Judas Priest

While Judas Priest's first live album, 1979's Unleashed in the East, proved to be an important step up the ladder towards global success, it's a well-known fact among metalheads that the album was extensively tweaked in the studio (just give it a listen for the proof). Which is a shame really, because Priest was (and remains) one of heavy metal's top live acts -- especially during their late-'70s/early-'80s peak. Finally, the Metal Gods have answered our prayers, as an un-doctored live document from this aforementioned golden era has broken free from the vaults, 2007's Concert Classics. Recorded back on June 25, 1980 (when the group was on tour supporting their classic British Steel set), the 13-track import release faithfully captures the Birmingham 'bangers in full concert roar. And the set list is absolutely stellar -- only the leanest Priest cuts are featured, including early classics ("Sinner," "Victim of Changes," "Beyond the Realms of Death"), as well as tracks that showed the group's growing sense of melody ("Living After Midnight," "Hell Bent for Leather," a cover of Fleetwood Mac's "Green Manalishi"). And longtime fans will be pleased to learn that the rarely performed British Steel nugget, "You Don't Have to Be Old to Be Wise" gets a rare airing (and first-ever appearance on a Priest live set). A tiny complaint is that one of their best-known tracks, "Breaking the Law," is not included (a track that was "hot off the presses" at this time), but this proves trivial: Concert Classics is the strongest and most true-to-form live Priest set to emerge yet. ~ Greg Prato, All Music Guide