Lightning Strike – Judas Priest

Perfectly formed metal from one of the bands who are indisputably masters of the genre. The lyrics may sound like they came from a ‘Heavy Metal Random Lyric Generator’ but that is entirely part of the fun.

Where else can you get this?

‘I’ll bring you the head of the demon, I’m peeling the skin from his face’

And you think, oh lovely. Here we go, this is going to be nice. Only from the Judas Priest’s, the Iron Maiden’s and the Metallica’s of this world does such over wrought and non specific horror comic book imagery not sound like a teenage boy desperately trying to scrounge up some outrage. No, in the hands of Rob Halford a chorus like

‘You’re sewing the seeds of a nightmare from hell, your prayers and your demons lay dead where they fell, walking through fire fates in my hands waiting for lightning to strike’

Sounds like the sort of fun you want in on. What japes, we’re doing Hellion again. Or Painkiller, or Electric Eye. I’ll put the kettle on.

That’s the thing with JP. Their latter day output is not diluting their older, more classic records. Firepower has been even better received than 2014’s Redeemer Of Souls. Much like Iron Maiden’s Book Of Souls added to their legacy and Hardwired… To Self Destruct delighted the core of ageing Metallica fans.

Firepower is being filed among their best records because the band are among the best at what they do. They’re no longer chasing an audience who might change temperature on them. They’re giving the fans exactly what they want. And we ARE gonna take it. Every last bit.

Sing along if you know the words.

‘Twisted dreams that are formed from illusion, the collusion of fear and torment, decimating to stem this contusion, with a power-mad freaking intent’

Happy New Year!