How do you feel about Judas Priest's Crown Of Horns? And what's your favourite rock or metal ballad? ❤ For more metal insight and opinion from a veteran Kerrang! writer, subscribe to this very channel: kzread.info 📌Go deeper! Join my Possessed By Metal MAILING LIST: eepurl.com/iBp25U 👀 WATCH NEXT: My playlist of Judas Priest videos - kzread.info/head/PLsK-aPOaMjT0xKuC-CK1sf9RK6FrTb7N4&si=wBuy-tO7a_BegzSu

@TMPOUZI

6 ай бұрын

Crown of Horns is not a ballad though

I would bet that’s it’s 1) Glenn writing the music and the conceptualizing guitar phrasing 2) Richie performing all of it and laying it down in the studio 3) Rob doing the lyrics

@PossessedByMetal666

7 ай бұрын

Hey there! This is true - I should have said co-writing. Do we not think that Rob writes his own vocal melodies, though? Because those are the true strength of this song, I'd say. 😊👊

@voodoorose37

6 ай бұрын

Not at all. This is all Richie's heartache, also in Trial by Fire. He will allow others to finalize the lyrics for him or hide behind them, but it's all def Richie's sack.

@TomFalcon-kw3rg

6 ай бұрын

😂 that make sense ...no back chorus ! So that Trial by Fire and this Crown of Horns are that Richie Faulkner made them !? Tight . ..😂

Dreamer deceiver is one of the best ballads ever

@PossessedByMetal666

7 ай бұрын

Ah yes, good call. 😊👊

@GiovanniSpeedwolf1984

6 ай бұрын

beyond the realms of death are a good one too

@omarmahfouz5599

5 ай бұрын

@@GiovanniSpeedwolf1984 without a doubt

I didn't realize it's a ballad. We are already grown up to be paying attention to that kind of things. The whole album sounds excellent.

@PossessedByMetal666

6 ай бұрын

I was so glad that I really like Crown Of Horns. Took me a while to get there, though. The first listen didn't grab me too much. 😊👊

Within a few seconds of hearing this song, the phrase "80's Melodrama" entered my head, and I think that perfectly sums it up. It's not really a ballad, but it absolutely has an 80's soft/melodic metal feel to it. Like a slightly rougher AOR feel. I absolutely love it, I have to say, the emotive pull of it is irresistable. As for metal ballads, I'm a big fan I have to say, but part of the reason I love metal so much as a genre, is the wide range of different emotions it can evoke. Everything from a power ballad like "A Tale That Wasn't Right" by Helloween to deathly crushers like "Twist The Knife" by Napalm Death, the full range is there, and I adore it. Some of my fave metal ballads are: Savatage - When The Crowds Are Gone, the aforementioned "A Tale"... "Too Late" by Black Sabbath, "Out Of The Shadows" by Iron Maiden, "Trail Of Tears" by Testament, and "Beyond The Realms Of Death" by Priest, which is probably my fave metal ballad of all time.

@PossessedByMetal666

7 ай бұрын

Yes, AOR is a good description. The vocal melody lines are just so strong, aren't they. And you mention a few ballads there that I'd forgotten. Too Late definitely is one of the best! 😊👊 I also remembered We Watch The Children Pray by Metal Church.

@Sara_Kane

6 ай бұрын

@@PossessedByMetal666 Yep! Love the vocal melody lines, Rob sounds amazing for the age he is. Oh, you like "Too Late"? Awesome! 😊 That one is a very deep cut, though "Dehumanizer" is an incredibly underrated album overrall, if you ask me. Yeah, "Watch The Children Pray" is awesome. Metal Church are a killer band!

@PossessedByMetal666

6 ай бұрын

@@Sara_Kane ha, maybe I should make a video of Top 10 Tolerable Metal Ballads? 😆 Yes, Too Late is wonderfully sinister. 😊👊

@Sara_Kane

6 ай бұрын

@@PossessedByMetal666 That's a top idea! 😂👍 Are any of Priest's ballads tolerable to you?

@PossessedByMetal666

6 ай бұрын

Absolutely. They're not my favourites, but I can appreciate Beyond The Realms..., Night Comes Down... and now Crown Of Horns. :D

I love Dio- Egypt &All the Fools Sailed Away, Black Sabbath- Children of the Sea, Sign of the Southern Cross, & Too Late Warlock- Make Time for Love & Für Immer and many of Doro's solo album ones- Beyond the Trees, Alive, With the Wave of Your Hand, Love Me in Black... Judas Priest- Out in the Cold, Fire Burns Below, & A Touch of Evil You can argue some of these are just slow heavy songs but I consider them ballads and there is just something that hits me in the soul with them.

@PossessedByMetal666

7 ай бұрын

Hey there Jay! Interesting, thanks. Plenty of songs I'd either forgotten about there, or haven't heard. Or maybe just never thought of them as ballads, such as Egypt! :) Food for thought, cheers! ☺👊

Love this song. This album is going to be amazing. I’m a fan of 80’s ballads. Not sure I have a favorite. Great review.

@PossessedByMetal666

6 ай бұрын

Hey there David! Good on you, and thanks for the kind words. 😊👊

Besides all of the obvious Priest tunes some of the ones I love are: One Cold Day:Lacuna Coil Winds Of Change:Y&T Downfall:Lacuna Coil Journeyman:Iron Maiden Tears Of The Dragon:Bruce Dickinson Farewell Ballad:Black Label Society

All three of the lre released dongs ate awesome i love Crown of Horns. I used to like some ballads but they usually speed up. Armed and Dangerous is probably my favourite.

@PossessedByMetal666

7 ай бұрын

Hey there MM! Ballads that speed up are definitely more palatable than ballads that don't. 😆👊

@Sara_Kane

6 ай бұрын

I'm actually surprised that Anthrax haven't done more ballads, when they've got a great singer like Joey, whose voice is tailor made for them. Have to say though, their parody of 80's glam ballads "N.F.B." is simply hilarious. Always loved the humourous vibe Anthrax had. The dark ballad they did with John Bush, "Black Lodge" is awesome though, I love that song.

Didn’t like it at first but after a few listens I love it.

@PossessedByMetal666

5 ай бұрын

Yes, on my very first listen it made very little impression on me. Probably because I was hungry for blasters! 😊👊🤘

Every song can't be one pace and heavy. That would actually be boring in itself. Take legendary masterpieces like "Mama I'm Coming Home" by Ozzy or "Wind of Change" by Scorpions. Definitely not dull! All songs have a time and place. I am thankful for the variety hard, medium and even slow ballad-like songs.

@PossessedByMetal666

6 ай бұрын

Hey there sir! I'm afraid I can't agree on those songs, but I certainly agree on the high value of pace and variety! ☺👊

what do you think about "changes" from sad wings of Destiny album??

Black Rose, baby believe me 1984 (I was 22 yrs old back then!)

@PossessedByMetal666

6 ай бұрын

You know, I think I have successfully avoided both of these! Do you think they might change my mind on the metal ballad? 😆👊😊🤘

Run of the Mill Dreamer Deceiver Before the Down

Queensryche's Silent Lucidity was a great ballad.

@PossessedByMetal666

6 ай бұрын

Hey there James! I haven't heard that in a while, but I'm afraid I remember it being slow and dull. 😬 Thanks for watching and commenting! 🙂👊

I like some metal ballads. They were often what got the public to actually listen and appreciate the music of metal bands, back then there was a huge fear and loathing of metal bands, now most people aren’t as having hissy fits as they used to, and hating them wouldn’t be a vote winner for some American politicians using any public hysteria to whip up populist rhetoric.

@PossessedByMetal666

6 ай бұрын

hey there! Yes, they were a good gateway drug for rock fans back then. :)

Great song! Even though I do not see that as a ballad - more a hymn... - I like Metal ballads like Before the dawn, Awaking, Shadows in the Flame, Lost Love, Run of the Mill, Dreamer Deceiver, Angel, For all eternity, In the Morning and also some of other bands...

@PossessedByMetal666

6 ай бұрын

A hymn! very interesting. And I see what you mean. ☺👊

Well Guns N Roses biggest hits were mostly ballads as Sweet Child of Mine, November Rain, Don't Cry and Estranged and are pretty popular songs also among their fans. The most boring thing is to hear an album that just consists of similar midtempo song following the very same pattern. We need some variation, some need to be slower/heavier and faster song. Some more aggressive numbers and softer. One ballad per album is great and this fits Judas Priest vibe very well.

@PossessedByMetal666

6 ай бұрын

Especially when that ballad is as good as Crown Of Horns! 😊👊

Amazing song. He hints his Christian beliefs "all the blood He shed", "gave me all this life". As a Christian I just wish he had been as open about it as Blackie Lawless was, but maybe he can't be more open due to the fact that he remains in a band where maybe not everyone shares that. Maybe in a solo album he'll be more open. Michel Sweet from Stryper hinted on Rob's beliefs a while back in an interview.

@PossessedByMetal666

6 ай бұрын

Interesting! Thanks. I heard that line as "all the blood WE shed", but haven't watched the lyric video yet 🤔

Not sure if you'd class it a ballad but, Night Comes Down off my favourite album Defenders is Great 🤘

@PossessedByMetal666

7 ай бұрын

Hey there! Actually, yes, that is quite a nice one. 😊👊

I love metal ballads..... and this one is easily 8/10 for me...... so far, every single they put out from the upcoming album has been a BANGER...... I can already tell the new record will be much better than the last one

@PossessedByMetal666

6 ай бұрын

Very exciting, isn't it! Really glad you like the new tracks so far. 😊🤘

Such a limited view point, if one's taste in metal is to only like fast metal. Priest always mixed it up very well, slow and fast as well as melodic they're one of the most melodic mid-tempo of all classic metal bands and that includes the odd ballad, in fact, super fast didn't really happen until Painkiller before that the fast tracks were the more rare ones.

@PossessedByMetal666

6 ай бұрын

Hi there Larry! I submit to you that not liking slow songs is not the same thing as only liking fast songs. :) But I thank you for watching and we can agree, I'm sure, that (a) variety in metal is a good thing and (b) Priest are magnificent. ☺👊

I really like this song. Sounds like it came out of 1985 or something with top gun. My favorite would probably be a testament ballad maybe return to serenity. My rock ballad would gnr estranged a guilty pleasure I think the song is pretty epic

@PossessedByMetal666

5 ай бұрын

Hehe, that's a fun point about the Top Gun soundtrack! 😊👊🤘

I listened to half of it and turned it off as I really wasn't in the mood. Will give it another listen at some point.

@PossessedByMetal666

6 ай бұрын

Hey there James! Must admit, I didn't love the song, the very first time I heard it. And then it really grew on me! 😊👊

It's not a ballad it's more of Point of Entry Desert Plains mid-paced melodic hard rock tune, or something similar like Worth Fighting For.

@PossessedByMetal666

6 ай бұрын

Worth Fighting For was a pretty special Priest song. Was nice to hear them come back with a song like that, that didn't really sound like anything else. 😊👊

I really liked it. I wouldn't call it a ballad as there are no acoustic or clean guitars on there. It's more of a slow metal song with a cool hook. I think the metal or rock ballads are there to try get picked up by radio. Think 'Nothing Else Matters'. That was huge!

@PossessedByMetal666

6 ай бұрын

Hey there! Interesting, isn't it, trying to figure out the boundaries of what constitutes a ballad. Oh God, I've always hated Nothing Else Matters, The Unforgiven, all that stuff. Even Fade To Black, I'm not a fan of. 😆 Really glad you share my love for Crown Of Horns! ☺👊

@caughtinamashup7208

6 ай бұрын

@@PossessedByMetal666 I wouldn't say I've heard a lot of Priest's catalogue although Painkiller is one of my all time favourite albums. I did love Fade to Black, Unforgiven, Sanitarium and One. However, if they have heavy guitars and climax in ripping solos and chaos do they count as ballads? Or is it the voice with the soft tone that makes it a ballad?

@PossessedByMetal666

6 ай бұрын

You know, I'd forgotten about One. It's become overly familiar now, and lost its power a bit as a result, but I'd say that's my fave Metalliballad...

@Sara_Kane

6 ай бұрын

@@PossessedByMetal666 Luckily, I listen to so many different bands, it's impossible for me to overplay any song to an extent that I'll get sick of it. lol "One" is an incredible song really, it's intense as hell, and the video for it is just haunting.

@PossessedByMetal666

6 ай бұрын

Absolutely, Sara!

Farmer boys - 'In my darkest hour'

I feel fairly similar to you about ballads, but I’m generally quite forgiving of them and sort of overlook them. However, “Angel” absolutely floored me when I first heard it. Crown of Horns also gets a pass, can’t fault it.

@PossessedByMetal666

6 ай бұрын

Hey there! Yes, when Priest do write a ballad, they generally do a really good job. 😊👊

I like plenty of metal ballads, I don’t like bands that lean on their ballads for their substance but if an amazing band puts out a good ballad then I’ll like it. Priest is a great example of a band that has tons of substance and quality in their catalog and about 80% of their ballads are amazing. Nothing wrong with a heavy band doing some softer songs if they don’t become the soft songs

@PossessedByMetal666

6 ай бұрын

I can understand that view. Also: your username is awesome. 😆👊

Heard this song a few times now, and though I really like it, I keep having the niggling feeling that something is missing, to make it a truly great track, and that thing is cracking pre-chorus to heighten the emotive feel, then leading into the chorus. The song feels slightly unfinished to me.

@PossessedByMetal666

6 ай бұрын

Thanks for your thoughts, Sara, as always! 😊👊

Before the dawn is beautiful too

@PossessedByMetal666

7 ай бұрын

Ah yes, true enough! 😊👊

You cannot beat the Power Ballads from the Hair Metal bands. 😂. KISS did some bangers. Skid Row - I remember You or Quicksand Jesus Motley Crue - Time for Change KISS - Forever, Reason to Live. Warrant - I Saw Red. Dimmu Borgir - A Succubus In Rapture (defo a power ballad 😂) And Within Temptation they do some emotive power Ballads as well.

@PossessedByMetal666

7 ай бұрын

Hehe! Dimmu Borgir was quite the curveball in that list. 😆

@Mark-nh2hs

7 ай бұрын

@@PossessedByMetal666 lol I do love Norwegian Black Metal 🤣. And Hair Metal. But it had to be said 😂👍

@PossessedByMetal666

7 ай бұрын

But of course! 😊👊

The track is fresh but idk if it’s in a good way. Richie is quite obviously writing 90% of the music now (as many of the riffs are painfully similar and forgettable from song to song) and idk if that’s a good thing either. He is very talented but he even said that when he got the call from Priest, he wasn’t familiar with their music. This was a bad sign from the start because he did not have a finger on the pulse of what makes Priest unique. As a guitar player it’s been additionally concerning because as he has made clear, being a lifelong (Not Glenn/KK junky) but a Wylde/Schenker junky, he brought with him their style of playing and it has unfortunately played a large role in the departure of Glenn/KKs unique dueling guitar work to now Priest songs sound more like JP - featuring Zakk Wylde (and personally I can’t stand him). The heaviest song they’ve done since Richie joined are Firepower and Halls and let’s be real those two songs are no heavier than anything off Defenders. So the fact that’s the best they’ve done with Richie at the helm is troubling to say the least. In addition, Richie being much younger and ‘with it’ he is savvy enough to ride the dream theater progressive wave and bring it to Priest to keep them sounding fresh. But it will no doubt come at the compromise of true heavy metal as we all know from Priest. Are they metal? Yes but I really don’t think I can define them as heavy metal anymore in their current form. The last great heavy metal album they released was Angel.

@PossessedByMetal666

6 ай бұрын

Thanks very much for the in-depth and interesting comment. I'll genuinely want to know if you feel the same once you hear Invincible Shield in its entirety. 👊

@StaticResurreXion

6 ай бұрын

@@PossessedByMetal666Me too. thanks for reading!

1994 was a banner year for metal....no other year in the 80's is better than 1984

@PossessedByMetal666

7 ай бұрын

Hey there! While I wouldn't agree with that, there's no doubt that the 80s didn't have a BAD year. 😊👊

Judas Priest stopped being priest four albums ago… they are now more iron maiden than priest… Most of the songs now utilize the maiden style, rolling drums with lead guitar based song riffs, instead of crunch, chord riffs which priest has mainly always used. there is no trace of the band that put out Love Bites or you’ve got another thing coming. That said They’ve never done a ballad as good as Before the Dawn anyways. Not that I think Crown of horns is even a metal ballad anyways.

@PossessedByMetal666

6 ай бұрын

Hey there Tony. Thanks for sharing your views! 😊🤘

@StaticResurreXion

6 ай бұрын

Are you including Angel? Because that’s an awesome and criminally underrated album

I hate Nothing else matters with all the strength of my heart. 😂

@PossessedByMetal666

6 ай бұрын

Yes indeed. A horrendous piece of work. 👊

@Sara_Kane

6 ай бұрын

Hehe 🙃don't hate it, but I think "The Unforgiven" off the same album is a far superior ballad. I especially love Kirk's solo in that one.

@PossessedByMetal666

6 ай бұрын

The Unforgiven is a fair bit better, but still really tedious. 😆👊

That's just like your opinion, man.

@PossessedByMetal666

6 ай бұрын

That's right, El Duderino! 😆👊

A lot of bands used ballads to break into the top 40 or whatever, so that might have been the first time some of them were making decent money. I don't begrudge them that, but it was frustrating in the late 80s and 90s to hear someone tell you they loved a band because of some shitty ballad that was overplayed on the radio, especially when you already know the band rocks! 🙄😆

@PossessedByMetal666

7 ай бұрын

Hey there M! Very good point. I don't begrudge them their ballads either, provided i'm not expected to listen to them. 😆👊

Laaz Rockit "the Omen" is amazing and so is Testament's "The Ballad" obviously fade to black and sanitarium are about the only other ones that I can tolerate.

@PossessedByMetal666

7 ай бұрын

Hehe! Tolerate is indeed the operative word. :) I don't think I've heard The Omen. Actually, if Sanitarium is a ballad then that's not a bad one. Tolerable. 😆

@Rage-of-War

7 ай бұрын

@@PossessedByMetal666 seriously look up Laaz Rockit the omen from annialation principal, it is seriously that damn good

@PossessedByMetal666

7 ай бұрын

Oh, I do have that album! I've just traditionally kept replaying the first two tracks, I think...

@PossessedByMetal666

7 ай бұрын

Also: I just remembered Metal Church's We Watch The Children Pray. That is certainly tolerable.

Crown of Horns is easily my least liked of the 3 songs I've heard from the album. To me it sounds like a bonus track. I've listened to the other songs multiple times, but I don't think I will be going back to this one until the album comes out.

@PossessedByMetal666

7 ай бұрын

Hey there! To be honest, I felt the same when I first heard it. But then the song sunk hooks into my brain! Will be interesting to see if the same happens with you. Let me know! 😊👊

@markkaminski4496

6 ай бұрын

Yes more like a b side of a single.

I don't consider it a ballad. More like "light metal" lol. It definitely has a more commercial feel to it, though. But it's funny because an interview with Richie just came out on Blabbermouth where he's quoted as saying "there are NO ballads on this album". All I know is that all three full songs we've heard, and one clip that hasn't been fully released yet, tells me this album is gonna be much better than Firepower, which I had difficulty getting into. I only genuinely liked 4 songs on that one. We're already up to four songs from IS being heard, and I've liked all four, so I am very excited for this new Priest album. Beyond the Realms of Death is probably my favorite of all time.

@PossessedByMetal666

7 ай бұрын

Yes, light metal makes sense. 🤔 Where was the clip of the fourth song released? I'm trying to think what that might be. 🤔🤔😊👊

@Quacksha1985

6 ай бұрын

@@PossessedByMetal666 In December, when the band announced the tracklist, there was a clip with an uptempo song. The riff is quite similar to the one in Hell Bent For Leather, and then Rob came in with his crazy shrieks.

@PossessedByMetal666

6 ай бұрын

@@Quacksha1985 Ah, thanks! Will have to look back and see which one that is. ☺👊

@tehCostHD

6 ай бұрын

Damn, firepower is genuinely my favorite priest album. I loved it from start to finish. Songs like sea of red, traitors gate, no surrender, firepower, evil never dies, necromancer, rising from ruins, and specter are among my all time favorite priest songs. All though I still think my top 3 are beyond the realms of death, and halls of Valhalla, and hellrider and maybe throw in you’ve got another thing coming. But rising from ruins is right up there with those for me. I just love firepower. Hopefully I’ll love IS just as much

@PossessedByMetal666

6 ай бұрын

Hey there! Yes, I love Firepower too. And funnily enough, I revisted it on headphones during a seafront walk the other day, and realised how underrated Rising From Ruins is. A great song, along vaguely similar lines to the excellent Blood Red Skies. ☺👊 Traitor's Gate remains my fave off that album though!

3 ballads spring to mind - Testaments ' The ballad' and 'The legacy' and Death Angel 'Room with a view ' is actually my fav ballad.

@PossessedByMetal666

7 ай бұрын

Proper power ballads! Thanks for your suggestions. The very idea of a Testament ballad makes me shudder, but lots of people really like 'em!

@Rage-of-War

7 ай бұрын

Yes A room with a view, fucking classic!!!

Yes I love Ballads guilty pleasure

@PossessedByMetal666

7 ай бұрын

Respect to ya, Rod! And people are certainly citing a few of them that I do like, such as Black Sabbath's Too Late. 😊👊

I like ballads but Im not impressed with this new Judas priest song it's nice but Il be fine if I never hear it again..not excited with the new tracks so far

@PossessedByMetal666

6 ай бұрын

Hey there Dan! Gah, sorry to hear you're not loving the new stuff. If it helps at all, I didn't think much of Crown Of Horns straight away. But if you're still not going a bunch on Panic Attack, then that is more serious. 👀 What's your fave Priest album?

@danb5944

6 ай бұрын

@@PossessedByMetal666 I didn't like panic attack either so I think I'm in trouble..I really liked firepower so not sure why not likeing this one..if I'm honest I'm not a huge priest fan Ive listened too all there albums and I only like a few songs of each album ..really the only album I like start too finish and is peak priest for me is angel of retribution

@markkaminski4496

6 ай бұрын

Yes not a great track Rob sounds great but very average.

I didn’t hear anything special about that new song

@PossessedByMetal666

7 ай бұрын

Hey there! I didn't think too much of it at first, but then it really sunk hooks into my head. 😊👊

It's too tech..and I don't appreciate putting down my saviour

@PossessedByMetal666

6 ай бұрын

Hey there! You think the song's putting down Jesus Christ? As I understand it, Rob Halford is a Christian. :)

Whats wrong with you its Not even a ballad.. !?

@PossessedByMetal666

6 ай бұрын

Thank you for sharing your opinion! 🤘😊

It's not a ballad...

@PossessedByMetal666

6 ай бұрын

Hey there! It's very much in a grey area, I'd say. But thanks for sharing where you stand. 😊👊

@Chadsolderbrotherbrad1111

6 ай бұрын

It sounds like a ballad but either way It’s kinda boring

@markkaminski4496

6 ай бұрын

​yes I agree.with that as well.

Its not a ballad...at all

@PossessedByMetal666

6 ай бұрын

Hey there Shawn! It's certainly debatable. Thanks for letting us know where you stand. 👊😊

@markkaminski4496

6 ай бұрын

Not a rocker that's for shall.

@markkaminski4496

6 ай бұрын

Very debatable ?

This song Just exemplifies the professionalism there's no other band that puts out the hits over and over and over like Judas Priest .... Metal Gods for life... no it's not a super heavy song ... but is sure beats the crap that comes out today.... I do not agree that this is a Ballard Priest has put out songs like this before on every album

@PossessedByMetal666

6 ай бұрын

Hey there Paul! It's certainly true that, in terms of tempo etc, Crown Of Horns could be compared to something like Worth Fighting For. 🤔