Painkiller Review
| Band | |
|---|---|
| Album |  Painkiller |
| Type | Album (Studio full-length) |
| Released | September 3, 1990 |
| Genres | Heavy Metal |
| Labels | Columbia Records, Sony Music |
| Length | 55:12 |
| Ranked | #2 for 1990 , #2 all-time |
Album rating : 96.9 / 100
Votes : 271 (17 reviews)
Votes : 271 (17 reviews)
February 13, 2021
Painkiller. I don’t think anyone saw this coming from Judas Priest, one of the tamer metal bands, some 20 years into their career. I can’t imagine the insanity this caused when it dropped in 1990.
I can only look at it now. And now even now, it remains an absolute beast of melodic Speed Metal with more than a few of the genre’s most memorable riffs ever put to record. Halford’s iconic voice becomes a shredding cry here on a much different level than he had ever done before. The drumming flows into Power Metal territory with its constant double bass pummeling, and the guitars weave intense melodies that flirt with Thrash but lean more towards epic stylings rather than dark. And yet, the music and vocals are very aggressive, but almost upliftingly so. Perhaps triumphantly is a better word, as this album is a remarkable triumph of metal and indisputably Judas Priest’s finest hour.
I can only look at it now. And now even now, it remains an absolute beast of melodic Speed Metal with more than a few of the genre’s most memorable riffs ever put to record. Halford’s iconic voice becomes a shredding cry here on a much different level than he had ever done before. The drumming flows into Power Metal territory with its constant double bass pummeling, and the guitars weave intense melodies that flirt with Thrash but lean more towards epic stylings rather than dark. And yet, the music and vocals are very aggressive, but almost upliftingly so. Perhaps triumphantly is a better word, as this album is a remarkable triumph of metal and indisputably Judas Priest’s finest hour.
2 likes
Track listing (Songs)
| title | rating | votes | video | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Painkiller | 6:06 | 99.5 | 153 | Lyric Video Audio Music Video |
| 2. | Hell Patrol | 3:37 | 94.9 | 93 | Audio Audio Audio |
| 3. | All Guns Blazing | 3:58 | 94.2 | 95 | Audio Audio Audio |
| 4. | Leather Rebel | 3:35 | 91.6 | 85 | Audio Audio Audio |
| 5. | Metal Meltdown | 4:49 | 94.2 | 84 | Audio Audio Audio |
| 6. | Night Crawler | 5:45 | 95.5 | 88 | Audio Audio |
| 7. | Between the Hammer & The Anvil | 4:49 | 96.3 | 88 | Audio Audio Audio |
| 8. | A Touch of Evil | 5:45 | 95.3 | 86 | Music Video Audio Music Video |
| 9. | Battle Hymn | 0:57 | 87.9 | 73 | Audio Audio Audio |
| 10. | One Shot at Glory | 6:49 | 94.6 | 82 | Audio Audio Lyric Video |
| 2001 bonus tracks | |||||
| 11. | Living Bad Dreams | 5:20 | 87.7 | 15 | Audio Audio Audio |
| 12. | Leather Rebel (Live) | 3:38 | 84.4 | 11 | Live Video Audio |
Line-up (members)
- Rob Halford : Vocals, Songwriting (all tracks)
- Glenn Tipton : Guitars, Songwriting (all tracks)
- K. K. Downing : Guitars, Songwriting (all tracks)
- Ian Hill : Bass
- Scott Travis : Drums
122 reviews
| cover art | Artist | Album review | Reviewer | Rating | Date | Likes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | | British Steel Review (1980) | 80 | Nov 13, 2024 | 0 | ||
 | | Firepower Review (2018) | 85 | Sep 1, 2024 | 1 | ||
 | | Turbo Review (1986) | 85 | May 10, 2024 | 2 | ||
 | | Rocka Rolla Review (1974) | 70 | May 6, 2024 | 0 | ||
 | | Invincible Shield Review (2024) | 100 | May 4, 2024 | 3 | ||
| | Invincible Shield Review (2024) | 100 | Mar 18, 2024 | 6 | ||
| | Invincible Shield Review (2024) | 100 | Mar 13, 2024 | 24 | ||
| | Firepower Review (2018) | 95 | Feb 1, 2024 | 1 | ||
 | | Painkiller Review (1990) | 100 | Jan 11, 2023 | 2 | ||
 | | 100 | Nov 20, 2022 | 4 | |||
 | | Reflections - 50 Heavy Metal Years of Music Review (2021) [Compilation] | 80 | Oct 22, 2021 | 1 | ||
| | Turbo Review (1986) | 100 | Apr 13, 2021 | 3 | ||
| | Firepower Review (2018) | 95 | Mar 14, 2021 | 4 | ||
| | 100 | Mar 10, 2021 | 3 | |||
| | Firepower Review (2018) | 100 | Feb 20, 2021 | 4 | ||
 | | Unleashed in the East Review (1979) [Live] | 100 | Feb 20, 2021 | 1 | ||
| | ▶ Painkiller Review (1990) | 90 | Feb 13, 2021 | 2 | ||
 | | Redeemer of Souls Review (2014) | 70 | Jul 8, 2020 | 2 | ||
| | Painkiller Review (1990) | 100 | Jul 7, 2020 | 17 | ||
 | | Jugulator Review (1997) | 70 | Apr 1, 2020 | 3 |
Firepower Review (2018)
이준기 90/100Aug 21, 2018 Likes : 24
주다스 프리스트의 18번째 앨범이다.
2005년 15집 Angel of retribution 이 나올때만 해도 신선하기는 했지만 어딘가 은퇴를 앞둔 분들의 마지막 힘을 모아 만든 앨범이라고 생각하며 짠하게 생각했는데 ... 그렇게 13년이 지나고서도 또 음반이 나왔고.. 놀랍게도 그 음반은 더욱더 젊고 강렬하고... Read More
]V[EGADET]-[ 100/100May 30, 2019 Likes : 15
블랙사바스가 정규1집을 발표한 1970년을 헤비메탈의 시작이라 (개인적으로) 한다면 2020년을 앞둔 지금
까지 헤비메틀의 역사는 약 50여년이 된다. 그리고 이 장르의 역사는 앞으로도 끊이지 않을 것이 자명한
사실이다. 수 많은 천재들이 나타날 것이고 무수한 명반들이 출시될 것이다. 후... Read More
Battle Cry Review (2016) [Live]
기븐 90/100Mar 9, 2017 Likes : 9
(본인 블로그 펌. http://weirdsoup.tistory.com/369)
---
Battle Cry 라이브 앨범은, 주다스 프리스트의 15년 8월 1일 바켄 오픈 에어 메탈 페스티벌 당시의 공연 실황을 담은 라이브 앨범으로, 16년 3월에 발매되었으며 이 글을 쓰는 17년 3월 기준 최신의 라이브 앨범이다. 14년도에 신보 "Redeemer of ... Read More
Epitaph Review (2013) [Video]
랍할포드 100/100Jul 18, 2013 Likes : 7
'만감이 교차한다.'
Rob Halford 1951년생
Glenn Tipton 1947년생
Ian Hill 1951년생
Scott Travis 1961년생
RIchie Faulkner 1980년생
(K.K. Downing 1951년생)
주다스 프리스트. 내가 10여년 전 메탈에 입문하면서 가장 먼저 좋아한 밴드이자, 아직까지 내 마음속의 no.1 밴드이다. 이 형님들이 60이 넘어서 은퇴(?... Read More
Unleashed in the East Review (1979) [Live]
이준기 95/100Jun 16, 2013 Likes : 7
주다스 프리스트의 라이브는 Priest live밖에는 몰랐는데 리마스터반 시디를 모으면 시디 사이드 라벨에 주다스 프리스트 고유의 불타는 문양이 새겨지기에 이 음반도 거의 반강제로 구매했었다. 리스트야 메킹을 통해 이미 알고있었지만 당시에는 알던 음반도 Breaking the law 이후가 대부분이... Read More
