Killing Machine

This article is about the Judas Priest album. For other uses, see Killing machine (disambiguation).

"Hell Bent for Leather" redirects here. For the song, see Hell Bent for Leather (song).

Killing Machine/Hell Bent for Leather
Studio album by Judas Priest
Released	9 October 1978
Recorded	August - September 1978 at Utopia and CBS Studios, London
Genre	Heavy metal
Length	45:51
Label	Columbia
Producer	Judas Priest, James Guthrie
Judas Priest chronology
Stained Class (1978) Killing Machine/ Hell Bent for Leather (1978) British Steel (1980)

Killing Machine is the fifth studio album by British heavy metal band Judas Priest, released in November 1978. The album saw Judas Priest head towards a more commercial style; however it did still contain the dark lyrical themes as heard in their previous albums. At about the same time, the band members adopted their now-famous "leather-and-studs" image. Killing Machine was retitled Hell Bent for Leather for US release, as the US branch of Columbia/CBS did not like the "murderous implications" of the album title. "The Green Manalishi (With the Two-Pronged Crown)" an early Fleetwood Mac cover, was added to the running order in the US.

The album was remastered in 2001, with two bonus tracks added (three in the UK). The bonus track "Fight for Your Life" was the "original" version of Judas Priest's "Rock Hard Ride Free" from their Defenders of the Faith album. "The Green Manalishi (With the Two-Pronged Crown)" is considered a bonus track on the UK remaster, but a regular track on the US version.

In 2010, audiophile label Audio Fidelity released a limited-edition 24-karat gold CD of the album. Mastering was done by Steve Hoffman. This does not contain the bonus tracks from the 2001 edition.

This is the first Judas Priest album where Glenn Tipton incorporated the guitar technique of tapping into his soloing style. This is also the final album for drummer Les Binks who had joined the band in late 1977 for the recording of Stained Class, he is credited with helping develop the traditional Priest percussive sound.

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	link

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Delivering the Goods"	Rob Halford, K.K. Downing, Glenn Tipton	4:16
2.	"Rock Forever"	Halford, Downing, Tipton	3:19
3.	"Evening Star"	Halford, Tipton	4:06
4.	"Hell Bent for Leather"	Tipton	2:41
5.	"Take on the World"	Halford, Tipton	3:00
6.	"Burnin' Up"	Downing, Tipton	4:07
7.	"The Green Manalishi (With the Two-Pronged Crown)" (Fleetwood Mac cover (US bonus track on original release, later included on UK remastered CD))	Peter Green	3:23
8.	"Killing Machine"	Tipton	3:01
9.	"Running Wild"	Tipton	2:58
10.	"Before the Dawn"	Halford, Downing, Tipton	3:23
11.	"Evil Fantasies"	Halford, Downing, Tipton	4:15

All songs written and composed by Halford, Downing and Tipton. 

2001 bonus tracks
No.	Title	Length
12.	"Fight for Your Life" (Recorded during the 1982 Screaming for Vengeance sessions)	4:06
13.	"Riding on the Wind" (Live at the US Festival, Devore, California; 29 May 1983)	3:16

Personnel

• Les Binks – drums
• K.K. Downing – guitar
• Rob Halford – lead vocals
• Ian Hill – bass
• Glenn Tipton – guitar, keyboards

Charts

Billboard (USA)

Year	Chart	Position
1979	Pop Albums	128