Painkiller

Description

The next trio of vinyl to be repressed from the Judas Priest vaults. Each album is pressed on 180g vinyl and includes a download code. As with the previous batch, the original masters of these records have been out of print for a considerable amount of time and will appeal to fans looking to complete their JP vinyl collection. The third and final batch featuring Defenders of the Faith (1984), Priest Live! (1987), Ram It Down (1988) is due for release early in 2018 (date TBC).

There is no overstating Judas Priests position at the very top of heavy metals Mount Olympus. The long-term association (eight consecutive live and studio albums) between the band and producer Tom Allom ended on 1991s Painkiller. The band and Chris Tsangarides handle co-production duties here marking the first time since 1978s Killing Machine that Priest had not enlisted Alloms talents. Its also the last Priest album to feature Rob Halford until his return in 2005 and the bands first with longtime drummer Scott Travis (Racer X). The balls to the wall collection finds the band embracing their thrash and speed metal roots and earning Gold-certification and a Grammy-nomination for Best Metal Performance along the way.