Jugulator Review

07/13/2005 7:10 AM, AMG


Once Rob Halford left in the early '90s, Judas Priest was thrown for a bit of a loop -- it took them seven years to decided to have another stab at success. The remaining Priests hired the menacingly-named young gun Ripper Owens as a vocalist and recorded Jugulator as their comeback album. Surprisingly, it's a thoroughly solid affair. Owens is no Halford -- he simply doesn't have the presence, charisma or boneheaded wit -- but the group sounds hard, muscular and heavy and guitarists KK Downing and Glenn Tipton spit out riffs and solos at a blinding rate, sounding as good as they ever did. Judas Priest doesn't have anything new to say on Jugulator, but fans should be pleased to know that they're finally re-stating their familiar themes with some style and authority. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide