Alas, the last album Rob Halford would do with Judas Priest. It wouldn't be until another 15 years that he would reunite with his former bandmates and produce "Angel of Retribution".  Painkiller is in my opinion Priest heaviest and fastest album to date.  In following the poor record sales of 1988's unsuccessful comeback, "Ram It Down," Judas Priest tried to win their fans back with their twelfth studio effort, 1990's "Painkiller" and they did...Legendary frontman Rob Halford, axemen K.K. Downing and Glenn Tipton, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis return to their classic, 1970's style of metal while  intermixing techniques from modern, contemporary speed metal bands.

What was the result ?  The result was a masterful new disc.  The heaviest and most musically complex of Judas Priest's career, which successfully won all of the band's fans back. In fact it even gained them many new fans. "Painkiller" is not only the definition of a Nineties' classic; it's a truly wonderful comeback, and easily the best release of Priest's long career .The CD is  saturated with fast riffs, scorching leads, extended, technical solos, quick drumming, and Rob's shrieking vocal. It has been said that many music fans think that "Painkiller" is the epitome of speed metal. It's also one of the most famous and important albums on heavy metal's timeline.

The opening track sets the mood well for the rest of the songs. It has a fast drum beat and fast churning riffs, as well as Rob's standard,  high pitched vocals, and two sweet guitar solos .The appropriately titled "All Guns Blazing," has a spectacular, wailing solo which has several different parts to it. The next song, "Leather Rebel," is a very speedy track with an almost buzzsaw rhythm, and track five ("Metal Meltdown") features three back-to-back guitar solos. Other highlights include the memorable chug and churn guitars and thumping drums of "Night Crawler," "Between The Hammer & The Anvil," which is highlighted by yet another lengthy, winding, hazey mazey, three part solo, and, the catchy, mid-paced, stop-start rhythm behind "A Touch Of Evil."
Finally, if you buy the remastered version of this album, you get two bonus tracks--"Living Bad Dreams," and a rare, live version of "Leather Rebel"--which are both excellent additions .

"Painkiller" is, from from beginning to end excellent . If you're a speed/thrash/classical metal fan youll love this cd, It's a masterpiece of aggression from one of the creators of modern heavy metal. Sounds as good now as it did then. A must have for any metalhead!

1.     "Painkiller"             6:06
2.     "Hell Patrol"             3:35
3.     "All Guns Blazing"             3:56
4.     "Leather Rebel"             3:34
5.     "Metal Meltdown"             4:46
6.     "Night Crawler"             5:44
7.     "Between the Hammer & the Anvil"    4:47
8.     "A Touch of Evil"       5:42
9.     "Battle Hymn"             0:56
10.     "One Shot at Glory"             6:46


MY RATING: PERFECT 10

My advice is hit play, rock out and rewind.

~ Georgina