Judas Priest: Ripper Owens (vocals); Glen Tipton, K.K. Downing (guitar); Ian Hill (bass); Scott Travis (drums).

After longtime vocalist Rob Halford left the band in 1992, Judas Priest recruited Tim Owens, who (ironically enough) sang in a Priest cover band. The band then released its most brutally heavy album to date. These events inspired the Mark Wahlberg film ROCK STAR, but the band distanced itself from the movie, concentrating on DEMOLITION and taking the material on the road. The album is a return to form as the band digs back to its traditional metal roots.

With most of the album written by guitarists Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing, the group's identity is as solid as ever. The relentless fury that is drummer Scott Travis kicks off "Machine Man," the band's own "Highway Star." Distorted guitar, reminiscent of the band's TURBO era, highlights "One on One." The passing of Tipton's father and the emptiness he felt is reflected in the ballad "Close To You." Tunes like "Hell is Home" and "Lost And Found" offer familiar metal themes; alienation, individuality, and the difficulty in overcoming adversity. "Metal Messiah" preaches the metal gospel, assuring us that THIS band won't be bringing any DJ's on tour any time soon. DEMOLITION kicks, and will satisfy the hunger of all longtime Priest fans.

Rolling Stone (8/30/01, pp.126-7) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...DEMOLTION has a clean and direct sound, all red meat and bare arms, sinister choruses, chugging pace and those hysterical lake-of-fire vocal harmonies emblematic of vintage metal....If there's such a thing as unpretentious titanic, blood-for-the-goat-style metal, JP are still making it."

Q (Summer/01, p.104) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...As raucous as ever...Tim 'Ripper' Owens does a passable Rob Halford facsimile....'Metal Messiah' lives up to its title..."