I'm very behind on reviewing the new albums by two of my favorite bands.
First there is Judas Priest's "Redeemer of Souls." This is the first album since the departure of founding guitarist K.K. Downing, the followup to 2008's "Nostradamus" album, and their first album since their announced "retirement". I saw the farewell "Epitaph" tour in 2011, and now they are coming back on tour this year (much like how I saw Scorpions' farewell tour in 2011...and 2012. And let's not even discuss the amount of KISS farewell tours). When I first listened to the album I was not that impressed with it. It sounded like a generic Judas Priest album, and nothing stuck out to me. Since then I've learned I was completely insane on that first listen. My father said, "[The album] gets better the louder you listen to it," and I completely agree! There is so much intricate and technical guitar work by founding guitarist Glenn Tipton and K.K.'s replacement Richie Faulkner that is lost when the album is not allowed to blast through the speakers. Songs like "Halls of Valhalla" and "Cold Blooded" are great examples of this guitar work. Added to that is the amazing drumming of Scott Travis and the heavy doomy bass of founding member Ian Hill. Then of course we have the Metal God himself Rob Halford, arguably THE voice of Heavy Metal. Halford's voice on this album is something special and different. After 40 years of hitting almost impossible notes with his vocal performances, his voice has taken on a more raspy sound as compared to his 70's and 80's style. While he still makes the amazing heights on the songs, this raspiness adds so much more "Metal" to his performance in my opinion. One song in particular is "Halls of Valhalla," in which there is a point he goes from the deep growling vocals reminiscent of Black Metal and then soars to the top of his range. What is different about this is the growling vocals (at around 4:20 in the video below). While it is only for a very short period during the song it was something he had not really done before, and I have a theory as to why he tried it. After 2008's "Nostradamus" album Halford had expressed a desire in making a Black Metal album with former Emperor frontman Ihsahn. While he's made solo albums since then, he has never made a Black Metal attempt. So my guess is that perhaps in exploring that style he tried it on the song "Halls of Valhalla," which is of a lyrical theme common in Black, Folk, and Viking Metal (Maybe lyrics he had left over from that desire in making a Black Metal album? And yes, by the way, Black Metal is not all about Satan. I mean most is, but almost all Black Metal bands have Viking themed songs or albums as well). The next song that sticks out vocally to me is "March of the Damned." The reason it sticks out is that it is almost like someone dared Halford to hold his voice back, and for some reason it is so exciting to me. But I usually enjoy when bands, especially vocalists, try something different (I'm going to admit that I love Van Halen III with Gary Cherone on vocals. Judge away). It is awe inspiring that a band that helped form and create Heavy Metal, can create such technical and heavy album, that it rivals and in most cases surpasses the Heavy Metal music being released by new bands today. Just like remaking a movie, the original is always better. So next to Judas Priest's 2005 "Angel of Retribution," this new album is my favorite JP album. Any fan of Judas Priest, and any Metalhead for that matter, must own this album. Oh and definitely get the deluxe edition with the bonus tracks, very worth it.
Now for Overkill's new album "White Devil Armory". Overkill has been one of my favorite bands since I discovered them in Junior High School, as I've posted before, so I'm going to be biased when it comes to their music. Even knowing I'd enjoy anything they released, I was still shocked at how great this album was. The intro track "XDm" spoke volumes from the start, it is a style that this straight forward band hasn't done before. While the playing on the album has the classic Overkill sound, there is just something more technical in the music that I can't explain. I think it is the drumming on the album. It feels like the band is performing at the same Thrash Metal speed that they've always had, but the drummer is trying to go faster than the rest of them. The song "Where There's Smoke..." is a great example of this. You may think I'm crazy, but I feel like the blast beats from the drum are quicker than on previous recordings. Drum theory aside, this album is truly amazing; any fan of Thrash and Speed Metal will be very pleased with this album. It has that classic sound of eastcoast Thrash that Overkill and Anthrax had of a high pitched singer, as opposed to westcoast Thrash bands Megadeth, Metallica, and Slayer's bass toned and growly vocalists. Another treat I got was a bonus track on the album. I was listening to the album while I was doing stuff in my apartment when suddenly I thought, "That sounds like Nazareth's 'Miss Misery'," and I was right. Normally I hate cover songs, but hearing one of my favorite Classic Metal songs turned into a Thrash Metal song was pretty awesome. The song features Mark Tornillo, who was in another 80's New Jersey Thrash band called T.T. Quick, and is currently the singer of the reformed Accept. Unfortunately I could not find a video for "Miss Misery" on YouTube, but trust me its good. I would recommend this album to any fan of Thrash.
First there is Judas Priest's "Redeemer of Souls." This is the first album since the departure of founding guitarist K.K. Downing, the followup to 2008's "Nostradamus" album, and their first album since their announced "retirement". I saw the farewell "Epitaph" tour in 2011, and now they are coming back on tour this year (much like how I saw Scorpions' farewell tour in 2011...and 2012. And let's not even discuss the amount of KISS farewell tours). When I first listened to the album I was not that impressed with it. It sounded like a generic Judas Priest album, and nothing stuck out to me. Since then I've learned I was completely insane on that first listen. My father said, "[The album] gets better the louder you listen to it," and I completely agree! There is so much intricate and technical guitar work by founding guitarist Glenn Tipton and K.K.'s replacement Richie Faulkner that is lost when the album is not allowed to blast through the speakers. Songs like "Halls of Valhalla" and "Cold Blooded" are great examples of this guitar work. Added to that is the amazing drumming of Scott Travis and the heavy doomy bass of founding member Ian Hill. Then of course we have the Metal God himself Rob Halford, arguably THE voice of Heavy Metal. Halford's voice on this album is something special and different. After 40 years of hitting almost impossible notes with his vocal performances, his voice has taken on a more raspy sound as compared to his 70's and 80's style. While he still makes the amazing heights on the songs, this raspiness adds so much more "Metal" to his performance in my opinion. One song in particular is "Halls of Valhalla," in which there is a point he goes from the deep growling vocals reminiscent of Black Metal and then soars to the top of his range. What is different about this is the growling vocals (at around 4:20 in the video below). While it is only for a very short period during the song it was something he had not really done before, and I have a theory as to why he tried it. After 2008's "Nostradamus" album Halford had expressed a desire in making a Black Metal album with former Emperor frontman Ihsahn. While he's made solo albums since then, he has never made a Black Metal attempt. So my guess is that perhaps in exploring that style he tried it on the song "Halls of Valhalla," which is of a lyrical theme common in Black, Folk, and Viking Metal (Maybe lyrics he had left over from that desire in making a Black Metal album? And yes, by the way, Black Metal is not all about Satan. I mean most is, but almost all Black Metal bands have Viking themed songs or albums as well). The next song that sticks out vocally to me is "March of the Damned." The reason it sticks out is that it is almost like someone dared Halford to hold his voice back, and for some reason it is so exciting to me. But I usually enjoy when bands, especially vocalists, try something different (I'm going to admit that I love Van Halen III with Gary Cherone on vocals. Judge away). It is awe inspiring that a band that helped form and create Heavy Metal, can create such technical and heavy album, that it rivals and in most cases surpasses the Heavy Metal music being released by new bands today. Just like remaking a movie, the original is always better. So next to Judas Priest's 2005 "Angel of Retribution," this new album is my favorite JP album. Any fan of Judas Priest, and any Metalhead for that matter, must own this album. Oh and definitely get the deluxe edition with the bonus tracks, very worth it. 
Now for Overkill's new album "White Devil Armory". Overkill has been one of my favorite bands since I discovered them in Junior High School, as I've posted before, so I'm going to be biased when it comes to their music. Even knowing I'd enjoy anything they released, I was still shocked at how great this album was. The intro track "XDm" spoke volumes from the start, it is a style that this straight forward band hasn't done before. While the playing on the album has the classic Overkill sound, there is just something more technical in the music that I can't explain. I think it is the drumming on the album. It feels like the band is performing at the same Thrash Metal speed that they've always had, but the drummer is trying to go faster than the rest of them. The song "Where There's Smoke..." is a great example of this. You may think I'm crazy, but I feel like the blast beats from the drum are quicker than on previous recordings. Drum theory aside, this album is truly amazing; any fan of Thrash and Speed Metal will be very pleased with this album. It has that classic sound of eastcoast Thrash that Overkill and Anthrax had of a high pitched singer, as opposed to westcoast Thrash bands Megadeth, Metallica, and Slayer's bass toned and growly vocalists. Another treat I got was a bonus track on the album. I was listening to the album while I was doing stuff in my apartment when suddenly I thought, "That sounds like Nazareth's 'Miss Misery'," and I was right. Normally I hate cover songs, but hearing one of my favorite Classic Metal songs turned into a Thrash Metal song was pretty awesome. The song features Mark Tornillo, who was in another 80's New Jersey Thrash band called T.T. Quick, and is currently the singer of the reformed Accept. Unfortunately I could not find a video for "Miss Misery" on YouTube, but trust me its good. I would recommend this album to any fan of Thrash.