Laying comfortably in my hand is the re-mastered version (re-released by CMC in 1996) of this dinosaur record, being Priest's second album, one that I still "hold" as a classic today.
No doubt that this piece was setting a high standard for many other NWOBHM bands to live up too, I guess one of the things that made Priest as big as they where (and still are) is the fact that they created music that had a special and unique feeling to it, challenging in an easily comprehensible way.
The album consists of a nice mix between simple, complex and quite captivating songs, the opener
Victim Of Changes has remained a classic Priest song ever since its release. The grooving rhythm guitars, Halford's piercing voice, the dramatic midsection, the jamming bass play and the advanced sounding guitar solo's all help in making this a fantastic creation.
With
The Ripper we have yet another Priest trademark. The simple but effective guitar work has a very forceful drive and the lead melody is highly melodic, great stuff.
Dream Deceiver has a splendid, sophisticated and mystic lyric that brings with it both confusion and hope, and musically the atmosphere is incredible. Just listen to the beginning where acoustic guitars and Rob's suiting voice create a dream world scenario, really magical. The almost sedative and at the same time glowing guitar solo part is also a real treat, and the piano outro sounds awesome.
Deceiver takes up speed and evolves into a great driving guitar ride. Quite powerful stuff and then it suddenly breaks completely into an acoustic ending theme, remarkable progressive and intriguing.
A mystic but pleasant sounding piano/guitar performance is found in the instrumental
Prelude.
Tyrant sets in with a hard rocking and cool direct profile. I really like the varied drums in this one and of course the great melodic middle break followed by a some fantastic split guitar solos and twin harmonies.
Genocide is built upon a riff that doesn't contain that driving force that we are so used to from Priest, the minor incorporated guitar parts sound very striking though. A song which main rhythm appears a bit tame but it nevertheless has some cool breaks.
Epitaph is an odd song for Priest, but nevertheless one of my favourite ones.
A great dynamic piano is leading the way and together with the huge vocal performance and the stunning choirs it gives life to a most moving, spectacular, melancholic and at the same time thrilling creation. Amazing lyric about the certain death we all face and the importance of appreciating life when we got it.
A lot of drama and pace is found in the ending track
Island Of Domination. Tight bass lines, a catchy chorus, clever guitar parts and a huge heavy break being some of the highlights.
The album flows in a very smooth and dynamic way, and this classic is both captivating, variable and cunning.
All band members put their special mark on this album, the vocals are fantastic, the guitars thrilling, the bass extremely grooving and a not that conspicuous but very solid drum effort.
The production has a special deep, live-ish, and foggy gleam that works splendid, a bit more clearness wouldn't have hurt but for the year 1976 this is a very good sound quality.
I have made a couple of comments on some of my favourite lyrics above, overall the quality is pretty good and they are nicely balanced into the songs.
As
Black Sabbath was ahead of their time, Sad Wings Of Destiny was the beginning of new era in the history of Metal music and also an album that has some incredible and advanced cuts that still impresses so many years later.
Written by
Tommy Thursday, June 3, 2004
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