Classic has ever had.
Maybe the lyrics aren't the greatest (always with those monsters in the middle…) but they are a nonentity compared to the material contained here, which I have elected “Daily bread for anyone who calls themselves a metalhead!”
I think you understand, then, that staying here to read this stupid review is just a waste of time, as you could already be at the record store paying for it...
So? What are you waiting for?
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Painkiller (06:08)
Faster than a bullet
Terrifying scream
Enraged and full of anger
He's half man and half machine
Rides the Metal Monster
Breathing smoke and fire
Closing in with vengeance soaring high
He is the Painkiller
This is the Painkiller
Planets devastated
Mankind's on its knees
A saviour comes from out the skies
In answer to their pleas
Through boiling clouds of thunder
Blasting bolts of steel
Evils going under deadly wheels
He is the Painkiller
This is the Painkiller
Faster than a laser bullet
Louder than an atom bomb
Chromium plated boiling metal
Brighter than a thousand suns
Flying high on rapture
Stronger free and brave
Nevermore encaptured
They've been brought back from the grave
With mankind ressurrected
Forever to survive
Returns from Armageddon to the skies
He is the Painkiller
This is the Painkiller
Wings of steel Painkiller
Deadly wheels Painkiller
03 All Guns Blazing (03:59)
Twisting the strangle grip
Won't give no mercy
Feeling those tendons rip
Torn up and mean
Blastmaster racks the ground
Bent on survival
Full throttle hammers down
A deadly scream
All Guns, All Guns Blazing
Forced into overdrive
Drawn out of anger
All talons poison dipped
Impaling spike
Heart pounding fever pitch
Blood pumping fury
Two fisted dynamo
Eager to strike
All Guns, All Guns Blazing
Cross cutting thundercharge
Blade of destruction
Flame throwing hurricane
Destroys the cage
Bone crushing alien
God of salvation
Sad wings that heaven sent
Wipes out in rage
All Guns, All Guns Blazing
06 Night Crawler (05:47)
Howling winds keep screaming round
And the rain comes pouring down
Doors are locked and bolted now
As the thing crawls into town
Straight out of hell
One of a kind
Stalking his victim
Don't look behind you
Nightcrawler
Beware the beast in black
Nightcrawler
You know he's coming back
Night Crawler
Sanctuary is being sought
Whispered prayers a last resort
Homing in its' cry distorts
Terror struck they know they're caught
Straight out of hell
One of a kind
Stalking his victim
Don't look behind you
Nightcrawler
Beware the beast in black
Nightcrawler
You know he's coming back
Night Crawler
As night is falling
The end is drawing near
They'll hear
Their last rites echo on the wind
Huddled in the cellar
Fear caught in their eyes
Daring not to move or breathe
As the creature cries
Fingernails start scratching
On the outside wall
Clawing at the windows
"Come to me" it calls
Atmosphere's electric
As it now descend the stairs
Hiding in the darkness
Is so futile from its glare
Death comes in an instant
As they hoped it would
Souls ascend to heaven
While it feasts on flesh and blood
Straight out of hell
One of a kind
Stalking his victim
Don't look behind you
Nightcrawler
Beware the beast in black
Nightcrawler
You know he's coming back
Night Crawler........
Beware the beast
Beware the beast
Night Crawler
Beware the beast
Beware the beast
He's gonna get to you
07 Between the Hammer & the Anvil (04:51)
Storm warning
But there's no fear
Lies forming
The sacrament lays bare
The sinner
Will testify
They'll suffer
When sacrificed on high
The burning sermons purge their evil words
Between the Hammer and the Anvil
Force rises
False rituals
Baptises
The body and the soul
Our union
Their fall from grace
Confession (confess your sins)
Will seal them to their fate
The burning sermons will survive their curse
Between the Hammer and the Anvil
Transgression
They prey on grief
Our mission
To purify belief
This altar
Gives power and light
They'll falter
While we are shining bright
The burning sermons consecrate their sin
Between the Hammer and the Anvil
Storm warning
But there's no fear
08 A Touch of Evil (05:46)
You mesmerise slowly
Till I can't believe my eyes
Ecstasy controls me
What you give just serves me right
Without warning you're here
Like magic you appear
I taste the fear
I'm so afraid
But I still feed the flame
In the night
Come to me
You know I want your Touch of Evil
In the night
Please set me free
I can't resist a Touch of Evil
Aroused with desire
You put me in a trance
A vision of fire
I never had a chance
A dark angel of sin
Preying deep from within
Come take me in
I'm so afraid
But I still feed the flame
In the night
Come to me
You know I want your Touch of Evil
In the night
Please set me free
I can't resist a Touch of Evil
Arousing me now with a sense of desire
Possessing my soul till my body's on fire
A dark angel of sin
Preying deep from within
Come take me in
I'm so afraid
But I still feed the flame
You're possessing me
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Other reviews
By AR (Anonima Recensori)
"Rob Halford’s extraordinary voice immediately stands out."
"'Hell’s Patrol' is my favorite and, in my opinion, is a masterpiece."
By sofficino
Painkiller represents the pinnacle reached by heavy metal as a pure genre.
The absolute masterpiece is the splendid title track, 'Painkiller': insane speed, riffs as sharp as chainsaws and extremely fast and super technical solo sections.
By sofficino
PAINKILLER REPRESENTS THE PEAK REACHED BY HEAVY METAL AS A PURE GENRE.
THE BEST "PURE" HEAVY ALBUM EVER CONCEIVED.
By Greyskull
It’s my first time :) I’m about to review a masterpiece, a milestone of heavy metal, in my opinion, the best work by Judas Priest.
Just this piece would be worth the purchase of the album, but Judas did not hold back and gave us one masterpiece after another.
By Defender85
"Painkiller is a monster and at the same time a metal demigod loaded with apocalyptic and pseudo-messianic threats."
"METAL IS PAINKILLER!"
