Review - "Battle Cry" Judas Priest (Epic 2016)

This one was actually on my list of metal DVDs to purchase and it was even on my Amazon wish list so it was nice when the DVD version of this showed up in the post courtesy of a very cool PR guy.
Having seen this tour live when they passed through town I was very much looking forward to revisiting a great concert experience albeit on a much larger scale. I was not disappointed.

First off the sound mixes on this are awesome. The 5:1 mix is truly ball rattling and the Dolby surround mix ups the ante even more. The one dig I'll give on the mix is that Rob's vocals are a bit buried. I mean you can hear them but damn it's the metal god those pipes should be front and center.
What was front and center was Richie Faulkner. This DVD really shows off how well this guy has fit in with the band and also the energy he brings live. This is exactly what we experienced when we saw them live as well. Richie is just having a blast and it's obvious that Glenn is more than happy to hang back a bit and let him shine.

The tracklist on this is flawless. The Priest always make sure to feature new stuff live and this tour didn't let up on that. The show recorded live at Wacken in August of 2015 features five tracks off of Redeemer of Souls. Add to that all the classics (ok not all of them this is Priest) and you have a killer ninety plus minutes of pure metal. They also throw in three bonus tracks from a show in Poland. So a total of twenty most excellent Priest performances.

There's a spot towards the end of the show where there's a teenage fan right at the rail and he's just bawling his eyes out. This kid is just overwhelmed with the emotions of seeing Priest live. That about sums up this DVD. We are really in a great time for metal DVDs and this is another great one. Just crank this up and be overwhelmed by the majesty that is Judas Priest. Considering that most of those guys are getting up there in years its amazing to watch BLAZE through Painkiller and still come back and finish with Living After Midnight.

Do yourself and your metal ear and eye holes a favor and get yourself a copy of "Battle Cry".

Jimmy DeGrasso from Black Star Riders Guests on This Weeks Focus on Metal

Episode 204 - Jimmy DeGrasso

Our guest this week is Jimmy DeGrasso, the man currently occupying the coveted drum seat in Black Star Riders. After a career playing in a ton of legendary bands it looks like Jimmy has settled in nicely in BSR. Jimmy regales us with tales of his storied career and gives us some insight into the new BSR album currently in production.

Get your fix of all things Jimmy at: http://www.jimmydegrasso.com/

Updates on Black Star Riders including tour dates can be found at: http://blackstarriders.com/

Jimmy's San Jose Pro Drum shop is at: http://www.sanjoseprodrum.com

Visit http://focusonmetal.net/ for information on all the past episodes and to find the links to all our other social media sites.

Grab it now from the Focus on Metal Site, The Focus on Metal RSS feed, or on iTunes

And as always Focus On Metal…Everything Else is Insignificant.

JUDAS PRIEST OFFER ANOTHER SNEAK PEEK INTO REDEEMER OF SOULS ALBUM AND ANNOUNCE ROCKLINE AND TOWN HALL APPEARANCES

The tracks that Judas Priest has been offering the public as a prelude to the official July 8, 2014 release date of their 17th album overall, 'Redeemer of Souls,' are stirring up quite a buzz within the heavy metal community.  On June 17th, eager fans will be able to sample another winning metallic rocker from the legendary band, when "Dragonaut" is made available for purchase via iTunes and other digital retailers. In the mean time, you can listen to "Dragonaut" via the Rolling Stone site, which has premiered the track: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/hear-judas-priests-thunderous-new-dragonaut-premiere-20140613#ixzz34XDw7xOd  And you can pre-order the deluxe album version via these links: http://smarturl.it/redeemerofsouls-albm - iTunes    http://smarturl.it/redeemerofsouls-amzn - Amazon Also, the band has confirmed that the night before the release of 'Redeemer of Souls,' Glenn Tipton, Rob Halford, and Richie Faulkner will appear on the Rockline radio program. Joining host Bob Coburn on Monday July 7, 2014 at 8:30 PT / 11:30 ET, fans are encouraged to speak with Judas Priest at 1-800-344-ROCK (7625). For a station near you and for information regarding how to log onto the Internet for the broadcast go to www.RocklineRadio.com The show will be streamed for free on the Rockline website beginning the evening after the day of broadcast.  And on the day of the album's release, Rob Halford, Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner will appear on Sirius XM's 'Town Hall' program. Fans are being asked to submit questions that winners will be able to ask the band in person: https://www.siriusxm.com/judaspriest Comprised of Rob Halford (vocals), Glenn Tipton (guitar), Richie Faulkner (guitar), Ian Hill (bass), and Scott Travis (drums), Judas Priest is responsible for some of heavy metal's all-time classic songs ("Living After Midnight," "Breaking the Law," "You've Got Another Thing Coming," etc.) and albums ('British Steel,' 'Screaming for Vengeance,' 'Painkiller,' etc.  The countdown to the release of Priest's latest studio triumph has officially begun, and "Dragonaut" provides further proof that 'Redeemer of Souls' will be a prime slice of Judas Priest metal. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION VISIT: www.judaspriest.com www.facebook.com/OfficialJudasPriest

CLASSIC JUDAS PRIEST METAL ON THE WAY WITH NEW ALBUM REDEEMER OF SOULS

There are only a select number of bands that have accomplished what Judas Priest has throughout their career (as well as having served as a stylistic influence on such a wide variety of bands). Soon the group - singer Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill and drummer Scott Travis - will be offering up more classic Judas Priest metal with the release of 'Redeemer of Souls' To be released in the US on July 15th, 2014 via Epic Records (as a standard version and a deluxe edition with five bonus tracks), 'Redeemer of Souls' is Judas Priest's latest collection of epic metal - "raising the bar is consistent for us and 'Redeemer' hits the ground running" - it matches up perfectly to earlier Priest classics as evidenced by the album's leadoff single 'March of the Damned'  ("we are forging ahead, slamming the pedal to the metal!") - the band mean business once again. "We feel 'Redeemer of Souls' reinforces our passion for what we believe in from the Judas Priest style heavy metal." The album also marks Richie Faulkner's studio debut with Priest and is the co-writer of the material along with Glenn Tipton and Rob Halford. First bursting onto the scene with 1974's 'Rocka Rolla' Judas Priest is responsible for some of heavy metal's all-time great albums - 1980's 'British Steel', 1982's 'Screaming for Vengeance', 1990's 'Painkiller' etc - and anthems 'Breaking the Law', 'Living After Midnight', 'You've Got Another Thing Coming' etc - as well as trailblazing metal's now instantly identifiable look - leather and studs - 2014 marks the 40th anniversary of the band. And while fans are undoubtedly starved for more Priest (their last studio album 'Nostradamus' was released in 2008) the band themselves are eager for the world to hear their latest studio triumph. "Classic combination of all the statements we love to create with raging guitar riffs and solos, thundering drums, thick grooves of bass and vocals tearing it all up!" REDEEMER OF SOULS - tracklisting as follows: DRAGONAUT REDEEMER OF SOULS HALLS OF VALHALLA SWORD OF DAMOCLES MARCH OF THE DAMNED DOWN IN FLAMES HELL & BACK COLD BLOODED METALIZER CROSSFIRE SECRETS OF THE DEAD BATTLE CRY BEGINNING OF THE END Bonus tracks: SNAKEBITE TEARS OF BLOOD CREATURES BRING IT ON NEVER FORGET FOR FURTHER INFORMATION VISIT: www.judaspriest.com www.facebook.com/OfficialJudasPriest

JUDAS PRIEST UNLEASH TASTER FROM THEIR 17TH ALBUM, 'REDEEMER OF SOULS'

***IMAGE IS SINGLE (NOT ALBUM) ARTWORK*** For U.S. fans of Judas Priest that simply cannot wait for the July 15th release date of their latest classic metal album, 'Redeemer of Souls,' there is some relief on the way. On Tuesday, April 29th, the title track from the album will be available for purchase via iTunes (https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/redeemer-of-souls-single/id863086125) and other digital service providers. And a clip of the song (plus the single's artwork) is now available to sample at the band's website, www.judaspriest.com. If you are wondering what to expect from the mighty Priest on their forthcoming album, guitarist Glenn Tipton has set the record straight. "Sometimes in the past we may have come under fire for being too adventurous musically - so we have listened!! From start to finish 'Redeemer of Souls' is 13 songs of pure classic Priest metal!!" There are only a select number of bands that have accomplished what Judas Priest has throughout their career (as well as having served as a stylistic influence on such a wide variety of bands). Soon the group - singer Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill and drummer Scott Travis - will be offering up more classic Judas Priest metal with the release of 'Redeemer of Souls' FOR FURTHER INFORMATION VISIT: www.judaspriest.com www.facebook.com/OfficialJudasPriest