It’s hard to believe there ever was a Judas Priest without Rob Halford, but that’s what happened in the early nineties, when Rob left Priest to form a more metal version, Fight. He was joined by his fellow Priest buddy and drummer, Scott Travis, and Russ Parish on guitar – before he became a parody and joined Steel Panther. Priest had been touring with Pantera and Rob saw what they were doing – he thought Priest should be going in that direction also. I guess the rest of the band didn’t think that way, and so it was goodbye Rob.
Ironically, the first two tracks Into The Pit, and Nailed To The Gun are probably what Priest would have sounded like if they had gone in this direction. Life In Black is a modern Sabbath type tune, with a slow plod riff and great guitar from Parish. Also of note is Rob’s voice – he still has the power to pull off the high stuff, which he does struggle with today. Next up is the very Pantera/Preist-esque, Immortal Sin. Huge fat chugga riff with that bounce off the walls groove. I have to say, Russ Parish is wasted in Steel Pantsoff, he is great player and metal is his calling. The title track is next and it’s more of the same with a hardcore edge. The middle eight has a great groove to change up the pace. Last track on Side 1 is Laid To Rest and sees Rob with a more restrained vocal and quite a doomy vibe.
Side 2 begins with For All Eternity, a classic old school metal track. Starts off really slow with the picked chords and into the big chorus. Funnily enough a format Priest almost invented. Little Crazy is next up, and for a split second I thought we were in Southern rock territory with that slide beginning. It’s probably the weakest track on the album, not a bad track, just not as good as the others. Contortion follows and again the big fat chugga riff that’s designed to make the listener bounce – it achieves what it sets out to do. Kill It is the most nu-metal sounding track on the whole album with the repeated riff and tag line. Vicious is next and is very metal in the groove and riff, but not that great in the lyrics department. Last track Reality, A New Beginning was a hidden track on the CD, but obviously vinyl won’t let that happen. A big monster d-tuned riff drives the tune, along with Rob telling everyone it’s a new beginning.
I really like this project and thought it was very entertaining. Ultimately, it only lasted two albums, then Halford The Metal God was invented and the Halford solo career took flight, before the inevitable reunion with Priest when they all needed cash.
8.5/10 from The Grooveman.
