A relief for our metal souls - A review of Judas Priest's Battle Cry

Less than two years after the lukewarm Redeemer of Souls, Judas Priest released live album Battle Cry that proves that the legendary British heavy metal quintet doesn't think about retiring yet and still delivers the goods on stage. The concert was recorded at the overrated Wacken Open Air, so you can't expect the most enthusiastic crowd but the atmosphere is better than expected because lead singer Rob Halford is simply a great entertainer that makes the sleepiest mainstream audience react.

Seventeen songs were played that day and the DVD or BluRay even includes three additional tracks recorded in Poland that weren't played in Germany that night. The CD version of this release sadly only features fifteen songs and one has to wonder why the label didn't make this a double-disc record with all twenty tracks on it. The best version of this release to pick up is hence the combination of the DVD with the CD to have everything your ears and eyes need.

The set list is quite convincing. Even the tracks from the last effort sound more dynamic on stage and blend in relatively well with the classics. ''Dragonaut'' is a powerful opener, ''Halls of Valhalla'' is a fierce anthem with a varied vocal performance and even the unimaginative ''Redeemer of Souls'' is passable in its live rendition, even though it might be the weakest tune of this album.

The band obviously played numerous classics tracks. The crowd participation in ''Hell Bent for Leather'' is certainly a highlight. ''You've Got Another Thing Coming'' underlines how entertaining the band can be and never gets tedious despite an extended running time of above eleven minutes. The final track on the CD version is a relentless interpretation of ''Painkiller'' and it never ceases to amaze me how great Rob Halford's voice still sounds at his age.

When playing a festival, it's difficult to insert tracks that are rarely played live but the band at least included a solid rendition of ''Devil's Child'' on this output. This version isn't spectacular but it's quite refreshing to hear such a song after a while and one has to congratulate the band on continuing to vary its set lists and bringing back forgotten pearls from time to time.

In the end, Judas Priest's Battle Cry isn't an essential record by any means. It might even be the band's weakest live album but that's just because all the others are so particularly great. However, it's a relief to hear and see the band in full strength after a disappointing last studio record. Those who were afraid that the band was about to retire can witness five musicians who still play with addictive passion.

Final rating: 70%