Album Review: Judas Priest - Firepower

A band nearing their 50th anniversary, Judas Priest are no spring chickens. However, they are creators of a genre, they've unleashed several heavy metal classics, and since reuniting with vocalist Rob Halford for 2005's Angel of Retribution, they have enjoyed a bit of a second coming after some less-than-stellar output in the 1990's. Their three reunion albums, flaws and all, have showcased a band hungry for more. They just haven't been able to release that one album that combines that classic ferocity with a modern approach. That is, until 2018's Firepower. This is not only Judas Priest's best reunion album, but it is one of the strongest and most consistent albums of their storied career.

First thing's first: production. For Firepower, Judas Priest enlisted two key pieces for the production duties. Tom Allom, a man who's responsible for many of the band's classic records, and Andy Sneap, a trusted name in modern metal production, both bring their collaborative approach to the new album. And boy, does it pay off! You get an album that, while loud, incorporates both classic and modern approaches. Everything is properly audible, and there is a certain sound that Priest haven't been able to attain since their 2005 comeback. This was a highlight for me as each album since the reunion has fallen short in this category. Angel of Retribution was too clean, Nostradamus was way too bloated and retro-inspired, and Redeemer of Souls sounded lifeless. Firepower sounds like an album that belongs in 2018 with a classic crunch that reminds you where Judas Priest came from. The sound strikes an important balance between what Judas Priest represents in the metal world and who they are now.

But production is only one piece of the puzzle. Luckily, the songs are some of the heaviest, hard-hitting songs the band has written in quite some time. Beginning with the patented one-two punch that is a highlight of many Priest records, Firepower launches out of the gate with the title track and the first single, Lightning Strike. Both are perfect examples of classic Judas Priest heavy metal. They're fast, in your face songs with thunderous drumming, furious guitar work, and battling lead guitars. Evil Never Dies is a King Diamond-esque number with shrieking vocals and a more deliberate pace. In fact, many of the songs on Firepower have that deliberate pacing, which could be seen as a negative. However, the songwriting is so strong, tight, and unrelenting, that it's difficult to even care about the pacing. The songwriting in the second half of the album gets even heavier with songs like Flamethrower, Spectre, and Lone Wolf. The former being an old school slice of 70's inspired Priest, while the latter two songs are heavy, groovy, and addictive. Especially with Spectre, you get that old Priest attitude fused with a new, heavy kind of approach. It's familiar, yet refreshing at the same time. The latter half highlight, though, is the song Traitors Gate. It picks up the pace and is a furious number with absolutely tremendous vocals from Rob Halford. The kind of ripping, roaring vocals that make you want to pump your fists in the air. It is intense and another example of the combination of retro-inspired British heavy metal with a modern flair.

I haven't talked much about the vocals on the album yet, and that's because I wanted to give them a lot of attention. Rob Halford is the MVP of Firepower, and on an album of fantastic musical craft, that's quite an achievement. I felt that Rob's vocals were lacking on 2014's Redeemer of Souls. They just didn't have that bite that we're used to hearing from Halford. Fast forward four years and we have his best vocal work on a Priest record since 1990's Painkiller. Painkiller was a ridiculously aggressive vocal record for Halford. Here, he's not quite as fierce as he was back then, but then again, he's approaching 70 years of age. Even if we don't consider his age, his vocal performance is out-of-this-world and truly inspired on Firepower. The intensity in the chorus of Firepower, the shrieking in Evil Never Dies, the construction of different approaches on Necromancer, etc., are all perfect examples of how Halford shines on this album. Most of all, his vocals on Traitors Gate will give you chills, as they tear into you over and over. And they just get better and better as the song goes on. By the final verse, you're ready to sing along at the top of your lungs, and damn, does it ever feel fucking good! He brings it on this record, and if you're going to focus on one thing on here, then focus on those ripping vocals. You will not be disappointed.

It's important to note that Firepower isn't breaking any new ground in metal. It's not vastly innovative, it's not reinventing the wheel, and it could be seen as a "been there, done that" kind of album. However, I don't think that's a fair assessment. While it's true that the album isn't significantly innovative, it comes from a band that invented a sound in the New Wave of British Heavy Metal in the first place. They don't really have anything to prove at this point, only to put out a kickass record. Considering how consistent Firepower is overall, arguments about innovation can't quite tread water.

With Firepower, a veteran metal band delivers a thunderous, explosive record. It's not perfect. It could be a bit faster in places. However, the pacing really isn't a significant flaw in the grand scheme of things. The band is on fire, the lead guitar work is melodic and memorable, and the sound is classic and refreshingly modern. This is how a seasoned metal band should sound in 2018. They shouldn't be relying on the past. They should bring that experience and unleash a relevant record that has the ability to sound fresh and bring in new fans, while also giving us older fans something to celebrate and get pumped over. Judas Priest have finally released their defining reunion record, and have also shown younger metal bands how it should be done.