• Mixtapes
    • Metal Mixtapes
    • Minor Key Mixtapes
    • Christmas Mixtapes
  • Mini Movie Reviews
    • Full List (A – Z)
    • Recent Reviews
  • Board Game Reviews
    • Recent Reviews
    • Children’s Game Reviews
    • Expansion Reviews
    • Full List (A-Z)
  • Reader Mail
  • About
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Mixtapes
    • Metal Mixtapes
    • Minor Key Mixtapes
    • Christmas Mixtapes
  • Mini Movie Reviews
    • Recent Reviews
    • Full List (A – Z)
  • Board Game Reviews
    • Recent Reviews
    • Children’s Game Reviews
    • Expansion Reviews
    • Full List (A-Z)
  • Reader Mail
  • About
  • Contact

Isley and Brian liveblog the new Judas Priest

April 5, 2018

Recently, Brian and I decided to check out the new Judas Priest album, Firepower, and chat about our thoughts over Gchat as we listened.  After we’d finished, I realized this might make a good feature for this blog, and thus I have posted our comments, thoughts, and poor-taste jokes below for all the internet to see.  Read on to see what we thought of Judas Priest’s 19th album, released almost 50 years into their career.  You’d think the album would suck with those kind of numbers, but, spoiler alert, it was actually kind of pretty damn good in parts!

Click here to listen along with us:

 

 

Isley

Listened to the new Priest yet?

Brian

Nope, just that one song.

Isley

I wish they’d quit making fucking hour long albums.

Brian

Oh God, now I don’t want to.

Isley 

Hehe, right?

Brian

I think there should be a hard cap at 40 minutes.

Isley

37 minutes is the golden Form of all album lengths.

Brian

Are there some notable examples?

Isley

Just pulled that number out at random–but I definitely notice that around 40 minutes or less DOES seem perfect.  Let’s see if Priest can prove us wrong.

 

Firepower

Brian

Ok, I’m really enjoying this first one.

Isley

Yeah, I like this one a lot too.

Isley

Supposedly Tipton still did a bunch of solos on this album, even with Parkinson’s.

Brian

Should I expect lightning-fast hammer-ons?

Ok, sorry, that was cruel and unnecessary.

Isley

Hehe, jesus dude…too soon.

 

Lightning Strike

Brian

This is also good. These guys really know how to write this kind of song.

Isley

Yeah, I dig this one, even if I’ve definitely heard it before.

Brian

Yeah, generic Priest sound, but still.

Isley 

They nail the chorus here too.

 

Evil Never Dies

Isley

This seems a little off brand…sounds like an Ozzy song or something–except for the chorus which I don’t much like either.

It’s not bad I guess, just a little poppy for my tastes.

Brian

The verse riff is just kind of boring, but the vocal melody rescues it a little bit.

I like that poppy sounding bar right before the chorus.

Isley

THAT is precisely the bar I disproved of.

Brian

Best part of the song, dog.

Isley

Maybe if your band is Coheed and Cambria.

Brian

Motherfucker…

Isley

OH SHIT… #shotsfired

Brian

Halford’s voice is still really good.

Isley

Yeah, though in parts of this one he does sound a little like Mustaine.

 

 

Never the Heroes

Isley

What is this techno shit, fucking Bladerunner?

Also, I’ve heard this wailing guitar riff before I swear.

Brian

Sounds like one of their cheesy ballads that you like so much.

Isley

Liiiiivvvving bad dreaaaaaaams…

Brian

Everything about this song is uninspired.

Isley

Now, the same COULD be said of “Lightning Strikes”…do we give that a pass because we prefer the style?

Brian

Now you’re catching on!

Isley

This does have a nice build to the chorus.

Brian

I think the verse riff in this song is particularly lazy and generic.

Isley

I’d buy that, but its execution creates a good sense of rising energy, as uninspired as it is.

 

Necromancer

Brian

Ok, “Necromancer,” let’s see what you’ve got.

Isley

Oh hey, now we’re talking

Brian

I like the chord changes in the verse riff…and the pre-chorus is solid as fuck.

Oh, but the chorus is a bit of a letdown.

Isley

Yeah, this is good stuff, though this is still just, what, “Nightcrawler?”  …or really any number of songs from Painkiller.

Brian

Yeah, totally.

Isley

And yeah, the chorus does kind of drop the ball–everything up to that is great though.

Brian

It sounds like an Alice Cooper chorus from the 80s, but not as good.

Isley

“What do we do for the chorus?” “Just keep saying the song title at a slower pace than the verse.”

Brian

Is he saying “Necromancer, drinking from the hose”?

Isley

lol

Brian

Because I totally did that as a kid, too!

Isley

Homophobe.

Brian

Dude…lol.

I didn’t even mean it that way, but that’s hilarious.

I TOTALLY DIDN’T DO THAT AS A KID.

 

 

Children of the Sun

Isley

This chorus is boring to me.

Brian

This song is boring to me.

Isley

Well, there is that–let’s see what this acoustic interlude does.

Brian

This interlude is nap time.

Isley

Maybe this will be their “Rime of the Ancient Mariner.”

Ok, nope–it’s not even their “Living Bad Dreams.”

Brian

This is probably the worst song so far.

Isley

Yeah…why force something like this out when your album is already overlong.

 

Guardians

Brian

Oh shit, piano.

I may have spoken too soon about the worst song.

Isley

Lol–oh wait, this is just an instrumental.

 

Rising from the Ruins

Brian

The guitar harmonies here sound kind of like Maiden, so I’m not NOT on board.

And we’ve kicked it into high gear.

…not disliking this so far…

…and the verse tanked, dammit.

Isley

Yeah, it was almost there!

Ok, full disclosure, I kind of love this chorus…

RIIIIIIIIIIISSSSSING FROM RUIIIIIIINS!

Brian

Yeah, the chorus brought it back.

I definitely much prefer this song to the last one.

Isley

It was a rough road there, but I’m on board…this song is epic.

I can “rise from ruins” to this.

#6tomidnight

Brian

Wonderful.

The half-time part after the guitar solo is also epic.

Then they keep the melody going, while the drummer goes double-time, nice.

Isley

Those keys are bordering on cheese though.

Anyway, yeah, I don’t just kind of like this chorus, I think it’s great.

Brian

Yeah, this song is epic and well-constructed, with the verse the sole detractor.

Isley

Yeah, verse was like “I don’t know, throw some fast power chords in there…we’ll fix it with the chorus.”

 

Flame Thrower

Isley

I don’t know about this opening…yeah…pretty meh so far.

Brian

Pre-chorus was kind of good.

Isley

Yeah, but the chorus is back to lame.

Too bad, that prechorus was promising–sounded kind of NWOBHM.

And he said “heavy load”…giggle…

Brian

I’m gonna give the chorus another chance…let’s see.

Isley

I want to hear the rest of the song that this prechorus came from.

Yeah, the chorus is OK…better than the verse anyway.

Brian

Yeah

Isley

This song is disjointed.

Brian

That bridge into the solo sounds like it came from a heavier song.

Isley

Agreed.

Brian

Disjointed is exactly it.

 

 

Spectre

Isley

The opening didn’t do much for me, but this middle section before the solo is pretty cool.

“This tyrant takes his toooooolll” I think my favorite part is how he ends all the lines of the verses like it’s “Jawbreaker” or something: “For all the yeaaars it bore the looooaaad!”

Brian

I am not disliking this one.

Isley

Yeah, this is pretty good, but maybe just because the good parts are reminding me of better songs (like most new Priest).

 

Traitor’s Gate

Isley

Speaking of stuff that reminds you of better Priest songs!

Brian 

I like this kind of phrasing.

Isley

I have high hopes for this one.

Brian

I think more could have been done melodically.

Isley

Yeah, fairly simple…works well enough though.

This is what, their 50th album? Let’s not go crazy here with the expectations.

Brian

I’m just comparing it to what they’ve done elsewhere on this album.

I like this song.

Isley

Heh, yeah…”Surviiiiiiiiiiiivor!”

Halford can sing an epic line

Brian 

The chorus is a departure, but in a good way.

Isley 

Yeah, I wasn’t super sure about it, but it closes things well.

Brian

I don’t like the vocal phrasing at the end of the chorus, but that’s a minor gripe.

Isley

I think it works, I like how “traitor’s gaaate” ties into the next section.

This middle part is sweet.

Brian 

I’m liking this a lot…reminds me of Andy LaRoque from King Diamond.

Isley 

Ah, yeah, I can see that.

Yeah, this song is a definite album highlight.

Nice use of the Doctor Who theme after the solo.

Brian 

I don’t remember the Doctor Who theme at all.

Isley

Heh, it was a reach…but sounded similar.

Cut out half the songs on this album leaving the good stuff like this and we’d have a damn good album here.

Brian 

So far I’d probably only jettison three of them.

 

No Surrender

Isley 

I want to like this opening, but it sounds awful damn familiar.

Uh oh, here comes the syncopation…

Brian

I kinda like it.

Sounds like 80s hair metal.

The verse, that is.

Isley

I mean, this chorus IS catchy.

Ugh, I hate this synchopated verse though–20 years of listening to black metal has left me with a deathly fear of any kind of rhythmic phrasing.

Brian 

Between that and your disdain for major keys…Christ…

Isley

This is pushing it with the pop, but it’s catchy and kind of epic, I’ll give it a pass.

Hmm..that just kind of ended–or I wasn’t paying attention due to being too busy savaging syncopation in all forms.

 

Lone Wolf

Brian

This one has a groove metal vibe you won’t like…

Isley 

You are correct…my ears were all “what the fuck, do we detect a GROOVE??”

Brian 

If you groove, synchopate, or are in a major key, GTFO.

Isley 

srsly

Brian 

I don’t hate this song, but I also could have done without it.

I have no such aversion to grooves

Isley 

I can definitely do without this one, it will definitely be on my chopping block.

…if for no other reason than he had the temerity to write the lyric “a lone wolf walks beside me…”

Brian 

No earthly reason for it to be five minutes long.

Isley

Also true.

 

Sea of Red

Isley

Time to bring it down a notch.

Brian

This is a pretty melody.

Isley

Yeah, it is nice…FOR A CAMPFIRE.

Brian 

Threw in a little bluesy thing real quick.

Isley

The acoustic guitar stuff is actually pretty decent–except for the bluesy thing he threw in real quick.

Brian 

I knew it, lol.

Isley

(Add “blues” to my list of shit I want no truck with).

Man, he really is a great vocalist…

Brian

His voice doesn’t sound great in this context…

Lol…ok then.

Isley 

Hah! OR NOT.

And fine, his voice did sound more confident when this kicked into the more typical production.

Brian

I’m still detecting a lack of METAL.

Isley

Oh WAIT….this song: “lack of METAL YOU SAY?????”

Brian 

This song: “did someone say POWER BALLAD?”

Isley

Fine, I can see people (not just half of those involved in this chat) rolling their eyes at this one, but I’m digging it.

Brian

I’m not liking this at all anymore.

Ok, I like that part they just did.

Isley 

That little synchopated part before the choirs killed it right?

Brian

God dammit.

Isley

I’m pretty sure we could have had this entire conversation about this album without the other present and just written in each other’s comments and it would have been the same result.

Brian

You’re not wrong.

Isley

SEAAAA OF REEEED…WHERE THE GLORY HAS NO ENNNNND!

Ugh…here they go again with the syncopation.

Brian

Fuckin best part of the song by a country mile.

Isley 

Oh, and I guess the song’s over just like that.

“Fuck it, we got our hour, let’s call it.”

 

Final Thoughts

Isley

Oh shit…did Painkiller autoplay for you?

Brian Coffman

I cancelled auto play.

Isley Unruh

Well kicking straight into that did this album no favors…

Anyway, I’m giving “Sea of Red” a pass…

Brian Coffman

Ok, so I’d throw out “Never the Heroes,” “Children of the Sun,” “Sea of Red,” “Lone Wolf,” “Flame Thrower,” and “No Surrender.”

Isley Unruh

I’d get rid of the same, but maybe keep “Sea of Red” for “Evil Never Dies” which was just the wrong side of too poppy for me.

Isley

Highlight? Probably “Traitors Gate” for me–or “Lightning Strike.”

Brian

I liked “Firepower,” “Necromancer,” “Rising From Ruins,” and “Traitors Gate.”

“Lighting Strike” is also very good.

Isley

Agreed on all those, though I’d still give “Necromancer” a new chorus…

Brian 

All in all a very impressive effort considering how long these dudes have been at it.

Yes, formulaic for the most part, but most people can’t even manage that. Supremely talented guys.

Isley 

Yeah, and still a “nice, cosy [thirty]-minute set” if you take out our pinpointed filler tracks.

Brian

And, I mean, at least they wrote the formula.

Isley

Yeah, I never would have guessed a band would still be putting out good stuff 10 years in, let alone…what, 45 years in?

Brian

We should do this with Book of Souls sometime.

Isley

Yeah…you think an hour long album is bad.

Brian 

Fuck, you’re right, Book of Souls is an hour and a half.

Screw that.

 

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)

Related

Share

Metal Music

Leave A Reply


Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Recent Comments

    • Shane on Top Ten Best Classic Black Metal Logos
    • BBK on Five More Signs That the Underground Metal Band You Are Listening to Might be Racist
    • Anonymous on Boys will be Boys: Double Standards in McLintock! and The Awful Truth.
    • isley.unruh on Brilliant Board Games 1 – Krosmaster: Arena
    • Boosh on Brilliant Board Games 1 – Krosmaster: Arena
  • Recent Posts

    • RTfISP 11: Operation Moses
    • Notes from the Library
    • Top five 2023 New Year’s Resolutions for www.isleyunruh.com
    • Painting in Miniature 6: Blood Bowl
    • Minor Key Music 87: New Model Army – The Hunt
  • Categories

    • Art (5)
    • Books (12)
      • Only the Good Parts (6)
    • Comics (6)
    • Film (249)
      • Best Movies of the Decade (2)
      • Best Movies of the Year (5)
      • Cinema Scripture School (4)
      • James Bond Picture Books (2)
      • Mini Movie Reviews (98)
      • My Favorite Movies (78)
      • Year in Reviews (6)
    • Food and Cooking (9)
    • Games (52)
      • Brilliant Board Games (2)
      • Descent D&D (7)
      • Mini Board Game Reviews (12)
      • Painting in Miniature (6)
      • RE-Zork (10)
    • Holidays (21)
      • April Fool's (8)
      • Halloween (2)
    • Internet (30)
      • Memes I Missed (21)
      • The Art of Trolling (4)
    • Lists (49)
    • Mailbag Monday (86)
    • Math and Science (3)
    • Me (60)
      • Rousing Tales from Isley's Spirited Past (12)
    • Metal Music (121)
      • Album Artwork for the Ages (3)
      • Battle Vests of the KVLT & TR00 (3)
      • Best Metal of the Year (6)
      • Extreme Metal Radio Edits (2)
      • Mid-month Metal Masterpiece (74)
      • Racism in Metal (6)
    • Myth and Fantasy (8)
      • Archetypical (4)
    • Nerd Open Letters (20)
    • Non-Metal Music (102)
      • Minor Key Music (90)
    • Other (2)
    • Philosophy (3)
    • Sports and Fitness (7)
    • Spotlight Posts (60)
    • Tales from Center Valley High (19)
      • Goth Blog (6)
      • Jock Blog (7)
      • Snob Blog (6)
    • Tolkien (97)
      • The Lost Chapters (6)
      • Travels in Middle-earth (76)
    • TV (5)
    • War (7)
  • Archives

  • Meta

    • Log in
    • Entries feed
    • Comments feed
    • WordPress.org



  • Home
  • Mixtapes
    • Metal Mixtapes
    • Minor Key Mixtapes
    • Christmas Mixtapes
  • Mini Movie Reviews
    • Recent Reviews
    • Full List (A – Z)
  • Board Game Reviews
    • Recent Reviews
    • Children’s Game Reviews
    • Expansion Reviews
    • Full List (A-Z)
  • Reader Mail
  • About
  • Contact
© Copyright www.isleyunruh.com