Judas Priest - Battle Cry

Hey, if you didn't get to see Judas Priest on their last tour, then now you can, with their latest DVD Battle Cry.  Battle Cry was filmed at Wacken in 2015.  The band was in support of their latest record Redeemer of Souls.  The set list was a retrospective of the band's career, but also includes 3 new tracks, from the latest record.  I have to say the newer material sounded better live than in studio.  I do enjoy their new material, for the most part, but it doesn't have the punch, that they used deliver in the studio.  Call me old school, but I would like to see Tom Allom at the helm again, I'm just sayin'.  That said, I think the newer material comes off better live, than in the studio.

Battle Cry does not look as slick as some of the past Priest videos.  It is a little more grainy and the lights at Wacken, sometime distort the images on the screen.  I'm not sure if that is what they were going for, but I generally like a clear picture, which puts you in the front row.  I love concert videos, that make you feel like your at the concert.  The band sound great and put on one hell of a show, just as you would expect they would.  Ritchie Faulkner steals the show though.  This guy does not act like he has been in the band for just 5 years.  He walks around the stage like he owns the place, and proves it with his shredding.  I was a huge KK guy, but have totally accepted Ritchie as his replacement.  This DVD will make you a believer.

All in all solid Priest from start to finish.  The only thing is, and I hate to say it, is that there are a few kinks in the armour.  Though the show is great, and the band display a fair amount of energy, it appears they are showing their age a bit.  Glen sits back and does not command the stage like he once used to, but I think Ritchie compensates for that.  The other thing, is that you can clearly hear Halford struggling, at times, to hit some of the high notes.  In songs like Painkiller and Halls of Vahalla, the Metal God, has trouble sustaining some of the notes.  Hey, these guys are in their 60's, so I acknowledge that this is getting tougher.  That said, this is still solid performance and entertaining to watch.

Bottom Line: Priest still showing the new school, how it is done.  More than 40 years in, these guys are still going and rocking audiences around the world.  Another great Priest DVD to add to you collection.

- Ragman is still pissed that Priest skipped H-town on their last tour...