Sin After Sin

by

Judas Priest

Edit

This is the 2nd album to be released by JP in 1977 and was their first one for CBS. This album was ignored in America even though it received tremendous press reviews. Lightyears ahead of its 1st album, this is their third release and it's classic heavymetal with some of the best ballads to ever be released. Here are my reviews of the songs based out of 5 *****:

"Sinner" - From the opening wail of the guitar to the hard surging bass and guitar, this song makes me want to repent! Very Sabbath sounding. Some great guitar distortion and fantastic wah-wah solo by KK. Solid drumming from session man Simon Phillips (too bad he didn't join the band - he was the best drummer they had!) A classic metal epic/anthem. Rating - *****

"Diamonds and Rust" - A Joan Baez tune done right by JP and Rob. Joan is a great story-teller and Rob sings tremendously. Done at a mid-tempo pace. Very haunting. Fine drumming from Simon again makes this piece. I love this version. Rating - *****

"Starbreaker" - Drum solo opens the song for some hard crunching guitar. Rob is again in fine form. A quicker paced song. Solid bass playing from Ian and good drumming again. Rating - ****

"Last Rose Of Summer" - A GREAT piece! No matter that it is a ballad, it is just a fantastic song! Sung heart-wrenchingly by Rob. A great love song that would have been a hit if done by a pop singer. Rob's range is on full display here. A nice clean guitar accompanies the piece. Tremendous. I would love to hear it live! Put it in the live set! Rating - *****

"Let Us Prey/Call For The Priest" - I love this tune! Opens with a church sounding guitar and organ proceeding....into the fastest song on the album. The seeds of "Freewheel Burning" and "Screaming for Vengance" are heard here. These songs are heard on this tune. The only difference is that this is "Freewheel Burning" and "Screaming" with brains. The song has intelligent lyrics with a speedmetal sound. NEEDS TO BE PLAYED LIVE! Great soloing done by Glenn and KK. Speedmetal before it became speedmetal. Some great wails by Rob! Rating - *****

"Raw Deal" - Another underated song. This is Priest at its best! A song about going to into a gay bar wasted. This also should be put into the live set! A great crunching, metal song. Rob sounds mean and animalistic. Great drumming. Nice tempo changes throughout. Fantastic guitar playing from Glenn and KK. Alot of distortion. Great high-pitched screams by Rob to end the song. Would love to hear live! Rating - *****

"Here Come The Tears" - A short haunting melody and song about lost love. Some fine acoustic guitar and solo from Glenn, with piano accompianment. Rob once again shines on this tune. Rob cries out for love and you can feel the sorrow and anguish overflow. More fantastic wailing by Rob to end the song. GREAT SONG. Once again, needs to be put into the live set. Rating - *****

"Dissident Aggressor" - A CLASSIC! Heavy metal would never be the same after this. THE HEAVIEST song ever! Well ahead of its time! This also needs to be put into the live set. (Slayer covered it, 'nuff said) Rating - *****

Overall, an album well ahead of its time. A pure metal masterpiece! If you don't have this you are nothing but a metal poser. Their sound changes on the next album, Stained Class (Exp). For better or worse? See my review to find out.

I was going to give this album the two stars but considering that Dissident Aggressor is one of my favorite Priest songs, I had to give it an extra one. Yeah, I'll probably get some flack with giving it the three stars but honestly as a Priest fan, this album does not do it for me. My two favorite Priest albums are Sad Wings of Destiny and Painkiller and after knowing Sin After Sin was a follow-up to Sad Wings, I thought it was going to be even better. Sadly, I was wrong. The thing is, I *really* tried to like this album, I drove in my car and forced myself to listen to it over and over again and it just didn't get going for me. Every great band has at least that one or two album that doesn't do it for you and this is the one as well as Turbo. Sinner is a good starting out song but the rest of the songs really put me to sleep until Dissident Aggressor comes on which keeps the overall album afloat. I'm just glad after this album, Stained Class brought it back to where I always liked Judas Priest. It's better to listen for yourself though.