Painkiller

Judas Priest | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 21, 1990)
• Original Release Date: September 18, 1990
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0000027F3
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (58 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #107,160 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Painkiller

2. Hell Patrol

3. All Guns Blazing

4. Leather Rebel

5. Metal Meltdown

6. Night Crawler

7. Between the Hammer & the Anvil

8. A Touch of Evil

9. Battle Hymn

10. One Shot at Glory

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars PURE AGGRESSION!!!!, January 17, 2005

By 

Pete (Prospect Park, NJ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Painkiller (Audio CD)

Let me just start off by saying that as truly great as this record is what was even greater was the statement that the band had made at the time it was released. Let us not forget that a very short time before this the band was beginning to shift in a very different direction, resulting in the albums "turbo" and "ram it down". Even though I'd have to give the band some credit to have had the guts to attract a wider audience even to the point of selling out, I for one don't buy into that whole trying to experiment with "different sounds". I think they knew exactly what they were trying to do and to their credit were successful. And honestly, especially with Rob back at the helm, it's a lot easier to say that now in 2005 then it was back in 1987. But regardless it was still a big letdown for the older fans who always knew what the Priest were really all about and still are....simply THE GREATEST HEAVY METAL BAND OF ALL TIME!!!! It was also around this critical time that thrash was beginning to reach a much wider audience. Bands such as Metallica, Anthrax, Megadeth, and Slayer had become huge and were viewed as up and coming and the "true" metal of the time, leaving Priest somewhat in the dust. And on top of all that they had become entagled in a very contraversial court case where their music was being accused but ultimately found not guilty of causing the deaths of two teenagers. As tragic as this was the Metal Gods still didn't let anything get in the way of as K.K. Downing had put it, "progressing naturally". The result was this absolute masterpiece and landmark album which is beyond a return to form to probably the most aggressive album they've ever made!! I don't want to call it thrash but it certainly contains some of the fastest songs they've ever done, the title track being one of them. The one part of the band that I always thought could have been better was the drumming. Not that any of them were "bad" but when you hear the work Scott Travis does on this it kinda makes you think twice about the direction the band would have taken had he joined Priest maybe 4 or 5 years earlier. The guitar work is simply amazing in terms of not only speed and aggression but above all chemistry between K.K. Downing and Glenn Tipton thet they hadn't exhibited since Defenders of the Faith. Vocally, Rob Halford just takes it to another level and really compliments the heavier and harder style of priest that he seems to have been comfortable with ever since. Ian Hill is as solid as ever. If you are a true metal fan you probably already have this, if not you don't know what you're missing!!!! Can't wait till their new album Angel Of Retribution!! THE PRIEST IS BACK!!!!!!!!!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Punishing Priest of Galactic Sized Proportions.., July 27, 2001

By 

Paul A. Roy "Paul R" (Wonder Lake, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Painkiller (Audio CD)

I have read the reviews on this board, and I agree with every single one, except several that only rated it with four stars instead of five. I could go into detail here and explain why it so deserves 5 stars, but many here have already done an excellent job reviewing it. My additons would only be redundant.

I bought this album back in 1990 when it was first released. 11 years later and I still consider it is one of metal's all time champions.

I have always liked Priest, and Rob Halford is one of them truly original singers that stands head and toes above all others, and as all metal fans know, there is lots of great metal vocalists out there.

I like most, if not all of JPs releases, but Painkiller has got to be arguably their crowning achievement, or magnum opus. All previous releases have at least two really creative songs on them, but this album is simply KILLER from beginning to end.

I just played it in my car on the way to work this morning. I hadn't heard it in about 16 months. It sounded just as fresh today as it did 11 years ago. I had my stereo cranked as LOUD AS IT WOULD GO, and found myself speeding way beyond the speed limit, head banging, and singing at the top of my lungs the best I could to Halford's scorching vocal passages.

Listening to this album VERY loud when in need for a metal fix, is just as satisfying as consuming a large, thick, New York strip, or T-bone steak with a tall, cold brew when you are two-days hungry.

SATISFACTION GUARANTEED!

Heavy Metal worshippers unite: THE PRIEST IS KING!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars D's thought's on "Painkiller", July 20, 2009

By 

D. Rurup - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Painkiller (Audio CD)

Don't have a lot that needs to be said about this one except "It's good". The tempo is faster than most other Judas Priest and the drumming is killer, every thing is working. Vocals are good guitar work is good, oh, there's a bass too? Just kidding the bass playing is good too. The fast songs rock, especially "Painkiller" and the slow(er) songs are good too, check out "Touch of Evil" both classics. Good cd, Good band, go get it, ok?