"Exciter" is generally acknowledged as the trademark "proto-speed metal" song, although it is clear that the very first track which embodies and predates speed metal is "Fireball" released in 1971 by Deep Purple, whose 1970 hit "Speed King" would likely give the name to the whole genre later. The drumming on Stained Class likewise follows the steps of the previous record yet at the same time making a consistent leap forward in terms of "heaviness" and speed. You can tell he enjoyed his playing because not only he reproduced it brilliantly but also gave it a personal touch, creating a unique style that paved the way for something completely innovative. Binks said in an interview that he had been amazed by the work of Simon Phillips behind the kit in the album and that he was glad to learn his drum parts – he actually was one of the few who could replicate Phillips's drum parts live. One of the most experienced in the double bass technique and most likely the best metal drummer around at the time, he was hired in 1977 for the Sin After Sin tour as a replacement for session drummer Simon Phillips. The drums, by freshly recruited Les Binks, deserve considerable attention. Downing, which is one of my favourites among his. Towards the end of the song there is also a great solo by K.K. ![]() If I were asked to define heavy metal with a solo, no doubt I would choose this one. In "Beyond the Realms of Death", one of the most successful Priest hits and still played live to this day, Glenn Tipton delivers the best guitar solo I've ever heard in my effin' life. That resulted in writing less elaborate songs, easier to play live and for bigger audiences, although Screaming for Vengeance would mostly be an evolution from the previous two records for a significant presence of speed-driven songs. Killing Machine (released six months after this record) would feature a partial comeback to their early bluesy sound mixed with a more "modern" attitude, representing the transition to a quite commercial approach that started with British Steel and continued throughout Point of Entry. The solos, overall more technical, in my opinion are among the best the band have ever played and within heavy metal in general. The riffs are generally complex-structured like in Sin After Sin, with a less "prog"-oriented concept in favour of a more "metal" style. Stained Class is the only Priest album to feature songwriting by all members of the band. Priest's international breakthrough would eventually arrive in 1979 with the release on the American market of Hell Bent for Leather – the US version of Killing Machine. Ironically enough, it came out the very same day as Van Halen's self-titled debut, which quickly received far more worldwide success, but we're talking about two very different stories of course. I would say Stained Class in some way filled this gap and was a success all over Europe, and a smash in Japan. Black Sabbath had already begun to lose their prime Motörhead's game-changing Overkill was yet to come the so-called "NWOBHM" scene (Iron Maiden, Saxon, Angel Witch, Diamond Head, early Def Leppard, and many more) would not explode before 1980 – and the American metal scene was even further. ![]() ![]() One thing about this record few people mention is that it came out in an unfortunate period for heavy metal. Although they themselves have always considered British Steel to be the ultimate definition of the sound they were so far looking for, I'm strongly convinced Stained Class is superior than anything else they've done before and after. Overall, the music here is coherent with the previous two albums: back then, Judas Priest were experimenting with a quite "prog", blues-influenced dark sound that in this case took a faster and harder approach. Stained Class is the jewel of the crown that is also made of Sad Wings of Destiny and Sin After Sin – two great records that are among my personal favourites ever. If you think it sounds "outdated", "old", "obsolete", I strongly recommend you to get lost. Let's make it clear from the start: if you don't like this record, you better not call yourself a heavy metal fan.
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