Customer Reviews

Metal God Essentials

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This is the first release on Rob Halfords own lable Metal God Recods, and this is an excellent package, well worth the extra cash. It features the 15 track CD with songs from Halford albums S/T, Curcible, and Live Insurrection. This also features songs from fight. The second bonus CD in this version features five tracks that are new remixes of Halford songs, a nice edition to the set. Finally the DVD has great behind the scenes footage of the first tour, MTV footage of when halford left priest (still chills my spine, seeing it for the first time since I saw it originally air). Then it has the videos for Made in hell, berayal, in the morning, silent screams, never satisfied, and forgotten generation.

The added bonus also to this package it he excellent packaging that features a triple fold out CD case, along with a detailed lyric book, and the autographed card and numbered packaging (mine is 147 of 5000). This is available online here at a killer price, but also at a higher cost at a few bigger chain stores. Get this package while you can, worth the extra. Chances are you are a fan if you are getting this, and this is the one to get.

Rob Halford is an icon. There's no other way to describe him. His one of a kind voice, his outlandish stage presence, his courage in identifying himself, and the powerhouse that is Judas Priest make Rob one of the seminal figures in rock music for the past three decades.

Yet for casual music fans, Rob's presence is held only to Judas Priest and classic albums like Screaming for Vengeance or British Steel. His work outside the band is giving short shrift unless you're a metal head or a deep fan. Which is why this 2 Cd and one DVD set is a treasure trove. I have to admit to not having the Fight material before this, and only the Live Insurrection Halford disc. (I do own Two's Voyeurs, oddly not included here.) What "Metal God Essentials" does is remind us just how creative Rob can be even without the JP brand behind him.

There are plenty of great tracks here, including the terrific "War of Words" where Rob recites the Preamble to the Bill of Rights and then whips into one roaring song (lest we forget, he once had to sit in a court and defend himself from parents trying to blame heavy metal for their son's suicide) about freedom of speech and personal responsibility.

A pair of new tracks appear here, "Forgotten Generation" and "Drop Out." The former is terrific (although remixed superfluously as a bonus cut). The second disc has more remixes and is - frankly - redundant. The DVD is interesting, in that you can see some of Halfdord (the man and the band) in the creative process. A lot of this has to do with Rob explaining why he formed his new bands. It's interesting to see that there's more to him than one would expect. The music vids are exactly what you would expect, however. Lot's of screaming fans, claustrophobic images, leather and uniforms. Of these, only the acoustic "In The Morning" offers anything out of the usual, and is the most interesting. (Why wasn't this a hit?) It has echoes of Angel of Retribution's "Angel," or Extreme's "More Than Words." Good stuff, all the way through.

But the real reason I bought this was for the collectibilty. I have number 1205/5000 with the mini-card signed by Rob, which 100% justified the purchase for me. If you've gone as far as to look this up, you're probably a die-hard fan. Pony up the extra bills, or you'll probably wish you would have later.

I was ripped off by the seller who gave me the standard edition instead of the deluxe edition with the autograph and dvd. That aside, I really enjoyed the cd on its own. Good overview of Halford career. When Rob Halford sticks to the metal he does best, he is awesome. Check out the remastered version of Crucible while you are at it. Everyone I turned on to thought it was awesome! Both versions are amazing, though. I loved this cd (Metal God Essentials) even though I had most of the music on other cd's. Worth buying for the rarities and remasters.

This is the best Metal greatest hits release in the last 25 years. Try and grab the limited edition with Rob's autograph!!!