Customer Reviews

A Touch of Evil

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

With song recordings scattered across the Angel of Vengeance 2005 and Nostradamus 2008 tours this is not such much a complete live show rather a greatest live moments of those tours, a collection of live souvenirs if you will. Indeed the songs have not been connected to run as one show and all of these recordings are stellar as is the band performance in delivering them. The band has also recognised there is a fair bit of live Priest in the back catalogue and have chosen to represent more obscure songs on this release which directs it to the hardcore fan.

Things kick off with the awesome "Judas Rising" and the band hits you in the face like a brick wall of sonic metal glory. Underpinned by some fantastic bombast from drummer Scott Travis's foot work are the classic flurries of KK Downing and Glen Tipton's awesome monolithic riffs and of course Mr Halford's Metal God vocals. Surely this track is what heavy metal really is all about. Close behind is "Hellrider" and it is equally metallic titanic. Great start.

"Between the Hammer And The Anvil" lumbers out of the crypt gates before bursting into life and is a spirited rendition of the "Painkiller" classic, complete with intro chants of "Priest, Priest, Priest" from a rabid crowd. The burst of fret work still sends tingles down the spine. Possibly veering into a more commercial vein is "Riding on the Wind" and Rob provides us with his customary screams. Workman like but fun all the same.

Not to be cowed by critics comments made around 2008's concept Nostradamus release we receive the first of two songs on offer from that CD. I wasn't a fan of the studio version but "Death" works well in a live setting with Rob sitting upon a throne telling us the tale of man's fate. Supported in the live arena by synths and ominous chiming church bell, it has more edge here. The vocal just works better when not as contained and when bouncing off an arena's walls. Glad they included it, will probably make many go back and give the Nostradamus CD a re-play.

"Beyond the Realms of Death" is sublime as always, mind you I don't think I have ever heard a poor version from the band. Perhaps one of the most influential of true metal bands you know when you are listening to Realms just how many bands and songs they have templated and influenced. Rob sings this again with passion and conviction. A highlight in the band's songwriting career and certainly one of my early favourites on this release. It proves you can be sensitive in delivery in metal and still hold your audience by the throat. Great stuff.

"Dissident Aggressor" is always welcome and this is a punchy and up beat version, though I miss that signatory siren wail note from Halford at the opening. It is followed by the shrill winds that howl outside announcing "A Touch Of Evil" has arrived. Easily a crowd favourite with the fists raised and the chants of "hey" against the mighty riff this is a great song. Again a great version on offer here, even though it doesn't stray too far from the studio version with the exception of a few vocal affects added for good measure. Nice guitar solo too.

"Eat Me Alive" sounds like it was lifted from the "Defenders" tour, but its "Prophecy" which was the opening number on the Nostra-Tour that is a late highlight. Again in the live setting this stuff just works better, Rob's vocals have more grit and edge and although there is synth work and backing tapes at play the whole song is much more stripped so you can hear the guitar riffs. In this way it is far more palatable to the metal fans ear and sounds less removed from what you expect from this band.

"Painkiller" has become the Priest song that modern day fans crave to hear at Priest shows and this version features a vocal that sounds like Halford is spitting razor blades. Over all it is THE ultimate speed metal song, what with pounding bass and drums, blazing guitar tradeoffs, banshee vocals its the best way to finish this CD.

Overall no weak moments, those hoping for a full live show may be disappointed, but I for one think this is a great bookend to two great tours and recommend it fully to any lover of legendary British metal glory. PRIEST, PRIEST, PRIEST, PRIEST!!!!

This is one hell of a live metal album! It's Priest at their most ferocious. I've only listened to it 3 times so far but the first thing I noticed was that Priest haven't sounded this heavy since `The Sinner' & `Victim Of Changes' from Unleashed In The East.
From the very start of the album (Judas Rising), the album rocks so hard & heavy and demands to be played loud. Watch out though - the low bass-rumbles may disintegrate your speakers.
This is the most evil-sounding I've heard the band sound live and I'm sure Satan and Tony Iommi were sitting there together smiling at every show.
`Dissident Aggressor' is the perfect example of the `Sabbath-style' heaviness that is present throughout the album and is a personal favourite. I'd only ever heard this track live when I saw them on this tour and was blown away with it's power.
The album is so consistent that I seriously can't single out any highlights. The only song that may to be out of place on this set, although it's a good track, is `Riding on the Wind' - it just doesn't seem dark enough with everything that surrounds it.
Yes, Halford can't & doesn't try to reach the notes he once did - at least not on a constant basis. However, his lower register vocals are still very effective and still irreplaceable (except maybe on 'Painkiller' which no one can sing)- respects to Ripper Owens for a great job in the interim.
Tipton & Downing haven't lost touch - and the drumming.....what can I say - Scott Travis is brilliant, and together with Hill are an awesome rhythm machine.
One of the best decisions made by the band is that they have avoided cramming on the album the `always present on live albums/dvds' songs like `You Got Another Thing Comin', `Breaking The Law', Living After Midnight' etc. although they did play these songs on their last 2 tours. This makes for a much-welcomed and refreshing song list instead of the usual repetitions many bands deliver with live albums.
One thing that may annoy people with this album is that the songs are taken from different shows from their last 2 tours and the end of each track is faded out between songs. This does take away the atmosphere & continuous flow of a live show and i've now lowered my star rating from 5* down to 4* from my original review based on this reason.
All in all, it still is a really great and essential live Priest offering.

After nearly 40 years of recording and performing, Judas Priest continues to deliver the goods while not falling into cliche-laden posturing that turns many "classic rock" bands into cartoon caricatures that pound out the same tired arrangements while playing gigs on the summer rib cook-off circuit.

With four of the 11 tracks from the last two albums - Angel of Retribution and the vastly underrated Nostradamus - and seven cuts dipping deep into the back catalog, there is an eclectic mix that generates powerful electricity. Rob Halford basks in glory with an incredible performance on Painkiller, but it's bassist Ian Hill and drummer Scott Travis who "rocka rolla" by breaking through the wall of sound on Riding on the Wind and Prophecy.

Rarely do live albums drift away from the comfort zone of cranking out fan favorites while easily (lazily?) helping to fulfill the number of titles required in the contractual deal with the record company. Judas Priest breaks that mold.

I've loved Judas Priest since I first got to know them with 1982's Screaming for Vengeance, and I've seen them live several times. I stayed with them through the Tim Owens years--give that guy an A for effort, anyway--and rejoiced with the rest of the Priest following when they came crashing back with Rob on the Ozzfest Reunion Tour. I even liked Nostradamus (a brilliant one hour record stretched out over a two-hour recording).

And I appreciate that most of these songs on this album are being offered in live versions for the first time (except Riding on the Wind and various Owens recordings over his two live outings). And 4 out of 5 members of this band can still make their metal with the best of them: that is, Glenn Tipton, KK Downing, Ian Hill, and the incomparable Scott Travis. But Rob Halford, the beast of Judas Priest himself, simply cannot deliver the goods anymore. He sounds weak, tired--often disinterested. Worse, it sounds like it pains him to try, especially on the absolutely woebegone live performance of Painkiller. Really, I needed a painkiller or two after hearing it.

Some kinds of music--some kinds of singing, especially--just have a shorter window of performable time, I guess. And as good a band as this is--historically, the best in heavy metal--the juggernaut that is Judas Priest cannot stand without Rob Halford pulling his weight. Really, I'm surprised he was as good as he was as long as he was, but it seems his time has now past.

I will always listen fondly to the older live recordings of Rob Halford and Judas Priest with nostalgia, delight, and respect. This recording is going on the shelf.

(Someone is bound to try to defend the Painkiller recording by claiming "that's just the way it's sung now." I hope I've saved that person the trouble. Just...really, just listen to it. It's very sad.)

This is a pretty good representation of the current Priest live, but it's a little strange. It's certainly not a whole concert, but rather tracks hand picked by the band to showcase what they currently sound like. Certainly worth having if you're a Priest fan.

JUDAS PRIEST is one of the best bands to see live,and this release is the proof. The only reason why this won't get 5 stars is because of the songs that were chosen for this.
Judas priest is one of the few bands that sounds just as good live as they are in the studio. Rob Halford (the singer) can nail every note with out waivering.
I do love the songs on this cd its just that Priest has alot more songs that sound even better live than what they have given us here. The best LIVE ALBUM by PRIEST has to be UNLEASHED IN THE EAST. I think that these titles were chosen because we have already heard every thing else live that they have done for us.
Titles on-- A touch of evil live--
JUDAS RISING
HELL RIDER
BETWEEN THE HAMMER AND THE ANVIL
RIDING ON THE WIND
DEATH
BEYOUND THE REALMS OF DEATH
DISSIDENT AGGRESSOR
A TOUCH OF EVIL
EAT ME ALIVE
PROPHECY
PAINKILLER

Recorded on stops of the underrated Nostradamus and comeback Angel of Retribution album's tours, this isn't just a Judas Priest live greatest hits, and it sure delivers. Starting with the double drum rumble of "Angel's" "Judas Rising" and "Hell Rider," kicking things off with a pure metal roar. Both "Pain" and "Prophecy" drop in from "Nostradamus," proving that this 2008 double album was one that deserves your consideration if you gave it the slip upon release.

Scattered around those tracks are some fan faves, like Painkiller's title track and "Between The Hammer and The Anvil." Heck, this is not the MTV Judas Priest; there's no "Living After Midnight" or "Breaking The Law." This is the hard-hitting, leather mad metal band, the Priest that digs back to Sin After Sin for "Dissident Agressor." They called this live album "Touch of Evil" for a reason. This is the Judas Priest live album that shows off jackhammer power guitars and Rob Halford's demonic growl in all the classic glory. It joins the clasics Unleashed in the East and Priest...Live! as documents of the Metal Gods in all their molten glory.

Great record. Doesn't matter if Rob never sings a high note again. He still sounds great singing in a lower register.

This is Judas Priest in all their glory... loud, heavy, and metal! Dissident Aggressor, Beyond The Realms Of Death, and Touch Of Evil alone are worth getting this CD as they sound better live than on the studio discs. Halford's voice is as great as ever, especially on Messenger Of Death where he avoids the screams he did in the studio and instead hits a solid high note to end each verse that sounds much more natural... and metal! If you are a Priest fan, GET THIS CD!

Another long overdue Live album from Judas Priest. This set is also awesome, the best tracks from Angel & Nostro as well as great concert classics. Great to hear these amazing metal songs again and the new tracks fit in perfectly. Amazing Priest live.