Judas Priest

About Judas Priest

The leather-clad English heavy rock band Judas Priest have a reputation for killer riffs and blistering solos that's set them firmly in the pantheon of hardcore metal gods. They also brought a level of technical proficiency to the genre, pioneering their trademark ear-shredding duel lead guitar solos provided by six string demons K.K. Downing and Glenn Tipton. Vocalist Rob Halford contributes anguished, piercing vocals and brutal lyrics and drummer Scott Travis plays with all the rage of a possessed man. The sound they developed is frequently cited as a key influence by thrash and speed metal bands and ferocious cuts like "Exciter," "Sinner" and "Tyrant" are mandatory listening for anyone who claims to be a devote of true metal. Early records like Sad Wings of Destiny and Sin After Sin saw the band living up to their occult name (incidentally taken from the Bob Dylan song "The Ballad of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest") and are roundly considered stone-cold classics. On 1979's Hell Bent For Leather (released as Killing Machine in their native UK) the band went in a slightly more pop direction, perhaps influenced by dark metal piers Black Sabbath. Songs were shorter and had distinct hooks and choruses, though the lyrical subjects were still brutal. Judas Priest also made headlines when they were involved in a civil action suit after two Reno, Nevada boys allegedly attempted suicide after listening to subliminal messages embedded in Judas Priest's songs. The song in question was "Better By You, Better Than Me" and the prosecution claimed the band had inserted the message "Do it" repeatedly throughout the recording. However, Judas Priest got the suit dismissed as groundless.