Judas Priest — Richie Faulkner
Producers: Tom Allom and Andy Sneap
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AllMusic · 4.0 / 5 · · 2026-07-26 08:25:16
Ozzy Osbourne · 3.5 / 5 · · 2025-07-29 17:16:37
MiskamNiretet · 3.5 / 5 · · 2024-08-01 23:42:11
EveryDisc · 3.5 / 5 · · 2018-03-12 11:26:08
A dose of vigor for Monday into the studio. Although before listening, I doubted this strongly. However, it was in vain, one must believe in the old men. The English team Judas Priest 3 days ago realized its already 18th album in 44 years of career in recording. Fortunately, there is no concept on "Firepower" with which the group works not very skillfully, of which "Nostradamus" is a vivid example. By material, the disc is most similar to "Angel of Retribution", but with the scope of "Redeemer of Souls". "Firepower" - a zesty beginning in the style of "Painkiller"; "Lightning strike" is spirited, but too banal; "Evil never dies" - the group continues to go along the path of rock anthems; "Children of the sun" is global; "Flame thrower" is groovy; "Traitors gate" - typical JP; "No surrender" - the only track 100% into the piggy bank of best Judas Priest action tracks; the disc ends with the ballad "Sea of red" with the aftertaste of Tim "Ripper" Owens. Halford sings without obvious falls, he has been at such a level for 10 years already - a recognizable vocal in combination with an age-related nasality, which manifests even on high notes. In fact, he loses to himself, but on average in the hospital, Rob is still in good form. Like on "Redeemer", there are a bunch of songs, the duration of the record is massive, but you can't even say that the album needed to be shortened before release. There are no songs here that definitely won't find their listener. True, there is a shortage of unambiguous hits, but when did that hinder an old metalhead. There are riffs, guitar solos, anthem-like melodies, and explosive choruses - a fan of the old school will be delighted. In general, no old-fart drive, an average album of legendary pioneers of NWOBHM.
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