For Week Ending:
16 March 2024

Judas Priest - Invincible Shield (2024)

[Heavy Metal]

When a band hits its 50th anniversary, you generally don't expect them to have much of a fire burning in their collective belly anymore. Judas Priest have proven that isn't always the case, with each recent album topping the one before - and Invincible Shield doesn't disappoint either. This is an album that sounds like it was made by an angry young band with something to prove, not a bunch 70+ year old men that have earned the right to slow down. It is almost unfathomable how Rob Halford can still sing the way he does at the age he is, as the entire album smashes everything in its way and leaves devastation in its wake. Opener 'Panic Attack' starts the album at a walking pace, but within a minute or so builds to a gallop, and moments later the album has already hit its top speed - and it likes to run fast. No one has reinvented anything here, and after 50 years. something about if it ain't broke? What Judas Priest does do though is use every trick in their arsenal to keep the listener nailed to their chair. 'The Serpent And The King' is a riff-fest with Halford moving through multiple vocal styles, and the title track provides many a fist-in-the-air stadium moments. The album ends on one of its (few) slower moments, with 'Giants In The Sky' plodding to a finish in a similar style to the band's 80's heyday. All in all, there is not much for a metal fan not to like here, and even if you aren't a fan of the band, it would be hard to fault the album much at all.

Arist Information
Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band formed in 1969. Rob Halford's operatic vocal style and the twin guitar sound of K.K. Downing and Glenn Tipton have been a major influence on many heavy metal bands. Judas Priest's image of leather, spikes, and other taboo articles of clothing was widely influential during the glam metal era of the 1980s. Despite an innovative and pioneering body of work in the latter half of the 1970s, the band struggled with indifferent record production and a lack of major commercial success until 1980, when the album 'British Steel' brought them notable mainstream attention. They have sold over 50 million albums and are frequently ranked as one of the greatest metal bands of all time.

Release Information
'Invincible Shield' is the nineteenth studio album by Judas Priest. It was produced by the band's touring guitarist Andy Sneap, who also produced 2018's 'Firepower'.

Black Label Society - The Blessed Hellride (2003)

[Heavy Metal]

I started my interest in BLS when I read mostly about this amazing guitarist playing for Ozzy and his solo band. I loved his playing, which included that unique 'twang' I'll call it at certain parts in his playing (followers will know what I mean). So I delve further. A six-foot-plenty beast of a man, with tats, shoulders the length of your grandmothers height, how can he have a band of his own as lead guitar and lead singer. Joke right? Listening to this, I was slapped in the face quicker than it takes a hooker to say yes for a job. Dang this guy - he is good. Let me explain why. The opening few tracks very much cement the sound for BLS. High-paced rock/metal sound that has a certain groove to it that you can appreciate and enjoy. It's not metal 101, rather shows a unique sound out of Zakk's guitar that only he can do. The rest of the band simply complement it. There is then the vocals from him. In parts high-pitched is very Ozzy like, but he then has this drone of a voice that makes for a great mix. The tempo drops and the acoustic is bought out for the title track, which I love. If you needed any more inspiration take a listen to the track that could be argued is the highlight of the record. You just need to wait until close to the end, but it is worth the wait - 'Dead Meadow', which when I first listened was completely unexpected. It has Zakk behind a piano singing the most soulful of songs which brings his unique vocal to the fore. It just shows he is a man of many talents and if you have not taken a listen to any of his releases, this a good start but pick any in the catalogue, they will give you an idea of the talent of this man.

Arist Information
Black Label Society is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1998 by guitarist/singer Zakk Wylde.

Release Information
'The Blessed Hellride' is the fourth studio album by Black Label Society.