After an explosive comeback with Ram It Down, Judas Priest took their ambition to the extreme.
Many fans were worried following the release of Turbo, believing the metal gods had taken a permanent change in direction… and for the worse.
Ram It Down was a reluctant return to the band’s heavy metal roots, though some were still concerned about the 80’s pop metal vibe that had made its welcome into the songwriting. Little did they know, Priest would completely revitalize themselves in the next 2 years.
Painkiller dialed everything up to 1000 and pushed their capacity to inconceivable new heights. With former Racer X drummer, Scott Travis, behind the drum kit, Priest was ready for lightning speed rhythms and fierce live performances.
The opening track destroys listeners with its unforgiving onslaught of heaviness. Rewarding Travis with a proper introduction in Priest, his iconic drum intro is the perfect starting point to the 6 minute powerhouse.
Despite being among the longest songs on the album, Painkiller quickly breezes by as it keeps listeners excited and on edge throughout its entirety. It features Glenn Tipton’s best work by far including one of the greatest guitar solos of all time complete with admirable sweep picking.
But the main focus is Rob Halford’s astonishing lead vocals. This is the only track where he belts out his highest range on every word, proving his superhuman ability in spades. Right when you think it’s about to end, KK Downing rips up one final solo leading to the outro.
You could almost rate and review the album right then and there, but it only gets better…
If you’re looking for filler anywhere on Painkiller, you won’t find it. Each song has something to offer. Despite the amount of face-melting brutality, there’s plenty of melody in every track.
Hell Patrol and Leather Rebel personify the metal scene with fist-raising choruses and badass lyrics.
All Guns Blazing is like the shortened, less talked about version of the title track. Delivering nothing but pure aggression, it kicks your ass every step of the way with an infectious chorus.
One of the most underrated songs in heavy metal history is the catastrophic Metal Meltdown. It proves in every aspect why Judas Priest are the UK’s finest group. Enough said.
Another highlight on the album is the haunting Night Crawler. It’s a standout packed with tons of atmosphere and an evil guitar tone, especially halfway through when Halford sings his menacing monologue.
At this point, the anticipation level begins reaching its climax with the next two songs.
Between The Hammer & The Anvil is arguably the peak of Painkiller as it builds this elaborate piece in under 5 minutes. Incredible pacing and an amazing two-handed tapping solo makes this a memorable Priest classic.
This review would not be complete without mentioning A Touch Of Evil since it’s one of the many masterpieces in their catalog. Featuring Don Airey on keyboards and a dramatic riff, this sets the stage for their most epic creation yet. What makes it sound so grandiose is the emotion behind the songwriting. Tipton takes it down a notch with a slower tempo even in his solo, showing more feel over speed. Halford also marks his finest moment with breath-taking screams, specifically after the solo leading up to the chorus.
Once you’ve reached the last portion of the album, you know there’ll be something worth hearing. And Priest always delivers…
One Shot At Glory satisfies listeners with an appropriate finale, closing the 43 minutes of annihilation with one last heavy number. More importantly, it demonstrates the chemistry between the irreplaceable guitar duo: Glenn Tipton and KK Downing!
Overall, Painkiller is a remarkable work of art that’s often cited as the greatest all-time metal album. It’s ranked among the best, because it represents each member of the band firing on all cylinders.
It’s consistent, vigorous and embodies everything heavy metal stands for. This LP took Priest to a new realm and not only made it their best album, but also a landmark for the genre.
The year 1990 brought out the best in a lot of groups and this is just one of them.
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