Even into their 45th year of their career, British heavy metal titans Judas Priest continue to capture their classic raw and heavy sound in their new studio album, Redeemer of Souls.
This album marks Judas Priest’s first album since 2008, which saw the release of Nostradamus. To make the anticipation even higher, Redeemer of Souls is the band’s first album without founding guitarist K.K. Downing, who retired from the band in 2011 before Judas Priest’s Farewell Epitaph Tour. Nevertheless, singer Rob Halford, bassist Ian Hill, guitarist Glenn Tipton, drummer Scott Travis, and new guitarist Richie Faulkner, meet expectations with an album that screams classic Priest.
“Dragonaut” and “Redeemer of Souls” open the album with their chugging guitar riffs. Then, the guitar medley intro of “Halls of Valhalla” slowly fades into the whole band emerging and Halford making his presence known on the microphone with his signature high scream.
The album becomes very heavy with “Sword of Damocles,” but right when I thought that the album could not get heavier, “March of the Damned” made me think otherwise. “March of the Damned” is my favorite track off of the album: heavy, descending guitar riffs in the chorus along with a flurry of solos make this song a must-listen.
“Down in Flames” features some great instrumental sections such as its dazzling, melodic intro and its syncopated interlude. “Hell and Back” brings the tempo down with its clean intro before becoming a grooving, head-banging onslaught. “Cold Blooded” starts off slow as well, though, its intensity builds exponentially.
“Metalizer” is a full-throttle assault as Halford kicks off the song with a scream. “Crossfire” starts off with a bluesy intro until the distortion kicks up and the song turns slow yet heavy. “Secrets of the Dead” is incredibly dark while “Battle Cry” takes a leap in tempo with its harmonized guitar intro and aggressive riffs.
The album closes out with “Beginning of the End,” a clean ballad that settles things down with its haunting vocal and guitar work.
The bonus songs in the deluxe version take on a more 80’s rock vibe, most notably in “Bring It On” and “Snakebite.” “Tears of Blood” and “Creatures” match the intensity of “Dragonaut” while “Never Forget” is another slow ballad, though, the vocals do not seem to connect well with the song.
Additionally, the production of this album seems to dampen the grit of the songs by a little, but nevertheless, Redeemer of Souls is still a powerful, bone-crushing Judas Priest album.