SATURDAY's COVER(ed) # 34

I'm a big JUDAS PRIEST fan. Although to be honest, I don't like them quite as much as I do IRON MAIDEN. I also think MAIDEN is just a better band, on all accounts (kinda like saying KANSAS is Better than Styx, but liking them both; which I do too)

The cover art for Priest's 2005 album, ANGEL OF RETRIBUTION (see below) is my choice for Saturday's Covered! I love the concept of a futuristic-looking mechanized and armored angel. Yeah, it's not a new idea but I think the execution by the artist really works. Then again, I always like Warren Worthington III (Marvel's Angel from the X-Men) in ALL of his incarnations and uniforms.

On this CD, Priest gives a good musical "bang for your buck." The three standout tracks are the first (track 1) "Judas Rising" which is just a fast, jamming, double-attack on the twin-axes, power metal burner; typical Priest equals great song. The second great song on the album is the beautiful ballad "Angel." Rob Halford can still sing. This would have been a great song for the still-lamented Joss Weedon television series ANGEL (starring David Boreanaz). But for me, the coup de grace of the disc is the last epic track LOCHNESS which clocks in at a whopping 13 minutes & 24 seconds. This last song is heavy, sludgy (ala early Black Sabbath) grimy, and full of cold, dark, peaty, monter-filled water..... Nessie would love it; I do!

Ciao Monster-Music lovers.

r/e