Tag: Barbarize

Judas Priest – ‘Hero, Hero’ (1981) – Album Review (The Complete Albums Collection Series)

Published on by 2loud2oldmusic12 Comments

Judas Priest originally was signed to Gull Records for their first two albums. They moved on from them and when Priest started getting big in 1980 with ‘British Steel’ and before their next album in 1981 ‘Point of Entry’, the label decided to capitalize on that rise in popularity and released a greatest hits compilation called ‘Hero, Hero’. The songs on the compilation were from both ‘Rocka Rolla’ (1974) and ‘Sad Wings of Destiny’ (1976). Actually it was all of ‘Rocka Rolla’ and only 6 songs from ‘Sad Wings’. What made it interesting though was that the songs from ‘Rocka Rolla’ had been remixed in 1981 by Rodger Bain and so was the song ‘Diamonds and Rust’.

The compilation I have on CD is a re-issue under the Koch Records label. What makes it different is that the songs from ‘Rocka Rolla’ are not the remixed songs. They are actually the original versions from the album. So, it is not quite as collectible as the original 1981 issue. However, the “Diamonds and Rust” song is still the remixed I believe. Instead of doing the songs in order from the original albums, they have altered the listing a little. The band is Rob Halford, K.K. Downing, Glenn Tipton and Ian Hill. There are two drummers since they changed so frequently. You get John Hinch and Alan Moore.

The opener is “Prelude” which is an instrumental opening and actually has no correlation to the next track “Tyrant”. It is done in a baroque style with piano and a lot of tom tom drums. There is some guitar, but not much worth noting. It really seems completely unnecessary and very skippable. “Tyrant” opens with a killer riff and explodes with full on energy. This is the Priest I was always expecting. Hard, heavy and full on metal bleeding from its soul. Halford’s vocals are spot on and I love the layered on vocals of his in the chorus. The guitar work between Downing and Tipton is what it is all about. They way those two play-off each other is unbeatable. I could listen to those two battle all day.

“Rocka Rolla” is more upbeat and has several little solos by Downing and Tipton does the outro. It even has some harmonica played by Halford. Another blues track, but more upbeat and rocking then the opener and another great track.

Continue reading “Judas Priest – ‘Hero, Hero’ (1981) – Album Review (The Complete Albums Collection Series)” →

Kiss – ‘Barbarize’ (Bootleg Series) – Album Review

Published on by 2loud2oldmusic112 Comments

In my quest for collecting Kiss Bootlegs for every tour they have done, I found another fantastic addition to the collection.  My local record shop, Hardy Boy Records, has been a goldmine of late for Bootlegs. I have now bought four over the last few months and all for tours I didn’t have (or a collection of Wicked Lester demos – that is another story that will be told later).

The last 2 I bought were actually at the same tour, so I guess that statement wasn’t entirely true.  The difference was one was the European Tour setlist (which will come in the next week or two) and this one is the North American leg of that tour with an ever so slightly different setlist.

Before we get in to where the show was and the music, lets first discus the cover as it is  pretty cool and what drew me to this one in the first place.  The cover is the same artwork as the Judas Priest album ‘Hero Hero’.  Thanks to Mike Ladano for pointing that out to me when I sent him a picture of the album and sure enough, he was right.

Continue reading “Kiss – ‘Barbarize’ (Bootleg Series) – Album Review” →