Stained Class

After hitting their stride with "Sin After Sin," Judas Priest's follow up "Stained Class" delivered. For my money, "Stained Class" is one of the 'big three' of Judas Priest. It is undoubtedly the best album of theirs from the 70's. For this album, drummer Les Binks takes a seat, and he is the first Priest drummer to be on more than one album. Although his two album tenure isn't that much longer, his skill left a lasting impression. Many point to him being the best Priest drummer of all time, and it's hard to disagree with that assessment. He certainly picks up where Simon Phillips left off to give this album both the grove and the chops it needed. "Stained Class" remains an album to show to newcomers to teach them how making a record is done.

Lets start with what the record starts us off with. "Exciter" is exactly what an opener needs to be. Binks has an absolutely fantastic drum intro to set the tone, and following guitar parts enhance the energy. The verse melodies leave Halford a lot of room to work, but at the same time, they still have the end of the melody to bite back with. Halford leads the charge with the chorus, and the sinfully catchy solos all across this song make it an absolute classic. The melodic solo after the halfway mark is definitely in my top 10 solo list. I find myself humming it constantly. "Beyond the Realms of Death" is also a fan favorite that is well deserved. For every album now, Priest has had duds when it comes to softer songs. "Epitaph," "Last Rose of Summer," and beyond. While not all of those songs were horrible, at best they were very unfitting for the record. Finally, "Beyond the Realms of Death" is something of a power ballad, dancing from a soft acoustic part to a fiery heavier section. There's nothing about it that detracts from the rest of the record or sounds stylistically different. Each section flows flawlessly from one to the other back and forth, and each one perfectly hits the mood it's going for. The main heavy riff leaves a bit to be desired, but the song is just so well crafted that all is forgiven. Halford's cry of the title at the end is the cherry on top. It's sad and defeated, but has that unbridled power that closes it so nicely.

I often hear "Saints in Hell" called one of the greatest metal songs ever recorded. And while I might not go THAT far, it's most certainly a standout on the album. Halford's high notes are on full blast. It gives the song something of a 'sermon' feel behind the riff. Ian Hill gets a rare chance to shine on this song, too. His grooving bassline is really the backbone that keeps this song flowing so well. "Saints in Hell" is just a heavy badass song. The attitude and chops are just classic and quintessential to make a fun metal song. "Savage" is a HUGE 'guilty pleasure' track for me. It might be my favorite on the whole album, but I also acknowledge it's not exactly the most 'special' track there is either. The grove is just so driving and catchy, though. Halford's opening shrieks and then his cries on the chorus are blistering. The riff has this pounding gallop and Halford's notes accent certain specific points of each line so well. When they hit together during the verses, it's almost threatening. Binks' ride cymbal pattern, sporadic double bass playing, and brilliant tom fills during the chorus make it a very refreshing track. "Savage" isn't as memorable or outstanding as a lot on this album, but the forewarning and versatile parts to it make it such a unique track.

Unfortunately, "Stained Class" isn't quite so flawless across the board. "Heroes End" just never did it to me. Nothing in this song knows what it's trying to go for in my opinion. The riff tries to be a darker and more threatening one, but the two 'halves' of the notes playing that make it up don't gel with each other. I feel it's two half-riffs smashed together instead of a fleshed out one. Along with that, Halford's verse melodies are almost too 'clean' to fit with it too. He is singing in such a traditionally bouncy way across this darker riff, and it makes him feel out of place. The band and Halford have two different moods that aren't fitting with each other remotely. The chorus riff is a bit better, but the chorus vocals are pretty forgettable to me. "Heroes End" is confused and never gets off the ground. The title track also leaves a lot to be desired. The chorus is pretty memorable, but the verses are mediocre. The riffs have a very weak gallop that has a bite to them that gets your hopes up, but doesn't progress all that much. Halford's notes are on point, but he never reaches a satisfying conclusion. There's a bit of irony to me that, while not a terrible song, the title track might be the most forgettable across the whole record. Certainly nothing about "Stained Class" is horrible or irredeemable, but the low points are certainly there.

"Stained Class" is a Judas Priest highlight, but I wouldn't quite call it their magnum opus. They still had one more album from the 70's to deliver, but it's no secret that this one is as good as it gets. Another reason I think "Stained Class" has such a great reputation is due to how raw it is. It's just an album chock full of no frills and well written metal songs. The production is crisp and clear, and there are no bells and whistles like sound effects or keyboards to distract from the playing. For the purists out there, an album that is so masterfully made at a basic level without anything to disguise or distract is very alluring. In any case, if you remotely enjoy Judas Priest, "Stained Class" is a must have. There aren't many albums out there that attain what the record is trying to attain better.