Judas Priest without doubt counts as one of the best and most charismatic Heavy Metal bands in history, and has always been one of my favourite bands. Their career can be labelled as astonishing and extensive. Even though the band stands for traditional Heavy Metal music, no simple one-way street of musical expression holds completely.
Through the more classic Metal orientated releases like British Steel and Screaming For Vengeance, into a more symphonic (synthesize guitars) and rockier approach with Turbo and a faster and wilder attitude in Painkiller.
Jugulator then stands for another and perhaps the most far-reaching new direction in the band's history. Of course all the classic Priest stuff is here, in a more or less different package though.
Well, enough of my endless history lessons, on to what it is all about: 10 songs.
As the song titles suggests we are dealing with a harder and more aggressive universe both musically and lyrically. This album must be among the most heard ones in my CD collection, there is just something that draws me to it. I'm aware that the album (as any other Priest release) has been discussed a lot, and naturally I think, because the album is extreme all the way.
But extreme in the good way, or should I say "genius and out of this world" way. The totally energized power that hits you right in the face is really stunning. If I should compare it slightly with anything, at least in connection with the energy and raw feel, I think about the genius .And Justice For All by Metallica.
I will try to describe the songs from start to end, making some very overall summing ups a long the way. My ending conclusion is that this in fact is a very diverse record.
After some noisy intro atmospheric sounds,
Jugulator hits you off guard. "What the hell is going on here" was my first impression when I heard it the first times. The opening riff is mega hard, the drums loaded with power and a piercing scream tears the air. A very atypical Priest song, but I have always liked innovations. The ultra fast rhythm section is genius, as well as the twin guitar leads, speedy but still melodic.
The aggressive attitude fits the vocal style of Tim "Ripper" Owens perfectly, wow this man can sing. He simply masters all the elements that it takes to be a top vocalist, diversity, feeling, power and a unique style. The depth he adds to the songs is fantastic, and yet he masters the high notes with perfection too.
A mention must go the drums; technical played and displaying insane power and great details, also the bass is very hard and tightly performed, and with a great minor central passage.
Summing up: The album's "go crazy" track.
In
Bloodstained we find a song that has evolved into a live classic, and with good reason.
The main riff is extremely cool and just ultra tight, and I love the way it changes from a slower one into a more mid-tempo style. The slower mid-section is a nice variation in the song, and the way the tempo comes back into the track is just great. The detailed double bass drums are a pleasure to listen to, very diverse and extremely well played.
A critical song about atrocities, greed and senseless killings in the modern world, a very good and important lyric indeed.
Summing up: The album's groovy track.
Dead Meat offers a nice blend of aggressive and grooving parts. The tempo is turned up a bit and the huge chorus is very central. The changing passages work really well, making the overall direct approach just a little complex at times. A very hard, intense and powerful track.
The lyrics are just fantastic and Heavy Fucking Metal all the way:
"No solitary confinement, will break my strong resignment, I'll die before I will conform"Fucking yeah, I just have to sing along when I heard these words. They touch upon the essence of how I live my own life, and of course a lyric like this one makes my bond to this record even tighter.
Summing up: The album's "right in your face" track.
In
Death Row we are met with a riff that simply shakes the ground. There is something very classic Priest about this song's rhythm and approach. The chorus is melodic and fits the songs mid-tempo rhythm nicely.
The genius, experimental and distorted lead solo part is fitting right in and delivered in a whole new way. The guitars sound very noisy, but in a good and interesting way. The dark atmospheric acoustic intro/outro frames the song nicely in.
Summing up: The album's melodic track.
Decapitate is the album's slowest and simplest track. My least favourite one, but I still like it very much. The grooving style of the guitars and the genius drumming is combined perfectly. The lyric is a bit on the simple side, while there are some cool details on the musical front. The bass and drums display some fitting variations, keeping the song interesting.
My minor critique goes for the main rhythm, which is a bit stretched out, and not with the same nerve as in the other songs, and the chorus could have been more thrilling too. Still the mega groove that is created is something that really shakes the ground.
Summing Up: The album's slow and hard pounding track.
Burn In Hell has become one of my top favourite Metal songs. The extensive build up is a great blend of grooving bass, a semi-acoustic lead rhythm, some fantastic guitar arrangements, a soothing vocal style, great heavy rhythm guitar elements and hard drumming. The intro is almost 3 minutes long before a splendid catchy riff sees the day; in great harmony with the following drum rhythm.
The main guitar solo has always impressed me. It sounds fantastic, very fast and the technical level is very high.
Summing up: The album's "mid-tempo sing-along" track.
A very important theme is touched upon in
Brain Dead. About being on life support without being able to do anything physically, but mentally trapped inside your body. A song about a hope of dying with dignity and being remembered for the one you were, and not forgotten for what you have become.
The song has a mid-tempo foundation with some varied guitar passages. The vocals are sung with a high level of "feeling with the theme" and the main chorus fits nicely into the track's structure. The changes in pace and rhythm, involving some great guitar solos, makes things even more interesting.
Summing up: The album's detailed track.
Abductors has developed into one hell of a genius song in my opinion. The atmospheric intro that is broken with one of the heaviest riffs ever is just phenomenal. The diverse vocals are a big plus, and he really gets around many singing styles in just one song.
The fantastic passage in the middle reminds me very much of the great rhythm changing part in the song Ram It Down. Out of nowhere the aggressive mood is broken with a melodic and completely different passage, acoustic guitars combined with a melodic vocal part; that is not only innovative, it's one of the greatest passages ever made and it gets me every time. The bass in this track displays some great detailed and hard played variations; I love the fact that here and there the bass suddenly makes some great appearances, which seem to fit the song perfectly.
Summing up: The album's dark and mysterious track.
Bullet Train is one of the most intense Priest songs ever. The beginning of the song, where a nice build-up explodes into a monster riff and some power-packed drums sounds really immense.
The complex layers of different choruses match the song's flow perfectly. The varied double bass drumming is a pleasure to listen to, Scott Travis knows his basics and plenty more.
The duelling twin guitar solo is clearly one of the best split solo's ever, fast and technical. There is just something magical about the way the lead guitars are working on this release. It's still classic Priest but they have succeeded in making many of the guitar lead parts sound different in a refreshing and interesting way.
Summing up: The album's over the top powerful track.
The beginning of
Cathedral Spires sets me into a very special and relaxed mood. The first acoustic guitar chords are magical. Overall the atmosphere produced in this track is huge, really huge.
The lyric is well written, describing a world gone apart and about to expire, overall a song about facing the end.
The chorus is slow but very melodic, nicely supported by a great acoustic rhythm.
Ticking in at a just over 9 minutes, the song can be described as extensive in both time and musical quality. The great element with some real church choruses incorporated at the end, makes the mood even more melancholic and sombre. Ripper also begins to join the choir in a stunning vocal symbiosis, simply majestic. The guitar solos sound innovative and the overall riff performance is diverse and soothing.
The epic feeling that comes to life when the above elements are fitted into a mid-tempo rhythm section dwelling with power and heaviness is simply huge. A masterpiece.
Summing up: The album's atmospheric and epic track.
The very hard and aggressive approach that comes forth in the music goes fittingly hand in hand with the lyrics which concentrate on darker and melancholic issues, some of which I have mentioned above. Glenn Tipton stands for all lyrics which overall are interesting and well written. The musical side is composed by Tipton/Downing, making them not only some of my all time favourite guitarists, but also all time favourite songwriters.
Summing up on the musical performance. It can in a few words be described as the best Priest has ever accomplished together with the fantastic Painkiller. The technical level is astonishing in every song and it's nice to hear the bass from Ian Hill so much in front, and with many independent passages and varying parts.
When I saw Priest live on the Jugulator tour, I was very impressed by the amount of both intensity in their playing and the positive vibe coming from the stage. It had been about seven years since the release of Painkiller, and it could seem like they just had to let something out. The Jugulator material works fantastic live, which also can be heard on the brilliant ´98 Live Meltdown.
What about the production? Well it fits the music perfectly, tight, heavy, clear and well balanced, and the different effects are used with care.
I have for many years viewed this as a 10/10, but taking in to account this site's strict rating system and the fact that
Decapitate is lacking some behind the rest I must settle at a 9,5/10.
After 10 extensive songs aggregating almost one hour of playing time I feel exhausted but enlightened.
This simply is one of the most intense, powerful and well-played moments in Heavy Metal history.
Written by
Tommy Monday, June 14, 2004
Show all reviews by TommyRatingsTommy: 9.5/10Members: 5/10 - Average of 2 ratings.
Member ratings
 | Steen (Staff)
Rating: 6/10
I don't share Tommy's enthusiasm with this album. Jugulator was a huge disappointment, esp... · Read more · |
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