Made Of Metal... wasn't that a fun cheesy metal song by the band Dream Evil? Now it's also the title of the latest release from Judas Priest's vocalist Rob Halford, one of the most respected vocalists in the metal genre and often referred to as the METAL GOD. This is the fourth album under the Halford name but unlike Halford III – Winter Songs, which had a change in proceedings, there is indeed some more metal this time and no Christmas carol covers.
Halford IV - Made Of Metal is a semi return to the heavy riffage, pummeling drums and screaming vocals that made the first two Halford releases Resurrection and Crucible so thoroughly impressive and outshone also what Priest were doing. I say semi return as Made Of Metal does have some different sides not just all guns blazing, take "Until The Day I die" as an example which has a part blues/country feel, so beware if furious metal is what you are only expecting to hear. I also should mention that yes, Made Of Metal does have a slice or two of cheese in the lyrics, mostly of the tasty kind though.
Made Of Metal opens with the boxing track "Undisputed" and this one packs a punch, Rob then turns to power metal for "Fire And Ice". Track three is the title track and the band pushes the throttle down in their "supersonic silver flying machine" for "Made Of Metal", which takes its inspiration from Nascar racing. The rocking catchy metal of "Hell Razor" makes it one my picks, and "The Mower" which is a peculiar title for a crushing metal song but crank it up and this mower will scare your lawn away, Halford really cuts loose sounding awfully pissed off as he screams with so much vigor.
Being capably backed by a consummate group of musicians and with a voice that still sounds marvelous, Halford has impressed once more. Made Of Metal is a good album there is a lot to like, but in writing that I wouldn't rate it as high as Resurrection or Crucible, and it's not because of the metal aspect I just feel they were simply stronger releases.
Track List:
1. Undisputed
2. Fire and Ice
3. Made Of Metal
4. Speed Of Sound
5. Like There¹s No Tomorrow
6. Till The Day I Die
7. We Own The Night
8. Heartless
9. Hell Razor
10. Thunder and Lightning
11. Twenty-Five Years
12. Matador
13. I Know We Stand A Chance
14. The Mower
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