Customer Reviews

Judas Priest - Live in London

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Can't wait to get my hands on this DVD, a long overdue release from the Metal Gods. Since there's hardly any info listed here, I searched for the Track Listing on the distributors website. I wish they had included "Beyond the Realms of Death" , but I guess I'll have to take what I can get. According to them "the DVD features tons of behind-the-scenes material, rare footage, interviews, soundcheck footage and lots more!" This concert was recorded at Brixton Academy in London, December 2001. I'm anxious to hear the power of Priest blasting through my Surround Sound System!

Track Listing:
1. Metal Gods
2. Touch Of Evil
3. Blood Stained
4. Victim Of Changes
5. One On One
6. Running Wild
7. Ripper
8. Diamonds And Rust
9. Feed On Me
10. Burn In Hell
11. Hell Is Home
12. Breaking The Law
13. Desert Plains
14. Turbo Lover
15. Painkiller
16. Electric Eye
17. United
18. Living After Midnight
19. Hell Bent For Leather

This is a good DVD that shows Priest can still rock after all these years. If you are a long time Priest fan like me you cannot help but compare it to the old stuff. I saw Priest live in their prime on the Defenders tour 19 years ago, then again on the Turbo tour and I saw a videotape made of a concert on the Screaming for Vengeance tour. So with that bias I have a hard time giving this one 5 stars but there are also some objective criteria that justify removing one star. But first the positives.

What I liked:
- The highlight of the DVD for me is Painkiller. You can tell the whole band is totally into it and just kicking rear. If there weren't any close-ups of Glenn and KK you would swear these guys were twenty-year-olds.
- The heaviness of Victim of Changes really comes through when played live. The technology of the original 1976 recording does not allow this tune reach its full potential, although it is an all-timer in any format.
- They slow the pace on an acoustic version of Diamonds and Rust to great effect.
- Adding Desert Plains to the set list. This has always been one of my favorite Priest tunes but rarely gets the attention it deserves.
- Ripper's singing is just great. Worries about Halford should be put to rest (but I do support at least one reunion tour before they call it quits).
- The way Glenn rips into the main riff of Hell Bent for Leather after sustaining some guitar feedback subsequent to the main intro chord progression.
- Jugulator and Demolition tunes come across better live than they do on studio recordings.

What I didn't like:
- There are a few instances where the band does not seem to be totally into the gig. By this I do not mean they look bored. Rather, there are exaggerated attempts at poses and facial expressions, especially by Glenn, that seem forced and unconvincing. This happens toward the beginning so maybe they just needed time to get into it fully.
- Shots of the crowd try to create the illusion that there is complete mayhem and frenzy among the fans. They do this by editing in real quick tightly focused shots and some clips of security pulling people out of the supposed throng at the front. I don't buy it. What I see is a casual crowd simply bobbing their heads to a good show.
- Not one track from Defenders of the Faith on the set list (Half Sentinel at soundcheck does not count)! There's no justification for that.
- The soundcheck segment. Who cares about soundcheck? Add in more tunes to the actual show! Why Desert Plains, Running Wild and the rest twice (soundcheck and show)? How about Freewheel Burning instead?
- You've Got Another Thing Coming taken out but Breakin the Law AND Living After Midnight left in. Whatever.
- Interview/candid segments somewhat scanty and short on substance for a band that has been on the scene for more than 25 years.

Overall a good show that builds in intensity as it moves along. Sound quality is great. Picture quality is fantastic. Set list good.

A worthy addition to any Priest collection.

I expected a good quality concert, but this DVD has more than that. Video is great, music is great, and the setlist is great. You have songs that are not from the regular repertoire like United, Turbo Lover, and Desert Plains. The concert is excellent (19 songs live), plus you get another set of songs without the audience.

The live songs are:

Metal Gods, Touch of Evil, Blood Stained, Victim of Changes, One on One, Running Wild, Ripper, Diamonds and Rust, Feed on Me, Burn in Hell, Hell is Home, Breaking the Law, Desert Plains, Turbo Lover, Painkiller, Electric Eye, United, Living After Midnight, Hell Bent for Leather. (At last they have removed "Another Thing Comming" to make way for another track, maybe next time they can take out "Breaking the Law" for any older track)

The soundstage songs are :
Desert Plains, Running Wild, Turbo Lover, The Sentinel, Machine Man, and Lost and Found.

25 tracks in total!

I hope Halford makes his own concert DVD and include old tracks like Dream Deceiver ,Dissident Agressor, and Steeler.

I've been a Priest fan since Screaming for Vengeance came out in '82. I've seen them live 5 times throughout the years, and each time I did see them... they never seemed to disappoint. With Halford's powerful vocals and Tipton's/Downing's rhythm/lead guitar... they always charged me up. With Halford's departure I was worried, like many Priest fans, on who can possibly replace him? Well... needless to say... Priest came through when they found Ripper Owens. What a voice on this guy! He's not much of a stage presence, BUT man... can he sing! He has absolutely no problem singing the classics: everything from `Painkiller' to `Stained Glass'. With that said, I had to buy this DVD. Let me tell you... I was impressed. The sound and picture quality is stunning, Song selection couldn't have been better, not to mention all the behind-the-scenes and sound checks. It's good to see Priest is still alive and kickin', especially with all the crap out there nowadays. I would recommend this DVD to any Priest fan. It's a must-have music DVD for your collection!

I am not a rabid fan of JP but bought this after reading some great reviews and felt obliged to add mine. FIRST, the concert is spectacularly filmed with a great selection of camera angles, lighting effects etc..oh yeah, and the band is smokin!! The sound is fabulous... SECOND, the soundcheck is amazing!! a half dozen classic performances in widescreen black and white which are as hot as the real gig....25minutes THIRD..the behind the scenes stuff, was actually interesting .

This is what DVDs are all about, quality presentations of world class music with ample bonus features.....DON'T hesistate...your TV will thank you!

Rob's back now, of course! At least, that's what the media tells us. Time will tell if the grand old men of metal can work out their differences. Let us "prey"...

This DVD has some really great moments on it: Glenn and KK's intro to "Victim Of Changes", KK's solo at the end of "Running Wild", and some actual footage of Ian for a change. It's about time - the man is virtually ignored in every other video.

I still wince when Ripper yells, "What's my name?" or rides out on the bike. It just ain't right. And what's with the baseball cap and the phony stage moves? It's impossible for anybody to fill Rob's shoes, but Tim Owens is a little too silly for me. Glad he's gone - it ain't Priest without "Bob" Halford.

I saw this tour in Portland, Oregon and had a great time. I just focused on Glenn and KK and it was beautiful. Ripper's got a great voice, no question about that - but I don't wanna look at him.

At this point, this DVD is probably more of a curiosity, now that Rob's back in the band. I'm sure the boys will cash in on the reunion with another, more worthy, DVD. But there are much worse ways to spend your money than to buy this one. Plenty of heavy metal to soothe you while we wait for the return of the mighty Priest.

I must admit that I am now a "Ripper" convert.

After the departure of Rob Halford the Metal God I thought it would be the end of Judas Priest. Then they released the "Jugulator" album which I thought was their worst ever, and I feared my prophecy was coming true. I liked the following double live album Metal Meltdown because it contained classic Priest songs of old & Ripper Owens did a pretty good job of them. I found Demolition to be a step back in the right direction, but still not up to the Priest of old. Now I have changed my mind on that one, I love Demolition, and I love this DVD!

Ripper does a fantastic job of the old Priest songs and thankfully the newer tracks on the DVD are mostly from Demolition, not Jugulator.
The sound and picture quality is fantastic, and Priest put on a great show. The highlights for me are "Victim Of Changes" and "Painkiller" during which Rippers vocals are truely amazing.
No longer should he be compared to Halford and no longer should Priest fans hope for a reunion with him. I hope Ripper is in for the long run. His voice is suited for them and sounds fresh and enthusiastic. It is obvious that this rubs off on the band too because they also seem fresh & enthusiastic. I was also surprised at the drumming of Scott Travis, he is a drum machine!

I keep watching this DVD as it really kicks a#s, and often just have it blasting out (as a CD) as I do stuff around the house.
It also sounds better the louder you play it.
I am now kicking myself for not seeing them when they last toured Australia (I wasn't sure about Ripper, didn't like Jugulator, & wasn't then a big fan of Demolition), but if they tour here again nothing will keep me away.

The only criticism I have of this DVD is that the CD version contains several more tracks which don't appear on the DVD. Perhaps this is because they included backstage vision & sound checks instead? I think they would have been better to have done what Iron Maiden did with their Rock In Rio DVD - that is to put the concert on one DVD, and all the back stage stuff on another bonus DVD.

I like this DVD more than any other that I have. It is simply great, and I thuroughly recommend it for any fan of Judas Priest, new or old.

Now I eagerly await their next studio release.

First off, I would like to comment on what a great modern day concert DVD this is because of the camera work and angles ! Directors of "Ozzy Osbourne - Live in Budokan" and "Iron Maiden - Rock in Rio" should take note of this ! The camera angles are great, although up till this day, I will never understand why Ian Hill (bassist) only literally gets 5 minutes of collective fame through the DVD.

The set list is stunning; with some very interesting editions to their songlist (i.e. United, Painkiller). It is a very refreshing sound and feel. Ripper is full of confidence, and with that I think the entire Judas Priest band just seems to ride that confidence and plays one heck of a show. Judas Priest look so much better, and heavier as well. Their new songs off Demolition sound well refined and faultless.

This DVD comes with extra features; interviews and a soundcheck performance. A few of the tracks that didn't make the nights songlist; Sentinel ..,Machine Man and Lost & Found, make their appearances here, and Ripper, nor Judas dissapoint.

A very well, and tight performance by the band. Energetic and spontaneous. K.K shreds the hell out of Glenn Tipton, and back and forth they go, but hey, together, they shred the hell out of anyone ! This performance is Judas Priest aging gracefully, with an excellent touch of youth.

Greattt. Sound and video quality is awesome. Ripper looks real comfortable hanging with the BIG BOYS, the band sounds really tigh,as always, and Scott's drumming is out of this galaxy, He's one of my favorites(along with Portnoy and Bordin).This DVD rules big time, the soundcheck section has 6 songs,and the backstage/tour bus footage is pretty cool. The only complaint I have "TOO SHORT" 95min.(NO Green manalishi,some heads...,beyond the realms...you've got another...)but it's ok, can't have it all. Another thing, for drummers out there,Scott's visuals are so clear,close and many that it seems like a clinic video, you'll learn from him. Anyway, this DVD has it all.

Well, now that Ripper's gone, this DVD will become some kind of "tribute" to his five years with Priest. Priest, sensing that Ripper (altough owing an incredible potent voice), tried, with mixed results, to complete change their sound in ther new reincarnation, beginning with "Jugulator". I personally think the band improved on "Demolition". However, Rippre never wrote any material for the band. HE was a hired guy since the star, and always had tnat uneasy knowledge at the back of his mind.

Also, using the bike was a stupid thing. THis was one of Halford's trademark and, sincerely, adds nothing to the show.

The set list here is very good. The "Demolition" songs sound very good, better than in the CD. Overall, a valuable acquisition for the fan.