Well, what can I say about this record? Many Metalheads know it but only a few have a positive opinion about it. With such prejudices it’s much harder to write a review, but that’s exactly that point, a good reviewer have to manage. So, the black vinyl is unpacked from the weak cover, which reminds me a lot of “Screaming For Vengeance”, I put it into my stereo and let’s get it on.

The half-title track blows out of the speakers and I lay back but just after a few seconds I look unbelievingly to the direction of the record player. Is this JUDAS PRIEST, the “Killing Machine”-PRIEST, the “Painkiller”-PRIEST? No, that’s not even POISON, is it maybe a David Bowie record? But before I can answer this not really serious question, the chorus begins and I’m firstly contented, yes, it’s a song, you can surely sing along.

However, the whole song appears besides the mentioned chorus as well as the guitar solo only as filling work, but that’s not too worrying as the chorus makes out a lot of the whole track. The bridges are horribly shallow, the drumming is boring and sounds extremely affected, the singing is okay but also not outstanding as Halford has already delivered a much better performance. The solo is then pretty good, just a solid work.

But what follows then on this record is much weaker. The songs won’t get any Metal feeling, it somehow sounds like PRIEST, but it seems to be bathed too hot in a 80s Pop Rock music – which is also reasoned with the use of a synthesizer -, the choruses are most of the time sing along compatible and all solos are well executed, but there is not one single song, which is really remarkable, only “Hot For Love” could convince me a bit. The production isn’t bad, but it lacks of pressure, but you can help yourself with your home’s equalizer in terms of highs and lows.

Conclusion:

This album is only for PRIEST collectors or people, who have the mandatory feeling to buy some kind of backgroundmusic. The JUDAS PRIEST discography is full with much better records, before this one as well as after it and wouldn’t have it been from the Halford crew, it would have been quickly forgotten. (Online March 27, 2004)