Well, here it is. The "comeback" album by the group that is, in my opinion, the best metal band to exist, period. There had been a 7 year silence since "Painkiller" was released back in 1990. And a drastic line-up change, with vocalist Rob Halford (who some felt WAS the band) leaving to go to the incredibly awful FIGHT. After many vocalist tryouts, the band opted to go with unheralded Tim Owens. Fast forward to 1997... As I expected, this album didn't disappoint me at all. But as I didn't completely expect, "Jugulator" quickly ranked as one of the 3 BEST albums by the band. Certainly the band's fastest and heaviest work yet, somewhat picking up where "Painkiller" left off, and still VERY much JUDAS PRIEST!! Trademark dark heavy metal riffing that slices you like a blade!! I've read some bad reviews of this album, but I guess it's too brutal for some... And how does the new vocalist do? At times, I wonder if Rob Halford snuck into the studio and performed some session vocals. But "Ripper", for the most part, has his own vocal style and seems to use a bit more range, from a few near "death metal" growls to the piercing evil high-singing (as mentioned, ala Halford) that has been one of JP's most known aspects for so many years. All this rolled into one slab of excellent dark heavy metal that's a MUST purchase for any metal freak. Without a shadow of a doubt, "Jugulator" is the "comeback" album of the decade if not the century...

© 2000 bathym