Judas Priest - Redeemer of Souls review: The old devils still have their metal mojo

And so it ends . . . and then it begins again. These metal gods were supposed to bow out of the shredding business after their last tour, but here they are, back from the undead just in time for their 40th anniversary. It’s hard to hear Judas Priest without thinking about Spinal Tap, but the story of singer Rob Halford’s departure, to be replaced by a tribute band singer, was actually the basis for the film Rock Star. Halford has been back in front of the mic for the past 10 years and he still possesses the quintessential metal voice. The band’s twin-guitar assault is Excalibur-sharp as ever, and the songs are a masterclass in metallurgy. Every metal cliché is dragged out on Dragonaut (“Welcome to my world of steel,” announces Halford), Sword of Damocles and – my guilty favourite – March of the Damned. The old devils still have their metal mojo. judaspriest.com Download tracks: Sword of Damocles, March of the Damned, Hell and Back