The Metal Gods Arise5 Out Of 5 Stars
The Judas Priest buildup from Stained Class to Hellbent for Leather to British Steel marked a rise in the band that they'd maintain for several years to come. "British Steel" marked a couple big changes in the group; first, the songs began to utilize pop hooks, and second, Halford hit his peak as a vocalist. Thom Allom was also near his peak as a metal producer, and he brought Priest crashing into the mainstream. After all, what party wouldn't start rocking if you put on "Living After Midnight" or "Breaking The Law"?
Not that Priest were becoming The Partridge Family. "Rapid Fire" kicks in with the double bass drum pound Priest became known for, and there's no way that "Metal Gods" wasn't meant as self-fulfilling prophecy. The pop-hooks of "Midnight" are offset by the menace of "The Rage" or "United's" message of metal fan unity. Hard to believe that "British Steel" arrived before there was an MTV Headbangers Ball or the glut of Metal Showcases prevalent today, so credit must be given to Judas Priest for taking "British Steel" to a level that helped make the scene possible, and laying down a playing field for it.
A point made even more fully by the DVD bonus disc. Recorded on the 2009 tour, Priest plays the album from start to finish in its entirety, showing no signs of it's 30 years. Halford and company look like they're having the time of their lives spreading the gospel to this day of an album that took them over the brink, and the fans are lapping it up. Frankly, you can live without the DVD if you already have the 2001 Remaster, but if not, it's just a couple extra bucks and worth a spin on the telly.
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