Redeemer of Souls comes forty years after the release of their debut Rocka Rolla. It’s a cause for celebration in and of itself. Redeemer sees Priest’s first album land in the Billboard Top 10. Despite the loss of grandmaster shredder Glen Tipton, they’re still heavy metal gods… when it suits them.
Swashbuckling opener Dragonaut drives dump truck riffs down our throats, Rob Halford’s sneering shriek gently weathered by time. Piledriving Metalizer feels like the spiritual successor to classic Painkiller, rousingly lavished with an Excalibur-grade drinking-hall chorus. March of the Damned vaguely gussies up old school metal with modern stomp and livery. Hell and Back’s near-balladry recalls Metal Gods’ zombie march, sans their experimental streak. Sloughing further, Sword of Damocles loosely draws on their heavy blues ‘Priest before they knew they were Priest’ past, brimming with candy-sweet licks and high-strung vocals. They chug and wail and bang their heads competently throughout. Brightly Halford and co. burn at times, ever briefly and further apart.
If Priest passed the miles of bare scenery on their hour-long metal journey, it would prove a worthy addition to their exalted canon. Priest’s halcyon studded leather days are behind them. Far be it to suggest Priest are swinging carcasses propped up by botox and money. No: Redeemer of Souls is proof-of-concept that Priest functions as one of the biggest, most loved heavy metal bands of all time. Nothing less and hardly anything more.
BY TOM VALCANIS
Best Track: Sword of Damocles
If You Like These, You’ll Love This: IRON MAIDEN, BLACK SABBATH, DEEP PURPLE
In A Word: Unleavened
