Judas Priest - Jugulator (1997)

The follow up release to Painkiller and the exit of Rob Halford, Tim "Ripper" Owens had to fill the shoes in the highly anticipated album. The album itself doesn't sound like the eighties material Priest were doing. A lot of people didn't like it for obvious reasons. Tim Owens formally was a singer in a Judas Priest cover band. Jugulator seems to be more in the style of thrash/speed than there usual heavy metal style. People tend to focus on the abandoning of heavy metal as this could be seen as of doing since in 1997 there were no really heavy metal bands from the last decades really in the spotlight as there were faster and louder guys like Pantera influencing the kids. For me, not as familiar with the album as with the Halford stuff is really not that bad. If you can be open to it, and keep in mind this is Judas Ripper Priest than all should be well. Songs to check out "Jugulator", "Blood Stained" and "Burn in Hell".

1. "Jugulator" 5:50
2. "Blood Stained" 5:26
3. "Dead Meat" 4:44
4. "Death Row" 5:04
5. "Decapitate" 4:39
6. "Burn in Hell" 6:42
7. "Brain Dead" 5:24
8. "Abductors" 5:49
9. "Bullet Train" 5:11
10. "Cathedral Spires" 9:12