Judas Priest: Rob Halford (vocals); Glenn Tipton, K.K. Downing (guitar); Ian Hill (bass).

Additional personnel: Simon Phillips, Les Binks, Dave Holland, Scott Travis (drums).

Producers include: Judas Priest, Roger Glover, James Guthrie, Dennis Mackay, Tom Allom.

Includes liner notes by Neil Jeffries & Judas Priest.

Let's make this simple--if you want to hear some of the toughest heavy metal ever recorded, this double-disc 1993 Judas Priest career overview does it. The Priest will forever hold its place as the decisive metal outfit of the era, as shown by any selection here.

METAL WORKS '73-'93 is an exceptionally well-balanced compilation. For every "You've Got Another Thing Comin'," "Living After Midnight," and "Breaking the Law," it includes such often-overlooked gems as "Dissident Aggressor," "Beyond the Realms of Death," and "Sinner." The band's look--metal-studded wrist bands, head bands, and motorcycle jackets--may inspire listeners to don similar gear while listening to such thrashers as "Painkiller," "Electric Eye," "Metal Gods," "Freewheel Burning," and "Headin' Out to the Highway."