Angel of Retribution

Infobox Album | Name = Angel of Retribution
Type = Album
Artist = Judas Priest


Released = 2005February 23 in Japan, March 1 Rest of the World
Recorded = October - December 2004
Genre = Heavy metal
Length = 52:38
Label = Columbia Records
Producer = Roy Z
Reviews = *Allmusic Rating|3|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:eqf5zfo4eh8k~T1 link]
*"Kerrang" Rating|5|5
*"PopMatters" rating-10|6 [http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/j/judaspriest-angel.shtml link]
*"Rolling Stone" rating|3.5|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/judaspriest/albums/album/6847707/review/7045810/angel_of_retribution link] | Last album = "Live in London"
(2003)
This album = "Angel of Retribution"
(2005)
Next album = "Nostradamus"
(2008) |

"Angel of Retribution" is the 15th studio album by British heavy metal band Judas Priest, released in 2005. It marks the return of Rob Halford, after a 12 year departure from the band. The album debuted at #13 on the U.S. Billboard chart, what makes it the second highest chart of a Judas Priest album (only before "Nostradamus"). It also marked the first time Judas Priest have been the number 1 artist on a national chart (in Greece). The album was produced by Roy Z, who co-penned "Deal With The Devil".

Lyrical References

Within the lyrics of the album, several references to past albums and songs are to found, as a way of showing that Priest has not forgotten where they came from. The song "Demonizer" references both "The Hellion" from "Screaming for Vengeance" as well as "Painkiller" from the eponymous album. "Hellrider" mentions both "Ram it Down" off the same-titled album, and "Tyrant" from "Sad Wings of Destiny". "Eulogy" references "Stained Class" and "The Sentinel" from the albums "Stained Class" and "Defenders of the Faith", respectively. The song "Deal With the Devil" can be viewed as a biography of Judas Priest, telling their origins from the Black Country of England's West Midlands, mentioning their transitory days gigging around England and practicing at the Church of Holy Joseph in Walsall, which is where Judas Priest was effectively born.

Track listing

All songs written by Rob Halford, K.K. Downing and Glenn Tipton except where noted.
# "Judas Rising" – 3:52
# "Deal with the Devil" (Halford, Downing, Tipton, Roy Z) – 3:54
# "Revolution" – 4:42
# "Worth Fighting for" – 4:17
# "Demonizer" – 4:35
# "Wheels of Fire" – 3:41
# "Angel" – 4:23
# "Hellrider" – 6:06
# "Eulogy" – 2:54
# "Lochness" – 13:28

Personnel

*Rob Halford - Vocals
*Glenn Tipton - Guitar
*K. K. Downing - Guitar
*Ian Hill - Bass
*Scott Travis - Drums
*Roy Z & Judas Priest - Producer
*Joe Barresi - Engineer in USA
*Roy Z - Engineer
*Roy Z & Stan Katayama - Mixers
*Tom Baker from (Precision Mastering) - mastering

External links

* [http://www.angelofretribution.com/ Official album website]