Judas Priest
Screaming For Vengeance

August 1999
Released: 1982, CBS
Rating: 5.0/5
Reviewer: Blake

INTRODUCTION:

For those of you wondering why we have a review for a CD that is now 17 years old well we felt that it was our duty to start having at least one classic metal CD reviewed each month and what better place to start then with a band that 99.9% of all true metalheads respect. I can clearly remember the first time I heard this CD - it was actually the first time I had heard Judas Priest. I was in elementary school and some guy had "You've Got Another Thing Comin'" blaring on this huge portable stereo outside in the schoolyard at recess time. At the time it sounded so different from the other stuff I had heard. It was heavier and it was in a way like the forbidden fruit...I had to get my hands on it. Well the rest is history, and so began my journey towards enlightenment and my metal awakening. Yes it was 1982 and that's when I began realizing that heavy metal was meant for me!



- EvilG, Metal Rules!! -



Judas Priest - Screaming For Vengeance



The much revered forefathers of metal hit it all off many years ago with "Screaming for Vengeance." One of my first metal albums (bought for Xmas for me by my Uncle) was the album "Screaming for Vengeance." I didn't really appreciate it as much as I should have but hey, I was only 12. Anyway, It begins with the instrumental track "Hellion" an apocalyptic intro before its time, which a lot of metal bands could only hope to imitate now in the present. Then comes the song "Electric Eye" which is one of my all time favorite Heavy Metal songs, with great lyrics you can easily picture in your mind as the world grows more and more technology dependant. Then there is of course the other classics on the album such as "Bloodstone" and "Riding on the Wind" which are some of the best metal songs written ever. In the middle it slows down a bit, with the song "(Take These) Chains" that is really quite depressing to me, almost as much (and sometimes more) Morgian or The Cure. Then there is "Pain and Pleasure" which is another great song, sort of like a cross between one of Judas Priest's heavy songs and one of their slower ones, a more mid-tempo song, but is nonetheless very good (it seems to be a reference to S&M). After that comes one of the most HEAVY songs no matter what anyone says, "Screaming for Vengeance" is a very classic, heavy and angry song - a forerunner of future (and more angry) bands. Closely following the second most heavy song on the album is "You Got Another Thing Comin'" which is an independent anthem for any metalhead. Then things settle down with another song on par with "(Take These) Chains." The album is then wrapped up with "Devils Child" - a fitting title for a band with the name "Judas Priest."



On a final note, this is practically one of the best put together albums ever, from start to finish. In short, a musical masterpiece. The talent shows through in each song, many of which I believe were before it's time in heaviness and such. With all that said, this is one of the BEST METAL albums ever!



Track listing:1.The Hellion 2.Electric Eye 3.Riding on the Wind 4.Bloodstone 5.(Take These) Chains 6.Pain and Pleasure 7. Screaming For Vengeance 8.You've got Another Thing Comin' 9.Fever 10. Devil's Child.