Defenders of the Faith

Defenders of the Faith is the ninth album on which Judas Priest lines up the basic vocabulary of heavy metal at extremely high density. The twin guitars of Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing deftly shift between sharp chopping and brilliant harmony, and Rob Halford’s voice, using everything from a high scream to a low growl, strongly raises the songs’ tension. It develops the previous album’s direction more aggressively. The ferocious speed of the opener “Freewheel Burning,” the stylistic beauty of the precisely built “The Sentinel” and the big hook of “Love Bites” vividly show the album’s breadth, while the lift of “Rock Hard Ride Free,” the aggression of “Jawbreaker” and the drive of “Some Heads Are Gonna Roll” heighten its appeal. Rather than chasing flashy experiment, it is a sturdy record that thoroughly polishes the very essence of metal. Inheriting the success of the previous Screaming for Vengeance while putting forward a harder, more aggressive side, it is a powerful heavy-metal masterpiece full of stylistic beauty, supporting Judas Priest’s golden era.