Baptizm of Fire

Glenn Tipton, Glenn Tipton | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 18, 1997)
• Original Release Date: February 18, 1997
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Atlantic / Wea
• ASIN: B000002JBZ
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #466,018 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Hard Core

2. Paint It Black

3. Enter The Storm

4. Fuel Me Up

5. Extinct

6. Baptizm Of Fire

7. The Healer

8. Cruise Control

9. Kill Or Be Killed

10. Voodoo Brother

11. Left For Dead

Editorial Reviews

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SUPERB - heavy and hard, great musicians & compositions, January 18, 2001

By 

ihsan (United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Baptizm of Fire (Audio CD)

Having known Glenn Tipton from Judas Priest for so long, I was intrigued when I heard he was to release a solo album. I'm also a big fan of guitarists in general - particularly Yngwie Malmsteen (that is not to say I like all Malmsteen-esque guitarists - Tipton is quite different to YJM I think), so I was expecting an album with no vocals, just heavily-laden with awesome riffs and insane guitar solos...

But I was mistaken, and pleasantly surprised, with the direction Tipton chose to go in. And singing the vocals himself! He's not bad at all, even managing a Rob Halford-like high-pitch scream at one point! Though there's only one track without vocals (the title track itself) the guitar work throughout the album is - as expected from Glenn - hard, tough, grinding, lightning fast and with some technically great solos full of intensity and emotion... really great stuff...

But as a whole, BAPTIZM OF FIRE is only slightly reminiscent of Judas Priest (IMO), as I think Glenn has definately gone in his own direction. There is a great rhythm about the music, great bass, some totally AWESOME drum work from the legendary COZY POWELL (about the time when he did the FACING THE ANIMAL album with Yngwie Malmsteen - one of the best albums of all time and maybe his last work before his tragic death...).

Highlights are "HARD CORE," "FUEL ME UP," "BAPTIZM OF FIRE," "VOODOO BROTHER" and my favourite, "THE HEALER." But every single song is great, IMO. Just forget the money - this album just has to be listened to!

I just hope Glenn can find the time and inspiration to create another great masterwork...

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The missing 90's Priest album -- good songs with sub-par vocals, November 29, 2008

By 

Soaring Eagle (Ohio/PA border USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Baptizm of Fire (Audio CD)

The reason there was such a gap between Judas Priest's PAINKILLER (1990) and JUGULATOR (1997), other than the fact that they had to find someone worthy of replacing Halford, was perhaps because guitarist and main songwriter Glenn Tipton wrote and recorded TWO ALBUMS worth of material under his own name -- EDGE OF THE WORLD and BAPTIZM OF FIRE.

Label executives rejected Glenn's first attempt, EDGE OF THE WORLD, on the grounds that it wasn't metal enough and was too "old school," i.e. they wanted younger musicians to accompany him. So Glenn went back to the drawing board and came up with BAPTIZM OF FIRE (while EDGE OF THE WORLD was eventually releaed in 2006).

Although I heard a couple of tracks off of BAPTIZM when it came out in 1997 I never got around to buying it until a year ago. The cd features numerous guest musicians in the bass and drum departments, including Metallica's present bassist Robert Trujillo. The songwriting is stellar & diverse, while the production is crystal clear and punchy -- energetic and heavy, but not crushingly heavy.

As for Glenn's lead vocals, they really prevented me from appreciating this disk at first. In fact, it took me an ENTIRE YEAR to get used to them enough to enjoy the songs and musicianship! Glenn's vocals resemble Dave Mustaine at bit, but way more course and strained, not to mention grungey at times. They're not necessarily bad; they're just not good. In fact they remind me of a dummy vocal track that a guitarist would put on a demo tape to help the singer get a grip on the guitarist's vision of the song.

The problem with Glenn trying to sing is that his vocals will automatically be compared to the singer of his primary band -- Rob Halford. Halford isn't called the 'metal god' for nothing, and Glenn just can't compete in the vocal department, which is why he's the guitarist of Judas Priest not the singer.

That said, after a year I was able to finally warm up to Glenn's highly unique vocals and appreciate this work. BAPTIZM is similar in style and diversity to DEMOLITION, while at the same time not sounding like that disk at all. Here's a rundown of the songs:

1.) "Hardcore." This would be a great opener but it's held back by Glenn's vocals. The vocals on the chorus are particularly irritating. But I got used to it and appreciate it now. Intriguing and surprisingly candid lyrics about porn/masturbation addiction (Huh?!) I think. RATING: 4/5 Stars.
2.) "Paint it Black." The original by the Stones is a masterpiece. This hard rock version is barely passable. It fails to move and the emotion is missing. RATING: 2.5/5 Stars.
3.) "Enter the Storm." This is one of the album's highlights. It starts out fairly unimpressive but then takes an unexpected doom metal turn. Intriguing lyrics on spiritual rebirth. RATING: 4.5/5 Stars.
4.) "Fuel Me Up." Solid driving number about substance addictions and the numerous talented people who inevitably fall prey. RATING: 4/5 Stars.
5.) "Extinct." Another solid driving number. This time Glenn addresses the fear of becoming a has-been. RATING: 4/5 Stars.
6.) "Baptizm of Fire." This is a fiery instrumental (except for one brief stanza) full of great licks, chords and bass playing. Seriously, the bass playing by Billy Sheehan will blow your mind and Glenn's leads are smokin' and unrestrained -- his best ever. In the sole lyrical passage Glenn states that if you want to meet God, He's right next to him -- huh? RATING: 5/5 Stars.
7.) "The Healer." This song is killer from beginning to end. Glenn's vocals actually work pretty well, but if he had a real singer this would've been a huge metal hit. No kidding. The lyrics deal with charlatan healers who are more interested in bringing attention to themselves and putting on a show rather than introducing people to the true Healer. The secondary chorus that starts with "Look at me" is exceptional and potent as it builds to climax; unfortunately it's only heard once. It should have been repeated. RATING: 5/5 Stars.
8.) "Cruise Control." This one features a unique percussion-oriented start/stop riff and great lyrics about breaking free from the rut of monotony. I can certainly relate to that! RATING: 4.5/5 Stars.
9.) "Kill or be Killed." Good speedy/thrashy piece. Glenn's vocals work well on the bridge. RATING: 4/5 Stars.
10.) "Voodoo Brother." This is another song where Glenn's vocals work pretty well, especially on the catchy chorus. This should have been a radio hit. RATING: 4.5/5 Stars.
11.) "Left for Dead." This is an off-the-beaten-track folk piece that starts with a banjo. Catchy and poppy. RATING: 3/5 Stars.

This '06 reissue has 2 BONUS TRACKS not featured on the original '97 release:

1.) "Himalaya." An epic rock piece about Glenn's visit to Tibet that is so moving it's a downright religious experience (for him, that is). RATING: 3.5/5 Stars.
2.) "New Breed." A fun pop rock track about how Glenn feels different from everyone else. RATING: 3/5 Stars.

While these bonus songs are okay they're not worth going out of your way to obtain, unless you're a completist.

BAPTIZM OF FIRE is a real grower. You have to adapt to Glenn's unique vocals to appreciate it, but it's worth it if you can. In addition to the stellar musicianship and songcraft, the mature and intriguing lyrical themes are a highlight; don't worry, no fantastical and juvenile Halfordisms here (e.g. "Painkiller" and "Hell Rider").

Many feel that Glenn should have enlisted a real vocalist for this project, and I agree, but then it wouldn't truly be "Glenn Tipton" would it? In any event, the vocals hold it back from being an A-level recording.

PERSONAL RATING: B+

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great, November 11, 2005

By 

R. Griffiths "Metal master" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Baptizm of Fire (Audio CD)

One of the greatest lyrics writters in the world return with an awesome metal release. Metal guitar player from one of the heaviest influencial bands, Judas Priest, releases this awesome heavy release. He is right with the lyrics about overdosing too, thats how it is. Keep up the good work man. Wish he made another solo album.