Customer Reviews

British Steel (Exp)

5 star:		(78)
4 star:		(21)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Reissued in the original non-U.S. running order, this record cemented Judas Priest as the preeminent heavy metal band. I say "heavy metal" because of the music and the themes. On its previous studio records, the band had intermixed Sabbath-type lyrical themes and plodding melodies with songs that could best be described as hard rock (a la AC/DC). They would return to the hard rock format on later (and lesser known) records like 1981's 'Point of Entry' and 1986's 'Turbo'. But 'British Steel' is the first of a line of records that would define heavy metal.

The record had its share of thematic anthems, such as "Breaking the Law" and "United" - paving the way for pop metal of the 1980s (e.g., "We're Not Gonna Take It" by Twisted Sister). But the record also had faster and more intense songs, with lyrics of darker mythology, such as "Rapid Fire" and "Steeler", which were the precursor for a metal style of bands like Metallica that has aged more gracefully.

As for the bonus tracks, "Red, White & Blue" is an anthemic outtake from the 'Turbo' sessions which should have probably remained an outtake. "Grinder" is a good live version of one of the classics on 'British Steel' which was taken (despite what the liner notes say) from a show that was performed and broadcast live on the radio at the height of Judas Priest's career (the 1984 'Defenders of the Faith' tour).

This was the first Judas Priest album I ever got, and along with Black Sabbath's "Heaven And Hell" (which I also got around the same time, summer '81), these are my two "Desert Island Discs". I've owned various permutations of both on vinyl, cassette and CD.

This remaster is, of course, excellent, but curious in a couple of ways.

1. Why change the track order? It was fine as-was.

2. The extra tracks are more of a curiosity than anything else. The live "Grinder" is excellent, but "Red, White and Blue" is from the "Turbo" sessions (in my estimation, Priest's lowest point) and is a typical mid-80's lighters-in-the-air chant-along. Clever (if contrived) title, though, since both the British and U.S. flags are red, white and blue.

However, as to the actual music, this is music that has, and will last, the test of time. At this time the New Wave of British Heavy Metal was happening in the UK, where bands would go to a studio, set up, play live, and put the finished product out as a record (the early Iron Maiden and Saxon efforts were done this way). Priest did this on "British Steel" and the results showed the new upstarts that the elder statesmen had as much energy as they did.

Some have said that Priest "commercialised" on this album. With the exception of "Living After Midnight", I disagree. This is as heavy as anything they've done, the Tipton/Downing guitars are well upfront, and Rob Halford (with hair!) sounds as angry as ever. Listen closely, bass fans: Ian Hill is actually AUDIBLE doing the intro to "The Rage"!

Dave Holland (is he still in prison?) made his debut on this album, and while he is the weakest drummer Priest ever had (not a patch on predecessor Les Binks or successor Scott Travis), he does a credible job here, though his drum sound is a bit "boxy". Still, though, he'd have to have done his drum tracks on syn-drums to let these excellent songs down...but wait, he did that on "Turbo".

As stated, this is the first Priest album I ever got, and I would recommend it as the first Priest album to buy (other than one of the many compilations) to a neophyte Priest fan.

They did other good, sometimes excellent, albums after this, but their steel was never this sharp again.

What can be said about the great JP and their contributions to the Heavy Metal genre? Other than Black Sabbath, these guys were soley responsible for what I consider to be TRUE Heavy Metal.... A "crunching" guitar assault, "Head-pummeling" tempos, and "soaring" vocals abound. And as far as "looks" go, this band epitomized the visual side of the genre BETTER than any band before or since....literally Hell bent for Leather...and studs...and chains...and boots.

Although "British Steel" is not my all-time favorite from the band (that HAS to go to "Screaming"), I feel it contains a varied mix of music that encompasses what made this band so acssesable and likeable. Metal Anthems such as "Breaking the Law", "Grinder", "Metal Gods" and "Livin' After Midnight" can still be heard on FM stations across the land. Cult followers of the band would surely cite cuts such as "Rapid Fire", "The Rage" and "Steeler" as the real "treats" on this album. Personally, I like every song here...including the "lesser" tracks such as "United" and "Don't Have to be Old to be Wise" (though somewhat "burnt" on "Livin" and "Breaking the Law"). The first band I was ever in (Pure Grain...are you out there!?!), literally "cut their teeth" to this 'Metal' great, and played no less than half the tracks on this album on any given "Gig". If there is anybody reading this that is not familiar with The Priest and is searching for the REAL DEAL, "Old school" version of Heavy Metal....look no further, you've found IT! Also recommended for the "budding" Metalist: Maiden's "Piece of Mind", Metallica's "Ride the Lightning", Priest's "Screaming for Vengeance" and Sabbath's "Master of Reality".

P.S. As I was about to submit this review, it occured to me that I failed to mention the individual members of Priest. The rhythm section of Ian Hill and Dave Holland were as tight and "spot-on" as any in the business....holding the "Bus" together with a mighty, pounding 'Pulse'. The dual guitar "assault" of Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing never gave the music of JP a chance to even think about "blinking an eye", and literally "steam-rolled" anything in their way....rivaled in intensity only by Iron Maiden and The Scorpions. And then there's Rob Halford....This man WILL go down in Metal's history as one of the best, if not THE best vocalist ever...."Pipes" the likes of Rob's aren't "handed-out" just any day of the week....His IS the voice of Heavy Metal and is not likely to be "Dethroned" in my lifetime! Many bands calling themselves "Metal" have come along in the years since this album----some faster, some harder and some 'flashier'...However, this band will forever remain "The Standard" to which ALL others are judged. Don't Miss Out!

In 1980, the musical landscape was going through some big changes. Punk rock and disco were considered dead, and new wave music was gaining popularity. However, in the U.K., a new musical scene was emerging: heavy metal. Many bands came out in this time period including Iron Maiden, Def Leppard, Diamond Head, Angel Witch, Witchfinder General, and of course Judas Priest. Now, the band had been around for years, but this was when they started gaining more mainstream recognition. In fact, many people credit Judas Priest for influencing the whole British metal scene. On this album, the band went for a more commercial sound that was hinted at on their previous album, Hell Bent for Leather (1979). However, the band still manages to keep their trademark ass-kicking sound.

The album begins with the speed metal song Rapid Fire. Fast paced guitar riffs start the song, a bit of drum pounding, and Rob Halford growls, "Pounding the world, like a battering ram." Very old school speed metal right here. Listening to this song is like someone throwing concrete blocks at your head. Glenn Tipton and KK Downing really display their guitasr abilities well on this album and this song is no exception, the guitar solos they play on here are FAST. The song segues into the more mid-paced Metal Gods. I love the part when Rob sings "Fearing for our lives, reaped by robot scythes." And then he starts chanting "Metal Gods" It may be a slower song, but it is still heavy as hell. Next is Breaking the Law, a very commercial and catchy song that I am sure everyone knows. The riffs on here are just powerful, I really can't get enough of this one. United is VERY anthemic, it's almost impossible not to sing along. This would be an awesome song to hear in concert. Another well known song by the band. Speaking of hits, Living after Midnight is probably one of the most mainstream songs the band has ever made. I can guarantee you that you will drive your family crazy when you sing this one in the shower. This song is very pop-metal flavored, but it still rocks. I wish more fans would give it a chance. And you know you love that guitar solo!

Grinder is a tough and heavy number. Those riffs are just mean, as is Rob when he growls "Grinder looking for the meat, Grinder wants you to eat." Cheesy? Yes but awesome? Hell yeah! Tell me you don't feel like destroying something! You Don't Have to be Old to be Wise is another killer song with a good message. Very catchy and insightful. I love the part in the middle where it seems to quiet down, and then BAM, the guitar solo kicks your ass across the street. The Rage is another mid-paced song, and it is pretty damn heavy. Ian Hill does a nice bass solo at the start. Then a few guitar notes, and then the song really kicks in. Like I said, it is slow but crushing. Guitar players will drool over this one. Steeler is an awesome closer, it is another fast song. Not the speed metal attack of Rapid Fire, but close enough. WICKED guitar solo on this one. I love the end when the band just rocks out, that piece right there is some pretty good old school speed metal.

The bonus tracks are also good. The live version of Grinder rocks (Rob sure can get a crowd going) and Red White and Blue is an unreleased track. It is a very emotional song and even the band admitted that they wanted it to bring a tear to your eye when you heard it. Nice keyboard playing on this one. i wonder why it was never released.

So there you have it. One of the best known albums of the early 80s British heavy metal scene. Anyone who has the slightest interest in heavy metal must buy this album. Ignore the people that say it is "too commercial" screw that. There are some mainstream tracks, but overall, don't expect anything less than heavy metal. And you gotta love any album that has a razor blade with the words BRITISH STEEL written on it on the cover!

British Steel is a classic Heavy Metal album from Metal's mid period. Judas Priest was the band that really bidged the gap between 70's doom laden metal and 80's Speed and heavier Metal...Iron Maiden/Metallica...etc.

Let's start with the albums strengths....

Early Speed Metal....Rapid Fire
Metal Classics.......Metal Gods
Hidden Gems..........The Rage/Steeler
Heavy but up-beat tracks...You Don't have to be old to be wise
Radio staples....Breakin the Law/Livin After Midnight.

At one time I was reluctent to re-visit this album becasue the Radio songs, along with the anthem UNITED seemed so over-played and dated.....however, the re-mastered preduction seems to breath new life into these tunes.

The down side is that the two "Unreleased tracks" are quite unremarkable...The live version of Grinder is pretty cool, but the track Red,White, and Blue is horrible....Also, I refrain from giving more than 4 stars, because if you are not a fan of the Heavy Metal of that period, this album is probably not for you.....However, if you love Priest and have never picked this up on CD or then definetly but the re-master over the original CD release, becasue the sound is far more crisp and heavy.....Priest,Priest,Priest,Priest!

This is one of the best albums of all time. It has all the elements of what heavy metal was at the time and would become. It caught perfectly the slice in time when heavy metal was just starting to get noticed, but had not yet gone mainstream.

The main strength of this album is the songwriting. Every song was EXCELLENT and performed stellarly. The songs that meant to be commercial were catchy and the songs that were meant to be aggressive and heavy were just that. But they were all good. Not a clunker to be found. The songs achieved a great balance and were all pretty much different than the one before it. And while the musicianship wasn't complex, the solos were great and every performance was spot-on: not sloppy or lacking and yet, not over-indulgent.

Breaking The Law and Living After Midnight need no introduction. Rapid Fire/Metal Gods are both heavy and Metal Gods gets a chance to air out and ride a great riff for a while at the end. Grinder is a song with a great riff and silly lyrics. United is a true anthem with the heavy verses and sing along chorus. You Don't Have To Be Old To Be Wise is pretty good and The Rage is killer with a great intro. This song seems to be the blueprint for much of Point Of Entry, but is much better here. My personal favorite is Steeler which starts fast and heavy and rides that riff to the end adding layers of guitars.

A lot of metal purists who were either original fans of the group or who came to Priest from later generations of metal call this album a sell out. I have to agree to a certain extent. But I make two points in their defense. 1. At least they didn't eliminate the heavy ones altogether like they would with Point Of Entry and, yuck, Turbo. Steeler and Rapid Fire are still as heavy as anything released up to that time. 2. Selling out was nothing new for them by this time. Diamonds and Rust and Better By You were flagrant attempts to have a hit single. And don't forget Evening Star. Living After Midnight and Breaking The Law did become big songs and did lead to the rise of hair metal posers, but remember, these songs were original at the time and not copying the formula that many lesser groups did soon after.

All in all, this album is a classic and should be owned by anyone who has any interest in heavy metal at all. PS The bonus tracks are there but not necessary to justify purchasing this cd.

British Steel was my first Judas Priest album, which I bought on casette back in junior high. Thinking back now, I can't remember what turned me onto it. Maybe it was the "Breaking the Law" music video I saw on Beavis and Butthead, but it's not important now. I listen to everything from Marilyn Manson to Cannibal Corpse and British Steel is still one of my top ten favorite metal albums.

It's not bone-crushing heavy, no. It's not that kind of music. I wouldn't call it "pop metal" but it's not lyrically deep or technically complicated. I would relate it most closely to ACDC's Back in Black. It's just real catchy, fun, and good.

It's more than just good melodies. There's a certain punch to it, and I think it's in the delivery. The mid-tempo song like Grinder and Metal Gods get a real good groove going and then just keep it up. It's something about Rob singing those short staccato syllables over the beat. Some of the tracks like Living After Midnight and Don't Have To Be Old To Be Wise have more of a rock 'n' roll feel to them rather than what I think of as metal, but still rock none the less. And of course Rapid Fire is here as the obligatory fast tempo priest screamer with the banshee wail at the end. The Rage, while it does seem out of place on this album (as another reviewer pointed out) with its moody, brooding, sludgey feel and decidedly darker lyrics, becomes one of the album's best tracks with repeated listens. This song always gave me the most colorful mental imagery, though admittedly partly because of misheard lyrics (like early Ozzy, I find rob's voice sometimes garbles itself).

There's not one mediocre track on the record. The big picture is that British Steel is a very solid and fairly diverse collection of classic metal that's best heard while shouting along in one's car on the highway.

Now, a few notes about this reissue:
I can't speak for the difference in audio quality, since everything sounds bad on casette, but I will review the extras. The bonus track Red, White & Blue is a mediocre outtake that sound WAY out of place on the record, and in my opinion, tarnishes the album. It's not terrible, but it just doesn't fit. Another reviewer cites it as being a leftover from the ill-recieved Turbo album priest recorded several albums later. If this is the case, why is it here instead of on the Turbo remaster? The live version of Grinder, however, while hardly necessary, is well performed and, in my opinion, a keeper. On a sidenote, I can't help but wonder why the track order was changed from the original release. My old casette version had Breaking The Law as track 1. I'm getting used to hearing it this way, but I can't help but wonder which way the band intended it to be.

The Judas Priest album that broke the band out into the mainstream is here, remastered, and with new tracks. "British Steel" is the pinnacle album for Judas Priest and is just a spectacular hard rock album. The songs are great and catchy; This is an album you have to listen to all the way through when you listen to it. Rob Halford's vocals, Glenn Tipton & K.K. Downing's guitars, Ian Hill's bass, and Dave Holland's drumming are all in top form here. Halford doesn't show off her as he did on songs like "Rock Forever" but this song only proves that JP are true Gods of Metal. Here are the tracks:

1. Rapid Fire-5/5-This a great song, with great guitar playing and Rob Halford hitting a seemingly impossible note at the end.
2. Metal Gods-5/5-This song kind of turned Judas Priest into metal gods. This is a great song, except for the panting thing at the end. That's disturbing.
3. Breaking the Law-5/5-This song is the big JP song on the radio, but it's such a great song. By the way, am I the only one who thinks it sounds like Rob Halford is saying "Freaky Galore" during the chorus.
4. Grinder-5/5-I like this song, but it's odd.
5. United-5/5-This is one of the songs they wrote for audience participation. But it's not quite better than some of the other ones like "Take on the World."
6. You Don't Have to Be Old to Be Wise-5/5-This song sounds like older Priest, like something off of "Hellbent for Leather." It's a great song, though.
7. Living After Midnight-5/5-I think this is one of the coolest/funnest songs Priest ever recorded. It's a totally cool song that would be perfect to play at a party.
8. The Rage-5/5-The basslines and guitar solos in this song are great.
9. Steeler-4/5-I think this is the weakest song on the album, but it's allright.

BONUS TRACKS
10. Red, White, & Blue-5/5-It's a shame they cut this track, it's better than "Steeler."
11. Grinder (Live)-5/5-This version is almost better than the studio version. Almost.

So whether you're a hardcore Priest fan or just a new metalhead looking for a good album to buy. Get this CD, you won't be dissapointed.

I agree with one particular reviewer before me that said Rob Halford has a more 'tough guy' vocal approach on this album than on most. To be honest with the rest of you, I can't really describe in words how good 'British Steel' is! 'Breaking The Law' has recently been used on a T.V commercial back here in Britain, to me, that shows how popular it STILL is here in the UK!
As my title says, THIS was my first Judas Priest album given to me as a Birthday gift, and it was the best thing I could've hoped to recieve!

In the seventies Judas Priest still played blues based Heavy Metal. British Steel was Judas Priest's first album in the eighties. The album sounds totally different, than their first albums. Gone are the bluesy elements and gone are the complex songs. British Steel is heavy influenced by The New Wave Of British Heavy Metal. I personally, miss the warm sound of the seventies albums. The reason why I dislike a lot of '80 albums is because of the thin and cold sound most '80 records have. Besides the cold and thin sound I also miss songs with more complex twists and turns like older songs such as "Beyond The Realms Of Death" and "Victim Of Changes". Most songs on British Steel have one main idea and a guitar solo. There is not a lot of room for interesting lengthy instrumental parts.

British Steel was an important album for the band because the album made them very popular. Although I think that it is far from Priest's best album, it is considered as one of Priest's best albums. There are plenty of songs that can be considered as (live) classics. "Breaking The Law" and "Living After Midnight" are the two most well known songs on the album. The songs are short but catchy. Every real Metal fan knows these songs. Check out the cool video for "Breaking The Law" on the DVD Electric Eye.

"Rapid Fire" and "The Rage" are musically the most interesting songs. "Rapid Fire" is a fast and brutal song that can be categorized as an early attempt to play Speed Metal. Check out the cool solos in the song. "The Rage" is a pretty unusual song for Priest. It is a slow song with a haunting atmosphere. It is one of the few Judas Priest songs that start with a bass intro. "Grinder" and "Metal Gods" both are heavy mid-tempo tracks. "Metal Gods" contains a cool marching sound, that blends perfectly with the pace of the music . "United" is the worst song on the album. It is probably one of the worst Priest songs off all time. It is a drumbeat-orientated song. Especially the crowd vocals at the end of the song are horrible.

"British Steel" is an album that contains the highest percentage of Priest classics. Therefore it is a must have Priest album. Especially the albums British Steel, Screaming For Vengeance and Defenders Of The Faith can be seen as three typical eighties Judas priest albums. If you don't have British Steel but like the other two albums, then you should buy British Steel.
I highly recommend this album for people who like classic eighties like Iron Maiden and Saxon. If you are new to Priest then check out their best of album Metal Works. It is a two cd that features the Priest period '77-'93. It logically contains plenty of British Steel songs.