Not the Real Deal
Ripper is no Halford. Despite the fact that this album has a majority of the band's greatest hits, the Ripper era was not their heyday.
I was fooled into purchasing this album by Ticketmaster. Thought I was getting a new(er) live recording from the past couple years w/ Halford back at the helm, only to find that they're passing off this old stuff as real live JP.
If you want to hear classic JP live, do yourself a favor and buy Unleashed in the East instead.
It's Alright, but it lacks the intensity of Unleashed and Live Meltdown!!
The song selection is pretty good for the most part, although I could do without United (Yawn!!). This live offering is really somewhat boring to be honest. I have listened to this a number of times now and it is missing something? I just don't feel it has the overall power that Unleashed In The East or Live Meltdown 98 have. The power or rush just isn't present here. It's not a bad live recording, it's just not very inspiring to be honest. Metal is all about the power and the passion of the music and what it entails and this cd just coasts along and does really nothing to provoke such feelings.
The sound is good and the musicianship is good, but the delivery seems non committal if that makes sense? Perhaps the immanent return of Rob Halford was on everybody's mind when this was recorded and the ability to create a strong showing was overshadowed by thoughts of when is he coming back.
Ripper does a fine job yet again of belting out Priest's tunes, but even he can't bring this one to life. If you really want to good Judas Priest live cd get either Unleashed In The East or Live Meltdown 98 as they both offer all kinds of intensity and power. Avoid this one and Judas Priest Live as they both are really kind of boring!! .
A solid four stars; just as good as Priest...Live
The set list could not be better. I will rate this double CD in four areas: set list, sound quality, performance of songs, the performance of the hot topic "Tim Owens" on vocals. You get almost every Priest classic you can think of and a few of the new ones with Owens used in studio instead of Halford. The emphasis is on the old rather than the new and most people would agree that the old classics are the better.
The sound quality is really good. It is on the same level as Priest Live produced in 1986, which was resently remastered. It is not quite as good in sound quality as "Unleashed in the East", but few live CD's are. Also, Unleashed had some studio overdubs. The sound on this Live in London is very good and better than that of "Metal Meltdown 98", where the guitars are a bit fuzzy and lost in the mix.
The performance of the songs is great. I'm not taking a dig at Rob Holland because he was obviously good (else he wouldn't have been in Priest) however, the new drummer is obviously better.
The last area to comment on is Tim "Ripper" Owens on vocal. He sounds a bit like Halford and is able to add his own high screams to the songs, but he is not able to do so without separating it from his regular voice. It seems quite forced at times and he labours at reaching high points in songs where Halford naturally trasitioned into those parts. Halford has a naturally better range. Where Halford is unique, Owens just sounds like a regular Joe vocalist who is able to be very versatile at key times. What is great about him, though, is that he never butchers the songs and is able to sound enough like Halford while still doing his own thing. This is what makes people want to own both the old versions and the new ones. Owens is much younger, too, and Halford likely cannot match what he used to do fifteen years ago (especially live).
An interesting anecdote is that Owens gets the lyrics wrong to the start of "Turbo Lover". He says something like we will ride together. . . You know you're defenceless. Instead it should go: in your senses. . . you know you're defenceless. I have the DVD of this and it is hilarious to see KK Downing's put-off expression, like he's saying to himself "you dummy, you got the lyric wrong". Nevertheless, the band seemed to have a good relationship with Owens throughout the concert and his tenure with Priest in general. It would not be bad if they asked him back to stay if Halford leaves again. Owens could be a model, as well. He looks great and has a terrific stage presence. Halford, in contrast, is now an old fogie.
Sorry, Priest isn't Priest without Halford
Without Halford, JP sounds like every other metal band. If you are looking for the original captivating Judas Priest sound you won't find it on Live in London. Ripper is a great vocalist and he does his job well however, Ripper cannot match Halford's vocal range and ability to harmonize with the lead guitar. To a new listener Live in London will have plenty of energy but, to those looking for vintage Priest it's not here.
Best Live BAND!!
Even though Halford is the other member of the metal god's Judas Priest still has it, and this proves that they still have it all, LIVE!!.
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