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Fight
Into The Pit
(Metal God Entertainment)
As a child raised in a geographically and economically isolated region, I frequently found myself seeking entertainment from less than likely sources, often with disastrous results. Thus, you can imagine my initial apprehension when my less than open-minded maternal Grandmother presented with me with well-worn vinyl copies of the Judas Priest classics British Steel and Screaming For Vengeance (purchased, believe it or not, at a local flea market for whopping seventy five cents). ‘Is this really happening?’ ‘Is this some sort of trick?’ I found myself wondering aloud as the opening strains of “You Don’t Have to Be Old to Be Wise” roared through my primitive stereo system for the first time. The rest, as they say, is ancient history as I have been quite happily ‘…throwing the horns…’ to all things Judas Priest and Judas Priest-related ever since.
On the brilliant Into The Pit (2008), an expertly assembled fifty one (!) track, three disc (3 CD/1 DVD) collection of delightfully over-the-top Heavy Metal, each track, beginning with the indescribably searing “Life In Black”, the bombastic, quasi-epic “For All Eternity”, and the inexplicably obscure gem “Contortion”, immediately command the rapt and undivided attention of all parties involved, myself most definitely included. Effectively silencing the few misguided souls who, once upon a time, were doubtful of Halford’s ability to once again serve as the primary inspirational catalyst (i.e. the chief songwriter) for a group marketed at a broad and varying audience, the group wastes little--if any--time sinking its collective teeth into a wealth of carefully crafted material, scoring major league points early without bogging down amid their own virtuosic talents.
Continuing with the thought-provoking “Reality - A New Beginning”, the relentlessly pummeling ‘…modus operandi…’ “War Of Words (Bloody Tongue Mix)”, and the undeniably scalding “Immortal Sin (Straight Jacket Mix)”, the now legendary combination of vocalist Rob Halford (Judas Priest, Two, Halford), guitarists Brian Tilse, Russ Parrish and Mark Chausse, bassist Jay Jay and drummer Scott Travis (Judas Priest, Racer X, The Scream, among others) steamroll ahead like the well-oiled machine they obviously had become. Wisely repackaging the group’s three studio efforts (including the oft-ignored Mutations remix EP) with the bonus-laden Live In Phoenix DVD, the resulting audiovisual onslaught is jam-packed with enough genuinely Old School wallop to thoroughly satisfy even the most hopelessly discriminating Heavy Metal enthusiasts.
With original producers Roy Z (Halford, Judas Priest) and Attie Bauw (Bootsy Collins, The Scorpions) returning to painstakingly remix and remaster each already bloodthirsty composition, other standouts, including the impossibly thunderous “Blowout In The Radio Room”, and blistering, sweat-soaked live renditions of “Nailed To The Gun”, and “Little Crazy” (from the previously mentioned Live In Phoenix DVD), only further solidify Halford’s already much-celebrated reputation as a creative and commercial force not to be ignored. Fortified throughout via a rarity-laden wealth of bonus Metal God 1993 - 1995 footage (Epic/Sony War Of Words Commercial 1993, The Metal God Bungee Jumps In Cairnes, Australia 1994, etc), the end result, as you may have already guessed, serves as the ideal testament of the oft-overlooked group’s mind ‘90’s heyday.
Okay, okay…I know what you’re probably thinking. Is it really that freakin’ good? Absolutely! A definite must-have for those that once vehemently refused to wholeheartedly embrace the inarguably brilliant Tim “Ripper” Owens as Halford’s legitimate successor (or for those ‘…hell bent…’ on experiencing the multi-octave frontman amid what can only be described as a decidedly heavier format), the bulk of the impressively exhaustive menagerie that is the mighty Into The Pit ultimately exceeds both the arguably lackluster Angel Of Retribution and the frequently awkward Nostradamus. Needless to say, if you’ve once again found yourself in search of a near-lethal (yet highly enjoyable) dose of all things authentically Metal, then this, my friends, might just be the high octane cure for what ails you. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed.
Select Rob Halford Discography
Into The Pit (CD/DVD) (2008) **
Nostradamus (2008) *
Angel Of Retribution (2005) *
Metalogy (Box Set) (2004) *
Electric Eye (DVD) (2003) *
Crucible (2002) ****
Live Insurrection (2001) ****
Resurrection (2000) ****
Voyeurs (1997) ***
A Small Deadly Space (1995) **
Mutations (1994) **
War Of Words (1993) **
Painkiller (1990) *
Ram It Down (1988) *
Priest…Live! (1987) *
Turbo (1986) *
Defenders Of The Faith (1984) *
Screaming For Vengeance (1982) *
Point Of Entry (1981) *
British Steel (1980) *
Unleashed In The East (1979) *
Hell Bent For Leather (1979) *
Stained Class (1978) *
Sin After Sin (1977) *
Sad Wings Of Destiny (1976) *
Rocka Rolla (1974) *
* as a member of Judas Priest
** as a member of Fight
*** as member of Two
**** as a member of Halford