Just think, in 1990 the 'Painkiller' album, 'Cowboys from Hell' from Pantera, Megadeths 'Rust in Peace' and 'Seasons in the Abyss' from Slayer all came out within three or four months. What a year of metal just from that. Good grief.
@@Annihilation_0f_The_Wicked9066 Do not take it by heart, what he meant is that everything in that song is breathtaking : - Rob Halford is once again showing off is awesome voice range. - First album in wich Scott Travis plays, Painkiller is commonly said to be really hard to play - Glenn and KK are virtuously, aggressively enormous, same as Scott Travis : very hard to retry on one's own - The rythm of the song is intense, no break, no slowdown, for 6 minutes !!!!
@@n11ls Yes i realize that is breathtaking but not amongst the heaviest is what i was refering to. This isn't really that intense or technical. Yeah for someone in the beginning or intermediate stages this could be considered insane but stuff Michael Angelo, Yngwie, Blotted Science, Cryptopsy, C.C make this look like a walk in the park. Its still one of my most favorite songs/albums ever.
@@Annihilation_0f_The_Wicked9066 I think Malmsteen (taking one example from those mentioned) and Tipton-Downing are different categories (yes, although they are very good, Malmsteen is much more virtuous, faster, more technical), but they are kinda different type of meal. We can in this way compare Malmsteen with Al Di Meola, but what for?...However, yes, they are better in brach better than the JP guitarists (mentioning names like Tommy Iommi or Jackie E Lee). Anyway, JP gravitates around Halford, he is the rare specimen there.
@@Kimon71first of all this comment is irrelevant since the topic is Painkiller. And no, Ram it Down doesn’t compare to PK. It has its good moments and a lot of average songs and is in no way recognized by some as an equal to its successor. You’re clearly delusional.
This was their “Hold My Beer” song. They weren’t doing too well with the Hair band era. So when bands like Metallica and Testament and Slayer were getting HUGE, they put out “Painkiller”.
Those of us hitting our "Metal stride" in those days will never forget the video debuting on Headbanger's Ball on MTV (when they still played music). The look of shock and awe on Rikki Rachtman's face was PRICELESS. He was like "Well ... damn. Okay."
Painkiller is one of the worst Priest album....the very best Priest album are British Steel...Screaming for vengeance ...Unelashed in the east and Point of entry....Painkiller SUCKS.
@@margix1172 - Personally I think it’s not only their best album but it’s also their most complete album too. Yes, Screaming and British Steel have great songs but as albums they are perfect. Even Defenders of the Faith, which has my favourite Priest song ever in Freewheel Burning, has its poor moments, it’s title track being one of them!
In that regard it reminds me a bit of how I felt the first time I heard Eruption on VH’s debut album. “What on earth did I just hear?” Then I listened again. And again. And again. It always impresses and never gets old.
The main guitar riff is probably the most well-known use of the Locrian scale/mode (it hits all 7 notes and E is is the pedal). So if you ever need an example of Locrian to show students, here you go!
@@Doug.Helvering I see far too many music RU-vidrs do videos about scales and modes and get absolutely STUMPED on a good piece for Locrian when Painkiller is an incredibly popular song for reaction videos from non-metalheads and one of the most legendary songs *to* metalheads. Even with all the modulations, I love how it keeps the very metal b2 and b5 intervals in the changes. Glenn's solo (the main solo in the middle of the song) is one of the best metal guitar solos ever. I wouldn't mind seeing you do a reaction to my favorite Priest song, "One Shot At Glory" from the same album. It's a really rare pump-you-up/triumph-over-adversity kind of song that's primarily in B Phrygian. Lots of cool guitar harmonies, more great solos, and Halford's vocals command you to climb to the top of the world to cry out that you will overcome any adversity that is put before you!
Your immediate facial expression and opening comment ("Holy shit!") says it all. That feeling/reaction is shared by virtually every person who's ever heard it, and it's why it's legendary. It is just about as impressive, both instrumentally and vocally, as any example of speed metal that exists.
Anyone I have known back then had the same jaw dropping experience as you, even if you have known every JP tune before the time. Painkiller was pure impact. After the mediocre late 80s, the Priest was back with a bang.
Seeing Doug come from absolutely hating double bass drum, to actually liking a song that pretty much puts these more aggressive drumming front and center is something that warms my heart :D
After this one I'd like to see his reaction to Fleshgod Apocalypse's "The Violation", not only for the drumming but also to hear what he had to say about the orchestral part. :D
This song and album are ten times more insane when you realize how old they were when they decided to go this hard. They'd already been a band for 21 years at this point. The members were all in their 40's here.
And when you consider that they had put out milquetoast albums like Turbo Lover and Ram it Down before this and everybody wrote them off. From mullet wearing, 80s cheese clothed, near pop band to THIS. What a slap in the face to the critics. This was Priest's way of saying, 'We're back. In your face!!' This video throws you right back to 1983-1984 JP
Painkiller is one of the worst Priest album....the very best Priest album are British Steel...Screaming for vengeance ...Unelashed in the east and Point of entry....Painkiller SUCKS.
The whole Painkiller album is filled with bangers (no fillers - even the bonus track)... Pure heavy metal!! Awesome reaction and could you please do Judas Priest more often because this is my favorite band and your channel is also my favorite of all reactors...
Fast, agressive, melodic. What a song! Those who were wondering what could JP produce after the more mellow Turbo and Ram it down were in for a big surprise! What a way to start an album this fast double bass drumming! After that album, Priest stayed in the pantheon of metal.
I feel like this album was Judas Priest kind of cheekily being like "okay, so thrash is the thing nowadays, let's try our hand at it" and just smashing it effortlessly. The intensity of the intro, the brutality and heaviness of the overall song even though a lot of it is relatively mid-tempo, they just make such good use of escalating intensity with those tremolo picked sections. While this is probably the most intense song on the album, the whole thing maintains this level of quality and it's incredible to see a band firing on all cylinders like this on their 12th studio release. I know you're not the biggest fan of the double kick but when it comes in in this song it's hard to deny it really hits the desired effect they were going for. Just a masterpiece.
This is still the most insane Priest song ever imo. Your reaction at the beginning was so good 😆 you never disappoint! Happy episode 420!! "Move over Terminator, we got Painkiller!" Haha. Also, nice to see you embracing the double-kick 😏 warms my heart big time!
I was a sound engineer at Magic Traxx recording studio in Virginia in 1985. Scott Travis booked a Friday night with me for a demo tape to take to Los Angeles. I had heard of him but, hadn't heard him play yet. Let's just say he blew me away that night! He told me that night that he didn't want to just be a rockstar. He wanted to be the drummer for Judas Priest. Dreams really do come true \mXm/
If you want to hear a lot more Priest on this level, I would recommend A Touch of Evil from this same album or Beyond The Realms of Death from 1978's Stained Class. Other vocalists of this caliber, IMO would be King Diamond, who also headed the group Mercyful Fate or the late Warrel Dane who started with the band Sanctuary and went on to his other group Nevermore. for Sanctuary I would suggest Battle Angels for an idea of his vocal range.
@@reliantncc1864 I remember when Ella Fitzgerald put out "Is it live or is it Memorex" commercials, shattering wine glasses and I would crack up because the "Sad Wings of Destiny" vocals will blow the windows right out of your house! LOL!
The definition of Metal. Best drum intro ever, great riff, killer solo (one of the best), a second solo and the vocals 2nd to none. This is the Painkiller, metal defined.
Absolutely one of the best metal songs in history. Priest just doesn’t get the recognition they deserve. IMO, they are an early metal band that really defined modern metal.
It's awesome to hear one of my favourite songs analysed by a music specialist. Alll the time I don't understand why I like a song, why it makes a "comfort" to my ears. When a specialist of music analyses it and justifies why it does, makes all the sense to me. Thanks, Sir!
This was my husband's favorite song. At his funeral we played it in the church! And 4 months later we played it at my daughter's wedding. Had a blast both times.
I went to an Alice In Chains + Judas Priest concert with a friend who loves grunge but knows little about metal. When this song came up, I looked at his reaction real time and it was a pleasure to see him melt under the "most metal song of all metal". "Oh... IT KEEPS GOING!?" What a performance.
I saw Priest in a 5 band set with Motorhead, dangerous Toys, Alice cooker and somebody else in August of 1992 during the Operation Rock and Roll. That was an insane night of n music. I had previously seen Defenders Turbo, and Ram It down.
Painkiller is probably my favourite Judas Priest album. Really powerful and at the same time intriguing sound. And Rob Halford, in my opinion, is in his best form here. My favourite song is A Touch of Evil, it has keyboards in addition and melodically just moves me. And Rob Halford screaming in that song is even more jaw-dropping than in Painkiller. I would like Doug to react to that song.
Painkiller is one of the worst Priest album....the very best Priest album are British Steel...Screaming for vengeance ...Unelashed in the east and Point of entry....Painkiller SUCKS.
@@einarassipavicius1991 The only constructive critique is that Priest are famous thanks to their mid-tempo melodic songs not fast ridicolously nonsense , they must thanx British Steel Stained class Screaming for vengeance and Point of entry if they are what they are and not for sure painkiller that is their pathetic attempt to compete with garbage like metallica and megadeth. They are BRITISH hard-Rock Heavy-Metal like Saxon not thrash "metal" .
"one of the more metal Metal Mondays" LOL... I died laughing at this 😄😁🤣🤣 About Judas Priest I would suggest a reaction on "Blood red skies" , "Beyond the realms of death" and "Victim of changes" 🤟🤟🤟
You gotta hear: "the Sentinel", "Tyrant", "Beyond the Realms of Death"..... lots of others. Priest visits a lot of different musical corners through their "metal" lenses.
Its like they were abducted by aliens and came back better and heavier than ever. Scott was sorely needed in that band and Les Binks made his presence on Stained Class in 78 the same way
I'm a metal head. Judas was one of the bands back in 80-90's that was jaw dropping for me. I don't own a fan gene but I really enjoy their music. I liked this chapter very much. Greetings from Mexico.
Saw this tour twice. They played everything exactly the way it goes on the record. They'r crazy good live! Halford holds that note at the end for 20 seconds lolll
I remember so vividly when I listened to Painkiller for the first time: the drum intro, the riff, and Rob's voice. I remember going back home and obsessively thinking about it for days.
Though I loved this album when it came out, I much prefer their pre-British Steel discography, because those albums combined Prog Rock with early Metal/Punk in very interesting ways. While Painkiller is, undoubtedly, Thrash, songs like Exciter (1978) and - especially - Dissident Aggressor (1977) are great examples of Proto-Thrash, and building upon/influenced by such works, I would think, from Black Sabbath's Sabotage, specifially, Symptom of The Universe (1975). Another great review, Dr. Doug! Best! J
Me too, I think Painkiller is a good record, loved it back then, but Sad Wings, Sin After Sin, Stained Class were the best. Their Best songwriting by far.
Fun fact. The producer on this record was sent to the Philippines after Rob left the band, and priest was on hiatus. He recorded a group called Anthem, and their album "Domestic Booty" sounds just like Painkiller era priest. It's just in another language. Check out their song Venom Strike. It's literally painkiller 2. Great reaction, keep it up.
Judas Priest has created some cool characters to build songs around. One of the better developed (and my favorite) is “The Sentinel” from the Defenders of the Faith album. Great character, great story, great song! Check that one out as well!
Painkiller. Absolute Classic! I recomend taking a look at Mastodon. They work with a different drum structure, not usually on rythm with the bass, but with the guitar. Go for "Motherload", "Show yourself", "Precious stones" or "Roots Remain". Huge fan from Brazil here! Keep on with this wonderfull work!
Painkiller is one of the worst Priest album....the very best Priest album are British Steel...Screaming for vengeance ...Unelashed in the east and Point of entry....Painkiller SUCKS.
Scott announced his presence with that intro and Judas Priest announced that it was back to the metal that made them Metal Gods. After Turbo and Ram it Down, Painkiller was the return to form. The whole album is solid. I saw them on this tour in the 90s and just this year again. Still reigning supreme!
Turbo ans ram it down are WAY better that painkiller much more melodic and musical ...painkiller is shitty thrash garbage and tjeir best stuff is from the 70's and early 80's!
I remember clearly listening to Painkiller when it came out being a teenager. I’m more of a Maiden fan myself, but you can’t beat this one. Whole album is amazing. I would recommend doing the last two songs in tandem: Battle Hymn/One Shot and Glory. If you want to explore classic Priest, give it a try to “Victim of Changes”, specially a good live rendition. Kick ass track!!!!
Ok, who suggested this one for Doug?? LOL. Welcome to the deep end of the Judas Priest pool, Doug. It's an air drummer's drum fantasy. Try to keep up with the drumming Doug, lol. Yes, this is Metal, real Metal. Was fun watching this one Doug. Judas Priest changed much over their years. For something less intense I'd recommend Victim of Changes or Diamonds and Rust off Unleashed in the East or check out Desert Plains. Even mellower, somewhat like Dreamer/Deceiver Beyond the Realms of Death (studio).
@Metal Mark 12 , still trying to close the deal on selling my old AirTama kit to Doug. It's a Big Boys set. Double bass 8 concert toms, 2 floor toms, 2 snares(concert & piccolo). The cymbals are all Sabian Hand Hammered series. 1 Ride, 3 Crashes, 2 Splashes, a China Boy and my beloved Gong. All for the low,low price or $1500 obo. I'll trough in a stick bag with mallets,brushes & sticks for free. I think it'll improve his playing. 😎😏😎
would like to see you do some more judas priest rage , trubo lover , hell bent for leather , well you could just do all the priest songs 👽👽👽👽👽👽👽👽👽👽👽👽👽👽👽👽👽👽👽👽👽👽👽👽👽👽
Saw the Priest when I was 17 for the first time, I’m 59 now and still dig these guys. Bad ass metal onstage. Too bad the band is a fraction of itself. They could get a crowd rock in’ like no other!!!
I really like your reactions, you can pay attention to both lyrics and music and can explain musical sense of just some riff 👏 I would like to see you listening to band called Rhapsody (maybe Land of Immortals)
It's hard to express how important this album was. They'd already made a huge impact on metal in the 70's, being one of the three biggest bands in metal in the 70's with Sabbath and (late 70's to early 80's) Iron Maiden. In the mid 80's, though, they went through a prolonged decline, and later in the 80's, thrash appeared and they were seemingly headed for "Where Are They Now?" territory. They took the bold step of making a thrash album and killed it so completely they had another decade plus of dominance. It is, of course, yet ANOTHER example of how useless the RRHOF is that they couldn't come in through the front door but had to use the sidemen's entrance. Their impact on metal simply cannot be overstated.
When I saw them in 2017, Good ol' Rob was still hittin' those notes. Maybe not every single one but he got up there a LOT! This song was one of the highlights of that show for sure.
Every drummer making a debut w/ Judas Priest on record has made a terrific entrance to introduce themselves... Les Binks did the intro to the track 'Exciter' on the album 'Stained class' in 1978... (the late) Dave Holland did great drum fills on his opening track 'Rapid fire' on the 'British Steel' album in 1980... then finally, Scott Travis on 'Painkiller' in 1990.
Actually Dave Holland didn't have that great introduction as Rapid Fire was not the opening track back back in 1980 on the original release. Breaking the Law was the opening track but they swapped the order for the remastered version. I think the best introduction for him would have been the intro of Riding On The Wind but that was two albums later.
@@mak8836 That was just the US version. 'Rapid fire' was the opening song on every other version of 'British Steel' in UK, Europe, Japan, Australia, South America. Same w/ the album 'Killing machine' (only in the US was it called 'Hell bent for leather') ...and the album cover of 'Point of entry' (which was a cheap shot of a roll of computer paper made to look like a road 😂) At the time, Judas Priest was not quite popular in the US, so CBS Records (their label) saw their popularity growing in Europe and Japan by 1978, so they wanted to push Priest's well-known songs like 'Hell bent for leather'... 'Breaking the law' was a hit in the UK, so when 'British Steel' was released in the USA, they made that the opening track and changed the album's track sequence. But 'Rapid fire' was the opening track for 'British Steel'. When Judas Priest performed the entire album in 2009, they did it in the original sequence... opening w/ 'Rapid Fire' and ending w/ 'Steeler' (not the bonus track). Thankfully, Judas Priest put a stop to all that confusion after 'Screaming for vengeance' in 1982.
@@mak8836 There was no 'EU' back in 1980 😂so I'll wager u r lying. I got a tape overseas and the original vinyl... both opened w/ 'Rapid fire'. I looked on the net and some tapes had 'Living after midnight' as the opening track... other cassettes showed 'Breaking the law' on side A, and 'Living after midnight' opening side B. The original LP on UK releases had 'Rapid fire' opening side A and "You don't have to be old to be wise" opening side B. When British Steel' was remastered for worldwide re-release, it was restored to the original sequence.
Good Doug didnt make the mistake hearing Painkiller first. For this shis song to work well you have to know Judas Priest before and expect something very different.
"I was not prepared..." Said absolutely everybody who played that song for the first time. I remember when that came out. Scott Travis announced his presence by tearing everybody's face off.
I saw them live here in Norway last week. And surely they played this song again, and nailed it. Rob is over 70years now and still sings this song and that blown my mind. How is that even possible. The band was really great too.
Do you have perfect pitch? I grew up with a friend that did. He just knew listening once and could play every instrument handed to him once he lates hands on it for an hour, replay a song after 1-3 listenings.
If you really want to experience the range of Rob Halford's voice I would strongly recommend the following: Riding on the Wind Blood Red Skies Jawbreaker The Hell Patrol Beyond the Realms of Death Rock Hard, Ride Free ....and that's just for starters Love your perspective and compositional breakdown. Keep updated the great reviews.!
one of the best metal songs ever, and the whole album is amazing, you will not be able to skip any song on it. Pure metal, one of the greatest albums for me, together with cowboys from hell, far beyond diven, vulgar display of power and rust in peace. Excellent reaction, the first five minutes are priceless!! wishes from argentina!!!
Glenn Tipton is from the same village as I am, and I remember his family (but not him, I think he had left home by the time I became familiar with them). Pity he has Parkinson's disease, but he seems to be doing all right just now.
