Halford

"Crucible"
(Sanctuary Records)  

His "Resurrection" come back was the right record at just the right time for the then former Metal God to prove himself and win back fans again after a few too many years and far away thoughts. So to expect his next studio record to even approach the intensity and integrity of such an inspired debut is a stretch… give us three or four rewritten classics, fire up a few forgivable filler tracks and we'll oblige for all he's meant to the Metal community. Honestly I wasn't blown away by too many of those studio add-on's to last year's live record so skepticism is not unfounded… but I'm pleased to say completely defeated four songs in… and this counts a minute and a half sound effect for their "Park Manor" opening. "Crucible," the song, deliberate in its "Painkiller"-like prowess creaks open the door slightly before crumbling altogether to the traditionally led assaults of "One Will," and "Betrayal," the rapid fire intensity of "Handing Out Bullets," or even the surprise Gothic innuendo for "Crystal." "Crucible" is not a mirror image of "Resurrection," a pointed album with life-affirming statements geared to successfully reunite the masses. This one's more the exploratory lot with plenty of emotional tilt and lift, peaks, valleys and focused vision for a an all powerful presence centrally sourcing an inexhaustible unit built for skill shifts, speed, longevity, and lately, low-E riffing. Cynicism and perseverance direct a topically adventurous text to what comparatively amounts to "Painkiller" period Priest and Fight's "Small Deadly Space" acumen too few seemed to grasp in its time. Yet here, the presentation of tried, true, and today are spread out in a melodically superior way owing no small part to vocal and verse line hooks, creepy riffs and worldly urgency in both voice and value, and neither suffers a sophomoric loss.   While disenchanted Priest fans will and should run for the real thing-as if anyone could've conceived of such six or seven years ago-Halford's laid the groundwork for another classic. We find a cool and collected Rob up shifting for much of the last fifth of the record. Following the punishing "Wrath Of God," there's an occasional interspersing of "Realms" era roots that sees the stamina slow for contemplative effect, wresting away a triumphant conclusion for epic forethought. Each song's a dexterous body of work that is as diligent and dynamic as we've again come to expect since the Metal god's return home.

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