Judas Priest were a band in search of direction as the 80s drew to a close. 1986’s Turbo was a big success in the US, but its reliance on synth-guitars and pop sheen alienated many fans. Follow-up Ram It Down, released two years later, was as charmless as it was forgettable, which is why no one ever talks about it today. And then they released Painkiller.
Priest’s 12th album, released on September 3, 1990, was the sound of a band rejuvanated. And its brilliance was embodied by its exhilarating title track.
