Fight - War of Words (1993)

An album that I consider the best heavy metal record release of the nineties, Rob Halford had departed from Judas Priest to form a new heavier and faster band. I've heard someone say I'm the biggest Fight fan there is so I might be biased or just a little crazy. This album is exactly what I'm looking for these days, something raw something dark and something vicious. Everything from the demonic "Kill It" to the personal betreyal of "Vicious" there's no song not to like! In a way Fight can be seen as Pantera and Priest mixed as Halford was inspired by what Pantera were doing. The only bad thing about the legacy of Fight is it didn't last and thus couldn't maintain a legacy. Lead guitarist Russ Parrish is now playing for the band Steel Panther whom you could see on Comedy Central now. Halford is doing solo dates opening up for Ozzy Osbourne. Can I make it another goal in life to get the band together for a reunion tour. I know Mr. Halford is 59 but, hey anything is possible and hopefully my dreams will come true. This is one of the most underrated metal albums you'll ever hear. Not a bad track, stuff will make you want to get a gun and shoot yourself in the head as Rob Halford once put it in a interview previously before the album came out in stores. Songs to check out "Contortion", "Into the Pit" and "Kill It".

1. "Into the Pit" - 4:13
2. "Nailed to the Gun" - 3:38
3. "Life in Black" - 4:34
4. "Immortal Sin" - 4:39
5. "War of Words" - 4:29
6. "Laid to Rest" - 4:40
7. "For All Eternity" - 4:42
8. "Little Crazy" - 3:49
9. "Contortion" - 4:35
10. "Kill It" - 3:30
11. "Vicious" - 3:11
12. "Reality, a New Beginning" - 13:18

* "Jesus Saves" - hidden track, starts at 9:43

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