WOW! What an album! Judas Priest’s FIREPOWER! I don’t know what else to say other than how good it is in various different ways. And try to explain in a technical way it’s strength and quality to justify such an obtuse statement. It’s certainly the best Priest album since Halford’s return in 2004. But it also my simply be one of the best Priest albums in their near 50 year career. And 40+ of releasing original material.
In 2014 the band released ‘Redeemer of Souls’ to a great response. It was the first album to not feature K.K. Downing on guitar. But the band pulled it off and fans considered it to be one of the greatest Priest albums. And many, myself included, figured it would the last Judas Priest album. But they seem to just keep on keeping on. Ageless in sound, despite the fact that the core members are nearing 70.
The new album ‘FIREPOWER’ is yet another masterpiece in the Priest catalog. And when I say ageless in sound that’s no exaggeration. The title track’s chorus is straight up thrash metal. And hell of a way to open an album. The only slightly downside to the record is the second track and first single ‘Lightning Strike’. It’s not a bad song by any means. It’s got that classic Priest metal gallop that they pretty much alone cultivated. But it’s a little repetitive. If you play ‘Lightning Strike’ and then the title track to ‘Redeemer of Souls’ you’ll notice that it’s pretty much the same song just in a different key. In fact, if you listen to the introductions of each song back to back it sounds like a really good key change in a singular song that Priest wrote. But it’s all good because it’s Priest and that’s how they write.
But the album picks up and never lets down after that. ‘Evil Never Dies’ is an amazing combination of melody, thrash and prominent political issues that the world currently faces. The chorus just punches you in the face. Scott Travis’ double bass has almost never sounded so good and so phat. And the main riff is a real chugger. Then Priest delve a pinch into the more pop oriented side of their signature metal sound with ‘Never the Heroes’. Which should be the theme song for Millennials and Gen Z’s. And it builds really strongly. Then ‘Necromancer’ comes in with a pummeling half tempo intro before launching into a straight forward metal masterpiece. Excellent pre-chorus riff as well.
Then the Priest bring in the swing groove with ‘Children of the Sun’. Sure, it’s not the most original song title. But again, it’s Priest and even though there have been countless bands with similar song titles or moods, you have to remember that they are the founders of metal in this fashion. And of course, it’s yet another amazing, catchy riff. Love the slow bridge in the middle. Great songwriting that keeps the listener on their toes. Then ‘Guardians’ comes in as a piano introduction for ‘Rising From Ruins’. ‘Rising From Ruins’ is one of my fave tracks on the album. I love the mid-tempo intro that leads into one hell of a funky metal riff a drum beat. Then the verse comes in with tons of melody which leads into yet another sing along Priest anthem chorus. ‘Flamethrower’ is a great riff in the intro. But it leads into a rock shuffle on the verses which I am not a fan of. But it breaks after a few measures into the bad ass main riff. And Halford’s voice soars on the song. And the break down is magical. Classic Priest.
Then one of my absolute favorites comes in. ‘Spectre’ is just a phat phat groove. A great single line riff and the harmonies on the chorus are very singable. And you want to sing with it. Priest were always excellent at creating anthems and this album has no shortage of them. ‘Traitors Gate’ slows it down on the introduction. But in true Judas Priest fashion the song picks up into a classic palm mute riff that makes you want to break your neck headbanging. ‘No Surrender’ is perhaps the most direct song on the album. Clocking in at two minutes and fifty-four seconds. But it’s a great ride. The song is actually really really powerful. The riff during the verses is thick and full. It just hits the sweet spot. ‘Lone Wolf’ is a great reflection on social isolationism that can lead to violence. Such as mass shootings and running over protesters with Dodge Chargers. But it’s way more than just that. It’s also about the loneliness that plagues our modern society that we all are feeling. Then of course, Priest finish the album off with a ballad. ‘Sea of Red’ is a beautiful, dark and moody ballad. It’s Spanish influenced introduction sets the stage. And by the halfway mark the song has built up into what I would consider an epic monster ballad. And a hell of a way to close a perfect album.
All in all this is a top five Priest album. That’s right, this album is in the top five greatest Priest albums without question. Bringing back Tom Allom to produce was brilliant. If you don’t know Allom was the producer of the bands most legendary material such as ‘Screaming for Vengeance’ and ‘British Steel’. But they also have Andy Sneap co-producing. And he comes from a more modern metal background. So the result is this really really solid old school metal album with this fresh new sound at the same time. Halford’s voice is truly ageless. He’s basically sounded like he does on this album for the past 32 years. Since the Turbo era essentially. Sure, there’s a couple of notes that he can’t quite get to with his chest voice. But it’s so minimal. And his voice has retained youthful urgency which is a quality that only about 6 to 8 of his peers share. The guitar work is brilliant as usual. Faulkner keeps the flag flying. And while Glenn Tipton wasn’t quite as involved as on previous records due to his Parkinson’s, he’s still there. Doing what he’s always done. Playing bad ass metal solos and riffs. Unfortunately his Parkinson’s is starting to take and he cannot play live anymore. So Priest is going out on tour without either of their original guitar players. That’s a really hard sell. But the album is so good so we’ll see what happens.
All in all a solid four and half stars for ‘FIREPOWER’. It may be a five. But I’m always hesitant to give any record a perfect five stars. Either way, it’s one Priest’s best. Go out and get it. Play it straight down, there’s isn’t a bad moment. It’s an hour plus of brilliant Judas Priest style heavy metal. THE PRIEST IS BACK!
Classic Priest killing it.
One of my faves.
That groove, that riff. Never gets old.
The most direct Priest song on the album.
