My Sunday Song – “Dissident Aggressor” by Judas Priest

Published on by 2loud2oldmusic

For My Sunday Song #299, I bring you “Dissident Aggressor” by Judas Priest. The song is from their 1977 album ‘Sin After Sin” and was written by Rob Halford, Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing. Although the song didn’t win any awards upon its release, it was won a Grammy over 30 years later for Best Metal Performance as a live version from the album ‘Touch of Evil: Live’. Better late than never!!

The song is about Berlin and the wall. Rob was in Berlin looking out over the wall and noticed that West Berlin was all lit up with bars open and lights, but the East side was dark and blacked out, no life. That contradiction inspired the song. The song appears to be dealing with the brainwashing and violence as a result of those ruling East Berlin. The Dissident Aggressor is someone who goes against the political party and fights to see things change. And the wall does fall, but not for over a decade later.

The final track on the album is the best song on the album for me. “Dissident Aggressor” opens with that classic Halford scream that blows your freaking mind. The guitars are brutal and the double bass drumming by Simon will lay waste to everyone that hears it. The song is aggressive, nasty and everything that is great about Priest. Tipton and Downing trade solos and you are treated to a feast for your ears. However, this feast is one where you can devour at the buffet all night long and never tire or get full. Rolling Stone magazine described the song as “apocalyptic epic” and I think that sums it up nicely.

Give the song a listen and let me know what you think. The power and aggression is some of their best and I can’t get enough. I hope you feel the same. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you all have a wonderful and Happy Sunday!!

“Dissident Aggressor”

Grand canyons of space and time universal
My mind is subjected to all

Stab! Bawl! Punch! Crawl!
Hooks to my brain are well in
Stab! Bawl! Punch! Crawl!
I know what I am, I’m Berlin

Through cracked, blackened memories of unit dispersal
I face the impregnable wall

Stab! Bawl! Punch! Crawl!
Hooks to my brain are well in
Stab! Bawl! Punch! Crawl!
I know what I am, I’m Berlin

Exploding, reloading, this quest never ending
Until I give out my last breath

I’m stabbing and bawling, I’m punching and crawling
Hooks to my brain are well in
I’m stabbing and bawling, I’m punching and crawling
I know what I am, I’m Berlin

Written by Rob Halford, Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing

24 thoughts on “My Sunday Song – “Dissident Aggressor” by Judas Priest”

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