Hellbent for Leather (Exp) [Extra tracks, Original recording remastered]

Judas Priest | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 6, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks, Original recording remastered
• Label: Sony
• Copy Protected
• ASIN: B00005R62M
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (101 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,241 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #31 in Music > Hard Rock & Metal > British Metal
  • #33 in Music > Alternative Rock > New Wave & Post-Punk > New Wave

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

While the title of this 1979 release perfectly fits the band's increasing S&M-inspired leather-and-chains imagery, it's a mature and fairly sharp thematic departure from its largely death-obsessed predecessor, Stained Class. While the Priest could have easily fallen into the same stultifying goth clichés as forebears like Black Sabbath, they expanded both their musical range and lyrical focus here, shrewdly burnishing the album's commercial potential in the bargain. Kicking off with the upbeat "Delivering the Goods" and the Skynyrd-worthy arena boogie of "Rock Forever," the band blasts through material that's as wide as Sin After Sin's, but better focused. There are expected metal clichés--a big rock ballad ("Before the Dawn") and some expected bad-ass posturing (the title track and "Killing Machine")--but even the band's occasional bowing to gothic expectations is informed with a sense of surprise and adventure, as witnessed by their cover of the disturbing Peter Green-era Fleetwood Mac track "The Green Manalishi (With the Two-Pronged Horn)." That much of this album's tack became inspiration--and then cliché--for the widespread metal revolution that Judas Priest helped foster is only testament to their enduring legacy. This digitally remastered edition features expanded artwork, new commentary by the band, and complete lyrics, as well as the bonus tracks "Fight for You Life" (a studio outtake later incorporated into "Rock Hard, Ride Free") and a manic live version "Riding on the Wind." --Jerry McCulley

Product Description

For Judas Priest (and, therefore, for heavy metal), 1979 was a watershed year. Studded leather and Harley-Davidsons made their way onto the Judas Priest stage and more driving, direct, breakneck-paced anthems made Hell Bent for Leather (aka Killing Machine ) their first step toward the superstar band they were about to become. Halford leads the intense charge through Delivering the Goods; Burnin' Up; Evil Fantasies; Killing Machine; Hell Bent for Leather; Evening Star; Rock Forever one of the most influential metal moments of its era! --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Most underrated record, May 10, 2004

By 

S. Baker "sdbaker70" (Phoenix, Arizona United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hellbent for Leather (Exp) (Audio CD)

'Hell Bent for Leather' (a/k/a 'Killing Machine' outside the U.S.) has a special place in my heart and is a bit of an oddity in the Priest catalogue. First of all, unlike its predecessor studio record ('Stained Class' (1978), released less than a year prior) and its successor ('British Steel' (1980)), this is more of a hard rock record (as opposed to heavy metal) - both lyrically and instrumentally, as the longest tune clocks in at less than 5 minutes. Furthermore, of all of Rob Halford's vocal performances on record, 'Hell Bent for Leather' stands out the most, as his voice is much lower and more menacing. For what it is, however, it is a fantastic and often overlooked record if, for no other reason, because it spawned the undeniable Priest classics - the cover of the Peter Green tune, "The Green Manalishi", and the title track - both of which have remained permanent fixtures in their live shows. (FYI: For those of us who were living in 1978, "Take On the World" was a minor hit, if not a little bit derivative of Queen's "We Will Rock You".)

The extra tracks on this remaster (as with many of the other Priest remasters) do not bear any contextual connection to 'Hell Bent for Leather'. The live version of "Riding on the Wind" from the 1983 US Festival is a great tune, but sounds a bit out of place when mixed away from "Electric Eye". The studio cut, "Fight for Your Life", is a true outtake from 1982 to 1983 that eventually became the much better song "Rock Hard Ride Free" on 'Defenders of the Faith' (1984).

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The sound is A+!, March 21, 2010

By 

M. Campbell "Scramble" (New York) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Hell Bent for Leather (Audio CD)

WOW! This CD sounds amazing! It's a little louder than the original CD but not by much. The music has a lot more detail than the original but it's not bright at all. The cymbals, Robs voice & the guitars stand out more but are not harsh. Everything is just sweet & smooth. I'm listening to the over cooked 2001 remaster now & it's much louder, brighter & tinny than the other 2, it's freakin' horrible.

I highly recommend this Audio Fidelity CD to anyone who cares about sound quality.

test equipment
Shandling T100 Tube HDCD player
Denon AVR 4802 Pre-Amp
Conrad Johnson MF-5600 Amp
Definitive Technology BP-2000 Super Tower Speakers.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars PRIEST DELIVERS THE GOODS!, April 4, 2006

By 

wally gator "the only" (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Hellbent for Leather (Exp) (Audio CD)

Ok kiddies... not really sure where to begin with Priest? Well, this is as good a place to start as any of the other 'classic" Priest albums. This album contains all the key elements that make a classic Priest album kick the bottom of your pants.. LOUD, NASTY, powerhouses.
What happened on this album was that PRIEST did away with the extended metal anthems that had appeared on their first few albums, and released an album of shorter tunes, that turned the volume up even louder.
Not only did this make the music more accesible to a radio crowd, but it also gave the metal fans something to throw into the punk rock arena, back in 1979. PRIEST nailed the scene right on the head with this album.. and would continue to do so in 1980 with the follow up BRITISH STEEL.
Some fans have a problem with these shorter songs, I don't understand... I mean, I am a huge fan of early PRIEST, and I love the thought provoking lyrics of older songs like Dreamer Deciever, or Beyond The Realms Of Death... but HELL BENT FOR LEATHER brought us back to mindless, rock indulgence, that was simple.. but not so simple. There are plenty of nuggets in here, with dual guitar licks and shreds that will melt your head, those HALFORD screeches... and dare I say, not so much whiny sap. Just about every track is ripping, and dangerous... no sorrowful ballads ANYWHERE.. (not that I don't enjoy a good track where HALFORD cries about who knows what.. but thats for a different day).. this album is about staying out all night, drinking booze, and screwing chicks.... well maybe its not ACTUALLY about screwing chicks, but thats the beauty of rock and roll... it can be about whatever you want it to be about. YESSSSS! KEEP ROCKIN! F*** MTV! OWWWWWEEEEEE! YEAH!