When the world thinks of heavy metal in its pure, potent, undiluted
form, it is none other than the Metal Gods, Judas Priest, that instantly
come to mind. Chrome and black leather, studs and whips and chains, a
chopper on stage to announce the coming... these are the tools of the
trade for Rob Halford and his legendary band of Birmingham bashers.
Indeed, the Priest are the bringers of metal's biggest anthems.
"Breaking the Law," "Living after Midnight," "Exciter," "Electric Eye,"
"Victim of Changes," and especially "You've Got Another Thing Comin'"...
these are songs woven into the fabric of metal's wild ride, Priest
having been there since its origins, revving up crowds as superstars
certainly for 30 years of that run. Lifelong fan and preeminent metal
historian Martin Popoff examines the Priest's rich legacy from 1974 to
1984, album by album, anthem by anthem, in this hugely expanded update
on the early years portion of his long out-of-print Heavy Metal
Painkillers book. Having interviewed all the principals in the band
repeatedly over the years, Popoff gives a first-hand account of Priest's
rocky, often comical ride through the '70s, and through the gold and
platinum records of the '80s, expertly detailing the long road to the
arena headline status the band now enjoys as heavy metal's proudest
ambassadors. Judas Priest: Decade of Domination includes extensive
commentary from reclusive drummer Les Binks, along with new interview
footage from Tom Allom, Chris Tsangarides, K.K. Downing, Glenn Tipton,
Ian Hill, Rob Halford, and various other insiders who are part of the
Priest saga during this hallowed, golden era. Also included are tons of
memorabilia shots, live photography and two tipped-in colour sections.
To reiterate, this is the most extensive analysis ever in book form of:
Rocka Rolla, Sad Wings of Destiny, Sin After Sin, Killing Machine/Hell
Bent for Leather, Unleashed in the East, British Steel, Point of Entry,
Screaming for Vengeance and Defenders of the Faith-song by song, lots of
stories, looking at licks and fills, and what's in the right channel and
left, lyric analysis... the deepest dive ever on these records.
