Album Review: Angel Of Retribution by Judas Priest

Described by the newly reunited band as "the second (and final) part of 1976's pseudo-conceptual Sad Wings of Destiny," 2005's Angel of Retribution is a halfhearted attempt at recapturing the band's pre-Turbo heydays. The only thing that these two records have in common, though, is the winged avatar that graces their respective covers -- Retribution's angel is adorned with gun metal instead of flesh. Judas Priest's 16th studio album will be a frustrating one for fans, as the leadoff track, "Judas Rising," promises great things -- the swirling guitar intro that slowly reveals a mammoth, multi-tracked Rob Halford scream is positively goosebump-inducing -- but what follows is textbook heavy metal played with precision by a group that doesn't have the slightest interest in challenging anybody, least of all itself.

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