The image was not the only thing that changed. With it came a take on music that was very different, aimed towards the American market at the time. Priest's sound would become far more mainstream than it had been before, as well as more hard rock-orientated than on their previous releases. At the end of 1978 the band released their fifth album Killing Machine (re-titled Hell Bent for Leather in the U.S.). The band's new sound and image would be continued for quite a few albums to come, including the famous follow-up British Steel, and was the start of a new era for Judas Priest.
Abandoning the straightforward heavy metal style seems not to be an immediate problem, as Killing Machine is loaded with great new material. Lyrics tend to be simpler as well (think back to Rocka Rolla). Opener Delivering the Goods is a right showcase for the new sound overall, with its guitar that bends heavily towards hard rock and away from heavy metal. The other notable difference is Halford, who is not employing his trademark high-pitched vocals as much as he did, especially compared to Stained Class. Similar tracks such as Hell Bent for Leather, Burnin Up and Running Wild follow this path as well, and while not doing too much to stand out and being pretty generic hard rock songs, they are still a very enjoyable listen. The difference that sets apart Judas Priest from other bands in these generically-structured songs is the core of the band: Downing's and Tipton's guitars, and Halford distinctive and powerful voice.
As for the stinkers though, they really stink. The semi-ballad Evening Star is far too repetitive and has a horribly cheesy chorus, and full ballad Before the Dawn is a cringe-worthy offering (so far, Priest has not shown to have an incredible talent for ballads). Absolute low point is Take on the World, which thrives to be a powerful anthem, but falls flat on its face with a distasteful and ridiculous chorus, lyrically and in the way it is sung:
Tracklist for Killing Machine:
1. Delivering the Goods
2. Rock Forever
3. Evening Star
4. Hell Bent for Leather
5. Take On the World
6. Burnin' Up
7. The Green Manalishi (With the Two-Pronged Crown) [Fleetwood Mac cover] [US edition bonus track]
8. Killing Machine
9. Running Wild
10. Before the Dawn
11. Evil Fantasies
Abandoning the straightforward heavy metal style seems not to be an immediate problem, as Killing Machine is loaded with great new material. Lyrics tend to be simpler as well (think back to Rocka Rolla). Opener Delivering the Goods is a right showcase for the new sound overall, with its guitar that bends heavily towards hard rock and away from heavy metal. The other notable difference is Halford, who is not employing his trademark high-pitched vocals as much as he did, especially compared to Stained Class. Similar tracks such as Hell Bent for Leather, Burnin Up and Running Wild follow this path as well, and while not doing too much to stand out and being pretty generic hard rock songs, they are still a very enjoyable listen. The difference that sets apart Judas Priest from other bands in these generically-structured songs is the core of the band: Downing's and Tipton's guitars, and Halford distinctive and powerful voice.
As for the stinkers though, they really stink. The semi-ballad Evening Star is far too repetitive and has a horribly cheesy chorus, and full ballad Before the Dawn is a cringe-worthy offering (so far, Priest has not shown to have an incredible talent for ballads). Absolute low point is Take on the World, which thrives to be a powerful anthem, but falls flat on its face with a distasteful and ridiculous chorus, lyrically and in the way it is sung:
Tracklist for Killing Machine:
1. Delivering the Goods
2. Rock Forever
3. Evening Star
4. Hell Bent for Leather
5. Take On the World
6. Burnin' Up
7. The Green Manalishi (With the Two-Pronged Crown) [Fleetwood Mac cover] [US edition bonus track]
8. Killing Machine
9. Running Wild
10. Before the Dawn
11. Evil Fantasies