JamesT

Fair enough! Those first two albums are classics for sure.

I definitely don't hate you, my metal brother! I am, however, bummed to hear that you didn't get to see Crowbar. I saw them live back in February of 2019 and got to have a brief conversation with founder and front man Kirk Windstein before the show. I asked his wife, Robin, if she would mind snapping a couple of pics of me and Kirk, and she graciously agreed even though she was also trying to work the merchandise table. Kirk was very cool to me and allowed me to get a couple of pics with him. I've got them stored in the cloud as we speak, now 5 years later. I'd highly recommend checking out Crowbar, especially if you're into sludge at all. They've got some great groove to their sound as well, and they're the heaviest band I've ever heard. At the show, while the guys were doing a quick sound check before their set, I could literally feel it in my teeth, the sounds was so incredibly heavy. Spanning from their debut album, "Obedience Thru Suffering" (1991) to the present day, they currently have 12 albums in their catalog. I've heard that Down is planning to release their first new material in a decade, and I believe Kirk is playing with them right now. But I'm hoping Crowbar will give us another couple of albums before they call it a day! Oh man, I'm really enjoying the new Exhorder album, "Defectum Omnium"! Kyle Thomas is a fantastic vocalist, and the album has an enjoyable quality all the way through. It'll definitely be getting heavy rotation for me.

I saw your comparison of Verminthrone as being similar to PanterA, and that's all I needed to hear! Checked them out immediately and I now have "The Cull" in my library. Fantastic album with sick, heavy groove. Doesn't get better than that for me! I also hear some similarities to one of my top 5 bands of all time - the mighty Crowbar!

DragonForce - "Warp Speed Warriors" I'm a couple of days late on this one, but my favorite power metal band has never disappointed me, so I cannot wait to dive into the brand new album today. This has been the longest gap between releases of their career - including the time when they changed singers. The pandemic set them back for sure, but finally, the new slab of majestic melody and speed has arrived!

Saxon - "Dogs of War" Saxon - "Unleash the Beast" The Lazys - "Tropical Hazards" Fantastic hard rock 'n' roll!

Saxon - "Killing Ground" Saxon - "Metalhead"

Saxon - "Hell, Fire and Damnation" Saxon - "Lionheart"

Saxon - "Carpe Diem" Enforcer - "Into the Night" Enforced - "Kill Grid" Enforced - "War Remains"

Saxon - "Into the Labyrinth" Saxon - "Sacrifice" Saxon - "Battering Ram"

Judas Priest - "Invincible Shield" Saxon - "The Inner Sanctum" Saxon - "Thunderbolt" Saxon - "Call to Arms"

Judas Priest - "Invincible Shield" Exhorder - "Defectum Omnium" Ah yes, it's gonna be a great Saturday!

Fair point! Whenever you have the opportunity, I'd be eager to hear your thoughts. It's a little after 10 p.m. here on the east coast of the U.S., and I'm about to crank up the volume and blast the album once again!

I'm ashamed to admit this, but I didn't realize Exhorder has a new album coming out! It's been amazing to have them back on the scene after a 27-year gap between full-length studio releases. "Mourn the Southern Skies" (2019) still gets heavy rotation for me - I love it to death. But back to the kings of traditional metal, that trip to the workshop sounds like just what the doctor ordered. However, if you feel like you could give it more attention in a different setting, then I'd definitely understand that, too. "Invincible Shield" is a great album - if you don't initially think it's anything special, I'd encourage you to stick with it, because it may take some time to get into it. Or, at least, that's what happened to me. But hey, you might end up loving it right away. Long live the Priest!

I've also listened through: Exhorder - "Slaughter in the Vatican" Exhorder - "The Law" Yeah, it's tough to tell - still way too early for me to comment on where "Invincible Shield" stands in the catalog, of course. And honestly, I approach each album as a stand-alone effort, without allowing a comparison to other albums dictate my feelings about it. Similar to the way I love "72 Seasons" from Metallica - I don't look at it within a context of whether or not it's "Ride the Lightning, Pt. 2". It's just a great album on its own. The same goes for "Invincible Shield". As a rock-solid heavy metal album, it is a fantastic album. "Crown of Horns" is a true triumph!

It certainly has, my metal friend! I've been listening to it non-stop today! Upon first listen, if I had to pick two favorite tracks, they would be "Crown of Horns" and "Vicious Circle". I have enjoyed the whole album and have been a bit surprised by it. It is definitely a different vibe from "Firepower", which is my second favorite Priest album overall. "Invincible Shield" isn't as heavy, so it took me a few tracks to really get into the flow of it - but upon repeated listens, it is a magnificent album. Halford sounds incredible, and the guitar work is fantastic as always. My favorite traditional metal band never disappoints.

PanterA Overkill Crowbar Judas Priest AC/DC

We are on the precipice... The mighty Judas Priest will release album #19 in just a few hours! My goodness, I cannot stand the anticipation. "Invincible Shield" is gonna be a fantastic release (Judas Priest makes nothing else besides metal magic)! At the gym in the early morning and to and from work tomorrow, this thing will be blasting at full volume - and what a beast it will be! Heading to bed early so Christmas morning will come all the sooner.

Metallica - "Hardwired...to Self-Destruct" Judas Priest - "Firepower" My second favorite Priest album of them all. A triumph from start to finish, without a weak moment, much less a weak track. A couple more days until "Invincible Shield"!

My favorite Judas Priest album of them all! "Painkiller" came out the year I was born, so I didn't experience that particular release day situation, but man, if I'd had to wait until I got home to hear that album after having purchased it earlier in the day, it would have just about put me into a coma! I'm so eager for Friday - I can hardly stand it. I've heard Rob hits some notes that are reminiscent of "Painkiller", which is difficult for me to fathom at his age. It's not often that Christmas comes in March! And now that Accept has announced their next album for late April, that will give us Saxon, Judas Priest, and Accept, all before the start of May. What a year this will be! Can't wait for the new DragonForce on the 15th as well - this is their longest gap between albums (5 years) in their entire catalog. Motorhead - "Inferno" Motorhead - "Motorizer"

Motorhead - "Kiss of Death"

I appreciate the teaser, my friend! As is my way, I haven't listened to any of the singles ahead of album #19 from my favorite traditional metal band in history. I just can't do it, especially as far ahead of the release date as they put out that very first single (back in October). I'm just not diving into the new material 5 months before the album comes out. So, for me, the new album will be completely brand new from start to finish, and I cannot wait for next Friday! I have heard rumblings that Halford hits some notes that are reminiscent of the "Painkiller" days, which I find absolutely mind-boggling, given that he's into his 70's now. Glad to hear that the rumors are true! You have filled my metal heart with an even greater level of eager anticipation for "Invincible Shield" - something I didn't think was possible. I'm indebted to you for that.

Fantastic album from the power metal legends!

Motorhead - "Another Perfect Day"

Girish and the Chronicles - "Back on Earth" Motorhead - "Overnight Sensation"

Yes, I love Enforced! Just crushing thrash all the way through - no frills. And I know what you mean about the Havok album. I love it, but I also wouldn't have minded more faster tracks. I like the mid-paced stuff well enough, though. Evile - "The Unknown" Testament - "Titans of Creation" Marc Hudson - "Starbound Stories"