Reviews (page 3 of 11)
Muy buen disco, yo catalogaría personalmente a Judas Priest como Glam Rock, aunque sé que no cumple con todos los requisitos. Mis favoritas: Metal Gods, United y Living After Midnight.
i dont know if it's metal since i can understand the vocals sometimes but overall a fun listen.
How is THIS heavy metal???? I think I just don't understand what constitutes since the screamy-scream bands of the 00s have truly skewed that meter. Anyways, loved it.
I feel like a lot of classic metal can be quite samey to be but there were quite a few little flourishes here that made it more enjoyable than usual, like the weird breathy vocal percussion on Metal Gods. Also it’s quite camp and Breaking The Law is great
A perfectly competent and enjoyable 80's heavy metal record. Honestly on par with some of the works of Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden. The singles were pretty recognizable, but the rest stood on its own for the most part too.
Polished awesome metal with unique phrasing and sweet story telling - I never gave them a fair listen.
Oddly not as hard as a remember, but super melodic and enjoyable tunes too to bottom. And those guitars. Refreshing surprise!
8 - rocks
Very nice album, would listen to again. Had good riffs and solos, I enjoyed its harshness. 4.5/5
Really good album, loved the energy, the riffs, the songs. Especially United & Breaking the Law
Listened 11 May 2026. Album is full of decent heavy metal anthems, with a number of singles in strong rotation on radio stations. Despite being 46 years old, it still holds it's own.
A ripping roaring rocker! These guys kick ass and if it wasn’t for the “Red white and blue” song this would be close to a 5
Metal Classic. A solid good time. 4/5
chill
Some of the music is hokey by today’s metal standards, particularly the bizarrely patriotic tracks. But Halford is indisputably one of the most badass singers of all time and it’s incredible how he was able to pitch these songs that are clearly about gay sex over the heads of two decades of homophobic metalheads.
In my 40+ years I have met exactly one person who told me that Judas Priest was their favorite band. That's not really relevant but I always thought it was interesting. There are three things I always think when I hear Judas Priest: 1) the guitars are skillful yet mundane. 2) the drums are always better than expected. and 3) Rob Halford is an absolute beast of a vocalist and should get more credit than he does. I feel like this album perfectly demonstrates all three of those things. I mean if you've ever listened to classic rock radio, nothing here should really be a surprise. Well maybe the random inclusion of what sounds like an British pub song towards the end. But it's a fun album, an influential one, and definitely deserves a place on the list. 4/5
OK I liked this one waaaaaay more than I expected to. The nice thing about this kind of metal is that it's simultaneously can be serious music while not taking itself seriously. I like that. I love that Halford just married his partner of 30 years. That's really sweet. I also speaks to the metal community that this guy was out in the 80s and they didn't care one whit. They just love the guy and want him to ROCK. Also: did Grinder take it's name from the song on this album? :-)
This album grew on me the more I listened. This is kick ass blue collar rock & roll. Killer front man Rob Halford with his iconic growls & howls is not a screamer but actually a really good singer. Drummer Dave Holland is out of control. Grinder, Steeler, & You Don’t Have to Be Old are standouts.
An anthem for those who are discontent, defiant, and hear the battle cry. It's a call to arms, at least in attitude. Put on your metal and join in.
As good as any metal to come out on its wake. The secret - mids and low end. 80s metal was a race to the highest registers of guitars and voices - all falsettos and high neck bends. Here you have an actually powerful voice that flexes occasionally into the upper registers but works his full range. And the dueling KK Downing and Glenn Tipton - they simply cook whether riffing or soloing. And the songs. Are you kidding me? So fun to kick it with these boys.
Enjoyed this.
Although not the genre of the music I prefer, this record is history and good music.
I actually really enjoyed this. It maintains the energy of classic metal and has good riffs, but it’s clear that they hadn’t yet reached the variety and musical quality they would achieve in Painkiller. There isn’t anything wrong with this record, and there isn’t anything amazing about it. It’s a classic, but not absolutely jaw dropping.
Funny to think that as a teen, I thought this was so "hard". But, with the benefit of age and wisdom, I realize that "hard" isn't really the point. This is just a bunch of great performances of great songs and it holds together well after all this time. A pleasure blast from the past.
Influential for sure. Classic heavy metal. Love the crunchy power chords.
Pretty banging album, and when “Breaking The Law” came on, it transported me back to my youth of watching Beavis & Butthead. lol
#911. I saw these guys play live a few years ago, and Rob Halford has a costume change between each song, it seemed. It's honestly impressive how fast this 143 year old man can change out of an into various leather outfits. Also: maybe you'll call me slow (especially since I've listened to the song Grinder probably a couple dozen times before), but it wasn't until I was listening to that song today that it clicked and I realized why the Grindr app is called that. 4/5: cheesy, but brilliant
Classic metal.
Actual Rating: 3.5/5
A couple of duds but overall this is a really good album
Amazing album for driving. Did pick up a bit of speed while Rapid Fire, Metal Gods and Breaking the Law were playing. Great drumming driving the whole record and the singing was amazing too
Pleasently surprised by this one. It's not just metal, its mixed with heavy rock, stadium rock etc... Metal is not always my thing, but loved listening to this one. 1. Breaking the law 2. United 3. Living after midnight
ifw this album. i really enjoyed myself
Good stuff.
the song "grinder" had very funny lyrics. "GRINDERRRRR...... LOOKING FOR MEAT" made em laugh, and, after the fact, i found out judas priest's frontman, Rob Halford, is Gay! Obvs this song predates the app by decades, but what a funny conincidence. Music goes hard af though.
The metal from which all metal has metaled. You have to throw the goat up and salute its magnificence.
A good reliable headbangin set of songs. yummers
Pretty awesome. Love the guitars and drums and they definitely feel ahead of their time. Only issue is it's a bit samey and repetitive apart from the odd moment through the album.
****
Pretty good for the first Judas Priest album I’ve listened to. Some were a little slower than others but overall it was good.
I love Priest, but not this album. They have probably 10 albums I like more than this one. It's a little too restrained, streamlined and samey for my taste. Nevertheless, Breaking the Law is an all time iconic metal song (deservedly so) and I can see how the album would have been influential back in 1980, so my 3.5 gets rounded up. Painkiller or Sad Wings of Destiny would have gotten 5.
The first song worried me but the whole album is great
(5/7) apparently recorded in Ringo's house
I have a feeling this might not be for me, as metal in general is just not my genre. But hey, let's our minds open right It starts of nice! Rapid Fire, while very energetic and full of noise, is tight and controlled enough to the point where I can enjoy it! The classic metal vocals are present, and they don't bother me here, yeeeeeyyyyyy. Even the riffs are great. Same thing for the following song. I think that Breaking the Law is a metal classic? From that title alone it probably ticks a lot of boxes for a lot of people. Anyway, I hade never heard it, and I like it. Lyric-wise, I might prefer the previous two songs (even if I didn't pay that much attention to what they were saying), simply thanks to the fact that they are not so on the nose. But I have to admit that the chorus and especially the ending here are great, and very energetic. Grinder keeps the fun going, and while everyone seems to be on their A-game the vocals are what impressed me the most here. Great performance. The guitar riff carries United, but it doesn't do enough to make the song good. First dud. Bad lyrics. The clapping part is honestly embarassingly bad. You Don't Have to be Old to be Wise is another dud. It reminds me of when pop artists just pick a saying and make a song around it, doing it just for the sake of it, and not because they have something they want to communicate. Maybe they had to fill the runtime with something, I don't know. Nor particularly inspired (and I'm not talking only about the lyrics). Living After Midnight picks up steam, but is not on the same level as the first few tracks. The Rage, however, brings the quality back! The vocals shine again, but my favourite part has to be the first guitar solo (even if the bass line after it is great as well). Steeler, the closer, starts off highly energetic, and keeps that level going throughout. Incredibly fun! I enjoyed this :) ! It's not the kind of metal that goes too far up its own ass, and manages to be cool without being corny. This is what I mean when I say that I can start a record with a bad feeling about it and completely change my mind when the music is actually good (which hasn't happened often in this list). Maybe my enjoyment is tarnished because this is baby's first metal record (or almost that) but hey, at first listen, it's good! A couple duds here in the middle, but the beginning and end of the record are just too good! Bye
Great album if in the mood for something with a similar but more metal feel/ less of a ballad compared to iron maiden.
Great album, classic songs, a couple of weak numbers, so a 4 from me
This was my original introduction to Judas Priest. I think they have a couple of better albums (Painkiller, Turbo) but this one is still great. Plenty of catchy songs. Just tails off a bit in the last few.
Was raised on Defenders Of The Faith and now regret not branching out. Hard to believe this was '79. Very well produced for the genre then. Loves it!
Brilliant album, Amazon to hear how different original metal was compared to now.
Classic album, I knew more of this album than I remembered. It was great
Super album de Hard Rock. Très grands solos de guitare. Cet album est diablement entraînant. Super découverte aujourd'hui. Note : 4 À réécouter : Oui
Kyllähän se judas priesti toimittaa ja kelpo levy on tää. Kyllä tässäkin muutama filleri on jotka aika usein tulee normaalikuuntelussa skipattua
For me, metal is a genre that requires me to be in a certain mood to enjoy. British Steel in an exception to this rule, possibly because they know how to write a hook? Perhaps it is the dueling guitar harmonies on display? Whatever the reason, there is no denying that this is a classic and highly influential metal album. No doubt that it belongs on this list. Many great tunes. I wish I was listening to it with a cheap beer in hand to really cement to teen nostalgia. Even without the beer bong, it was a fun listen.
Classic, but a bit kitschy.
Best Song: The Rage One of the founders of hard rock/metal with a good album. Classic even. The Rage is a highlight and the whole thing is solid. 4/5.
Remember when heavy metal singers sounded good? Like this? Man, those were the days. The guitar power chords are a bit much, and the bass playing is nothing special. So, very unusually for music on this list (and music in general), the singing is the most interesting and impressive element of the music. Take the chorus of United. Compare that singing, that melody and power, to the rest of the instruments (which are reminiscent of a messy, poorly-produced We Will Rock You). A couple of tracks are the exception to the rule: Breaking the Law, with its fast-paced percussion and guitar chugging, is reminiscent of Paranoid (the 1970 title track) and is seriously fun to listen to. It's blistering, powerful, satisfying... and all wrapped up in a lovely two-and-a-half-minute package. That same-key transition into Grinder is maybe slightly questionable, but then that sort of thing has been done to death. Led Zeppelin in particular has lots of examples of this. Living After Midnight is also pretty good. It's sort of what I imagine the Rolling Stones would've sounded like in 1980 if they'd taken the right musical direction. Sprinkle in a little CCR too (especially with that group-harmonised chorus). But there isn't much else positive to say, especially heading into the final three tracks. The guitar solo in Steeler is good, I guess. The issue I'm having is that the music, both on paper and sonically, just isn't that impressive. It's extremely simple, in fact. (We had the psychedelia, glam, and prog movements for a reason. Get it together, Judas!) That being said... every track is enjoyable, in a simple, cavemannish sort of way. These are tunes for driving to a party, or driving to the beach, or really just driving anywhere. Mindless, but strangely great. I don't know what to think. 4/5 Key tracks: Breaking the Law, You Don't Have to Be Old to Be Wise, Living After Midnight
Almost too clean for being metal.
those guitar riffs tho
Pretty solid
Very surprised by how good this album was
This was a bit disappointing, to be frankly. I already knew "Breaking the Law" and "Living After Midnight" but no new discoveries that I would listen to again. The riffs are sick and like the mid-song change ups, I believe it's the singing that puts me a bit off, which is a bit of a shame as I quite like Rob Halford's singing in the aforementioned two songs. Though I'm not fully put off of Judas Priest. So it's probably a 3.80/5.0 but I will round up to 4.0/5.0. Highlight Song/s: "Breaking the Law" and "Living After Midnight"
Solid 80s heavy metal.
Just a classic hard rock album! Great to revisit.
Classic jangly metal.
I had forgot what an epic album this was, I mean that chorus on Metal Gods, c'mon! The tracks sound like actual metal, hard, clean, bright.
Fav tracks: you don’t have to be old to be wise, living after midnight, the rage, steeler Classic thrash metal album. Love the lyricism and imagery throughout the album. Such a fun listen
This album is awesome but falls short from being perfect due to it's lack of variety. 4/5
Like a campier black sabbath that taps into the same heritage but more pop. This is campy and fun, trashy and great percussion. Glory days of hair metal begin here! It’s fun, maybe a bit simple but they invented this formula so full credit
Dude better be careful he's going to hurt his fingers with that razor
Bad ass. Awesome album
One of the first 80s metal albums I’ve ever encountered <3
Good old metal album, now seen as a dad music. I liked hearing the album in its entirety, appreciating the old tunes. When I was younger I didn’t really liked this kind of music, but now at my almost 30s I can appreciate it more.
Enjoyed.
Great sound, I'm very particular about what heavy metal I like, I don't like just a thrashing of the guitar, a noise, it has to be melodic. Although heavy metal is not my favourite genre, this album ticked the right boxes.
Not a terrible album, but was slightly disappointed since screaming for vengeance is really good. Besides the two most popular songs on the album, none of them really stood out besides United. Not bad though.
Enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would.
Not bad - definitely more tolerable than other rock albums - maybe adding the rage (fave) to a playlist
It's Judas Priest, what's not to like? The song "Grinder" might not have aged well, though. Energetic, but if I listen to it back-to-back, it gets a little same.
It's a transition between the sound of the 70s and into the 80s for Judas Priest, it dons iconic songs such as Breaking The Law and Living After Midnight, Rob's vocals shine through, sound is excellent and it's an easy to listen record. Absolute recommendation.
This generator has taught me that I love 80s British heavy metal. And I'm grateful for that. Exception in this album is 'united' which genuinely sounds like it was made to be a song sung for Man United at a football ground!
Ich hatte geringe Erwartungen, aber das war ganz cool!
An absolutely classic rock album with two huge hits on it. Breaking the law, which sounds like the soundtrack to a chase scene in an 80s cop movie. Living after midnight, which I always forget is Judas Priest. It is a classic rock radio staple. So I always feel like it is more recent than it actually is. You can hear the influence that this album has had on other rock bands. United sounds a lot like The Wildhearts. And the punchy guitars and driving drums sounds like Van Halen. This is much more melodic than it's classic metal album status might make you believe. I enjoyed it and would listen again. 4.299
I know the bands’ hits, but have never listened to a full album. Within a few minutes, my first thought was “this sounds like tamer Black Sabbath” (complementary). Finding out they’re from Birmingham and produced by the same sound engineer as Sabbath certainly comes through. I think I like early 80s thrash metal. Really enjoyed this record. Not too complicated, but a good listen. Similar vibes to Iron Maiden, which I also enjoyed.
Now this is something I can respect and listen again. I liked it. Though I prefer the Turbo album. Contrary to some rock albums on this list, this album even if not strictly rock, has some substance to it. Guitars play good meaningful riffs.
Early heavy metal is not a genre I enjoy generally but I think this album has a really balanced mix of driving rhythm and melodic flourishes which makes it a solid entry point.
Really energetic, interesting, that iconic heavy metal sound, I'm half the album and it havent feel tiring. 9/10 So far. I always choose to stay away from these kind of bands and I just realized I was gravely mistaken.
Not my favorite but still a solid Priest album
Solid
Ooooh yes this one I can get on board with
Ahh this one brings me back to road trips with my dad. My dad loves Judas Priest and we listened to all their albums growing up. This one is a banger and has some very good early metal songs on it. 8/10
I enjoyed this one. The music was fun, although the lyrics were occasionally a bit repetitive. I liked the inclusion of the live track at the end. Overall a good, energetic vibe. Fav song: Living After Midnight Least fav: Grinder
Not bad but quite samey. I never knew breaking the law was from this. Have heard snippets of it so many times. Specific rating - 4.0 Fav song- grinder Least fav - united
First day of Job! Exciting Album! (I am still jet lag and being awake is very rude)
Good energy, some proper bops, but did get a bit repetitive. Found Red, White & Blue really weird- like they were trying to make a football song- a bit too patriotic for me personally. Favourite song: Living After Midnight Least: Red, White & Blue
This album might be the epitome of doom-laden malevolence that bands in the heavy metal genre were celebrated and caricatured for in equal measure, but it possesses a polish and panache that allows it to truly stand the test of time. Most of the tracks have the sharpness and shine that the title proffers. 'Rapid Fire' sets the precedent as a scorching opener reminiscent of their contemporaries, Black Sabbath and Motörhead. With 'Metal Gods' steeped in science fiction grandeur, and 'The Rage' dripping with dark fantasy ambiance, both tracks offer up satisyfingly dramatic, almost glamorous and operatic ballads that sometimes seem at odds with the more radio-friendly numbers. 'Breaking the Law' holds firm as a decadent and menacing slice of punk polemicism - heavy metal with intent. 'Living After Midnight' shows out as a radio-ready hard rock chant-along, but ultimately lacks a little venom, while in a similar vein, 'United' is a run-the-numbers clarion call to action but sits a little stolidly in the middle of the record. Lyrically and sonically, the three singles together ('Living After Midnight', 'Breaking the Law', 'United') present a clear and simple metal manifesto for freedom, rebellion, autonomy, and solidarity, yet the band almost sells themselves short fronting these tracks when the rest of the album possesses such a depth of character and more fearsome licks and solos than you can shake a stick at. This album houses an evocative trio of arena-ready, politically-minded crowdpleasers that seems almost focus-groupped in their production to simultaneously rouse and satiate baying mobs, nestled amongst a glut of fantastical rock operettas and sludgy declarations of identity, provding an altogether fascinating snapshot of Thatcherite Britain from the viewpoint of jaded stalwarts in the counterculture.
Rob Halford’s vocals are just so great. I love how this album blends a pure punk sound with a little more of the rock & roll tone that some records of this genre tend to miss at times. Really good. Best Track: Metal Gods
This was pretty solid. I’d heard the hits but never the whole thing, and there’s a good running groove through all of it. It’s classic 80s heavy metal and a furtherance of the genre that would lead to more genre defining albums from guys like Motörhead, Iron Maiden, etc. Halfords voice is probably the best it’s been on this record, and the drumming is really great as well. The only track I didn’t like was the weird patriotic anthem at the end, but at least it’s not about America. I did a laugh at Grinder; I don’t think I put the connection between the app and the term “meat grinder” together before I heard it. Good time, great performance, great groove. Not much to dislike.
I consider this classic metal. I have joked recently and called it Grandpa metal even though it's from my childhood. It's because it's different than modern metal, more operatic, clean even with the amazing guitars behind it all. They influenced so many bands its wild. These dudes got so many kids into music it's wild to think of. They also upset a TON of parents while doing it. Also while listening to it I don't see why. It's really tame when you sit down with it. It's got some cheeky lyrics but it's not like they are telling you to worship Satan. Well unless you play it backwards.
Old metal, kinda corny. 3.5 rounded up (especially compared to most of the albums so far). Particular<3 to the riff in Breaking The Law
Starting off with this one was a nice way to begin the journey. Being already familiar with tracks ‘Breaking the Law’ and ‘After Midnight’, I knew I’d at least have some interest in digging deeper. Judas Priest are a band I was exposed to a bit growing up but have never had my ‘Priest stage’ as an adult as I may have with others. The album was relatively fast paced with songs that all made sense together. The songs I already knew still stuck out though as the stand outs on the album. I heard elements ACDC in ‘The Grinder’ and the kind of punchiness you’d get from the Ramones in ‘You’d have to be old to be wise’.
Solid rock tracks!
Good, solid British metal. I should listen to more from JP.
A little repetitive but strong and moving
Bon ben Judas Priest, c'est pas rien. Et c'est un bon album, mais je comprends pas pourquoi choisir British Steel, plutôt que Painkiller, qui est l'un des meilleurs albums de metal de l'histoire et l'un des plus fédérateurs ou encore Screaming For Vengance, qui est plus recherché que British Steel. Si l'un de ceux deux albums fait partie de la liste, pourquoi avoir aussi inclu cet album ? Bon, ça reste quand même un album de qualité.
I enjoyed this a lot more than I expected to. Strong sounds, with pretty decent vocals. 3.5 but on the 4 side.
All the fun parts of 80's metal without getting too cheesy. Didn't feel super ambitious, more of a gateway to bigger and better metal projects
3.5
Good classic rock album. 7.1/10
“Pounding the world Like a battering ram” Judas Priest are without a doubt one of the most talented and important British Heavy Metal bands of all time. Their longevity both in the studio and on stage is nothing short of staggering. Having formed in 1969 they released a genuinely brilliant record only last year in “Invincible Shield”. British Steel contains some of their biggest radio friendly tracks and although I am extremely familiar with almost all the material here I was shocked to find I had never listened to it front to back. It is a truly masterful piece of work that ushered in the New Wave of British Heavy Metal in the 1980s and stands up today as one of the best what I would call “gateway albums” into heavy music. You get the catchy and instantly recognisable “Breaking The Law” and “Living After Midnight” which are the two most commercially viable Priest tracks from any album. There’s also the slower and slightly ponderous “United” which holds a soft spot in my heart from when my beloved Sheffield United would walk out to it years ago at Bramall Lane. My only issue with British Steel is an odd one; it is that “Painkiller” and “Screaming For Vengeance” exist. Those two albums are damn near perfect and showcase Judas Priest at the absolute peak of their powers in terms of the pure visceral speed and excitement they are capable of producing. Whilst Rob Halford’s vocal performance is undeniably brilliant here it doesn’t utilise anything like the full range he shows on subsequent albums. There were so many moments while listening to this where I just wanted the whole band to put their foot to the floor and not lift it until my face was sufficiently melted. That sadly never happened and it left me longing for the blistering no holds barred sound that I know Judas Priest has in their locker. That said, I am by no means minimising the quality and importance of British Steel. But I will say, if this is your introduction to Judas Priest then brace yourself, it gets even better.
banger after banger.
When Judas Priest is on, they're on. When they're not on, it's Rob Halford leading some grovely vocals over cheesey 80s heavy metal...but for the most part, they're on.
🤘
I hereby sentence the defendant to death by...death by...saw off his tweeter. BREAKING THE LAW! BREAKING THE LAW!
Very enjoyable record and my first exposure to Judas Priest's music beyond their 3 biggest hits. Just straightforward, peak cockrock and just a really fun listen. Beyond the 2 big hits, some surprising highlights were "The Rage" and "Metal Gods". If not for the inclusion of the out-of-place "United" which is a stinker, a near-perfect record.
Breaking the Law is an absolute banger. This is a very important album in a genre I’m not big on, but don’t hate.
This was fun. 4/5
En todo el album el ritmo es igual, pero el sonido es muy bueno
Feels like I'm watching peacemaker, in a good way. Fun times.
It was fine again not a huge fan of the past despite it shaping the future but I'm stilll tryna do my due diligence
Hi energy metal album. Standout songs: Metal Gods Grinder Living after midnight
Really good. Need to relisten.
<3
I’m shocked at how much I liked this. I never considered myself as a metalhead but this was a fun listen from end to end. I love how distinctly 80’s this is and the vocals and guitars were amazing. Big fan
Metal classic. I know it was their "sell out" album but they are locked into their thing and it's pretty awesome.
Dobre, nawet bardzo. Trochę zbyt dużo takich piosenek meh, żeby zasłużyć na 5. Wolę szybsze, ostrzejsze w stylu Grindera lub Rapid Fire.
Fav song: Rapid Fire I usually hate this type of music but it was so fun to listen to. Side note: The chorus for Grinder being 'Grinder, looking for meat' made me LOL
Awesome 70s heavy metal
There are times when Judas Priest can be a bit much for me. This album was not one of those times. Enjoyed it, this album was one of the better efforts.
Zurecht ein Klassiker
I don't usually listen to heavy metal music from this era. If I listened to this without the background of when it was created, I wouldn't think much of it. However, knowing the context and history, it's pretty powerful. I doubt I'll start listening, but it could definitely grow on me.
Great album. Some killer tracks but maybe not the top.
better than i thought, a decent album
Nonsense, but catchy nonsense....without this, no AC/DC ? Discuss !
Cool.
Nice
Another great classic rock album. Best tracks Red White and Blue and Living After Midnight
Brilliant. A metal classic. Crunching riffs. Highlight 'You Don't have to be Old to be Wise'.
Fand ich auch geil. Schöner 80er Metal.
not bad
Woah. I can see where Metallica drew inspiration from for kill ‘em all. Never gave them a chance but this album was very good with awesome riffs and solos..
Real solid chunk of heavy metal from one of the greatest bands to ever do it. These guys were rocking this sound way before most of their peers, and doing a better job of it too.
Metallica is in debt to these guys! Had no idea what to expect, not being a huge metal fan, but this was amazing. I think if they took out the slower tracks it would be a 5 but they lost my attention there. Just constant rocking the hell out.
This shreds! Breaking the law! Breaking the law! 🤘🏽 🤘🏽 🤘🏽 Seriously though, there are a lot of bands from this era that I find really exhausting and cheesy. They manage to walk the line between Sabbath and Motörhead without stumbling into AC/DC or Scorpions (which I have much less patience for). Maybe it’s something in that Birmingham water?
“Breaking the Law” really resonated with Jack
(4)
Heavy Metal Classic.
Refreshingly high energy. Power ballades of self empowerment, but vocals are simply spoken and the guitar and percussion is quite simple. Evokes weekend warrior, driving to the hardware store, cracking open a cold one
Don't think I've ever listened to any of this kind of thing before, but it was actually pretty enjoyable in the end. Vocals on the first few tracks seemed a bit rougher, but once "United" kicked in things seemed to get more harmonious. Might need to check out more of JP's discography.
I've listened to a hand-full of Judas Priest albums here and there but somehow their most commercially successful album has escaped me. I thought that this was pretty fun. I don't care if its more commercial its still a solid rock album. In the best way possible, it sounds like if Tenacious D tried to be a serious band. I will say that "Painkiller" by JP should've been here instead, but I'm not too upset about this one. Favorite track: The Rage 3.5/5
When I was a teenager, I loved metal and heavy rock. These days, I don’t really listen but once in a while I hear a song like Living After Midnight, and it takes me right back. JP is one of the great bands of the era, esp with Rob Halford on the microphone, and this record put them in the mainstream and had a big part in the popularity of metal through the 80s and 90s. There’s some clunkers here but more great tracks than not. There are straight forward rockers like a Breakin the Law and more prog metal offerings like The Rage. Listening now, I wish I had seen them back in the day
I instantly gained 100lb on my bench after listening to this
Metal at its finest. Classic hard rock/metal album with amazing range on vocals/melodies with full-sounding guitar licks. Songs transition smoothly from one another, which I always like. It makes the album feel cohesive and as one idea rather than a combo of songs. Highlight is "Metal Gods" and "united". "breaking the law" is funny and ironic listening from 2025, so edgy!
liked songs: Metal Gods, Breaking the Law, The Rage Very fun 4
Hard-hitting, blistering 80s metal - if "maximalism" was an LP. Pretty solid overall, but "United" sounds cheesy as fuck to this cynical listener in 2025.
Not a big metal guy, but it’s been a minute since this project has served me some actual, no frills attached, for real for real, METAL. And this was fucking JUDAS PRIEST, man! This hit right yesterday, I was vibing. These songs are tight, great production, great lyrics, legendary singing. I don’t care for a couple tracks overall so can’t give it five, but if you’re looking for metal, doesn’t get much realer than this.
I've found that some of these metal albums on this list don't quite line up with the ratings I've given them. This, the Black Album, and that live Motorhead one I've rated all 4, but that's more because they don't really deserve being rated a 3 alongside some of these folk rock albums that are just a bit boring, or all these British New Wave ones. However, I wouldn't really consider them 4 star albums, closer to a 4/10 really. My liking for metal in general boosts these ratings, because I definitely do enjoy them a lot more than the albums I've rated a 3, so it feels weird to talk about them so negatively despite giving them a 4. British Steel in particular it's a pretty decent, standard early heavy metal album. The Rage is my favourite song on it, followed closely by Metal Gods. But I think they've done Judas Priest a little dirty by adding this album AND ONLY this album to the list. I would have preferred Painkiller or Defenders Of The Faith personally. Still though, pretty enjoyable heavy metal you can't really go wrong with.
I was expecting something heavy, dark, and brooding. This album was heavy, but surprisingly (to me) bright and poppy. The playing is tight and energetic, and you can sing along to everything. Job well done.
4.5 Stars
Some great songs but some weird ones that throw off the album feel
Great album
You guessed it. Better than Metallica yet again.
Overall: 8/10 I love me some Judas Priest. Rob Halford has such a wide ranging voice and it blows me away every time I hear him. This album was actually one of the first ones where they started to include some softer, hard rock songs, but it still rips when it needs to. There's actually a few other Priest albums I would have included in this list over British Steel (Sad Wings of Destiny, Screaming for Vengeance, Painkiller) but those albums don't have Breaking the Law so I get it. This one rocks a lot too, despite a couple cringey songs/lyrics. Fav Song: Breaking the Law
It's so unapologetically silly, and I love it for that.
Not bad, didn't know any song, liked it overall, songs are short and catchy enough
Terrific hard rock album. An extremely easy listen. 4 Stars
Incredible vocals
It’s psychotic that priest has at least 6 albums better than this
Typical rebellious rock sounds and themes. They sure do sound good, though!
Хорошо состарившаяся музыка, в отличие от ранних мейденов. До сих пор звучит бодро и плотненько, ну и вокал конечно превосходный
Old school metal. I was always more of an Iron Maiden fan but this is a pretty good album from top to bottom.
Perfectly encapsulates that era of British heavy metal. Top track: Breaking The Law / Living After Midnight
4,5 almost marvel
Good tunes on here
I like it
Good.
Went in thinking great, this is going to be a slog. When it started out with Rapid Fire, I thought that confirmed it. Nothing but noisy screaming. I guess they should have opened with a different song, because it got much better from there. Metal Gods was kinda fun, and Breaking The Law was a blast! Grinder, The Rage, and Steeler had really good guitar work. And Living After Midnight was also pretty fun. Enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would. Really this kind of thing would be a 3 from me, but I was just having so much fun I'll bump it up to a 4. Best song: Breaking The Law
Classic British Heavy Metal
Favourites: Rapid Fire, Breaking the Law, Grinder, United, The Rage, Steeler
I was really surprised by this album, it was a great listen. Very similar to Black Sabbath. 4.5 rounded down
3.5
This is just a good, fun metal album. I’ve never listened to a full Judas Priest album, but I was familiar with and really liked the singles “Breaking The Law” and “Living After Midnight.” “Grinder” is really great too, and there isn’t a song on here I didn’t like. The album is pretty much what you’d expect from Judas Priest based on their singles, but it’s enjoyable and deserves to be on the list.
The video for "Breaking the Law" is an all-timer for 80s cheesiness. Judas Priest is here to rob your bank with blistering metal and tight leather pants! Run for cover, gramps!
Overall loved the listen. United got on my nerves but other than that, it was a solid album.
Solid album. Livin after midnight is timeless. I thought "red white and blue" was really weird and out of place for a band from England.
Surprisingly cool. I never liked heavy metal and yet now I can hear the masterf solos on both drums and guitar. I’m going to listen again! Also reminds me of Jack Black and Spinal Tap which makes me smile!
Judas Priest!
Didn't know this band, but there sure are some metal anthems on this album!
Really enjoyed this one! Never really thought this kind of metal was for me but love the theatrical vocals and riffs. Kicking myself for writing it off for so long and looking forward to hearing more like this
Very pleasantly surprised this. I had not really listed to Judas Priest at all before this. It definitely falls in the hard rock category. I does not feel as sinister as Black Sabbath. But it's more dynamic and has broader range that much of what came after. Nice fist pumping rock.
Not fully metallic yet. But still rough around the edges. Liked it
That's some good heavy metal. Halford can really belt out a tune. 4/5
I never realized that priest was this much of a thrash band. I really only knew breaking the law and living after midnight, which are nothing like the rest of the songs on this album. Reminded me a lot of iron Maiden and megadeath
Enjoyed, second half is better than the first I think. The rage is my favourite track.
Discazooooooooooo
Conociendo otros discos de judas este we termina sintiendo lento
A logical mix of OG metal lyrical themes and aesthetic meeting the demand for slower groovier sounds like Def Leppard and AC/DC. The sound predicts how much of the 80s would go, with bands like Motley Crue and Poison continuing the sound forward. Some anthemic songs sound a little corny but the album stands the test of time.
3.75
Hell yeah
OK, so I never really got into Judas Priest when I was really into metal, I mean I liked the idea them but never really listened to them (beyond "Breaking the Law" mostly of course because of Beavis and Butthead), but after giving this listen now -- this is boss! So far no real misses, some definite standouts -- but no duds either.....
Well, this is fucking great heavy rock. It made me go back and re-watch Heavy Metal Parking lot, which is possibly the greatest rock documentary of all time. Judas Priest learned to dumb it down, keep it short and simple, and it rocks hard. They aren't great musicians (only marginally better than Black Sabbath, in that they can play a bit faster), but it is tight and heavy and dramatic and big dumb rock. But what lifts this record above a sea of mediocre metal is Rob Halford. He is massively charismatic and incredibly compelling, even when singing frankly ridiculous material. He is always committed to the bit. Halford is also a reminder that much of what is best about rock and roll is intrinsically queer. Despite not being out at the time, was anyone was under the misapprehension that he was straight? The leather and studs, the spandex, the motorcycles, the homoerotic posturing, the operatic vocals, the camp drama of it all. It's great _because_ it is camp, as is true of much great rock and roll (Fredie Mercury, Bowie, Little Richard, etc). Rob Halford seems like a genuinely nice guy, on top of being a legendary front person. It's a fun and drama, designed to entertain. And entertain it does. Four stars.
HEAVY METAL. Painkiller and Screaming for Vengeance are their two masterpieces in my opinion but I do like this one too.
Rawk!!!
I never was a Judas Priest fan back in the day. Didn’t love them or hate them, so never listened to this album until now. Hearing it for the first time, almost all songs are bangers and had a very nostalgic feel for me. Like every song was so familiar, probably heard as background in smoky pool halls during my mid-spent / misfit youth. Brought me back to that time! The drums, that guitar, and signature vocals really make for a cohesive album.
Lacks the speed and intensity that Judas Priest has come to be known for in the 21st century, but its still a great early heavy metal record. Steeped in counter culture and bluesy riffs, this isn't Judas Priest at their best, but its fucking fun.
Not my favorite metal band but metal nonetheless. Two big songs on this album.
Aces
Iconic rifs and vocals. Love it
Yes.
Loved it. Man I was born 10 years too late to have heard this sooner. Love the vibe, what it represents, and the sound.
Sorprendentemente me ha gustado
Overplayed to death. Great production props up okay material. Iconic? Sure. Essential? Debatable.
Have already listened to this too.
Good.
Not their strongest stuff but still some solid tracks
I'm not the biggest rock / metal fan but this was lowkey the shit
Not my favourite priest album but still a classic nonetheless :)
Lyrics are kinda bad, but the energy and Halford voice makes this a nice album
Sure it’s a bit dated but still so good. The live set on the anniversary collection is power metal at its best
Out of classic rock bands, Judas Priest might be the least up my alley, but I still had my fun.
Surprisingly loved it? Banger of an album — I think I heard “metal band” and was skeptical but I’m pretty sure I just don’t like a lot of modern metal. This was great. 7/10
This was a fun album. What I was expecting to be slow hard and dreary was instead almost popy and straight ahead. I really enjoyed the listen.
I keep forgetting that the grandaddies of metal are barely metal by today's standards - Hard rocking but still very accessible, a perfect gateway drug to today's more extreme sounds. If choose, as someone who's already listening to today's note extreme sounds, some of this really comes of as meandering and a bit too radio friendly. Still good though!
Feels dated, but I still enjoyed it.
Metal
I'm Robbing my Halford right now.
Tan guapos los judas
Excellent record, super powerful and energetic Heavy Metal. Halford's voice is super powerful, he nails the mix of operatic but heavy hitting. The guitars riffs and solos are great, and the drumming is on point, super powerful. The mix is very well done too, they sound super crisp. Lyrically, I liked that they have some social commentary, almost punk message in some tracks. When they do fiction, they don't over do it to the point of being corny or too much. For favourite tracks, the classic "Breaking the Law" is a banger, "Grinder" and "The Rage" are superb too. A weak point would maybe be the lifeless chorus of "Metal Gods" (although I think it's on purpose) and maybe the chorus on "United" felt a bit too glam rock for my taste but it was still really catchy. I didn't consider "Red, White & Blue" as it wasn't part of the original release (and I didn't like it much).
honestly great listen. love the guitar tones
7/10 A really enjoyable metal album, especially when the songwriting comes through on the less heavy tracks.
Pre-listen: This should be interesting, I am not super familiar with JP, just by name only, and maybe if I head a song I'd recognize it. Incredibly cool percussion elements, sounded like a hammer on metal for grinder. And I think the first song had what sounded like a shovel, shoveling coal into a furnace or something. I'm really enjoying all the production elements they were messing around with on this album. I bet this was pretty wild to hear this kind of music when it first came out and to hear some of the more unique production techniques being used. I wonder if anyone even cared back then? Overall an interesting listen, not quite my tempo, there are others in this genre I am more fond of.
I think just by nature of hearing different heavy metal developed over the past 45 years, this album feels a little milquetoast. Still, a fun listen. Favorite song: United
I haven’t spent too much time with Judas Priest up to this point. Loved their punchy rock/metal. It holds way up 45 years on.
metal guapo con mucho ritmo la vd
Rockin heavy record
That was fun! Nice guitarwork. I like their sound
Didn't know what to expect but really liked most of the songs.
Boys who ride motorcycles like Judas Priest. Can you imagine?
Not something I want to listen to all the time, but its great. Definitely the master mold for 80s metal.
Pretty solid imo
Fuck yeah! I saw Judas Priest once and loved their show. This is one of my personal favorites along with Screaming For Vengeance, Killing Machine and Sad Wings Of Destiny. Killer riffs and powerful vocals.
It’s funny listening to the bands that my dad had so many opinions on as I was growing up, and finally getting to form my own. Lyrics were forgettable for sure, but the face melting guitar that cuts through this whole album was fantastic.
A+, very good.
Quintessential 80’s metal band.
🤘
Ja lach maar, maar ik vond dit best leuk. Goeie muziek om bij te klussen, ook. Kabam, gewoon vlammen met die gitaren en die maar doorbeukende drums. Het is niet al te donker allemaal, het doet eerder denken aan stampende machines en andere industriële processen, en er staat zelfs een soort voetballied op. Ik lees dat dit hun nieuwe, commerciële sound is, maar als dat betekent dat zelfs ik het leuk vind, dan mag het van mij.
Nice and accessible. I'd give this to someone saying they want to get into metal and don't know where to start.
Крепкий и хлёсткий.
Pioneers of heavy metal but I never really listened to them. Great album and some songs saved to playlist
The British always had the US beat in music
Pretty fun. The drums on Rapid Fire hit like crazy. Good shit.
376/1001 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑
Great album, not great if you are stuck in a van with your brother and he is obsessed with Priest but otherwise it's a fun go.
ta Wapo
Excellent
Det blei med den eine gjennomhøyringa
This was a super fun listen for me. I dread 80s Rock based on bands like Def Leppard, Poison, etc, but this was actually super enjoyable. This album influenced Metal as a whole, and I think it holds up 40+ years later.
Great to revisit this album today. Enjoyed this album. Several great tracks.
Clásico heavy metal. Me gustó más que el álbum antes recomendad de Motorhead. Este está mejor producido. Insisto en que no es un estilo que me guste, pero suena muy bien y tiene su groove.
I enjoy expanding my metal catalog. This is a solid album, and holds its weight against Black Sabbath. I bet it would be a lot better live or with a stronger sound system. For Bluetooth headphones, I rate this a strong 3.5-4 stars.
Short, tight, and to the point fun rock. I cannot believe "Metal Gods" hasn't been pitched down and sampled for some bling rap. I really enjoyed this one!
Quality gen 1 metal, chugga chugga chugga. Me likey.
I thought melodies are for weaklings made from inferior metals, but United suggests otherwise.
I liked it way more than I thought I would
Clássico da NWOBHM. Bem divertido. Letshuoer D-13.
JUTASI PRAISTI VOI JUNALAUTSI, mitkä aistimukset mussa aikaan saikaan. Hittilevy. Hevi määrää. 4/5
Verrattuna viime viikon Metallicaan niin tämä se taas toimii! Vaikeaa toki suhtautua vakavasti kys. bändiin kulttistatuksen vuoksi, mutta hyvä levy. 4/5
Easy 4 stars.
One of the key British Metal Albums
Just enough cheese. Did the 80s think this was cheesy? Either way- good metal.
Understand of the importance of this, just not for me.
I had extremely low expectations for this album. I've never been a fan of this particular brand of metal. But British Steel seems to pre-date the horrendous throes of glam metal by a few years and it shows. These songs...rock? There's a bit of edge. There's some pace and thrash. I thoroughly enjoyed this listen. A very unexpected 4/5.
Fun album. I’m biased to anything metal. Judas Priest always has a lot of skips for me, but the good ones rock.
The radio hits are still good....but I greatly prefer the faster stuff on this album. Not a fan of "United." What is this arena rock sing-a-long bullshit?
Really solid metal album. Thoroughly enjoyed
Mye bedre enn forventet
Mmmm 4 i think. It rocks
I had already heard this album at least a couple times before. It's a pretty good metal album but without much of the harshness that a lot of metal stuff can have. It has some really big songs in Breaking the Law and Living After Midnight, but the whole album is worthwhile. Would listen again.
Thought it was pretty good. Really like the 2 popular songs, couple of the others were good. Some good guitar riffs.
The rage y Living After midnight han sido mis canciones favorita sin duda, y la de Breaking The Law le gusta mucho a mi padre. Por el resto la verdad que estaba bien. Es que soy tan metalero alternativo 😍🤘🎸🎤👨🎤
Energy, Best hard rock
Best album from JP!
This album definitely captures Judas Priest in their truest and rawest form. With this album they deliberately stripped away some of the more progressive elements found in their earlier work, opting instead for shorter, faster, and more direct anthem like tracks, Like 'Breaking the Law' and 'Living After Midnight.'
Hell yeaa this is some kick ass metal. So much of this album is awesome, especially how it opens. Rapid fire is fast and crisp and sounds a lot like Black Sabbath. Metal Gods also kicks ass and the first hit, Breaking the Law, is iconic. I think two patriotic songs is a bit much and kind of funny to be on the same album as Breaking the Law, but I had a ton of fun with this album and it was almost all new to me.
Honestly very listenable and enjoyable. A few bangers. Surprised me!
Love it!
The 1980s were the decade for the new wave of British heavy metal and Judas Priest rang the bell for the movement with the razor sharp British Steel. Leather and studs have never looked cooler or felt snug in this nine song collection of epoch defining metal. The blueprint of all things that were to come from and for the genre in the coming decade. Favorites: Rapid Fire, Metal Gods, Breaking the Law, United, Living After Midnight, You Don't Have to Be Old to Be Wise.
This was pretty good. I would classify this more to be between heavy metal and hard rock. Good solid album. I enjoyed it for a first time listen
PAINKILLER is their better album, but this one rocked!
Rob Halford, the man that you are 🖤
Hell yeah! Metal! Now this is what I call album. This is a blessing to my ears after Adele(sorry Adele). I am a huge fan of metal. And this album is good, real good. It sounds something between iron maiden and kiss, but differs. Drums, guitars, bass are so good in this album, especially the vocals, damn he's good at singing. I looked up and they established the metal sound, just like led zeppelin, black sabbath, deep purple etc. Songs saved: 6/10
Liked this a lot more than I expected to. Goes hard! Quite a bit vocally made me think of Jack Black to be honest. Breaking the Law was probably my top track. Will be checking out more of their stuff.
Boring
Thrash metal at it's finest. I completely understand the historical significance of the album and deeply appreciate it. Listening to albums like this does take me out of my comfort zone and I didn't particularly like the album with my tastes but good music deserves to be recognized even if you don't get it. A bit like art if you think about it.
No song more unintentionally hilarious in hindsight than Grinder
Great staple in the timeline of what would eventually lead to Metallica and the like and the hair metal of the 80’s. The two obvious bangers, plus I also enjoyed “Steeler”. The rest of the album is solid and rocks.
An obvious foundation layer for so many bands that would soon come. It’s probably safe to say that bands like Metallica, Anthrax, etc. do not achieve their level of success without this album. I wavered between a 4 and 5, but either way this is just some good ‘ol rock n roll that shouldn’t be overthought as you reach for the dial to turn it up to 11.
This rocks. Glad to have another album to add to the gym playlist. Or to throw on while I’m giving the hot rod a tune up in the garage.
Don’t think I’ve listened to a full Judas Priest album until now. Shame on me. This was great! And consistent all the way through. Of course a couple of hits but all the songs rocked my pants. Grinder……looking for meat 🤣🤣🤣
Sometimes you need some good old fashioned metal in your life. Classic goodness. 3.75/5
Didn't go as hard as i expected