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Rating: Strange beasts, Live albums...
Strange are the reasons that lead a band to record and publish them... Strange also the different ways fans receive them... In short... Everything is strange.
Sometimes they are the most complacent example of a band's self-celebration; in other cases, they are a way to delve into experiments more easily achievable live than in the studio (contaminations with orchestras, etc.); in yet other cases, they are made solely to fill the silence due to a period of low creative capacity that almost all artists physiologically experience (a way like any other to fill the pockets with useless records); and in other (rare) cases, they are the perfect snapshot of a band or artist in their period of maximum splendor.
This last case, usually, coincides with the release, by such a band or artist, of their first live album, when the creative vein is in full exploitation and humility still resides in the heart of those who play. One thing, however, is common to all live albums: they can all be considered real (delicate) litmus tests. Some bands, in fact, cannot recreate the magic live and the goodness expressed in studio albums, while others reach their highest musical expression in their live performances, even managing to improve and becoming much more convincing on stage than closed in the recording room. Then, fans often behave in a diametrically opposite manner among themselves...
Some eagerly await all the live records of their favorites (to try to relive the concerts they didn’t “savor” firsthand) and others snub and avoid them as if they were the worst of diseases, convinced that live albums do not do justice to the music and are merely a waste of money (with very few exceptions).
In short... There are live albums that are pitiful and others that, for better or for worse, make history. In the field of Metal music, there were few live albums that caused as much chatter as the magnificent “Unleashed in The East” by the seminal Judas Priest. Before Metal became a well-defined genre and when the first bands (which would later become the flag bearers of the metallic movement) were yet to release their first albums, Judas Priest, with an already solid career behind them, gave birth to what many consider the best live Metal album of all time, as well as the first true and proper purely Metal (and not Hard Rock) Live album in history...
A historic and incredibly successful album, which perfectly closes the initial (and in my humble opinion best) cycle of the band from Birmingham, and which even manages to give the proposed songs (already excellent in studio albums) a more aggressive attitude and a more precise and sharp approach, stripping them of the Rock-Blues influences present in the studio and more solidly and completely defining the Heavy Metal universe (specifically N.W.O.B.H.M.) that the Priest were contributing to create. Truly a historic album.
The album was recorded in 1979 at Koseinenkin Hall and Nakano Sunplaza Hall in Japan (where the band reached its greatest popularity in the ’70s) and is the perfect summary of the career of the Judas Priests up to that moment. The tracks present are all of immense importance and of breathtaking beauty and present to us a band at its peak creative and performing excellence. The performance of the individual elements is devastating (it's beginning to be understood and heard more clearly, the powerful rhythm section and the incredible guitar duels that will become typical of the band), but above all stands out dominantly and irresistibly the beautiful, unmatched, innovative, and powerful voice of Rob Halford, giving it an amazingly “street and violent” flavor.
It's incredible that tracks like the earth-shattering and energetic “Exciter” (a real forerunner of “PainKiller”), the square and fast “Running Wild”, the Hard Rock oriented “Sinner”, and the driving and perverse “Tyrant” are much nastier, more diabolical, and heavier (in short, much more incredibly Metal) live than in studio. A special mention deserves, however, the dark, icy, and “evil” “The Ripper” and “Genocide”, where Sabbath-style sounds merge with the brilliant sonic violence typical of Halford and his associates.
But the palm for masterpiece song rightfully goes to “Victim Of Change” with its claustrophobic rhythm, the changes in tempo-mood, and Rob's magnificent voice lamenting more painfully than ever (in my opinion the best song by Judas Priest). Even the covers present, and precisely “The Green Manalishi” and the magnificent “Diamond and Rust” (which I consider the most successful cover in history), respectively by Peter Green and Joan Baez, are so powerful, sharp, and convincing as to seem original Priest repertoire.
The album has no flaws and does not suffer at all from the time elapsed (a good 27 years), offering an “absolute modernity” and a “genetic freshness” that few works of that era can boast... Even today, it sounds as fascinating and compelling as it did nearly thirty years ago. Incredible. However, it's necessary to say that, even if the premises and characteristics to become the best live album of all time were all there (amazing songs, perfect production, and excellent group performance), at the time (and even today) many considered “Unleashed in The East” as something artificial and constructed, accusing the band of a lack of genuineness which was absolutely unpalatable for the success of a live album.
On the band indeed, accusations of studio re-recordings of many of the played and sung parts fell so much that many fans sarcastically retitled the album “Unleashed in The Studio”. The band and the production, in the persons of Rob Halford and Tom Allom, confirmed the "defaming" rumors, limiting them only to the vocal parts and explaining that studio retouches were necessary due to a bad laryngitis that had afflicted the good old Rob during the tour in the Land of the Rising Sun.
Personally, I believe this detail, although relevant, doesn't in the least chip away at the absolute greatness and importance of the live in question (indeed, the band themselves were surprised by the ferocity of their fans regarding an adjustment they considered completely normal and legitimate), but instead, it enriches my esteem towards a band that wanted to gift their supporters a record where everything was perfect (certainly their immense live capabilities had already been widely demonstrated and would subsequently be confirmed).
A live that has truly made history and which I consider inimitable and unattainable in importance and beauty. The only faults I could find (if faults can even be discussed...) concern the song lineup: in my opinion too short and excluding some really important pieces (above all “Beyond The Realm of Death”) and the deliberate lack of emphasis on the frenzied audience, which is really heard very little throughout the work.
In short... A live album that was loved by many and hated by just as many... It's up to you to decide which side to be on. I, personally, have already made my choice.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Exciter (05:38)
Racing' cross the heavens
Straight into the dawn
Looking like a comet
Slicing through the morn
Scorching the horizon
Blazing to the land
Now he's here amongst us
The age of fire's at hand
Stand by for Exciter
Salvation is his task
Stand by for Exciter
Salvation bids to ask
Everything he touches
Fries into a crisp,
Let him get close to you
So you're in his trip,
First you'll smoke and smoulder
Blister up and singe
When ignition hits you
the very soul of your being will cringe.
Stand by for Exciter
Salvation is his task
Stand by for Exciter
Here he comes now
Fall to your knees and repent if you please
Who is this man?
Where is he from?
Exciter comes
For everyone.
You'll never see him
But you will taste the fire upon your tongue
He's come to make you snap out
Of the state that you are in
Looks around and make you
See the light again
So much self-indulgence
Results in shattered eyes
Predominant complacency
Leads to beguiling lies.
Stand by for Exciter
Salvation is his task
Stand by for Exciter
Salvation bids to ask
When he leaps amidst us
With combustive dance
All shall bear the branding
Of his thermal lance,
Cauterising masses
Melting into one
Only when there's order
Will his job be done.
Stand by for Exciter
Salvation is his task
Stand by for Exciter
Here he comes now
Fall to your knees and repent if you please
Who is this man?
Where is he from?
Exciter comes
For everyone
You'll never see him
But you will taste the fire upon your tongue
Racing past the heavens
Straight into the dawn
Looking like a comet
Slicing through the morn
Scorching the horizon
Blazing to the land
Now he's here amongst us
The age of fire's at hand
Stand by for Exciter
Stand by for Exciter
Stand by for Exciter
Stand by for Exciter
03 Sinner (07:32)
Sinner rider, rides in with the storm
The devil rides beside him,
The devil is his god, God help you mourn
Do you, do you hear it, do you hear the thunder
Deafen every living thing about
Can you, can you see it, can you
See the mountains darken yonder
Black sun rising, time is running out
Sacrifice to vice or die by the hand of the
Sinner!
Sinner!
Sinner!
Sinner!
His steed of fury,
Eyes of fire and mane ablaze
Demonic vultures stalking
Drawn by the smell of war and pain
He roams the starways
Searching for the carcasses of war
But if its hungry then its very presence
Disrupts the calm into the storm
Curse and damn you all, you'll fall by the hand of the
Sinner!
Sinner!
Sinner!
Sinner!
God of the devils, God of the devils
Won't you help them pray?
God of the devils, God of the devils
Is there no other way?
Can't you hear their souls calling out in their plight?
Can't you see their blood is boiling setting them alight?
Thirty years now sleeping, so sound
War raises its head, and looks slowly around
The sinner is near, sensing the fear
And the beast will start movin' around
Can't you see their souls calling out in their brain
Can't you hear their blood is boiling setting them alight
Sinner!
Sinner!
Sinner!
Sinner!
Sinner!
Sacrifice to vice or die by the hand of the
Curse and damn you all, you fall by the hand of the
Sinner!
04 The Ripper (02:41)
You're in for surprise
You're in for a shock
In london town streets
When there's darkness and fog
When you least expect me
And you turn your back
I'll attack
I smile when I'm sneaking
Through shadows by the wall
I laugh when I'm creeping
But you won't hear me at all
All hear my warning
Never turn your back
On the ripper
You'll soon shake with fear
Never knowing if I'm near
I'm sly and I'm shameless
Nocturnal and nameless
Except for "the ripper"
Or if you like "jack the knife"
Solo (glenn)
Any back alley street
Is where we'll probably meet
Underneath a gas lamp
Where the air's cold and damp
I'm a nasty surprise
I'm a devil in disguise
I'm a footstep at night
I'm a scream out of fright
All hear my warning
Never turn your back
On the ripper...the ripper....the ripper
05 The Green Manalishi (With the Two-Pronged Crown) (03:18)
Now when the day goes to sleep and
the full moon looks
And the night is so black that
the darkness cooks
And you come sneaking around
making me do things I don't want to do
I can't believe that she needs my
love so bad
Always creeping around
trying to drive me mad
Busting in all my dreams
making me see things
I don't want to see
'Cause you're the Green Manalishi
with the two-pronged crown
All night dragging us up
or you're bringing us down
Just taking my love, and slip away
Leaving me here
just trying to keep from following you
06 Diamonds and Rust (03:33)
I'll be damned, here comes your ghost again
But that's not unusual
It's just that the moon is full
And you decided to call
And here I sit, hand on the telephone
Hearing the voice I'd known
A couple of light years ago
Headed straight for a fall
But we both know what memories can bring
They bring Diamonds and Rust
Yes we both know what memories can bring
They bring Diamonds and Rust
Now I see you standing with brown leaves all around and snow in your hair
Now we're smiling out the window of the crummy hotel over Washington Square
Our breath comes in white clouds, mingles and hangs in the air
Speaking strictly for me we both could've died then and there
Now you're telling me you're not nostalgic
Then give me another word for it
You were so good with words
And at keeping things vague
Cause I need some of that vagueness now
It's all come back too clearly, yes, I love you dearly
And if you're offering me diamonds and rust, I've already paid
But we both know what memories can bring
They bring Diamonds and Rust
Yes we both know what memories can bring
They bring Diamonds and Rust
Diamonds, Diamonds and Rust
Diamonds, Diamonds and Rust
Diamonds, Diamonds and Rust
Diamonds, Diamonds and Rust
07 Victim of Changes (07:11)
Whiskey woman don't you know that you are drivin' me insane
The liquor you give stems your will to live and gets right to my brain
Don't you know you're driving me insane
You're tryin' to find your way through life
You're tryin' to get some new direction
Another woman got her man
She won't find no new connection
Takes another drink or two, things look better when she's through
Takes another look around, you're not goin' anywhere
You've realized you're gettin' old and no one seems to care
You're tryin' to find your way again
You're tryin' to find some new...
Another woman's got her man
But she won't find a new...
Takes another drink or two, things look better when she's through
You 'bin foolin' with some hot guy
I want to know why is it why
Get up get out you know you really blew it
I've had enough, I've had enough, good God pluck me
[SOLO (K.K./Glenn)]
Once she was wonderful
Once she was fine
Once she was beautiful
Once she was mine...she was mine
Now change has come over her body, she doesn't see me anymore
Now change has come over her body, she doesn't see me anymore
Changes, changes, changes, changes
Victim of changes
08 Genocide (07:21)
[Tipton - Halford - Downing]
Mercenary batalions
Are poised to strike us down
Terminations conquest
Upon us now full grown
Save me, my heart's open wide
Help me, no question of pride
Save me, my people have died
Total genocide
Devastation hungers
She waits to leap to earth
Imminent liquidation
Before the grand rebirth
Save me, my heart's open wide
Help me, no question of pride
Save me, my people have died
Total genocide
Sin after sin I have endured
Yet the wounds I bear are the wounds of love
Frantic mindless zombies
Grab at fleeting time
Lost in cold perplexion
Waiting for the sign
Generations tremble
Clinging face to face
Helpless situation
To end the perfect race
Flashing senseless sabers
Cut us to the ground
Eager for the life blood
Of all who can be found
Save me, my heart's open wide
Help me, no question of pride
Save me, my people have died
Total genocide
Slice to the left, slice to the right
None to retaliate, none will fight
Chopping at the hearts, snuffing out the lives
This race departs, no one will survive
Heads to the feet, feet to the air
Souls in the soil, heavy in despair
End of all ends, body into dust
To greet death friends, extinction is a must
09 Tyrant (04:41)
[Tipton - Halford]
Behold 'tis I the commander
Whose grip controls you all
Resist me not, surrender
I'll no compassion call
(Tyrant) Capture of humanity
(Tyrant) Conqueror of all
(Tyrant) Hideous destructor
(Tyrant) Every man shall fall
Your very lives are held within my fingers
I snap them and you cower down in fear
You spineless things who belly down to slither
To the end of the world you follow to be near
(Tyrant) Capture of humanity
(Tyrant) Conqueror of all
(Tyrant) Hideous destructor
(Tyrant) Every man shall fall
Mourn for us oppressed in fear
Chained and shackled we are bound
Freedom choked in dread we live
Since Tyrant was enthroned
I listen not to sympathy
Whilst ruler of this land
Withdraw your feeble aches and moans
Or suffer smite from this my hand
(Tyrant) Capture of humanity
(Tyrant) Conqueror of all
(Tyrant) Hideous destructor
(Tyrant) Every man shall fall
Mourn for us oppressed in fear
Chained and shackled we are bound
Freedom choked in dread we live
Since Tyrant was enthroned
My legions faithful unto death
I'll summon to my court
And as you perish each of you
Shall scream as you are sought
(Tyrant) Capture of humanity
(Tyrant) Conqueror of all
(Tyrant) Hideous destructor
(Tyrant) Every man shall fall
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