Demolition (Atlantic~2001)
I know this is one of the most heavily bashed metal releases of 2001, yet I still find myself liking it a bit more with each listen. Yes, the lyrics are sophomoric and the riffs a bit robotic at times, but there are still enough good songs and performances to qualify "Demolition" as an enjoyable listening experience for this long-time Priest fan. I love Ripper’s voice, and his vocals make even the worst lyrics bearable for me, though I wish someone other than Glenn Tipton would have a bit more input when it comes to song writing. This album has an experimental feel as the band tries to blend in different textures and sounds. Some work and some don’t, but I can’t fault the guys for trying. Of course, there are also some nifty guitar solos as well. "Close To You" is one of the album’s standout tracks, even if it is a power ballad. Definitely not a typical Priest offering, this one shows a more personal and human side to the band. Among my favorite songs are "Hell Is Home", "Bloodsuckers", "In Between" and "Subterfuge". While this album may not be as mighty and powerful as some of the band members would suggest, it’s certainly not the complete garbage many have condemned it to be. As the song says, it’s "somewhere in between".