British Steel

Definitely can hear the punk influence 10 years after metal was formed. Listening to this record made me realize how much I love the choogling, 4-on-the-floor rhythm of heavy metal (4.5-5)

Kick ass, timeless, sick as heck. Love Judas Priest

I don't even know what to say. It's just magnificent top-notch heavy-metal album. Marvelous riffs and lovely solos and vocal.

already listened.

I bought this album on release. I had already listened to Unleashed in the East and Killing Machine (I can’t remember which was first) and then Stained Class, possibly Sin After Sin as well, so I was primed for British Steel. And I didn’t like it… Listening now, I am not sure why. I sold the album and didn’t really listen to Judas Priest, apart from the odd song, until about 10 years ago. This is a really consistent album. Priest were one of the first bands to fully embrace the Heavy Metal label and British Steel built on its predecessors from the off - “Rapid Fire”, “Metal Gods”, “Steeler”, anthems in “United”, “Breaking the Law”, “Living After Midnight”, the hiding in plain sight of “Grinder” (Rob Halford is a legend). I do recall disliking the Police-like choppy guitar in “The Rage”, now one of the standouts for me. I do think there are better individual songs on earlier albums, and more subtlety, but British Steel is a classic, an incredibly influential album.

Nice

*prostrating* All hail the Metal God First of the Leather Daddies!

Whether you like metal or not, this is a definitive document of NWOBHM. I could do without Red, White, and Blue but that’s just personal preference. Perfect.

OG NWOBHM!!! 🤟🤟

🤘🏻

A classic album that stands the test of time.

Not my favorite Priest album, but still a banger. I know Rob Halford can sing very high, but I actually always preferred his lower registers. Legendary riffs and songwriting. 5/5

El mejor acero británico

When I bought my first house about twenty years ago, one of my first luxury purchases was an old-school record player, speakers and a subwoofer, basically so I could play old Judas Priest vinyl and feel like I was the dude in the old Memorex ad. Oh the thrill I got when this album showed up in time for my Monday morning commute. It’s odd to me that I’ve seen dozens of rock albums ranking over the years and Priest seems always neglected, even though the leather and spike stuff belied watershed rock anthems like Breaking the Law and Living After Midnight. Connoisseurs would probably point you toward their earlier albums, and metalheads will tell you that Painkiller is one of the best thrash albums ever, but this is a great metal album that should be in any respectable collection.

Iconic Metal Album!!!!

Boy, between this and Iron Maiden, metal really popped in 1980. Personally, I would consider Screaming For Vengeance for this list, but I think British Steel is a worthy choice to put here. It is a vital piece of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal and it’s just a classic of 80’s metal overall, retaining its edge without going into corny territory. Shame this is the only Judas Priest album I’ll get here. Favorite track: Breaking the Law Other hits: Rapid Fire, United, Steeler, Metal Gods, The Rage, You Don’y Have To Be Old To Be Wise

A cornerstone in the world of heavy metal. Whilst "metalheads" will and have debated about British Steel being a heavy metal record, there is no denying that these 9 tracks rock!

Bin eigentlich gar nicht so der klassische Heavy Metal-Hörer, aber diese Platte ist wirklich voller Hits. Eigentlich neben Kreator die einzige Metal-Band aus der Zeit, die immer noch relevante Musik produzieren.

Ich weiß nicht, ob es nur ist, weil ich mich im Genre etwas besser auskenne, aber das funktioniert für mich gleich viel besser. Bisher noch nie gehört, weil ich mit Priest eigentlich nicht so viel anfangen kann. Scheinbar zurecht eines der wichtigsten Alben.

Fast nur Hits und absolut wegweisend, da gibt es wenig zu diskutieren. Ich rechne dabei den Faktor "Ist halt alt" bewusst raus.

Ouch

Rock on metal heads

Un clasico insignia del heavy metal, THE METAL GODS. Discazo en su totalidad, puros temas emblematicos llenos de actitud y poder lml. Lo he escuchado ya muchas veces antes, 10/10 siempre.

great

9 - EXCELLENT

A beast

ImI >.< ImI Der Sound noch ne Ecke geiler als bei Iron Maiden "The Number of the Beast" daher 5 Sterne

Amazing

Pure classic metal.

I love it.

Original review from my other "project" "Classic metal album! "Breaking The Law", "Living After Midnight"... man, what a cool album." Not wrong, still a 5.

Breakin' the law, Breakin the law!!!

Despite the overplayed breaking the law and living after midnight I love this record. It’s like the b tracks are so much better than the hits. Steeler, the rage, rapid fire, old to be wise, grinder are all great tracks. This is prime Judas Priest. Super simple rhythm section Before halford changed his vocal delivery with the painkiller record. This record was a huge part of my childhood in the 80s. Love it.

This surprised me as I’m not usually a huge metal fan. This leant more in the Black Sabbath direction and I liked that aspect of it. I can’t stand thrash/screamo type metal and this, thankfully, wasn’t that. I’d heard Breaking the Law before and it’s a great song but the rest of the album was just as good! Great guitars, great drums, great bass and great vocals, a banging album!

Solid. Listened to it multiple times.

Dude Judas Priest fucking rocks! 🔥

Classic British Metal album.

This is THE Judas Priest album. Great stuff

punk rock

I think I probably have the lowest average rating for British musicians of anyone that uses this site. I find Brit pop insufferable and there is something fucking terrible about hearing rappers with a British accent. There is one thing that is undeniable however when it comes to hard rock the Brits do it better than anyone and this album is a perfect example of what the hard rock genre should be.

Every single song on this album is awesome.

A couple of songs I recognize from this album. Definitely a solid metal album of the very early 80's. There was one section in Rapid Fire that felt like the guitarist had a great rift idea but had trouble executing. That being said, it's very solid classic metal that is enjoyable to listen to. Red, White & Blue kinda sucks though and really clashes with the rest of the album.

Quintessential metal album.

Judas Priest is secretly my favorite metal band. I grew up with my mom blasting them in their car and they were part of the first metal show I ever saw (along with Testament, Motorhead, and Dio-led Sabbath). Even on the Nostradamus tour JP absolutely brought it. Their whole deal has aged better than Iron Maiden's (less problematic history, more hot rockin'). Rapid Fire and Steeler are great proto-thrash song (singular on purpose - it's the same song). Metal Gods and Grinder are good steady jams. Living After Midnight is the best hair metal song. Breaking the Law is punk less in it's subject matter but more in its recognition that crime happens when society fails to meet your needs. The Rage is such an oddball and an absolute ripper. You Don't Have to Be Old to Be Wise is here too (and it's good). Even United and Red, White, and Blue can't mar this perfect record (and honestly I love those goofy-ass songs). Rob Halford is the coolest dude ever and he still sounds great live.

Great starting song. This is indeed heavy. Banger cover too!

Fajne! Nie znudzilam się w ogóle, dobra długość i różnorodność

Hell yeah!

This album was chock full of hits and honestly better than I was expecting. I think I’m a fan now?

Perfect every cut every note 100%

Great metal album. Surprisingly upbeat, but amazing all-around. It really shows off Judas Priest's musicality.

Fuck yeah, can see why this was the front end of the metal scene

Aldri feil med Rob Lærford

I want to give it 5 stars... maybe I will give it 5 stars. There are a couple of turkeys on this album if I'm honest but they can't even touch the soaring highs of the great songs.

The year 1980 was a landmark year for rock and metal, marked by the release of several seminal albums. Among them was Judas Priest's "British Steel", a record that solidified their place as one of the most influential bands in metal. Judas Priest’s impact on the genre goes beyond their music. The band's pioneering leather-and-chains image, which they fully embraced in 1980, became a visual template for countless metal acts. While their lyrical and sonic approach differs from Black Sabbath, Judas Priest is arguably just as critical to the development of heavy metal. The album’s production is clean and powerful, highlighting the rhythm section (Ian Hill and Dave Holland) and the legendary dual-guitar attack of Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing. This sound, combined with Rob Halford's brilliant vocals, created a formula that many bands would try to emulate. Halford is, in my opinion, one of the top three metal vocalists of all time, alongside both Bruce Dickinson and Ronnie James Dio. Highlights are: "Rapid Fire" - Aggressive and thrilling opening . "Metal Gods" - is a classic Priest song - it has a great melody. Imaginative use of sound affects with a sci-fi theme. "Breaking The Law" - A hit single of the time, with a radio friendly catchy chorus and great riff. Along with "Living After Midnight" both were real cross overs into mainstream awareness and airwaves. "Grinder" - Heavy and percussive riff. A great track. Great lead work. "Living After Midnight" - What a song. Great intro, great riff, great lead breaks. Catchy as hell. "The Rage" - A truly wonderful song that stands out from the rest of the album. It starts with a surprisingly funky bassline from Ian Hill before exploding into a powerful, classic metal riff, demonstrating the band's dynamic range. "Steeler" - The album's closer is a heavy and powerful track. It features a thunderous rhythm and a classic, galloping guitar riff that provides a perfect conclusion to the album While "British Steel" isn't my personal favourite Judas Priest album (that would be Killing Machine), and I don't consider it their musical peak, it is an excellent and important album. It was the first time the band's sound became more concise, direct, and immediate, a shift that proved to be hugely influential. Five stars. If you’re looking to buy or stream this album, I highly recommend the 30th Anniversary edition. It includes a fantastic live album recorded at The Seminole Hard Rock Arena, where Priest performs "British Steel" in its entirety, along with other tracks - it's quite fabulous and could have been a stand-alone release in its own right. Side one 1 "Rapid Fire" (5/5) 2 "Metal Gods" (5/5) 3 "Breaking the Law" (5/5) 4 "Grinder" (5/5) 5 "United" (3/5) Side two 1 "You Don't Have to Be Old to Be Wise" (4/5) 2 "Living After Midnight" (5/5) 3 "The Rage" (5/5) 4 "Steeler" (5/5) Total - 42 Average - 4.67 119/1001 62/119 albums reviewed were new to me.

Love them. Love them live.

Legendary

# In-Depth Review of Judas Priest's *British Steel*: The Metal Revolution ## 🎵 Introduction **Judas Priest's** *British Steel*, released on **14 April 1980**, is widely regarded as a landmark album that reshaped the heavy metal genre. It marked the band's transition from their earlier, more complex sound to a streamlined, anthemic style that appealed to a broader audience while retaining their heavy metal roots. The album solidified Judas Priest's status as metal icons and influenced countless bands in the metal genre . --- ## 📜 Album Overview *British Steel* was recorded at **Tittenhurst Park** (a studio owned by Ringo Starr) in early 1980 under the production of **Tom Allom**. The album features the classic Judas Priest lineup: - **Rob Halford** (Vocals) - **K.K. Downing** (Guitar) - **Glenn Tipton** (Guitar) - **Ian Hill** (Bass) - **Dave Holland** (Drums) . The album's title is a nod to the **British Steel Corporation**, reflecting the band's industrial roots in Birmingham and the societal struggles of the time . --- ## 🎤 Lyrics and Themes ### Rebellion and Defiance The lyrics on *British Steel* revolve around themes of **rebellion, empowerment, and societal resistance**. Songs like "Breaking the Law" and "The Rage" capture the frustration and anger of the working class during the Thatcher era, a time of economic strife and industrial unrest in the UK . ### Unity and Anthems Tracks like "United" and "You Don’t Have to Be Old to Be Wise" emphasize **unity and individualism**, encouraging listeners to stand together and defy oppressive norms . ### Sci-Fi and Metaphor "Metal Gods" uses sci-fi imagery to describe a machine-dominated world, while "Grinder" explores themes of freedom and defiance . ### Pros and Cons of Lyrics - **Pros**: Memorable, anthemic phrases that resonate with listeners; themes of rebellion and unity are timeless. - **Cons**: Some lyrics, like those in "Grinder," are criticized for being simplistic or awkward . --- ## 🎸 Music and Sound ### Streamlined and Accessible *British Steel* is known for its **catchy, radio-friendly sound** without sacrificing heaviness. Tracks like "Living After Midnight" and "Breaking the Law" are driven by infectious riffs and choruses, making them instant classics . ### Twin Guitar Attack The duo of **K.K. Downing and Glenn Tipton** shines throughout the album, delivering sharp riffs and melodic solos. Songs like "Rapid Fire" and "Steeler" showcase their tight interplay and technical prowess . ### Rhythm Section **Dave Holland's** drumming is straightforward but effective, providing a solid backbone for the album. However, his style is sometimes criticized as too rigid compared to previous drummers like Les Binks . **Ian Hill's** bass lines are tight and lock in with the drums, though they are often understated . ### Pros and Cons of Music - **Pros**: Catchy, anthemic songs; iconic riffs and solos; balanced mix of heavy and accessible tracks. - **Cons**: Some fans find the rhythm section too simplistic compared to earlier albums . --- ## 🎧 Production ### Raw and Innovative Producer **Tom Allom** captured the band's live energy while experimenting with unconventional sounds. For example, the marching sounds in "Metal Gods" were created using **cutlery and billiard cues** . ### Dry and Punchy Sound The production is **dry and minimalistic**, with a focus on clarity and punch. This approach allowed the guitars and vocals to take center stage . ### Pros and Cons of Production - **Pros**: Clean, powerful sound; innovative use of everyday objects for sound effects; captures the band's energy. - **Cons**: Some critics find the production too sterile compared to the rawness of earlier albums . --- ## 🌍 Influence and Legacy ### Defining the NWOBHM *British Steel* played a pivotal role in the **New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM)** movement, influencing bands like **Iron Maiden, Def Leppard, and Metallica** . ### Commercial Success The album was a commercial breakthrough, peaking at **#4 in the UK** and **#34 on the Billboard 200**. It produced hit singles like "Breaking the Law" and "Living After Midnight," which remain staples of classic rock radio . ### Enduring Impact *British Steel* is often cited as one of the **greatest heavy metal albums of all time**. Its songs have been covered by numerous artists, and the album's themes of rebellion and unity continue to resonate with new generations of fans . --- ## 👍👎 Overall Pros and Cons ### Pros 1. **Iconic Songs**: Tracks like "Breaking the Law," "Living After Midnight," and "Metal Gods" are timeless anthems. 2. **Innovative Production**: Tom Allom's creative techniques added uniqueness to the sound. 3. **Cultural Impact**: The album defined the sound and aesthetic of heavy metal for decades. 4. **Thematic Depth**: Lyrics addressing societal issues give the album lasting relevance. 5. **Accessibility**: The streamlined sound made metal more accessible to a wider audience . ### Cons 1. **Simplistic Drumming**: Dave Holland's drumming is sometimes seen as too basic for the genre. 2. **Lyrical Missteps**: Some lyrics, like those in "Grinder," are considered weak or awkward. 3. **Production Sterility**: The dry production may lack the warmth of earlier albums . --- ## 🏆 Conclusion *British Steel* remains a **cornerstone of heavy metal** and a testament to Judas Priest's innovation and influence. While it may not have the progressive complexity of their earlier work, its catchy songwriting, powerful themes, and groundbreaking production make it an essential album for any metal fan. Despite minor flaws, its legacy as a genre-defining classic is undeniable .

this shit goes crazy hard

очень понравился, тянет потанцевать под некоторые, могу прочувстовать альбом

10/10 I'm sorry you're British but you're heavy metal first, British last

Hard core bu very old and classical rock sounds.

Loved this.

good

Meu favorito do Judas desde sempre.

Slaps! Loved it.

On one level it’s an absolute stone cold classic. 100 stars. Rob halford seems a great guy and can really sing. The rest of the band is a crack unit. But priest never really grabbed me for some reason. So personally I’d give this a three. But I can’t deny its value. So it’s a 5.

This is what metal should sound like, dammit.

Con la cabeza baja, doy mis 5

Hells yes

Amazing Judas Priest . A great collection of classic, iconic metal songs. Nothing bad to say about any of it.

I was not expecting to like this but this was great. Easy 5. Stand out song - Living after Midnight

Personally I think one of the best albums the band released.

Plus intéressant que Black Sabbath.

I knew who Judas priest where and listened to a few of their hits but never a whole album, this was such an amazing surprise. I enjoyed some of the songs that where not released as there big hits even more and thought the album had no bad songs and was fantastic start to finish. I listened to this in the gym and it was great for that uptempo beat and big powerful energy, a new favorite.

Just one long “fuuuuuucccckkkk yessssss” throughout the whole album. Rapid Fire is one of the best opening tracks to any album.

Energético.

An excellent example of British metal of the late 70s/early 80s. The band were probably a bit old to be considered part of the NWoBHM. This is album is all killer no filler.

What can i say? I love British Steel. I have had some experience with listening to Judas Priest though i don't think that anything i really listened to by them was from this album. I am glad i did find this album though as it is an excellent listen. Of course some of my favorite songs off this album are the singles like Breaking The Law, United and Living After Midnight but the other songs are no slouches either. These songs are mainly so good due to their excellent guitars and bass. Listening to the bass really made me think about how much modern metal pushes the bass into the background and makes me appreciate it being in the forefront here. I really enjoyed this album as expected. Best Song: Breaking The Law Worst Song: Rapid Fire

"Rapid Fire" fucking rocked. I've never really listened to Judas Priest but that was electric. It was likely a less abrasive Iron Maiden mixed with an un-satirized Tenacious D. I didn't write down any further songs because they were all absolutely ripping. I was entranced by the metal. This album was so sick. Sorry for not listeing to you before Judas Priest. 9/10

10

Needed to rock out today

I tried listening to Judas Priest before, but it clicked this time!

Judas Priest is my favorite band. i have this album tattooed on my body. i’m a little biased here

Damn, this is such a cool album. It’s classic heavy metal from front to back, with frankly perfect vocals. There is plenty of melody, but just the right amount of distortion to go along with them. This is similar with the guitars too - plenty of ear worms with just enough distortion to avoid getting messy. There isn’t a single song here that I didn’t love. That album is absolutely banging.

This is it.

This rips. One of my favourite discoveries from this list.

Hell yeah. This is some of the finest metal I ever did hear.

10/10. Judas Priest is one of the most superb metal bands ever, and Rob Halford is a metal god. :)

Crazy amount of bangers packed into this album! And it’s Judas fucking Priest! Rapid fire into metal gods into breaking the law?! Insane! Slight dip at the end but I won’t even penalize that because banger after banger after banger.

Good album. Breaking the Law is an all timer but not too much.of a drop off. Rob Halford is a bit gimmicky, but hey - it's heavy metal.

Metal to the core.

Fuck, YES! Judas Priest rock the hell out. Of course I own a physical copy of this classic. This album is great. Not every album has to be some deep philosophical retrospect that makes me feel like I’m falling English class. Sometimes you just want to crank that stereo up to 11 and bang your fucking head. Got a chance to see Judas Priest and Sabaton last year. Great fucking show. Mad respect to these guys for still crushing it in their 70’s. I’m gonna spin my copy of Screaming For Vengeance next 🤘🏻🤘🏻

Awesome, classic.

Classic metal album! "Breaking The Law", "Living After Midnight"... man, what a cool album.

Too bad the last song is so dopey, but it doesn’t matter. Judas Priest rules, Halford rules. Can’t believe this is the same band that also did Painkiller years later. One of the greats.

Fuck yes

I liked this a lot. His voice is great, the music is great, the lyrics werent super outdated (unless i wasnt fully paying attention) and it was a really enjoyable album. 5/5

Fantastic album

This album rocks surprisingly hard.

Richtig starke Platte

Absolute banger

Hell yes!

Was going to give this a 4, but felt hard not to give it a 5. I guess that means 4.5, rounded up.

PRIEEEEEESSSTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!

Ok so I like his voice a lot but something about the backing music doesn’t hit for me. BUT I think that’s a genre thing because I never enjoy the instrument portion of metal music as much as I think I should. I think it’s a balance thing, like it’s too sharp and high pitched compared to what I think of as more dad classic rock. Taking all that into account I give it a 4.5 rounded up to a 5.

Just classic

Classic metal album by Judas Priest. It's truly excellent and it's only overshadowed by their later album Screaming for Vengeance (I'm really fond of Painkiller as well). This is an album everyone should give a listen.

The liked this album. Fantastic selection of songs. Was great music to listen to while running.

100% Biased. One of my fathers childhood albums and i heard allot of Judas when I grew up. This album is essential for metal head's I would say, classic British Heavy Metal. As far as 1001 albums it might be a good representative of heavy metal and pretty easy listened and catchy for the average listener I would say. If you only heard breaking the law I the tracks United and living after midnight be in the same vein.

Very good, love classic rock.

Fantastic!

Wow, I haven't listened to this album since high school. Listening now years later, I can notice that this album contains the essential basis of all heavy metal from the 80s. Mainly Iron Maiden, in which I found several similarities. And now I'm a Manchester United fan.

Super fun, pure, simple rock.

Absolute classic. This album has two of Judas Priest’s biggest hit songs and the other songs on the album are good but not great. They kinda feel like filler unfortunately. That’s what makes this album really hard to review, it has music that I grew up listening to and loving a lot, but the album as whole is not perfect. It gets alittle stagnant after “living after midnight” but honestly I’d still recommend it.

The metal god... What else is there to say, this album has been praised by members of many legendary bands, that has to have a reason. Loved it!

Amazing

LP

This fucking rocks

CLASSIC

I loved every track on this record. It didn't disappoint. The guitar and drums were insane

Y'know, instead of spending half the review on prose like I did the last time I talked about a legend of British heavy metal, let's cut straight to the point: this album kicks serious ass. Front to back, it's 36 minutes of nonstop riffing and soloing, and it's **awesome**. As you can tell, I'm not particularly complex when it comes to what I want from metal albums. Heck, I'd probably even call myself a little simple, or even shallow. It's probably why I have so little trouble loving hair metal as much as I do. I mean, if a metal album makes me scrunch up my face like "Aw, hell yeah, that's **sick**," then it did its job right and **I'M A HAPPY GIRL**. And seriously, this album has all the right things going for it. Like my tastes in metal, they're not terribly complicated, but... Goodness. You take that twin guitar attack from K.K. and Glen... Those just awe-inspiring vocals from Halford... Not to mention, the **choruses** he gets to sing throughout — you might call 'em cheesy and commercial; I call 'em **AMAZING**... And you just lock it all down with Holland's rocksteady drumming... I've called Black Sabbath's "classical metal" for being the prometheus flame of metal, and honestly, I'm incredibly tempted to call this album the same for 80's metal. At the very least I'd call it traditional metal for how much it clearly inspired bands that came afterwards. I can hear so many of them in this album, from Maiden to Metallica... It's inspiring, honestly. (Seriously, though, "Rapid Fire" sounds so much like an Iron Maiden song it honestly kind of stuns me. You just so easily hear Bruce Dickinson singing it, goodness. Gawd, the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal — that's really the good shit right there.) No "duh" this album is a full 5 outta 5 for me. It's just so... Fwoof, man, I feel like I've run out of synonyms for "kickass." 'Cuz that's just what it is, without question, and that's all I have and need to say about it. Unless you're just **that snobbish** about metal — and I know some people can be **really** snobbish — I can't imagine not having a good time with this. And I really don't envy the random 60's singer-songwriter psychedelic folk album The Randomizer is gonna give my group after this, 'cuz, boy, ain't it gonna look like an absolute smoldering nothing next to this absolute face-melter. Seriously, jus' give us MASTER OF PUPPETS or Iron Maiden's debut already, I swear...

First with Motorhead, and now with Judas Priest, this just goes to show how absolutely kickass the New Wave of British Heavy Metal was. Solid 5 Stars.

I’m at a 10, and I think I’m learning that I’m actually really into metal. I’ve heard of Judas Priest – I sort of knew their place in the heavy metal canon, but I’ve never *heard* Judas Priest. We’re 10 years after Black Sabbath dropped their debut, so heavy metal was already well established by this point. This is also 6 albums deep into their own discography, so while I was expecting this to be really refined and really good, I still wasn’t really prepared for just how much this feels like *the* precursor to 1980s heavy metal, and specifically, the sound Metallica would refine even further. This feels a lot like a Metallica album, but with just enough of the late 70s present to keep it sort of unique. Didn’t stop me from comparing it to a lot of 90s bands, though. The album just kicks ass, dude. I don’t even want to be super flowery about it – from the opening riffs of the guitar, and the power in Rob Halford’s voice, the album immediately shoots out of a cannon and never looks back. Honestly, though, what struck me the most about the first track, and really set the tone for the rest of the album, is just how fucking good the percussion is. It’s deeply crucial to making each track work, and every single time a fill cuts through the power of the guitar and his vocals, it’s immediately striking & powerful. I could go on an aside about Dave Holland being convicted of sexual abuse in 2002, but that’s the sort of thing that doesn’t drag down the quality of the music, just my opinion on the asshole. I’m just kinda stunned, really – I thought of several bands & artists while listening to this: Metallica, Crush 40, AC/DC, Chicago, Boston, Men Without Hats (somehow), Capcom’s sound team (You Don't Have to Be Old to Be Wise is just Storm Eagle’s theme), the Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Police, Phil Collins (the percussion on Steeler has that same effect from In The Air Tonight), and more. All of it is there, and it’s baked right into 36 minutes of some of the slickest heavy metal I’ve heard yet. It just fucking ruled, and I was encapsulated into every second. Eventually, some of the allure will wear off, and I’ll pick apart some of the more repetitive parts of the album, or how the lyricism isn’t as tight as it could be on some of the songs… but right now, I could fucking care less. It’s a kick-ass album, and it just clicked perfectly for me. Definitely worth a 10. Oh, oh, I do have one thing – I would’ve flipped “Steeler” & “The Rage”. “The Rage” is a way better closer; imagine if the ending of Steeler just kept going and transitioned. That shit would’ve been sick. That’s the only thing I got. Still a 10.

hell yeah man

Great album.

An epic metal album by the God of metal himself, Rob Halford. :)

Judas Priest is my favorite metal band and I have listened to them for many years. They have defined the genre and Rob Halford is probably the vocalist with the widest range of the great metal bands. I highly recommend their earlier stuff as well. Always 5 stars!

Oh, I enjoyed this album a lot. I've known about this album for awhile. My favorite band / artist, the Matthew Good Band, makes reference to it on their song Middle Class Gangsters. And I've known that Judas Priest were metal icons, but I hadn't listened to them outside of the radio. They are not as heavy as Iron Maiden or as dark as Sabbath but I think I understand their place in metal royalty. They are like the link from denser 70's metal to 80's party metal (think Quiet Riot). They still have a bit of fantasy or macabre in pulsing songs like Metal Gods (bang your head), Grinder (great tempo), and The Rage (weird but cool reggae thing but also big riffs) or frantic songs like Rapid Fire (high intensity opener) or Steeler (love the thrash). But they also crank out party anthem, stadium singalong songs like United (a little cheesy but so fun) and Living After Midnight (slick beat, so infectious). And there's still a bit of that stick-it-to-the-man attitude in songs like Breaking the Law (a big anthem itself) and even You Don't Have to Be Old to Be Wise (again, just fun). If you like your metal real heavy and dark, you probably think these guys watered it down. But if you like music in all shapes and sizes, I think you'll really like it. I loved it.

Best Priest album.

It's a classic, I love old-school rock and roll.

Perfect music for Breaking the Law.

Fantastic. A bit poppy in places for Piest but killer tracks through and through. Well deserved breakthrough album for a wider audience. Highly recommended

yeah. I'll give this a 5. I mean how else does heavy metal and leather meet? Plus the album wails.

One of the 🐐s

I didn’t really know these guys when I was younger but this was easily the best 80’s metal so far

I'm a Judas Priest fan but I tend to overlook this album a bit because "it's the one for casual fans". That's a stupid mentality that I've mostly eliminated over the years. This album is quite terrific feom beginning to end. Yeah, I've heard the big singles to death, but they're awesome songs just the same. The only shortcoming this album has is that Rob never unleashes his falsetto ala Painkiller. I can overlook that. This album is great and an easy 5 stars Just wanted to say that these guys are STILL putting out great albums. Their last 2 have no business being as good as they are coming from a band this long in the game. I guess that's what separates the true masters from the rest.

Seminal.

A true classic! One of the all-time greatest albums!

One of my all time favorite albums and the one that was my introduction to Priest. I love the simple but hooky guitar riffs and soaring vocals. Every track on here is great.

classic metal, uplifting message for the punks

Llegó el viernes. Ayer casualmente estuve viendo una entrevista a Claudio O'Connor, cantante de Hermética (banda fundamental en el heavy metal argentino) y citó a Judas Priest como una de sus influencias. Nunca escuché un disco completo de ellos y hoy toca. Sonido clásico, seguro. Proto-Iron Maiden y previo a todo lo que vino después. Imposible destacar una canción: todo el álbum una joyita, que después de tantos años demuestra que el Metal sigue siendo una salida que nos revitaliza.

I wouldn't call myself a metal fan. I really like this album.

Das ist wahrlich ein Meilenstein und Meisterwerk in der Heavy Rock Geschichte: gradlinig, melodisch, durchdachte Arrangements mit Überraschungen auf höchstem Niveau.

This is a nostalgia trip from my days as a longhaired NWOBHM fanatic. I was more keen on Iron Maiden and Def Leppard, but I was slightly familiar with JP. Back then I only listened to the singles, and listening to this as a whole make me realize how good it is! The playing is brilliant, Halford is a true Heavy Metal God, and they have more variety in this album than most metal bands in their career. The glorious anthem of United, the groove of The Rage, and the majestic light-prog of Red, White and Blue. And that is excluding the bangers Living After Midnight and Breakin' the Law. Didn't think this would get 5 stars, but here we are.

Classic heavy metal. I was 7 years old. My dad didn’t have this one, but our cousins did. I thought they were so cool!

This album is full of bangers that I found enjoyable.

Probably the first really great Priest album. Bangers all the way through. There is a reason it comes up on greatest metal album lists all the time.

Discazo. Puro poder metalero. Me deja prendidísimo para escuchar más de los Judas.

Great album loved it. 8/10

Beyond amazing!!!

When I tell people I like metal I feel like it is misconstrued due to the variety within the genre. Stuff like this, Sabbath, Dio, and Maiden is what I mean. Fair play to all the heavier and more intense things that have followed, but this is the level I vibe with the most.

I have the 1980 US release with Breaking the Law as the first track, but honestly prefer the wider release with Rapid Fire starting things off. This is a top 3 album by a top 2 artist for me personally, so yeah, I was a little excited. There's so much power and commitment in the songs and no slacking. Rapid Fire is the metal song, and Metal Gods and United are the metal anthems. Living After Midnight has gotten stale from me just in seeing them live but I can still recognize that it's a party song. You Don't Have to be Old to be Wise? Heck, that's just something to keep in mind. Also to keep in mind, JUDAS PRIEST FUCKING RULES.

Favorite album by one of my favorite metal gods. This is a perfect album, not a single bad track. Halford at his pinnacle!

Classic Heavy Metal album.

enjoyed every song on the album

I'll admit to having heard of Judas Priest, and indeed this album, but I can't claim to have known anything at all about it. Turns out to be heavy metal, and pretty bloody good heavy metal at that. I don't know enough to talk authoritatively on the subject, but I'd speculate that it was a directional change away from the rock-derived heavy metal of Black Sabbath, Deep Purple and Led Zep and set itself on a path towards the more mentally metal sounds. I enjoyed it.

peak feelgoodsiness

Every song is a banger. This is one of the greatest metal albums of all time.

One of the best heavy metal albums with industrial sound ever!

Good album, some of the songs seem like they would be better if they were live, or if I could play them on a louder speaker.

Classic album from the Metal Gods !

Yep, I still bang my head to this one.

What a great classic heavy metal album. Classic sleeve, classic tune. Now it gets 5 stars without the bonus songs. I loved the production and the songs. Great album

Breaking the law is like an old friend you've lost touch with over the years. You make plans to meet up again. You're unsure how it's going to go and the very first rift you start lifting like you use to. Your friendship is just as fun as you remember it and you promise to meet again, but for real this time.

Excellent. Top to bottoms

Great vibe

Breakin the law 🗣️

AMAZINGGGG

I’m going back and editing this review because a year ago, this generator was the catalyst for me listening deeper to Judas Priest. Long time Maiden/Sabbath fan but never quite got into Priest. At the time I gave it 4 stars. Really liked it but it didn’t blow me away. Well, now after countless listens over the past year, plus going deeper into Priest’s catalog, I’m hooked. They deserve their spot on the “God tier” of British heavy metal. This was the catalyst that got me into them. I’d say that’s enough reason to warrant the change to a 5 star rating.

5 stars #57

I have to admit I wasn't looking forward to this, as I've disliked a lot of metal I've heard here. But this one was great! Window down, driving fast, and this album blasting from the car speakers is the ideal way to listen to it.

Loved it! Listened to it twice!

Even as a metalhead teenager, I had not been interested in Judas Priest for some reason* and never listened to them, or at least never since. And I really only knew Breaking The Law, and likely via Beavis & Butt-Head, when I opened this, expecting boredom and possibly cringe. Huh. This has been the most unadulterated FUN I've had with any of my 66 albums so far!? Fuck yeah 🤘! *Maybe I had filed Judas Priest under that trite Hard Rock of Living After Midnight but the rest - and I'll ignore the 2001 Remaster bonus track addition of Red, White And Blue - is chef's kiss! Halford is fantastic and something about the drums makes me go Wow! Those drums! Extra fun to spot the blueprints of what became circa Metallica. Great, great album!

fantastic album. Rob's falsetto's perfectly match the guitar tone and in some songs the contrast really works. the lyrical content managed to stay relevant more than 50 years later without trying to hard. you can not only relate to the issues being discussed but the issues are still around. especially on songs like breaking the law. the song was true in 1979 when it came out. it was true when I left school in the early 2000's and it is true now. the world is run by people about to retire who make choices based on the world they lived in instead of the world as it works now.

epic and fun to listen to, the songs are pretty similar but all are great for any hard rock fans. Livin' After Midnight remains one of the most recognizable songs, United is a bit weak. lyrics aren't the strongest but just awesome guitar and drums throughout

5/5

this was full of bangers, it was really heavy and i enjoyed it all the way through, i would listen to this again and it makes me want to listen to more fros the band.

This is solid gold. Rob Halford's voice is just perfect for this style of music... and the tracks are the equivalent of pop masterpieces of this style. The chunky driving guitars, memorable riffs, measurable and meaningful solos, with a guitar raft of home run tracks: rapid fire, metal gods, breaking the law, grinder, united, living after midnight and the rage. Plus the cover art is fire.

I love this album was very happy when this came as my second option. United is the best song on here.

The album opens strong with Rapid Fire. Metal Gods was fun, and Breaking the Law remains a banger! Grinder was sort of silly and reminded me of a theme song for a schlocky 80s style horror movie. That’s not a bad thing. Living After Midnight is probably my favorite on the album. Rage was also fantastic; love its instrumentals! United, Steeler and Red White and Blue were ok - the instrumentals stood out above the lyrics for me on these. You Don’t Have to Be Old to Be Wise was the weakest track for me. Overall, great album. Very much the kind of music you throw on and drive! Straight 5

Great record from start to finish.

Cannot go wrong with Judas Priest

This is heavy metal at some of its finest and Judas Priest nails the guitar effects to solidify an album full of certified head bangers. Pair that with Halford's vocals that are gritty yet powerful and you got yourself a heavy metal all-time classic album.

Hm. Gut. Bekomme die ACDC vibes, also nur noch live alben für mich pls, danke.

old school metal

IMO, this is the second best Judas Priest album behind Screaming For Vengeance. But it's still a bloody good album by one of the bands that defines Heavy Metal. Great stuff, love it.

just good old fashioned metal. great listen from front to back.

It’s so nice to hear an album where the singles aren’t the best songs on it (looking at you Rio by Duran Duran). Never heard this album before and absolutely loved it top to bottom. I’m not even a big metal fan but something about this album did it for me. I was hooked by that high note Rob Halford hits at the end of the first song. Can’t wait to kill myself and join Satans army!

Fantastic album, fun listen. 5/5

Heeel nice! Lekker ruig, maar niet té en ook af en toe rust momentjes. Loopt goed in elkaar over Would buy! (aan m'n lijstje toegevoegd hehe)

Style que j'aime !

This is Judas Priest's first solid metal album. A very enjoyable listen.

Rock on dudes

hell yeah

Pretty good

This was one the first metal LPs I ever heard. Solid as anything you will ever hear in the genre

This album set the tone for a lot of albums to come. Very happy to have been able to enjoy this record.

It is very hard and heavy. I like it.

Classic 80’s metal, I love it

Good old Classic Metal Songs Cool

Great album, listened to it a bunch. Breaking the Law is stuck in my head all the time

Punk version of AC/DC

Even with 'United' in the mix, this is still a five star experience. 'Rapid Fire', 'Metal Gods', 'Grinder', 'The Rage' and of course, the mighty 'Breaking the Law' are all solid gold, absolutely essential listening for any heavy metal maniac. If you've ever owned an Ibanez you've riffed along to at least eighty percent of this album.

I like it. Love the lead singer’s voice

Shocking in all its metal edges! Fun, triumphant, ecstatic, a hell of a good time. I forgot how good this really is. Classic!

The vanguard of 80s metal. Booming lyrics, face melting shreds, Judas Priest at its best.

Rapid Fire* Metal Gods Breaking the Law* Grinder You Don't Have To Be Old To Be Wise Living After Midnight The Rage Steeler Would definitely listen to again for some classic bang your head rock. Should give Judas Priest more of a chance.

This is a real metal classic. I never listened to it completely but I really enjoyed it. A lot of energy and good ideas

I loved almost every track in this album! One of the most famous Heavy Metal bands of all time! Highly recommend! Favorite Song(s): "Grinder", "Breaking the Law", "Rapid Fire"

lmao this might be the most fun I've had so far this whole project I just had a blast. Except that weird final patriotic song that was weird but I'm pretending it didn't happen

no skips

Love Judas Priest. It's just good.

What really impresses me about this record is that it is two albums in one. If you don't know anything about Rob Halford post 1998 this is a great boys being boys, youth in revolt, record. I can see high school football teams using this record to be ready to win the game. If you know anything about post 98 Halford then this is one of the gayest metal albums ever. It is ::wink wink:: boys being boys. BREAKING THE LAW, for the first 15 years of Halfords life homosexuality was illegal. UNITED and GRINDER, pretty self explanatory. I am here for it, we need more LGBTQIA+ metal records. Perfect.

Oui, c’est un album culte. Des les premières notes tu t’en rends compte. Le hard rock anglais a connu de sacrés bons jours quand même.

Love this album

5/5

I like judas priest, enough said

Very surprising how well this album is.

This album rocks! The bonus album with the live version of the album is also excellent! My top songs are Grinder, Living After Midnight and Metal Gods.

Easiest album I’ll ever have to review. The solo of Rapid Fire. Metal Gods & BTL are stone cold classics. Living after midnight is one of my favourite songs ever. 5 stars

damn

One of the best heavy metal albums ever

Rob Halford is the best metal vocalist out there. And this isn't even my favorite Priest record by a long shot.

another great album, and i feel like there's not a huge selection of metal/hard rock albums in this 1001 list (either that or the randomizer hates me). this might be my favorite priest album, but the only one I know more than a song or two from is screaming for vengeance. the songs here are solid and there are definitely more hits than duds. it's not the best album ever but really lays the groundwork for future JP tracks and the metal genre at large. also, why oh why did Rock Band only get the crappy live version of this when the studio version is so much better? favorites: metal gods, breaking the law, united, living after midnight, the rage, steeler

solid

This is a pivotal album in heavy metal and rock history. It completes Judas Priest's transformation from niche metal/rock band to "Metal Gods". Rapid Fire starts off by punching you right in the face, setting the stage for "Metal Gods" which tells everyone who they are. Are they the evil robots mentioned in the song? Of course not, but we know that they are on another level. Then, the iconic "Breaking the Law" which is a major crossover hit. The album is great, and while maybe not the best Priest album (Screaming for Vengeance?), It is worthy of its legendary status. 4 or 5 stars. Was even better than I remember. The extra track doesn't work though.

I'm not that into metal in general, and talking specifically about this kind of classic heavy metal, Judas Priest is probably the only band I would rather listen to a full record instead of going to the dentist. But man, this one is SO GOOD.

Rapid Fire, Metal Gods, Breaking the Law, Grinder, You Don’t Have to Be Old to be Wise, Living After Midnight and Steeler. Amazing riffs, great drumming and iconic singing by Sir Rob Halford. Amazing and Painkiller should be on this list as well. 9/10 but giving 5 stars because it’s better than other 9’s.

Today I decided to return to 1001 albums after a week-long pause. *click* "did not listen", and the next album showed up. Judas Priest - British Steel? No way! I listened to it last Wednesday - it must be destiny or a sign. What do I think about the album? I can appreciate a good album if I hear one and for sure it's an album we must hear before we die! Its history and influence on other artists speak for itself. The best tracks: Breaking the Law (obviously), Living After Midnight, United. I've to admit I can't stand looking at the cover.

I really like this album. This distinctive (maybe a little bit industrial) Judas Priest music with unforgetable Rob Halford voice is just too good. Breaking the law was probably the first song of Judas Priest I have ever heard. It still is one of my favourites.

My cup of tea. An all time classic from one of the all time greats!! Most know Breaking The Law and Living After Midnight. Those got radio play. But pale in comparison to the heart of this powerhouse heavy metal masterpiece. Tipton and Downing in stellar form. The crunch and the speed. Halford and that rythym section. Rapid Fire. Metal Gods (from the Metal God himself) Grinder (I think there’s even an app they named after it LOL) You Don’t Have To Be Old To Be Wise. It’s about time they were finally out in the Rock and Roll HOF!!

Great listen! Went through it twice. Lots of classic hits in this one.

cool, very classic metal album

Pinnacle

I'm not usually a fan of metal but I really liked this album. I found myself headbanging for a bit. Very solid album with plenty of good tracks.

Pretty much all I want from hard rock

Judas Priest is a formative band for me, so of course I love this album. Still incredible

JUDAS PRIEST!! ROB HALFORD!!!

Le mostre el album a mi viejo y m dijo que este album es PURO METAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL. me desgusto la noticia q era rock, pero este album encabezo la ola del heavy metal a principio de los ochentas y coloco al hevy metal en la escala mas epica, me encanto. 9/10

Great album!

The OG of heavy metal. At 42 years old, it's still a very listenable album. 11/10.

Baita album

cool

I absolutely love Priest and this album was what started it for me. When the first song you ever hear from a band is "Living After Midnight".....yeah....game OVER. I can't believe that "United" never became an anthem played at sports stadiums everywhere.

Well balanced berween metal and ballads. Would love more high tempo tracks though

Rock Album...Gives Energy While Listening...Added to fav.

I mean it’s Priest, what needs to be said. It’s amazing music.

Heavy metal. Dos megahits. Vinilo.

What Tom Dyke said…

Easy 5, but thankful to listen again. I'm very familiar with Judas Priest, but not this album as a whole. Groovy, poppy, heavy metal! There's some 3 star songs, but a lot more 5+ stars.

Auténtico discazo de uno de los precursores del heavy metal británico. Canciones con ritmo y auténticos temazos

Breaking the Law and Living After Midnight are obviously great, but Rapid Fire and Steeler are great opening and closing tracks. United is slower and more accessible, but has really has a solid groove and is a nice showcase for Ian Hill and Dave Holland. I'm not a big metal guy, but this is a top shelf album, and is a really nice representation of the genre as a whole.

🤘

Classic heavy metal album.

I’ve avoided this album for 42 years. Another one my older sister owned, but when I borrowed this I quickly returned it. I’ve avoided Judas Priest ever since. What the hell was wrong with me?! I LOVE THIS!! I loved every song! These guys know their way around those instruments. The guitars and drums are fantastic. And those vocals - hits the high notes with great harmonies! What a great album! Given my absolute love BRITISH STEEL maybe its time to reassess everything…

Righteous metal. Wasn't sure what was gonna happen to the JP legacy after RH walked out of the closet. So good to listen to this.

Great album!

Rob Halford has one of the greatest metal voices of all time and this album showcases it perfectly. He does such a good job at everything a rock vocalist could want. Powerful chest voice, legendary shrieking high register yell, incredible finesse with when to release his voice and also when to keep it tame and build the tension. He's also a pioneer for gay men in rock and I think he probably single handedly made the biggest difference in heavy metal fans' outlook on accepting gay people into the culture. He's flamboyant in his own way- he doesn't make it his whole personality or make it a point that sees him stand out from others / take the attention away from the music. And yet at the same time he wears a ton of stereotypical biker leather with spikes (the whole band does as well- and the rest of the band are straight men) and has a "I'm gay, you don't give a fuck, let's jam" attitude. I love it. I once went to an Ozzfest when I was like 14 and Ozzy was set to sing with Black Sabbath, with Priest being the act right before Sabbath. Ozzy was sick and couldn't perform. Rob Halford sang the Sabbath set. One of the most amazing moments for a fan of metal to witness. I simply love this album, this act, and the musicians. When I hear Priest I think nothing can stop me- nothing can fuck with what I'm doing.

Metalklassieker! zalig headbangen, en af en toe wat kalmer nummer. Ik vind dit een fantastisch album

Where heavy metal sometimes falters, in its inevitable sameness that overtakes most albums, Judas Priest I think shines. Every song on this album was a joy to listen to, some obviously more than others like 'Breaking the Law' and 'You Don't Have to Be Old to Be Wise.' Judas Priest just does something for me that other musicians don't. They're strangely calming in their intensity, and British Steel is perhaps the best showcase of what they offer. Fantastic album, fantastic band. 5/5.

Metal clássico, raiz.

A really lively enjoyable thrash/metal album that features some amazing guitar playing by Glenn Tipton. What really struck me is how polished and tight the arrangements are and they really know how to build a song up to a climax. Rob Halford on vocals has a great range, sings in a number of styles and knows how to use his voice as effective instrument. I would sooner listen to him over someone like Robert Plant! The production is crisp and bold, there's a few neat effects here and there and the guitar solos are tasteful (i.e. they don't ramble). There's not much to fault on this album, which was an unexpected pleasure and is going on my discovery list. Cool cover artwork as well. Great stuff.

One of the best examples of best heavy metal albums!

Classic album from one of the founding bands of NWOBHM

J’adore, du bon metal dun des meilleur groupe. 5

I loved it.

High school vibes 4 me!

INJECT THE METAL DIRECTLY INTO MY VEINS GRRRRRRRRRRRR

hell yeah

45 mins of pure headbanging heavy metal. Bonus point for British way of lyrics writing. Favourite tracks: Rapid Fire, Breaking the Law, You Don't Have to Be Old to Be Wise, The Rage.

It's very gentle, I expected something heavier. +1 star for the album cover

Heavy metal. Dos megahits. Vinilo.

Great metal album; has some songs I love, and no songs I dislike. Definitely not my FAVORITE album by Judas Priest, but still great. I've been a fan of them for a little while and prefer some of their other work. I love their unique, sleek metal sound; they were pioneers of the genre for sure, and this album definitely deserves a listen imo. This album has great vocal performances and catchy riffs, and the percussion is quite fantastic. I definitely like them better than the other the pop hard rock/metal bands of their era, like ACDC. I loved "The Rage." This one could grow on me a bit more perhaps, but for now I think I'll give it a 4. Almost a 5. Its a 5!

Metal

So metal

This is one of the greatest metal albums ever made, best among the best. It should be on anyone's short list who wants to get into this genre. It also has great mainstream appeal as metal albums go. Judas Priest adeptly straddles that line between metal and classic blues rock. I think that ultimately it gives a more timeless quality to the music. There's a reason you hear Judas Priest on classic rock radio more than you will hear most metal bands. But make no mistake, this music rocks hard, and how. Priest opened the door for metal that was actually metal, not just hard English blues. Music got harder, darker and faster after these guys showed up. Rob Halford is riveting as a vocalist. Piercing, growling, screaming, commanding, the man can do anything he wants with that voice. Oh and, lordy, those guitar solos are insane. That double barreled guitar assault by Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing defined their sound, and probably launched a hundred bands. Tight, powerful rhythm section manned by Dave Holland and Ian Hill. No bad songs, no filler, just an album full of beautifully crafted metal. So much fun to listen to, and it just freaking rocks. Fave Songs: Breaking the Law, Living After Midnight, The Rage, Steeler

Very good

YES!

Best

-Just a strong album -Obviously "Breaking the Law" and "Living After Midnight" are great. Other tracks I liked were "Rapid Fire," "Metal Gods," "Grinder," and "You Don't Have to Be Old to Be Wise"

Fucknig Judas Priest

Een van de meest belangrijke heavy metal albums, bijna perfect

This is an awesome 80's heavy metal album. An album with some meat to it! Songs like Metal Gods, Grinder, United not to mention the two great singles Breaking the Law and Living After Midnight. Great from beginning to end. Easy 5 for me.

This album fucking rocks so hard.

Wow, wasn't really into Judas back in the day but really appreciate this now!

Classic

An absolute perfect encapsulation of 80s heavy metal. Every track is fierce, powerful, and surprisingly accessible. Rob Halford has the best range in metal and it shines through this whole album.

ah yeah (in metal voice)

Real banger. Great for traveling, west coast, and out in the wilderness. Good for on way to destination. High energy throughout.

Can't go wrong with Judas Priest.

A ton of fun. The hits were great, but a number of other tunes I'd never heard that frankly never got their due.

One of my top ten albums!

If you're enough of a nerd like me to obsess over the development of highly codified genres like Metal then Judas Priest are really interesting. They're older than most people realise being almost contemporaries of the big 70s rock acts but this album being such a commercial breakthrough in 1980 gets them categorised as NWOBHM alongside whippersnappers like Maiden, Saxon and Def Leppard. In some ways they are just as important or even more so than Sabbath in the development and codification of Metal, or at least the non doomy, non Satan referencing stuff. The popularity of the leather and studs look is down to them. Their faster riffing and occasional lack of swing in tunes like Grinder point towards Thrash more than the doom of Sabbath or the Rock n Roll but louder of Motörhead ever did. When they do sound like Rock and Roll in something like Living After Midnight they point towards Guns n Roses. I am choosing to believe Breaking the Law and Grinder can be both social commentary on the horrors of early Thatcherism and secret gay anthems.

British Steel is a great name for a rock album as judas priest is heavy metal. This album has quite a few bangers that I recognize from my childhood. It is always awesome to hear raging drums and chugging guitars

7.5/10

Nice to hear

great rock display. 4

Really enjoyed this, first time listener, and would definitely put it on again

Great classic metal/rock album

🤘🤘