TMU101 - Introduction to Heavy Metal - Judas Priest
Welcome to the genesis of The Metal University! This class is the introduction to the greatest genre of music ever: Heavy Metal. The goal of this class is to provide the student a list of bands whose albums will give them a basic understanding of Heavy Metal. This class was designed for the uninitiated in mind, and covers what can be considered the basics and classics. This is not meant as a definitive guide to Heavy Metal, but a starting point on a grand, epic journey. This is only the beginning!
Introduction to Heavy Metal - Judas Priest
Forged out of Metal from chaos to divinity, Judas Priest rose to become the Metal Gods. They took what Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin had created, but shunned folk rock in favor of a twin guitar attack focused on delivering the goods. Simply put: Judas Priest ARE Heavy Metal. Anyone that thinks differently is a poseur, and that person’s opinion about anything can’t be trusted. They debuted in 1973, but it wasn’t until their second album when the groundwork of what it takes to be Metal was established.
Your listening assignment…
Sad Wings
First thing one notices is the guitar tone falls between the dominating heaviness of Sabbath and the dreamy melody of Zeppelin. This changing between ripping riffs enjoyable epitaphs continues to be a Priest trademark forty years later. This album was ahead of its time. The production technology almost fails to capture the epic scope of great tunes as Victim of Changes, Ripper, Tyrant, etc. Listening to them live on later records, it’s almost surreal how heavy these early tunes really are. The only sadness about this album is the poor fools who have yet to listen to it.
British Steel
This is likely the Judas Priest you know. Most are aware of Breaking the Law and Living After Midnight. Imagine the surprise of those expecting radio-friendly metallic rock to be greeted by the pounding anvils and grinding riffs of Rapid Fire? That’s to let the listener know Judas Priest are the Metal Gods in spite of radio hits. This album is a great compilation of Heavy Metal masterpieces and pop friendliness so the less initiated can pretend to participate, like the poseurs they are.
Screaming For Vengeance
This album opens with an intro track, the only intro track I have ever given five stars. This is the album where the production finally met the Metallic vengeance Priest had been playing for over a decade. The balance between riff-heavy headbangers and melodic ballads remains. Radio friendly hits are juxtaposed with blistering Metal masterpieces that could knock blood from a stone. Any fan of Metal failing to have this album is defiled in disgrace.
Painkiller
In the late ‘80’s, Priest released an album called “Turbo” that had numerous radio hits. The ‘problem’ for many was the absence of Metal masterpieces. They’d been accused of selling out. Who are these peasants to dare question the Metal Gods? This album was the result of such blasphemy. In the wake of thrash metal and the surge of Pantera, this album drives out faster than a bullet full of fury. I could use witty puns with lyrics and titles all day. All that matters is this: I had a family member tell me Priest used to be good then Turbo ruined them. It took 5 seconds of this album for that fool to realize the grave error in his thinking, and will never question the Metal Gods again. This album will kick your ass from start to finish, including the epic, evil ballad. This album is Scott Travis’ debut, drummer formerly of Racer X. Such thundering hammers hadn’t blessed Priest’s sound since Les Binks in the late 70’s, and are a perfect compliment to the face-melting guitars.