JUDAS PRIEST - DEFENDERS OF THE FAITH (1984)

[RJhog (Admin)]

Defenders of the Faith was released in 1984.  It was the follow up to Screaming For Vengeance, and it was the band's ninth studio album.  It performed well commercially.  It cracked the Top 20 Billboard chart, topping out at number 18 and it also was certified Platinum.  Freewheel Burning, Love Bites and Some Heads Are Gonna Roll were all released as singles, but none of the three managed a Top 40 Billboard showing.  There was a bit of controversy, as the song Eat Me Alive was singled out by Tipper Gore and the PMRC (for those who wear that like a badge, the song was number three on the filthy fifteen list).  

Whatever.  Well, that's what I would have said then.  Now, as a parent, there is a chance I would find it less than desirable for my children to hear.  But that's up to me, not Tipper Gore.  Anyway, this album isn't bad, but it's certainly not as good as most Priest album, maybe even all Priest albums to this point.  But I like the three singles, so I'll take two of them and two others for my playlist. What do you think of Defenders of the Faith?

Album Ranking List:

1. British Steel

2. Killing Machine/Hell Bent For Leather

3. Stained Class

4. Sin After Sin

5. Screaming For Vengeance

6. Unleashed In The East (Live)

7. Rocka Rolla

8. Sad Wings of Destiny

9. Point Of Entry

10. Defenders Of The Faith

RJ's Ultimate Judas Priest Playlist (at least one but no more than two from each album):

1. Run Of The Mill

2. The Tyrant

3. Diamonds & Rust

4. Last Rose Of Summer

5. Let Us Prey/Call For The Priest

6. Dissident Aggressor

7. Better By You, Better Than Me

8. Invader

9. Savage

10. Beyond The Realms Of Death

11. Heroes End

12. Fire Burns Below (Did Not Appear On The Original Album)

13. Delivering The Goods

14. Evening Star

15. Hell Bent For Leather

16. The Green Manalishi (With The Two-Pronged Crown)

17. Killing Machine

18. Before The Dawn

19. Victim Of Changes (Live)

20. Rapid Fire

21. Breaking The Law

22. Grinder

23. You Don't Have To Be Old To Be Wise

24. Living After Midnight

25. Heading Out To The Highway

26. Don't Go

27. Desert Plains

28. Electric Eye

29. (Take These) Chains

30. You've Got Another Thing Comin'

31. Fever

32. Prisoner Of Your Eyes (Did Not appear on original album Screaming For Vengeance)

33. Rock Hard, Ride Free

34. Love Bites

35. Some Heads Are Gonna Roll

36. Night Comes Down