Ranking Worst to Best: Judas Priest
I've been dying to get back to doing worst to best posts and what better way to start with one of the greatest heavy metal bands to ever do it: Judas Priest.
The band just released their 19th studio album exactly 50 years after their debut was released which is astonishing it itself. I recently had the privilege of seeing them play live at the Glasgow Hydro in a brilliant performance encompassing their half a century long career.
Really it's this performance that had me chomping at the bit to revisit their huge discography as I'd only been through at least 10 before attempting this ranking. It took me just under a week but it was worth it. I'll be keeping my thoughts short to keep this as brief as possible. Without any further ado, let's start with the worst they have to offer:
19. Nostradamus (2008)
I feel like this might be a controversial start as I know there are some fans that hold this experiment in high regard but this is the most miserable time with any of their albums and the one I want to revisit the least. For context this is a double concept album based on (you guessed it) Nostradamus and the real kicker is that it has the insane runtime of 102 minutes.
I can enjoy a nice long album if it earns it's long runtime but this was just ridiculous. If there are 23 tracks in total and I only add 3 to my playlist then there's a major problem. I can see how some could enjoy the change to a more symphonic/power metal style but this just wasn't for me even if I appreciate the attempt at something a bit different.
Rating: 4/10
Recommended Tracks: 'Nostradamus', 'Alone', 'Persecution'
18. Demolition (2001)
For those that don't know, Priest's usual legendary vocalist Rob Halford left the band after 1990 and was replaced by Tim "Ripper" Owens for 2 albums including this one. They've become kind of mythical as you can't find them on streaming services and good luck finding a decently priced CD. I resorted to Youtube in the end which wasn't the best but I made it work.
This one is often pushed as their worst ever album and I can see why even if I had a more enjoyable time here than I did with 'Nostradamus'. At this point they were clearly trying to sound more modern like the nu-metal acts that were around at this time period giving us tracks like awful 'Devil Digger' which sounds like a bad combination of Marilyn Manson and Rob Zombie.
It did sometimes work to their advantage though like the fun, Metallica sounding 'Bloodsuckers' or the best track on the album 'Subterfuge' which has a clear Korn influence. Even the two ballads we get are not that bad.
Where it's really lacking is in very few memorable tracks and so many that should have had half of their runtime cut, leading to a way too long total runtime of around 70 mins. It's a goofy curiosity at best and a dull bore at worst.
Rating 5/10
Recommended Tracks: 'Subterfuge', 'Bloodsuckers', 'Lost & Found'
17. Rocka Rolla (1974)
Another one that may be deemed controversial as it's their debut but I don't think it's aged that well. It's not a bad album at all but one where it's clear the band doesn't really have a direction even if there are inklings of what's to come, and some may enjoy the more classic rock sound on offer.
There's very obvious Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd included throughout the tracklist but sadly only a couple of tracks end up memorable such as the catchy title track and the 7 minute 'Run of the Mill' which hints at their future sound quite a bit. Still it's at least only 34 minutes long and a clear example of a new band finding their sound so I can let it slide a bit.
Rating 5.5/10
Recommeded Tracks: 'Run of the Mill', 'Rocka Rolla'
15. Ram It Down (1988)
God this was a weird one to go through.
The band was in a strange place as they'd just come off the unexpectadly glam metal 'Turbo' with mixed reactions from fans so they weren't sure if they should keep down the same path or go back to their more popular traditional metal sound. In the end they did both with odd results.
Not a particularly bad album by any means but one that ends up kind of a mess. It starts off well with heavy metal pounders 'Ram It Down' and .... uh... 'Heavy Metal' but after that it's all over the place like 'Love Zone' and 'Love You to Death' bringing the cheese and an out of nowhere cover of 'Johnny B. Goode'.
Pretty good but could have been better.
Rating: 6.5/10
Recommended tracks: 'Ram It Down', 'Heavy Metal', 'Blood Red Skies'
14. Sin After Sin (1977)
Another one that might get me in trouble with the faithful fans but I just didn't get the hype around this one. It's a good album don't get me wrong but feels like a step back after 'Sad Wings of Destiny' to their rockier style shown on their debut album.
There's definitely some highlights such as the adrenaline inducing opener 'Sinner' and energetic closer 'Dissident Aggressor' which even ended up being covered by the equally legendary Slayer.
A lovely cover of 'Diamonds and Rust' and the solid 'Starbreaker' are enough to keep me interested even if the middle portion drags a bit. Still, a damn good effort overall and kept nice and short.
Rating 7/10
Recommended Tracks: 'Sinner', 'Diamonds and Rust', 'Dissident Aggressor'
13. Point of Entry (1981)
I get why this one ends up low on several ranking lists as it had the dubious task of following the iconic 'British Steel' 1980 release, and it's clear that the band wanted to keep the mainstream attention going by going a bit more classic rock once again except this time they pulled it off quite well.
Opener 'Heading Out to the Highway' is the main reason to listen to this record as it's catchy as hell and will not leave your head for days after hearing it. 'Hot Rockin' and Desert Plains' also bring the goods along with a selection of solid tunes such as 'Solar Angels' and 'On the Run'
Not totally memorable but another good effort from the boys.
Rating 7/10
Recommended Tracks: 'Heading Out to the Highway', 'Hot Rockin', 'Desert Plains'
12. Redeemer of Souls (2014)
This was the next effort after my least favourite 'Nostradamus' and the band really needed a win here. Whilst not an album of the year contender by any means, this was still a damn good effort to bring proceedings back on track.
For the first time in a while it felt like they were taking inspiration from their older sound especially with tracks like 'March of the Damned' sounding like a throwback to 'Metal Gods'. They were also pulling on some of their own inpirations like with the heavily Jimi Hendrix feeling 'Crossfire'.
Really not too much negative to say outside of it feeling too long at nearly an hour with a few forgettable tracks that could have been easily cut to make a more concise record.
Rating: 7.5/10
Recommended Tracks: 'Dragonaut', 'Halls of Valhalla', 'Battle Cry'
11. Angel of Retribution (2005)
After the disaster that was 'Demolition' Tim Owens was removed as lead vocalist and Rob Halford, thankfully, came back into the fold, leaving fans salivating for a return to form that had sorely been missed since 1990.
Whilst not the greatest album ever, it was a hell of a go at it as these boys reminded everyone who the hell Judas Priest wer, starting with epic opener 'Judas Rising' to show that they still had it. The album also included big rockers like 'Deal with the Devil', 'Demonizer' and even bringing the pace down nicely with the fantastic ballad 'Angel'.
Really the album's only issue is the closing track 'Lochness' which comes in at a whopping 13 minutes and really should have been at least half that time. It's just such a bore and so repetitive that it ends up dragging an awesome return record down. When I listen to this one again, I'll be ending the runtime before it starts.
Rating 8/10
Recommended Tracks: 'Deal with the Devil', 'Judas Rising', 'Angel'
10. Sad Wings of Desriny (1976)
This is where I'm gonna lose the fans as this one if often heavily regarded as one of, if not their all time best, albums and placing it midway through this list is seen as heresy. Whilst I do enjoy this one heavily, it's just not perfect for me.
It's a very top heavy album with the first few tracks doing the heavy lifting with big hitters like 'Victim of Changes' still played live to this very day. It does lose me a little halfway through as while there are still some good tracks but the last three just don't do that much for me and I don't find them memorable.
I'm just glad that they managed to find their sound after their very meh debut and I do hope this one grows on me over time should I ever decide to edit this list.
Rating: 8/10
Recommended Tracks: 'Victim of Changes', 'The Ripper', 'Dreamer Deceiver'
09. Turbo (1986)
The fact that I'm putting this one right above 'Sad Wings' is gonna get me some hate as this one is not usually considered as one of their better efforts, but I don't care, I love this album.
At this point in time they were really trying to for a glam/poppier sound to attract more fans even if they alienated a few of their own along the way. Weirdly their peers in Iron Maiden would do the very same thing in the very same year.
I don't have much in the way of negatives as I enjoyed every track that was presented to me. It does peak a tad early with catchy as hell openers 'Turbo Lover' and 'Locked In' but they bring that quality back with efforts like 'Out in the Cold' and 'Hot for Love'
It's cheesy and almost silly but it's a good time.
Rating: 8/10
Recommended Tracks: 'Turbo Lover', 'Locked In', 'Out in the Cold'
08. Killing Machine (1978)
This one was almost much higher up on my list but sadly two of their weakest ever tracks reared their head here in way too Queen-like 'Take on the Worlds' and the cringey 'Burnin Up'.
Thankfully everything else here hits hard like heavy opener 'Delivering the Goods', the iconic 'Hell Bent for Leather', and the best cover they ever did with 'The Green Manalishi'.
If you can ignore those bad tracks, you're in for a good time.
Rating: 8/10
Recommended Tracks: 'Delivering the Goods', 'Hell Bent for Leather', 'The Green Manalishi'
07. Stained Class (1976)
God I love this album. It's really a testament to how great the top albums in this list are that this is as low as it is.
It includes one of my all time favourite Priest cuts in the epic 'Beyond the Realms of Death' which I was fortunate enough to hear played live earlier in the year. Really it should have closed the album but for some reason it's followed by closer 'Heroes End' which while a good track, doesn't feel that great after what we just heard.
There's not much to complain here outside of one not very memorable track in 'Savage' but apart from that, it's pretty much banger after banger from beginning to end.
Rating: 8.5/10
Recommended Tracks: 'Exciter', 'Better By You, Better Than Me', 'Beyond the Realms of Death'
06. Firepower (2018)
As I was going back through my full list, part of me thought I'd overrated this one a tad to put it so high, but after another listen, I realised I was correct all along in my placement as this one is just an absolute gem.
At the time it was their best album since 1990 and it's not hard to see why as right from the get go, this one is just non-stop energy and fun. This includes some of the best tracks they'd written in decades like favourite lead single 'Lightning Strike', with tracks that have a more epic feeling like 'Never the Heroes' or the almighty 'Rising From Ruins' that includes a guitar solo that could bring you to tears.
The only negative I have is that it's a tad long and there are two or three tracks that could have been cut as they come across as more filler, but the rest is enough to make up for it.
Rating 9/10
Recommended Tracks: 'Never the Heroes', 'No Surrender', 'Rising From Ruins'
05. British Steel (1980)
For most fans, this is the starting point of their fandom with quite possibly the most iconic album the band would ever release.
It's not perfect with a couple of tracks I could do without (looking at you 'United') but it's very close. Of course we have three of the most popular Priest songs ever included here with the speedy 'Breaking the Law', the gigantic 'Metal Gods' and the catchy as hell 'Living After Midnight'.
My favourite track here though is 'Steeler' which I think is one of the best album closers ever made and the final instrumental section always gets my adrenaline flowing. Add in that this whole thing has a lovely runtime of 36 minutes and you've got a winner.
Rating: 9.5/10
Recommended Tracks: 'Breaking the Law', 'Metal Gods', 'Living After Midnight', 'Steeler'
04. Defenders of the Faith (1984)
For some reason, whenever I went back to classic Priest I would always avoid this album. After giving a couple of good listens I can easily say that this one is an absolute stormer from beginning to end.
I thought it would be impossible to follow up something as near perfect as 'Screaming for Vengeance' but they pretty much nailed it here.
So many classic tracks to be found here and enjoyed, this might end up being Priest's most underrated album ever. I love it.
Rating: 10/10
Recommended Tracks: 'Freewheel Burning' 'Jawbreaker', 'The Sentinel', 'Eat Me Alive', 'Night Comes Down'
It's gonna start to get a bit boring here as I go full on praise mode from this point on.
03. Invincible Shield (2024)
I originally had this one pegged at number two on this list but I'd rather wait and see how history ends up finding this album first. I have to say though, how these guys are still able to go this hard at their age absolutely blows my mind.
The record is practically perfect from beginning to end with one of their best singles ever in 'Panic Attack' opening things up and it never really relents. Normally runtime used well is a big thing for me, but this thing at 52 minutes goes by in a flash and you feel the need to listen to it all over again.
It's my frontrunner for Album of the Year 2024 and I don't see that changing anytime soon. Absolutely brilliant.
Rating: 10/10
Recommended Tracks: 'Panic Attack', 'Invincible Shield', 'Gates of Hell', 'Crown of Thorns', 'Giants in the Sky'
02. Screaming for Vengeance (1982)
After the mixed reception of 'Point of Entry', Priest fired back in spectacular fashion with a divine album for all metal fans to ingest wholeheartedly.
If you can find me a better intro than the 1 2 punch of 'The Hellion' and 'Electric Eye' I'd like to hear it. And whilst the album does contain one of their biggest ever tracks in 'You've Got Another Thing Coming', I don't even consider it one of the top tracks here!
'Pain and Pleasure' is my least favourite track and even that one's worth going back to check out again. Heavy metal heaven.
Rating: 10/10
Recommended Tracks: 'Electric Eye', 'Riding on the Wind', 'Bloodstone', 'Screaming for Vengeance', 'Fever'
01. Painkiller (1990)
Any time I check out another Priest ranking list, this one barely ever makes the top three and I have no idea why.
It's forever been my favourite Priest album to go back to, and in relistening to all 19 albums I thought I might change my mind, but no, this is still their best ever. Not a single bad or unmemorable track to be found here and includes the all time classic title track that still has me excited to listen no matter how many times I hear it.
The personification of heavy metal itself. All hail Judas Priest.
Rating: 10/10
Recommended Tracks: All of them
If you stuck around, thanks so much for taking the time to read or even skim through the full post. Next time, I'll be tackling another of heavy metal's all time greats.
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