Angel of Retribution

{{Infobox album

| name = Angel of Retribution

| type = studio

| artist = Judas Priest

| cover = AngelOfRetributionJPG.jpg

| caption = Cover art by Mark Wilkinson

| released = {{start date|2005|02|23|df=y}}

| recorded = October–December 2004

| venue =

| studio = Old Smithy (Worcestershire, England)
Sound City (Van Nuys, California)

| genre = Heavy metal

| length = 52:32

| label = {{hlist|Epic (US)|Sony BMG (Rest of world)|}}

| producer = Roy Z

| prev_title = Demolition

| prev_year = 2001

| next_title = Nostradamus

| next_year = 2008

| misc = {{Singles

| name = Angel of Retribuition

| type = Studio

| single1 = Revolution

| single1date = 2005

}}

{{Album ratings

| MC = 69/100{{cite web |title=Angel Of Retribution by Judas Priest |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/angel-of-retribution/judas-priest |website=Metacritic |access-date=30 September 2020 |language=en}}

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web|title=Angel of Retribution review|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/angel-of-retribution-mw0000405149|website=AllMusic|access-date=16 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009232908/http://www.allmusic.com/album/angel-of-retribution-mw0000405149|archive-date=9 October 2012|url-status=live}}

| rev2 = Blabbermouth

| rev2Score = 8/10{{cite news|first=Don|last=Kaye|title=Angel Of Retribution Review|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/showreview.aspx?reviewID=223|work=Blabbermouth.net|access-date=6 May 2011| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110606071921/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/showreview.aspx?reviewID=223| archive-date= 6 June 2011 | url-status= live}}

| rev3 = laut.de

| rev3score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite web |last1=Cordas |first1=Alexander |title='Metal up your ass'. Punkt. Aus. |url=https://www.laut.de/Judas-Priest/Alben/Angel-Of-Retribution-7651 |publisher=laut.de |access-date=30 September 2020 |language=de}}

| rev4 = Mojo

| rev4score = {{rating|3|5}}

| rev5 = Now

| rev5score = {{Rating|2|5|full=Red N.png|empty=Blank N.PNG|rating=N}}{{cite web |last1=Stuffco |first1=Jared |title=NOW: JUDAS PRIEST, Mar 3 - 9, 2005 |url=http://www.nowtoronto.com/issues/2005-03-03/music_discs7.php |publisher=Now |access-date=30 September 2020 |date=14 April 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050414144539/http://www.nowtoronto.com/issues/2005-03-03/music_discs7.php |archive-date=14 April 2005 }}

| rev6 = PopMatters

| rev6score = 6/10{{cite web |last1=Begrand |first1=Adrien |title=Judas Priest: Angel of Retribution |url=https://www.popmatters.com/judaspriest-angel-2495943527.html |website=PopMatters |access-date=15 May 2019 |language=en |date=3 March 2005}}

| rev7 = Rock Hard (de)

| rev7score = 9/10{{cite web|last=Kühnemund|first=Götz|title=Rock Hard review|url=http://www.rockhard.de/megazine/reviewarchiv/review-anzeigen.html?tx_rxsearch_pi1%5Breview%5D=17517|work=issue 214|access-date=8 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924131542/http://www.rockhard.de/megazine/reviewarchiv/review-anzeigen.html?tx_rxsearch_pi1%5Breview%5D=17517|archive-date=24 September 2015|url-status=live}}

| rev8 = Rolling Stone

| rev8Score = {{rating|3.5|5}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/judaspriest/albums/album/6847707/review/7045810/angel_of_retribution |title=Angel Of Retribution Review |magazine=Rolling Stone |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071002120510/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/judaspriest/albums/album/6847707/review/7045810/angel_of_retribution |archive-date=2 October 2007 }}

| rev9 = Uncut

| rev9score = {{rating|3.5|5}}

}}

Angel of Retribution is the fifteenth studio album by English heavy metal band Judas Priest, released in 2005. It is the band's first album since 1990's Painkiller to feature Rob Halford. The album debuted at {{Numero|13}} on the US Billboard 200 chart,{{cite web|url=http://bravewords.com/news/judas-priest-first-week-chart-positions-for-angel-of-retribution-revealed|title=Album debuts at #13|publisher=bravewords.com|access-date=16 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180216204428/http://bravewords.com/news/judas-priest-first-week-chart-positions-for-angel-of-retribution-revealed|archive-date=16 February 2018|url-status=live}} which makes it the fourth highest charting Judas Priest album in the US. The album was produced by Roy Z, who co-wrote the song "Deal with the Devil". It won a 2005 Metal Hammer award for Best Album.{{Cite web |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/black-sabbath-slipknot-mot-rhead-honored-at-golden-gods-awards-photos-available/ |title=Black Sabbath, Slipknot, Motörhead Honored At Golden Gods Awards: Photos Available - Blabbermouth.net|date=14 June 2005 |access-date=18 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806223727/http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/black-sabbath-slipknot-mot-rhead-honored-at-golden-gods-awards-photos-available/ |archive-date=6 August 2017 |url-status=live }} In the 2005 Burrn! magazine Readers' Pop Poll, it was voted Best Album of the Year and Best Album Cover.{{Cite web |url=http://bravewords.com/news/judas-priest-sweep-burrn-magazine-best-of-2005-polls |title=JUDAS PRIEST Sweep Burrn! Magazine Best Of 2005 Polls - Bravewords.com |access-date=23 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180423232558/http://bravewords.com/news/judas-priest-sweep-burrn-magazine-best-of-2005-polls |archive-date=23 April 2018 |url-status=live }}

Album information

File:Halford 2010.jpg.]]

Angel of Retribution was originally scheduled to be released in late 2004, but the label changed the release date to early 2005, hoping for better sales. Early pressings have the year 2004 printed on the covers. In a descriptive detail about the album, Glenn Tipton explains, "We've got a lot of energy. We're firing on all cylinders and it's obvious on this album. I think it's the most natural JUDAS PRIEST album. A lot of people who have listened to it have said it's timeless. You couldn't really date it." Rob Halford adds, "That decade that we were out of each other's company just seems to have vanished in smoke. When we got together to begin writing the new material for 'Angel of Retribution', it was really a continuation of where we would have been had we made the next record after 'Painkiller'. All the pieces were already in place."{{cite news|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/judas-priest-angel-of-retribution-cover-artwork-posted-online/|title=JUDAS PRIEST: 'Angel Of Retribution' Cover Artwork Posted Online|work=Blabbermouth.net|access-date=15 January 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170814022857/http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/judas-priest-angel-of-retribution-cover-artwork-posted-online/|archive-date=14 August 2017|url-status=live}}

Six of the album's songs have been performed live, with "Hellrider", "Deal With the Devil", "Worth Fighting For" and "Revolution" only appearing on 2005 setlists. "Judas Rising" was also performed in 2005 and returned for the 2011–12 and 2019 tours, and "Angel" being added to the setlist in 2008-9 and then reappearing for a few shows in 2018.

Lyrical references

Within the album, nods to the sound of past albums and songs are found, as well as lyrics that apparently reference earlier songs. The song "Demonizer" references both "The Hellion" from Screaming for Vengeance, as well as "Painkiller" from Painkiller. "Hellrider" mentions the title track of Ram It Down, and "Tyrant" from Sad Wings of Destiny. "Eulogy" references "Stained Class" and "The Sentinel" from the albums Stained Class and Defenders of the Faith, respectively. Finally, "Worth Fighting For" acts as a sequel/prequel to "Desert Plains" from Point of Entry.

The song "Deal With the Devil" can be viewed as an autobiography of Judas Priest, telling their origins from the Black Country of England's West Midlands, mentioning their transitory days gigging around England and practising at the Church of Holy Joseph in Walsall, which is where Judas Priest was effectively born. "Deal With the Devil" also mentions the song "Blood Red Skies" from Ram It Down and "Take on the World" from Killing Machine.

Reception

The album generally received favourable reviews from critics and fans.{{cite web |title=Judas Priest- Angel of Retribution |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/angel-of-retribution/judas-priest |website=Metacritic |access-date=27 May 2020}} However, Classic Rock Magazine reviewer Geoff Barton awarded the album three out of five stars in March 2005, dropping the overall score solely due to his dislike of the track '"Lochness". Barton claimed that the track sends 'the entire record crashing down in flames... Lochness is so ill-conceived, so long-drawn out, droning and dismal, that is single-handedly destroys what would otherwise have been a triumphant Halford-led return.'{{cite journal |last1=Barton |first1=Geoff |title=Judas Priest- Angel of Retribution |journal=Classic Rock Magazine |date=March 2005 |issue=171 }} The song, however, has since been reappraised by many fans as underrated.{{cite web |last1=KRANNILA |first1=VILLE |title=Lochness |url=http://kkdowning.net/steelmill/The%20Fuel%20of%20the%20Furnace/lochness/ |website=kkdowning.net |access-date=27 May 2020}}

DualDisc

The album was released on the DualDisc format which had traditional CD content on one side and DVD content on the other side. The DVD side of this album featured a documentary entitled "Reunited" as well as the entire album in an enhanced audio format. It was released as a 2-disc set containing Compact Disc audio and DVD video in Europe, Japan and USA.

Track listing

{{Track listing

| all_writing = Glenn Tipton, Rob Halford and K. K. Downing, except where noted.{{cite book|title=Angel of Retribution Liner notes|year=2005|publisher=Epic Records|page=15|edition=DualDisc}}

| title1 = Judas Rising

| length1 = 4:15

| title2 = Deal with the Devil

| length2 = 3:54

| note2 = Tipton, Halford, Downing, Roy Ramirez

| title3 = Revolution

| length3 = 4:42

| title4 = Worth Fighting For

| length4 = 4:17

| title5 = Demonizer

| length5 = 4:35

| title6 = Wheels of Fire

| length6 = 3:41

| title7 = Angel

| length7 = 4:23

| title8 = Hellrider

| length8 = 6:23

| title9 = Eulogy

| length9 = 2:54

| title10 = Lochness

| length10 = 13:28

| total_length = 52:32

}}

Personnel

Credits adapted from liner notes:

valign=top|

;Judas Priest

Rob Halford – vocals
Glenn Tipton – guitars
K. K. Downing – guitars
Ian Hill – bass guitar
Scott Travis – drums

;Additional musician

Don Airey – keyboards

;Production

Produced by Roy Z and Judas Priest
Engineered by Roy Z, engineered in the US by Joe Barresi
Mixed by Roy Z and Stan Katayama

Mastered by Tom Baker from Precision Mastering
Cover concept by Judas Priest
Design and illustrations by Mark Wilkinson

;Reunited mini documentary (DualDisc edition)

Produced and directed by Aubrey Powell
Audio produced and mixed by Tom Allom

Charts

=Weekly charts=

Chart (2005) ! Peak position
class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center;"
scope="row"\| Australian Albums (ARIA){{cite journal\|url=http://www.aria.com.au/ISSUE785.pdf\|archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20050319130000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20050320-0000/ISSUE785.pdf\|url-status=dead\|archive-date=2005-03-19\|title=The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 14 March 2005\|date=20 March 2005\|publisher=Australian Web Archive\|issue=785\|access-date=23 March 2015}}{{cbignore\|bot=medic}} \| 58
{{album chart\|Austria\|10\|artist=Judas Priest\|album=Angel of Retribution\|access-date=28 June 2023\|rowheader=true}}
{{album chart\|Flanders\|37\|artist=Judas Priest\|album=Angel of Retribution\|access-date=28 June 2023\|rowheader=true}}
{{album chart\|Wallonia\|89\|artist=Judas Priest\|album=Angel of Retribution\|access-date=28 June 2023\|rowheader=true}}
{{album chart\|Denmark\|19\|artist=Judas Priest\|album=Angel of Retribution\|access-date=28 June 2023\|rowheader=true}}
{{album chart\|Netherlands\|46\|artist=Judas Priest\|album=Angel of Retribution\|access-date=28 June 2023\|rowheader=true}}
{{album chart\|France\|43\|artist=Judas Priest\|album=Angel of Retribution\|access-date=28 June 2023\|rowheader=true}}
{{album chart\|Finland\|6\|artist=Judas Priest\|album=Angel of Retribution\|access-date=28 June 2023\|rowheader=true}}
{{album chart\|Germany4\|5\|artist=Judas Priest\|album=Angel of Retribution\|id=5378\|access-date=28 June 2023\|rowheader=true}}
{{album chart\|Hungary\|14\|year=2005\|week=9\|access-date=28 June 2023\|rowheader=true}}
{{album chart\|Ireland\|40\|artist=Judas Priest\|access-date=28 June 2023\|rowheader=true}}
{{album chart\|Italy\|40\|artist=Judas Priest\|album=Angel of Retribution\|access-date=28 June 2023\|rowheader=true}}
scope="row"\|Japanese Albums (Oricon){{cite book\|title=Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005\|publisher=Oricon Entertainment\|location=Roppongi, Tokyo\|year=2006\|isbn=4-87131-077-9\|language=ja}} \| align="center"\| 8
{{album chart\|Norway\|6\|artist=Judas Priest\|album=Angel of Retribution\|access-date=28 June 2023\|rowheader=true}}
{{album chart\|Scotland\|36\|date=20050306\|access-date=28 June 2023\|rowheader=true}}
{{album chart\|Spain\|6\|artist=Judas Priest\|album=Angel of Retribution\|access-date=28 June 2023\|rowheader=true}}
{{album chart\|Sweden\|3\|artist=Judas Priest\|album=Angel of Retribution\|access-date=28 June 2023\|rowheader=true}}
{{album chart\|Switzerland\|19\|artist=Judas Priest\|album=Angel of Retribution\|access-date=28 June 2023\|rowheader=true}}
{{album chart\|UK2\|39\|date=20050306\|access-date=28 June 2023\|rowheader=true}}
{{album chart\|UKRock\|2\|date=20050306\|access-date=28 June 2023\|rowheader=true}}
{{album chart\|Billboard200\|13\|artist=Judas Priest\|access-date=28 June 2023\|rowheader=true}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
Chart (2005) ! Position
scope="row"\| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan){{cite web\|url=https://www.sverigetopplistan.se/chart/83?dspy=2005&dspp=1\|title=Årslista Album – År 2005\|publisher=Sverigetopplistan\|language=sv\|access-date=21 October 2020}} \| 94

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

Chart (2005)

! Position

scope="row"| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan){{cite web|url=https://www.sverigetopplistan.se/chart/83?dspy=2005&dspp=1|title=Årslista Album – År 2005|publisher=Sverigetopplistan|language=sv|access-date=21 October 2020}}

| 94

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20050212034922/http://www.angelofretribution.com/ Official album website]

Category:2005 albums

Category:Judas Priest albums

Category:Epic Records albums

Category:Albums produced by Roy Z