JUDAS PRIEST

There is no dearth of JUDAS PRIEST live material out there, but "A Touch of Evil: Live" just may be worth your hard earned dollars. This one feels right and the sound is one of a rejuvenated band, rather than old dinosaurs going through the motions. It does not sound like studio versions with crowd noise pumped in either. The song selection is the big selling point here. These 11 songs have never been released on a live album (excluding DVDs) on which Rob Halford was the vocalist and it's nice to not have to go through another "greatest hits live" package. You'll note that the press release only lists 10 as previously unreleased on a live album; maybe you know something I don't. If you're one of those folks that discount the Ripper-era live albums, which include some of these songs, then just pretend it never happened.

Most interesting is how well these 11 songs work together considering that the band reaches as far back as 1977's "Sin after Sin" ("Dissident Aggressor") and as recent as 2008's "Nostradamus" ("Death" and "Prophecy"). As a matter of fact, both "Nostradamus" tracks have made me want to give the controversial double-album a second chance. Also included are three JUDAS PRIEST classics that aren't always mentioned with as much reverence as the more recognizable/popular material, namely "Between the Hammer and the Anvil" from "Painkiller", "Riding on the Wind" from "Screaming for Vengeance", and "Beyond the Realms of Death" from "Stained Class", although devoted JUDAS PRIEST fans have always known "Beyond…" in particular to be a real gem. In addition to "Between the Hammer & the Anvil" being one of the many spectacular tracks from "Painkiller" it is "Riding on the Wind" that is in many ways the quintessential PRIEST fireball from what many (myself included) consider to be one of the all-time great heavy metal albums. That opening salvo of "The Hellion", "Electric Eye", and "Riding on the Wind" from the 1982 release still collectively stands as one of metal's most spine-tingling statements of intent.

It is not that "A Touch of Evil: Live" will join the ranks of some of history's greatest heavy metal live albums. It is simply a very enjoyable and intriguing collection of songs that creates a certain synergistic effect, resulting in the desire for front-to-back listens. Rob Halford can't hit and sustain the highs like he used to, such as on songs like "Dissident Aggressor" and especially "Painkiller" (it's a bit rough),but for the most part he compensates just fine here. I've not enjoyed a JUDAS PRIEST live album this much since 1979's "Unleashed in the East". Recommended for both fans and people that want to dig deeper into the band's musical history.