Live Meltdown '98

Judas Priest

CMC International Records, 1998

http://www.judaspriest.com

REVIEW BY: Paul Hanson

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 10/01/1998

"You guys like heavy metal? You don't mind if Judas Priest brings back heavy metal, do ya?" Like thousands of sweaty headbangers are going to boo to a statement like that. Yet, that's what Tim "Ripper" Owens asks the crowd at one point on my_heart_sings_the_harmony_web_ad_alt_250 Live Meltdown '98. The disc celebrates the recent renewed lease on life, thanks to their last album, Jugulator.

And, quite frankly, if Owens' vocals are going to be the style of the '90s, then the bar is raised yet another notch based on Owens' performance here. While I'd like to say Owens can hit all of the notes that Halford could, I'd hate to give the wrong impression.

In fact, JP 1998 seem to be determined to shove Owens into Halford's role, their set list favors Halford-era songs. That's only logical, of course, since for so many years, Priest was Halford and Halford was Priest. Even Halford's recent coming out as a homosexual doesn't change that, although I've heard some fans question why everyone wore tight leather pants but only Halford came out of the closet.

I told him to shut up for you.

Judas Priest is undboubtedly riding the success of Jugulator which introduced Owens. "Blood Stained" and "Bullet Train" feature some of the band's sharpest melodies.

Bit a JP live disc just wouldn't be right without classics like "You've Got Another Thing Coming," and "Breaking The Law." Owens sounds good on all three. Same with tag team guitarists Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing. Drummer Scott Travis and bassist Ian Hill make fine displays of command over their instruments.

If there'd be a minor complaint about this disc, I'd like to hear it. The audience level doesn't overpower the band, Owens doesn't spout off like Pantera's Phil Anselmo about how much Metallica has sold out and, most importantly, the songs Judas Priest have included are all of their great ones. Performed live, they lose the sterile clean feeling and get performed with emotion, the way metal ought to be played.

Rating: A

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© 1998 Paul Hanson and The Daily Vault. All rights reserved. Review or any portion may not be reproduced without written permission. Cover art is the intellectual property of CMC International Records, and is used for informational purposes only.