Album Details

• Artist: Judas Priest
• Album: Sin After Sin
• Label: Columbia Records
• Year of Release: 1977
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: gwhill on 2012-10-24

One really need look no further than the credits of Sin After Sin to realize it was a transitional album. Gone was drummer Alan Moore, who had taken over John Hinch. Rather than wait for a full time drummer to record the next album, though, Priest went with session drummer Simon Phillips. While that transition was the most obvious, a change in sound was also present on this album.

In a lot of ways, Sin After Sin feels closer to the first Priest album than it does to Sad Wings of Destiny, which was the set that came out before it. There’s sort of a boogie element that feels similar to the blues sound of that debut (Rocka Rolla). A lot of the disc seems to be a combination of Judas Priest sound with something like ZZ Top. The production, also feels more understated and a bit lifeless on the album. That said, though, there is still quite a bit of good music to be found.

The first two songs on the album, “Sinner” and Priest’s cover of Joan Baez’ “Diamonds and Rust,” became standards in the Priest live set, but the renditions here seem to lack the energy and fire that the cuts gained in the live setting. Beyond those two songs, it’s a bit more of a mixed bag. The ballad “Last Rose of Summer,” while seemingly a far stretch from the Priest sound seems to works pretty well. “Dissident Aggressor” is arguably the most intense and metallic thing they had done to this point. While songs like “Starbreaker” and “Raw Deal” really showcase that boogie element. While this isn’t the most consistent, or strongest Judas Priest set, it’s still worth having.  There are some newer additions with bonus tracks, too.

User Reviews and Comments