British Steel

iTunes Review

Having struck the perfect balance with their previous studio album, Hell Bent for Leather, between the music’s need for heaviness and the marketplace’s desire for pop hooks, Judas Priest — leaders of “The New Wave of British Heavy Metal” soon to include Iron Maiden and Def Leppard — continued the charge with their most accessible album to date. Released in 1980, British Steel is one of several career-defining releases for the group (1982’s Screaming for Vengeance also vies for the title). The album’s production finally captures the energy of their live performance and the songs clearly have an ear cocked towards the grand stage, as consistent crowd pleasers “Breaking the Law,” “Living After Midnight,” “Rapid Fire” and “Metal Gods” work off simple headbanging riffs prime for arenas worldwide. Singer Rob Halford sings with the exaggerated tension that would become a heavy metal trademark, while guitarists Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing work quick economic solos into the simplified powerchord attack. The deluxe edition includes a notable live version of “Grinder” and the bonus studio track “Red, White & Blue,” which is a curious, patriotic-sounding anthem coming from the British group.