British Steel

This edition of BRITISH STEEL is very good. The disc's look like they were made here, but it's not clear if that is the case. All I know is that the concert that is included as the bonus concert was recorded in Florida, down south from where I am in the State. I have seen different versions of the packaging for BRITISH STEEL 30th ANNIVERSARY, so I suspect it is a US edition, and the FBI logo is usually a give-away.The sound is awesome on the remaster for each track. Like the Album HELLBENT FOR LEATHER 2 years before, the sounds quality is awesome. The concert is an amazing video experience. From what the band has said about the event, when they first started to try and go, the power drain was so high the whole rig blew, at least until they could reset and then restart. The extra tracks are total gems, so with the HD channels "Mobile" rig recording the concert in full ( unedited thank the gods), the sound is more than Awesome. With 5.1 sound, this DVD version of the album is just a gem, whether you have a standard ear-bud, Headphone, or something like a Monster Diamond Tear Head Set, the DVD gives you a more than good sound. About the only other Live DVD by priest you need is the Double DVD that includes PRIEST LIVE ( 1986) in Texas, which also has another concert thrown in. But, in the last ten years Priest has put out some great material, and the British Steel Anniversary Album is an excellent concept. If you can still get the Special edition with the DVD, its worth every penny. ( My Surprise, I should try and get the import and see if there is any difference; Lately I have been finding significant differences in packaging or content; Either way I do not regret buying this gem !! ). And the other thing of note is that the Booklet is pretty good !! Too often the British Versions of Many bands albums have great Booklets, and CDs of superior quality , except with special editions by Rhino... which is odd, since regular Rhino versions are kind of below average, but Rhino Special Editions are beyond good, since they are US only [ I presume ] ).

Llego Bien

I had originally bought this album, on vinyl, back in July 1980. Earlier this month, I decided to buy the remastered CD version from Amazon. Just by listening to this album, it feels as though I am reliving the Summer of 1980, all over again. At least IN MEMORY, I'm living in 1980 & this album brings back tons of happy memories for me. I had really hit the jack pot w/ THIS album, just like I did w/ "Hell Bent For Leather". They are both PERFECT albums, in my honest opinion. I'd like to offer my review on "British Steel" now: 1. "Rapid Fire"...I was always surprised that this song wasn't titled as "Pounding The World Like A Battering Ram", instead of the title of "Rapid Fire", which is NEVER mentioned throughout the song @ all. Otherwise, this is one great song & I've always enjoyed this. 2. "Metal Gods"...I've always loved this song, too. The only complaint, that I have about this song, is the long instrumental ending. I wish that they could have sung, just the words, "Metal Gods" for about 3 or 4 more times, before the song ends. 3. "Breaking The Law"...I still wish that this was the OPENING cut on my CD, like it was on my record. This song rec'd some radio airplay in the Fall of 1980. I've always loved this song, very much. 4. "Grinder"...In 1980, I NEVER noticed how much this song reminds me of AC/DC's kind of song. Now in June of 2013, I really can spot the musical resemblance to AC/DC. I have always got a big kick out of this song...it's really good. 5. "United"...This song is just plain fantastic, in my opinion. I have always loved this song w/ such nice lyrics. 6. "You Don't Have To Be Old To Be Wise"...As I had just mentioned on "Grinder", THIS song ALSO bears a resemblance to AC/DC's music again. It really puts me in mind of "Shoot to Thrill", from AC/DC's "Back In Black" album, ALSO from 1980. This song is EXCELLENT in every way possible. It also has one hell of a rebellious attitude towards life. And I just love this song, very much. 7. "Living After Midnight"...This song has the words PARTY TIME written all over it. It is one hell of a fun & uplifting song. And it has a great beat, too. This was the hit, on the radio, in the Summer of 1980. 8. "The Rage"...This song has always been pretty good. I like this. 9. "Steeler"...Another song where the TITLE is never mentioned, either. It's pretty good, though. Bonus Tracks 10. "Red White & Blue"...I love this song, very much. For some oddball reason, this song could remind me of "United", somewhat, in it's meaning. 11. "Grinder"...Recorded live In Concert. This album is STILL great, in my honest opinion. It will always be HIGHLY recommended. I keep forgetting to mention, that it's really great to get the LYRICS w/ ALL of my Judas Priest CD's.

guter Pressung und guter Sound.

The bonus of this Aniversary Album is the second disc which is a concert from 2009 at The Seminole Hard Rock Arena on DVD containing 16 songs. Just amazing.

Un classique avec des bonus

bellissimo e perfetto.

S'il fallait en choisir un pour lancer ces années 80 sous les meilleurs auspices, un dont on espérait que la communauté des musiciens de hard'n'heavy s'inspire pour les 10 ans à venir, c'est bien cet impeccable, accrocheur et référentiel British Steel de Judas Priest. Rien que son titre d'ailleurs... Dans les faits, on reprend la formule qui a si bien fonctionné sur Stained Class et Killing Machine et la reconduit, ce n'est pas plus compliqué que ça. Sauf qu'il y a les chansons de ce 6ème long-jeu, dont les deux énormes hymnes/tubes que sont Breaking the Law et Living After Midnight, qui font la différence avec les deux collections précédentes, pourtant d'excellente facture toutes deux, par son supplément d'efficacité, son emballage global qui laisse bouche bée. Parce que ça fait maintenant quelques années, depuis 1974 et Rocka rolla , que Judas Priest remet sur le métier sa petite conception personnelle d'un fameux bruit blanc qui fera florès, qui déjà influence toute une génération de jeunes pousses connues sous l'appellation de New Wave of British Heavy Metal et autant de groupes sur le vieux et le nouveau continent. Patients ouvriers de la sidérurgie lourde, Rob Halford, Glenn Tipton, K.K. Downing, Ian Hill et Dave Holland (un dissident de Trapeze qui vient de les rejoindre) ont construit leur son pas à pas jusqu'à cet Himalaya, cet absolu immanquable où rien, rien !, ne déçoit. C'est le cas des deux courtes et supra-troussées chansons précitées évidemment (une pour l'agression, le quasi-punk Breaking the Law, l'autre pour le fun, l'irrésistible "singalong" Living After Midnight, ça vaut pour la musique comme pour les paroles d'ailleurs), mais vraiment, tout dans la météorique galette, 36 minutes seulement, est là pour le contentement du chevelu difficile. Le menu ? Du solide rentre-dedans pas sans une certaine finesse dans la barbarie (Rapid Fire et ses divines guitares), de l'hymnique qui donnera même son surnom à la formation (Metal Gods, ils le méritent), du mid-tempo qui rocke et active irrémédiablement la machine à headbanging (l'accrocheur Grinder, le presque "classic rock" You Don't Have to Be Old to Be Wise), du qui groove sa vieille maman jusqu'à un refrain à reprendre en chaeur dans les arènes (United), du qui vous prendra par surprise avant de vous remettre sur le droit chemin (The Rage et son intro reggae déboulant bientôt dans un solidissime heavy rocker), du qui vous achève enfin à grands coups de riffs incisifs et lead guitar en ébulition (Steeler) avec, évidemment, tout du long de ce florilège du heavy panorama à son meilleur de ces early 80s, une performance vocale impeccable d'un Rob Halford aussi bon dans un registre médium que dans ses suraigus de référence. Avec, en plus, la production idéale d'un Tom Allom qui vient de commencer sa collaboration avec les gars de Birmingham (qu'il poursuivra toute la décénnie), il n'y a décidément rien à reprocher à cet Acier Britannique. Du coup, les bonus de cette édition commémorative, 30ème anniversaire, sont presque accessoires. Un machin pas terrible repiqué des sessions de Turbo (1985) ? Drôle d'idée. Une version live de 1984 de Grinder ? Y avait rien de la vraie tournée ? Un live revivaliste de 2009 ? Ha oui, on voit le poids des ans tout de même... Mais bon, ça fait un bel objet (avec le DVD bien réalisé en plus pour ceux qui goûtent à ce genre de choses) et comme ça fête un album qui le mérite grandement, on ne vas pas pinailler. Parce que British Steel, immense classique du heavy metal, est un immanquable de la collection de tout amateur du genre qui doit dont déjà l'avoir ou alors devrait, là, tout de suite, maintenant ! 1. Rapid Fire 4:08 2. Metal Gods 4:00 3. Breaking the Law 2:35 4. Grinder 3:58 5. United 3:35 6. You Don't Have to Be Old to Be Wise 5:04 7. Living After Midnight 3:31 8. The Rage 4:44 9. Steeler 4:30 Bonus 10. Red, White & Blue (Recorded 1985) 3:42 11. Grinder (Live at Long Beach Arena, 1984) 4:49 30th Anniversary Edition - bonus live CD 1. Rapid Fire 4:18 2. Metal Gods 4:34 3. Breaking the Law 2:43 4. Grinder 4:06 5. United 3:45 6. You Don't Have to Be Old to Be Wise 5:24 7. Living After Midnight 4:53 8. The Rage 5:04 9. Steeler 5:23 10. The Ripper 3:09 11. Hell Patrol 3:57 12. Victim of Changes 9:29 13. Freewheel Burning 5:49 14. Diamonds & Rust 4:07 15. You've Got Another Thing Comin' 8:58 Rob Halford - vocals K. K. Downing - guitar Glenn Tipton - guitar Ian Hill - bass guitar Dave Holland - drums & Scott Travis - drums (2009 concert)