Ελληνικά
Last Updated on 09:38 AM by Giorgos Tsekas
We are leaving in dark years if we talk about music journalism. No offence to anyone claiming he or she is a part of the music Press but it just can’t be true 90% of the albums that are released every year to be excellent, monumental or worth exploring. The fact that either we talk about big names or underground or even worst total new bands every single review speaks about something worth for the audience to spent money for. I guess as everyone can prelisten before buying an album from YouTube or bandcamp then any ‘lie’ or big mouth words coming from any journalist can fall like a castle from sand. Judas Priest need none to do the dirty work for them. Since Panic Attack the very first single out of their new 21st studio full length all their fans are acting like hooligans before a derby match against their arch rivals.
Panic Attack opens the album giving us the direction that it will follow. Great solo, uptempo rhythm and the beat to start.
The Serpent and The King continues the Painkiller meets Defenders of the Faith approaching with sharp guitars and high pitched vocals coming from 1990.
The title track Invincible Shield is absolutely astonishing with epic touches and imposing aura Judas Priest recorded one of the beat tracks since 2005. Excellent guitars once again.
Devil in Disguise slow down things wisely giving us the breath we needed but still the song is very good bringing in mind some late 80’s efforts from the band.
Gates of Hell is a mid tempo treasure that would fit in Screaming For Vengeance album and I understand how this sounds to a reader right now but I fuckin mean it.
Crown of Horns is catchy and without being something extra ordinary still you just can’t get it out of your head singing its chorus again and again.
As God Is My Witness isn’t great but it answers to the law that any filler from a megaband would be the best moment for another smaller name, still as we speak for a up tempo track from Priest, we won’t push skip button, no we won’t!
Trial By Fire is another nice composition in which the dramatic atmosphere reminds me the best moment from Nostradamus album that most people didn’t gave the proper attention when it came out. Simple but perfect chorus.
Escape from Reality is interesting and it seems like coming out of Firepower. Halford makes this song a hymn with his performance while the guitars are in the veins of Sabbath.
Sons of Thunder just before the ending is the weakest moment of the album, we could live without it and probably Priest have a ton like this in their recording demo tapes. Still a genuine rocker.
The closer is emphatic, a great finale as only Priest would do Giants in The Sky is one the best moments on Invicible Shield. Majestic with brilliant work by Ritchie and a sentimental Halford guaranteeing before the acoustic part in the end you will get emotional…
Overall Invincible Shield is more than a great or decent or honest or whatever you want record, is actually a statement. Judas Priest are here and they bite, as they (almost) always did, making some small mistakes just a few tiny parenthesis to their glorious course. For extra doses of Priest please make yourselves a gift by buying the Deluxe edition with 3, 7″ bonus tracks featuring Fight of Your Life, Vicious Circle and The Lodger.
