Brass. Metal. UK.

Brass is metal.

We are based in the UK.

We are fond of good music.

So, what better way to start our blog entries than to say a few words about one album that is made of Metal and definitely made in the UK! We are talking about ‘British Steel’ album by Birmingham’s finest, Judas Priest! 

It is the year 1979. The band is on the road as support to AC/DC, who are at their prime, having released their mighty 'Highway to Hell' album. Impressed by AC/DC straightforward approach on lyrics and their to the point rocking songs, Priest are influenced to move a little from their dark, lyrical themes and get involved with more heavy metal issues. They enter the Tittenhurst Park studio (owned by another prominent British, Ringo Starr) with Tom Allom sitting at the chair of the producer for the first time, thus beginning an 8-year lasting and fruitful cooperation. And magic happened.

The cover itself is a statement! Razor sharp and made in the UK. Still experienced hands can hold it without getting cut.

From the first frantic notes of ‘Rapid Fire’, the listener can immediately understand that something has changed! The sound is a lot more metallic, leaving behind the “warm” 70’s sound of its predecessors and entering a far more sharp and clear sound era. The new drummer (and 2nd most long-lasting drummer that Priest had) Dave Holland of former Trapeze fame (what a band!) drives the frantic rhythm into something that is genre defining: Heavy Metal. The second track, ‘Metal Gods’ starts with a mid-tempo rhythm that leaves no choice to the listener than to actually imagine terrifying machines conquering the world (as the lyrics describe), leading to the anthemic chorus which is a classic. It is worth to mention that digital recording was not available back then, so everything was on analogue tape. The effects that you can hear in the album are all made of natural sounds (billiard cues, smashing milk bottles, even trays of cutlery) as sound samples were not used back then.

We reach the most known track of the first side of the LP: ‘Breaking the Law’. The riff itself is one of the most recognisable metal riffs out there. The groove drives the song to one of the simplest but catchiest choruses which makes you want to smash something! The lyrics, deep into the political and economic circumstances of the era, are describing the dead ends of youth, which at the time making it perfect for the revolutionary music.

‘United’ is the track with which side A of the LP ends. An anthemic song, in the vein of “Take on The World” of their previous album which is based on the groove of drums, creates an exhilarating feeling.

Side B also has great tracks, such as ‘You don’t have to be old to be wise’ and ‘Steeler’ but the standout track is the party anthem ‘Living After Midnight’ which perfectly describes what a heavy metal night out should be like.

I really could write pages and pages about the guitar duo of Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing or the thunderous bass of Ian Hill, let alone the always unique performance of Rob Halford, but I will just tell you to give this album a chance if you are into rock music, and possibly you will find a companion for your music travels for many years to come.