- CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK
- Judas Priest "Sad Wings of Destiny" 1976 (UK)
- April 30 is Walpurgisnacht (sort of a Northern European version of Hallowe'en, only in the springtime), and next week's special is "the roots of metal", so here's a spooky heavy metal classic. Judas Priest was part of the second wave of heavy metal, debuting about 5 years after Led Zeppelin and their fellow Birminghaminites Black Sabbath, but their stylistic innovations were very influential on metal bands that followed. Sonicly, they combined operatic vocals with rapid fire guitar riffs -- a "fast treble" sound which was the inversion of Black Sabbath's "slow bass" style, and the black leather and smoke machines from their stage show were perhaps even more influential on the development of heavy metal's look. It's hard to imagine groups like Iron Maiden or Slayer without the Priest influence. My favorite of all of their albums is this record, their second, which still retains some progressive and psychedelic touches from the early 70's.
- Here's Judas Priest performing "Dreamer Deceiver" on television in 1975, before they recorded it for this album (when Rob Halford still had hippie hair!) Here they are in their iconic studs 'n' leather phase, performing the hit "Breaking The Law", and here's a recent clip of the reunited band playing another Sad Wings classic, "The Ripper". Finally, here's a preview of the forthcoming 2008 Judas Priest "metal opera" Nostradamus, which hearkens back to their mid-70's sound!