Metal Mythos: JUDAS PRIEST (Razör's Cut) 

True story: My friend had a Roland drum machine, cant remember model but an early one. This was when Painkiller first came out. He programed in the opening drum intro of Painkiller... and Painkiller killed his machine. Hard locked it, "killed" it.

I've remastered this to fix the various blank spots (due to rendering issues) in the original video. I've also gone through and updated it with new content, interview and music clips, for the definitive 'Razör's Cut' of Metal Mythos #1. Table of contents is in the description. Godspeed!

Let me tell you about being 14 years old, at my first heavy metal show, watching Great White play "Stick It" on a 10x10 stage, saying, "Wait, I read Hit Parader ... THIS is the biggest stage show ever put together?! What did I pay $6 for?!" ... Then the lights go black ... A 60-foot black curtain I hadn't noticed drops, and friggin Lazer beams are shooting out of a 60-foot metal lion's head as the booming intro of Love Bites almost vibrates my skeleton to it's knees ... yeah, two weeks of allowance well spent.

Beyond the Realms of death one of the greatest songs ever written.

"Delivering The Goods" is easily one of my top 10 (maybe 5) Priest songs. And, it's almost exclusively because of Rob's vocal delivery on the track. The instrumentals are still awesome, but the vocals are what do it for me.

a small request if you still do metal mythos: Dio.

Fun Fact: James Guthrie (the producer of Hell Bent for Leather) also produced Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here and Animals.

Jugulator is such an underrated classic. Thank you for acknowledging it. Tim Owens is an amazing singer who never got the respect he deserves.

Jugular it is a criminally underrated album that isn’t available on streaming like it should be. Tim “Ripper” Owens is owed his dues for that record, and it’s a killer album.

It says a lot about your ability to entertain that I'm about to gladly listen to you geek out over some Judas Priest albums for the third time.

"Reckless" is Turbo's best track, hands down.

And now comes Firepower. Killer album.

Before JUDAS PRIEST, earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep... And God said: Let There Be METAL!!! And there was metal...

My first concert....May 1984 Defenders of the Faith!!! Priest opened with Love Bites at heavy metal heaven...Long Beach Arena in California. Great White was the opening act on their Stick It tour. It does not get much better than that and I still have the t-shirt!!

I caught Priest live a few months back with Queensryche. When they started playing Turbo Lover the entire crowd was singing along. Rob was so happy that people sang to Turbo Lover. I think he really like the Turbo album

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="94">1:34</a> motley and def <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="157">2:37</a> 70’s condescension: Rush, Lou Reed, etc. <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="240">4:00</a> synths <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="351">5:51</a> Halford underwater vocals <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="599">9:59</a> Ava Green <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="921">15:21</a> ABBA <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="1081">18:01</a> AC/DC haha <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="1296">21:36</a> swing mock metal <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="1995">33:15</a> ram it down haha <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="2222">37:02</a> self-pity 90’s grunge <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="2308">38:28</a> megadeth and metallica <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="2821">47:01</a> ripper grounded vocals <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="2895">48:15</a> experimenting <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="2940">49:00</a> digital art <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="3120">52:00</a> Halford the old man <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="3265">54:25</a> power metal <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="3480">58:00</a> aping metal genres <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="3549">59:09</a> production and bathory

Fully agree with your opinion on Jugulator, I always loved that record and Tim is still an amazing vocalist and great frontman.

The live versions of 'Diamonds and Rust' and "Green Manalishi With the 3 Pronged Crown" and the entire 'Rocka Rolla', 'Hell Bent For Leather' albums are masterpieces..

"Night Comes Down" "Defenders of the Faith" "Heavy Duty"...damn three of my favorite Priest songs. :(

Oh Jesus. I've watched this so many times i can repeat the intro verbatim, tone as well.

Rob Halford hails from my home town of Walsall, that accent is a perfect Walsall accent, strange hearing it video haha

Not every song has to be break neck fast and ball crushing heavy to be good. Before the Dawn, Earning Star, When The Night Comes Down and the like are damn good tunes.

Halford's screams could turn meteors to dust under the sheer force. He may not have the honeyed wine sound of Freddie's beutiful voice but he definitely has more power behind his high notes.

I agree with most of what you say here but yes nostradamus, i was bit skeptical about it, but god damn it works! Judas priest took power metal and made it their own!

I come back to this video time and time because it’s so well put together and not only is it a review and history of my favorite band and their discography, but razor’s personality is entertaining and this video overall is one of the best Judas Priest reviews ever! Keep up the great work razor and God speed!!!

The thing about listening to any album on vinyl is that it's easier to appreciate or direct attention to. I love it more than digital despite the latters convenience.

A few years back, before the pandemic a friend and I drove 12 hours interstate for a festival headlined by Judas Priest, Ozzy and Slayer the latter two on their farewell tour. Well Ozzy got sick and cancelled entire continents tours but the thing I was shook by was trying to imagine Priest followed by Slayer followed by Ozzy. There are few frontmen who have aged worse then Ozzy and few who have aged as well as Halford- he was up there in a leather trenchcoat hitting the old high notes, slaying with the new material from Firepower. Just killing it.

My favorite Priest songs per album: Rocka Rolla: Deep Freeze Sad Wings: Tyrant Sin After Sin: Raw Deal Stained Class: Saints in Hell Killing Machine: Hell Bent for Leather British Steel: Steeler Point of Entry: Heading Out to the Highway Screaming for Vengeance: Riding on the Wind Defenders of the Faith: Freewheel Burning Turbo: Reckless Ram It Down: Ram It Down Painkiller: Hell Patrol Jugulator: Cathedral Spires Demolition: Hell Is Home Angel of Retribution: Angel Nostradamus: Four Horsemen Redeemer: Dragonaut Firepower: Children of the Sun

Thank you so much for this. I grew up in the 80s and have listened to metal my whole life, but have always slept on Priest. I really don't know why I never listened to them. Your video made me want to explore their catalogue and I was honestly blown away. One of the best bands of all time. Thank you very, very much.

So many good songs. I can't stop listening to Jugulator and Stained Class

For the past month or so I have been making my way through Priest's discography, taking my time with each album. Having only been familiar with them though best-of compilations and the like, it was an amazing journey - even suffering through Demolition had its appeal, a time capsule of the early 2000s. And, or course, after each album I would come back to this Mythos, and follow through your retrospective of the album. So, thanks Razorfist for the quality work here.

“Colossal cacophony of metalipherous might”. Poetry, pure poetry.

:smdh: "When The Night Comes Down" is a great song. Excellent video and update/remastering.

Still waiting for the Black Sabbath episode

Ive only been able to see Judas Priest live once in São Paulo, Brasil but its still my favorite live metal show ive ever seen and cemented Judas Priest as my favorite Metal band!

Please. Keep making more music mythos. The content and work you put into them is godly

Love the extra footage especially of Ripper Owens!

"plus tim aint gay" LOL .. kay

Screaming for Vengance was probably the only record I actually wore out playing it constantly and had to buy a new copy. First Album I bought with my own money. You Got Another Thing Coming is still a masterpiece.

I've never watched an hour long video on youtube before, until now. Preist have been my favourite metal band from the first moment i heard them. Great video, dont think i've ever heard music reveiwed before quite like this.

For fuck sake's razor I was just about to go to sleep and you do this, well who needs sleep anyway

PLUS TIM AINT GAY! Priceless

Firepower is even better than redeemer of souls

Absolutely brilliant! I love how I've got all the classics in your videos, but I tend to buy all the underrated/overlooked albums after the video ends. Mission accomplished!

Fantastic overview of one of my favorite bands. I remember buying SFV on vinyl when it first came out. To those too young to remember, there is nothing better than the smell of a new record. And the sound of the needle hitting the album that first time is unforgettable. Vengeance is just a perfect record and Priest has never failed to deliver.

Glad to hear you dig Point of Entry now! It has come to be my favorite Priest album.

I disagree with what you say about early Priest, I love that shit. I do find it refreshing to hear your view about Nostradamus. I have always said, if it was an album without the Judas Priest name on it, people would have liked it a hell of a lot more. Not my favorite by far, but much better than p people say it is.

Simon Phillips on Sin after sin killed on that album, brought so much to their sound

You clut-spluttering lovecraftian hell machine, it's 2AM here and I'm trying to get to sleep at a somewhat sensible hour and you go and upload this

"Plus Tim ain't gay!"

Everyone was aping Led Zepelin/Deep Purple/Black Sabbath in the early-to-mid 70s. Rocka Rolla, is just one of examples. Another is Rush's first album, which is basically a glorified LZ worship. Both bands understood their error and developed something unique and awesome.

Now this is an awesomely entertaining way to explore an artist's catalog. Very sharp and informally spot on. Nice to get a view from someone who is obviously a fan and has done his homework. Love to get your take on QUEENSRYCHE'S catalog.

I always thought that the sentinel was an amazing song but when I heard it live with Tim on metal meltdown It became my all time favorite priest song

Great take, recognizing Run of the Mill shows your brains. My disappointment when Turbo Lover was released, immeasurable. Now, that song is FANTASTIC live. Has doubled the fan base itself. 1990 Painkiller Nirvana, period. THANK goodness for Tim Ripper Owen's contribution, the franchise owes him a debt of gratitude. Nostradamus ages really well. Hmmmmmm, farewell tour, hah?

Seeing priest this April on tour for their new album and I'm FUCKING hyped

RIP Chris Tsangarides

Just for the record, I love the album Turbo!

I've long owned a Judas Priest best of double CD, but no actual albums. I'm checking out a lot of the classic metal bands (I've generally listened to more 'mid tier' ones in terms of popularity) and these videos are a legit treasure trove. Thanks for making them. The way you fire off salvos of wordplay, hilarious comparisons and expletives is also really entertaining and fitting to the subject matter. xD

I don’t know how he did, but I’m thankful Halford made it out of the ‘80’s and is still kicking today.

Have been binge watching all of your Metal Mythos and it is cool to see younger people have the same feelings I had when listening to this music long ago. I did not think modern ears could process the music the same way because everybody's imprinting experiences would be different than mine and therefore true appreciation would be impossible - however your ideas of what constitutes a good or a bad album line up about 70% with mine, so all and all, not a bad intergenerational knowledge transfer! So the next time some young douche makes fun of me at work for listening to this, I will know that they have simply not opened their ears and minds enough! Keep up the good work, you are a talented documentarian and comedian!

Holy shit Razor! I was just starting to listen to Priest when you posted this! Must be a sign...

I like the fact that you're sticking to the theme of this year's E3 my dude. I just hope we eventually get the Metal Mythos: Alice Cooper. God knows I dream about it.

Thought I was the only person who legitimately likes Jugulator

Couldn't agree more re: Point of Entry - Desert Plains was the tune that made me dust off that slab and give it a few more listens. Great record! One other comment - Stained Class is dark, yes... but Beyond the Realms of Death is one of my favorite Priest tunes. Quick, stupid trivia: Sebastian Bach used to warm up for shows by singing that song. Really glad to have found your channel, man. Great Stuff!

Reckless was actually going to be the top gun song

Sin After Sin is the Priest album my dad had in his record collection when I found it as a kids and started digging into 70s and very early 80s metal/hard rock. Along with Rock You To Hell, Paranoid, Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, Led Zep IV, In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, Steppenwolf The Second, Machine Head, and Burn, this was part of my 'summer of metal' that ended the notion of haircuts while instilling the notion of daily headbanging for me. Never looked back. While I've grown to love thrash, death, and speed metal for the most part, I still listen to these old Titans of metal every day as well. Nothing will ever dislodge the place they have in my Metal Heart. Sin After Sin is a fanfuckingtastic album, front to back, with no real low points for my \m/. Whatever anyone else thinks of Last Rose or Here Come The Tears, I dig the tunes and enjoy them when I'm in a mood for more mellow rocking. I could care less if anyone else dislikes them; enjoy whatever cancers your testiculars, your taste doesn't impact mine anymore than mine does yours. I'll agree, however, that Dissident Aggressor is a fucking gnarly as all shit masterpiece, but easily hides among all the other gnarly as all shit masterpieces on the album. If you haven't already, put this album on to play through end to end, grab a drink, get loose, and let the motherfucking \m/ do exactly what it was designed to do to your soundholes and your soul.

I’ve been a serious, hardcore all genres metal freak since I was 11. The first records I owned were gifts from a dude that was trying to smash my sister. She was into more into radio rock so he told me to keep them. They were Merciful Fate: Mellisa, Exodus: Bonded by Blood, and Voivods: RRROOOAAARRR!!!!. So I was really young and the heavier the better. Death Metal arrived and that was it. I hated band like Priest, AC/DC, and Iron Maiden. As I got older I started listening to everything from funk, reggae, rap, classical, the blues…everything. Then 5 years ago o decided to give those bands a proper listen. I can’t believe that It took about 30 years to worship at the altar of Judas Priest! Better late than never!!!! 🤘

Hey Razorfist, I've have been watching your content since highschool and you make some of the best stuff on youtube. Thanks for all the good times.

well...Halford was not wrong in the intro.

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="335">5:35</a> nope he does not. His highest note in a studio/live album (which is always studio mixed) was done in 2001 in live insurrection which was a Bb5 in the song sad wings. or in the background of blood red skies which was an C#6.

Youre the best!! Great insights and perfectly delivered

This is just AWESOME man!

Ripper Owens is a fucking beast. If you haven’t seen it, watch the Roadrunner United live DVD. Not only one of the coolest concert DVDs ever released, but Ripper sings two King Diamond tracks on there and FUCKING CRUSHES BOTH OF THEM! Uh-mazin’.

During the 70's: Judas Priest were up-and-coming while bands like Black Sabbath and Deep Purple were at their peak. Judas Priest were great influencers though, and at the end of the decade they created the typical 80's heavy metal. During the 80's: Now, Black Sabbath and Deep Purple were struggling, but in the early 80's Judas Priest were the undisputed kings of metal and to me Defenders of the faith is the apex of heavy metal. They lost their edge to thrash and speed metal bands however, but at the end of the 80's Judas Priest turned their knobs up to 11 and started fighting the younger, faster bands (see: the '88 world tour). During the 90's: Already in 1990 a lot of the 80's band were out on their asses and bands like Iron Maiden, Slayer och even Metallica (if you like the black album then... good for you, honey :)) was struggling. Judas Priest however released Painkiller, enough said. Conclusion: Judas Priest are #1! It's a motherfucking fact!

LOVE This video!!! Well done Roz0rfist, Godspeed!!!

Dude these videos are great, keep em coming. And I'm glad I'm not the only one who loves Jugulator.

Is there a van halen mythos coming up in the future?

I saw this on my feed and i was like "wait. did razor get a hold of the new priest record or something?!" my second was like others said "who died?!" XD

Wow dude your amazing to throw so much information in one video, you basically give an entire history of each band, Amazing.

Priest performed more popular songs, they performed BETTER songs, but my favorite offering from JP is, and shall forever be, The RIPPER!

Great review but why no love for Ian Hill? You mention Rob, KK, Tipton, but no Ian love. Great bass player and rock solid member of the band and many classic Priest tracks wouldn't be the same without him.

Another great documentary, Rageaholic, your videos always bring a smile to my face. One bone of contention though: I bought Turbo when it came out and STILL love that album. Granted, it's not the best Judas Priest album, but I still put in on my turntable at least once or twice a year. Keep up the fantastic work, your videos ROCK!!!!!!!

Nice video. Last Rose of Summer is actually one of my favorite tracks from Sin After Sin. Also, 98 Meltdown is easily my favorite Priest live album. I love that release with the different guitar tone, detuning, and Ripper killed it on that tour. Not an easy to find CD these days but awesome. Nostradamus gets a lot of unwarranted hate. Each time I look at the track list, I see more songs I like than dislike. Anyways, cool stuff. I hope to see a Dio (the band) episode of Metal Mythos. Cheers!

Dude. Great job. Imma lifelong priest fan and this is one of the best retrospective reviews ever. Keep up the good work....

Black Sabbath Please - even if it has to be a Trilogy. LOVE too see your take on THE Classic Metal (Blues-Rock-Psychedelic), Band!! And.... EVERY song on Defenders of the Faith is fuckin great. It's a near perfect album. It came out during my teens leaving me listening to every track over and over scouring the lyrics for days on end ~ until I could match Halford's phrasing speed. If only I could come close to his vocal range!!

Do Mercyful Fate/King Diamond

I love you're reviews man they're unmatched forsure 😂

Your coverage of priest is so good I'm just about going to listen to them do often I agree with what you picked as your fav's I love all there albums though

I always forget they made Point of Entry

When are we going to get a new mythos tho? Easily my favorite series by you, keep up the awesome work.

Anthem is one of my favorite bands and pretty much solidified my love of the classic metal sound. I am praying to the Metal Gods every day that you do a Mythos episode on them one day.

Your comments about Jugulator brought tears to my eyes. I agree with that so much! Thank you!!!!

This is awesome! Who else knew that there was a hidden Judas Priest album!

Do you plan to update this after their new album Firepower drops in a month?

Damn I love this video. Hey Razor, I know you hated Nostradamus, but because of you I found out the album even existed... and I LOVE THAT ALBUM! Thank you for turning me onto it, man! I get why people won't like it, but wow, it is truly EPIC. Probably my favorite thing they have ever done.

I can honestly listen to your retrospectives all day Razor

Ram in down imo has some of the best guitar leads in Priest catalogue

It would be interesting to see Razor make an updated version of this review since both KK and Halford have written their autobiographies. The timline of events with Halford during the Turbo years is off as an example. Halford says in his book that he got sober during the ladder half of the Turbo sessions. In fact some of vocals on the album were sung while he was sober. Brad (one of his few partners) blew his brains out after Rob and one of his lady friends left Brad's residence. Rob did visit Brad in the hospital while the surgeons kept Brad on life support to gather his organs for donation purposes. Rob was sober when Brad took his life and thankfully didn't relapse. Rob attempted suicide by downing a bunch of sleeping pills. It was the rockbottom act that led him going to rehab and getting sober. All that being said, this video and all other Mythos videos are great. Razor has become a much more solid researcher since this video was released. No hate.

I got to see Tim "The Ripper" a couple of years ago with Craig Goldy, Vinnie Appice and Elliot Rubinson(Ex CEO of Dean Guitars RIP) on bass. He was incredible. One of the best shows ever.

Great job! I really enjoyed your review on Priest!