British Heavy Metal legends JUDAS PRIEST re-united with original vocalist Rob Halford in 2004 and entered the studio for their reunion album, ANGEL OF RETRIBUTION. Of course JUDAS PRIEST is one of those bands (like MOTORHEAD) who are constantly touring and so the metal veterans embarked on a massive international tour. The live intensity of the reunited JUDAS PRIEST silenced their critics and attracted the attention of a new generation ofRrock fans. The tour was so well received by PRIEST fans that Glen Tipton, K.K. Downing, Rob Halford and Crew decided to record a key performance to celebrate their 30 years in the music business. The band chose to record their definitive live performance on the Japanese leg of their international stage show. Ironically, they chose the world famous Budokan music hall (actually a stadium) where they recorded their ground-breaking live album JUDAS PRIEST: UNLEASHED IN THE EAST album way back in 1978. The Metal Gods teamed up with Rhino Home Video to bring you this digital platter of historical Heavy Metal called JUDAS PRIEST: RISING IN THE EAST.

Once again when JUDAS PRIEST takes the stage, each member of the band demonstrates their proficiency by musically melting your brain with pure, high-octane Heavy Metal. Glen Tipton and K.K. Downing lay the foundation which their chugging guitar riffs and dueling leads. Rob Halford wails away like no tomorrow proving he can still hit the high notes almost as good as he did on UNLEASHED IN THE EAST twenty five years ago. The under-rated Ian Hill lays down some serious bass lines. And of course, who can forget the pummeling double bass drumming of Scott Travis, a man I consider the second best drummer in the music industry today (after SLAYER’s Dave Lombardo). JUDAS PRIEST lay waste to the Japanese audiences with the following numbers:

Positive comments about the show: As always, JUDAS PRIEST open up with their signature song, Electric Eye. The band not only plays their hits like Living After Midnight, You’ve Got Another Thing Comin, Breaking the Law, and A Touch of Evil, they also perform their fan favorites, Victim of Changes, Painkiller, Metal Gods, Hellbent for Leather, and the sublime Beyond the Realms of Death. Tipton, Downing, and Halford play 6 of their newer songs like Hellrider, Worth Fighting For, Revolution, Judas Rising, and I’m A Rocker. I have a couple of problems I have with the setlist. First of all, why are JUDAS PRIEST still doing that terrible Turbo Lover song from the bands Poseur years (1986-1987)? Also they play practically the entire ANGEL OF RETRIBUTION album (most of which are weak anyway). I can understand two or three songs from the new album, but six? Why didn’t they play Heading Out to the Highway, Delivering the Goods, Nightcrawler, Freewheel Burning, Love Bites, etc.? Except for their hits, JUDAS PRIEST play practically no songs from their awesome albums BRITISH STEEL, DEFENDERS OF THE FAITH, POINT OF ENTRY, or PAINKILLER. One other negative aspect I must point out, is the complete lack of a drum solo. Since Scott Travis joined the band in 1989, he has been allowed to do a killer drum solo for each tour. Why are they holding him back?

JUDAS PRIEST: RISING IN THE EAST was filmed full frame using professional multi-camera set-ups which buzz around the performers on stage making for a truly memorable visual presentation. The kinetic camera work captures each song with eye-pleasing angles and tracking shots over the band. The image depth and clarity are top notch. The colors are genuinely brilliant and JUDAS PRIEST’s light show is truly dazzling. The visual presentation perfectly captures the axework of K.K. Downing and Glen Tipton and energetic stageshow that is JUDAS PRIEST live. The sound is Dolby Digital 5.1 and it is a superior stereo mix thanks to longtime PRIEST producer/engineer Tom Allom. The guitars cut through the mix like a buzzsaw: Halford’s vocals come awfully close to shattering glass; and Scott Travis’s double bass work will put your sound system through a workout. The low end is very deep. The soundfield activity is off the map. There are no extras on the disc.

JUDAS PRIEST: RISING IN THE EAST succeeds in re-establishing JUDAS PRIEST as a major heading act. The band is back at a creative and musical peak, as seen on this two hours of JUDAS PRIEST goodness. Together K.K. Downing, Glen Tipton, Rob Halford, and Scott Treavis shows today’s alternative rockers and punkers what real pure Rock n Roll is all about. Rhino’s DVD is technically superior in sound and video quality. However, on all their music releases, Rhino usually includes a DTS surround sound track (which is even better than Dolby Digital 5.1), yet there is no DTS track here. You’d think they could include some extras.

 JUDAS PRIEST: RISING IN THE EAST is available from DVDEmpire.com