Review Summary: Once again, the Priest is back. And they're not getting any younger.
If by show of hands a group of Judas Priest fans were asked whether or not they enjoyed the 2008 beast that was Nostradamus, chances are few would exert and none would be quick about it. In the six years since, Priest have mostly stuck to live shows and relatively minor releases. Then, as if out of a long extinguished fire pit, the band announced the completion of their 17th studio album, Redeemer of Souls. Based on the initial batch of tracks, it seemed they were ready to return to what made them popular in the first place, with a more straightforward heavy metal sound. All that was left to discover was whether it would be good enough.
Opener "Dragonaut," pleasantly distorted and riff-friendly, alongside the comparatively lax title track, are together indicative of the entire album. This is fundamentally the traditional Priest formula fans were expecting after Angel of Retribution; basic song structure, notable intros, laughable lyrics, etc. Over the course of thirteen tracks, each about four to five minutes long, we hear the band pace and infrequently stride. Redeemer of Souls is usually at its best when the hits are at their heaviest (see the aforementioned "Dragonaut" and "Sword of Damocles"), though the more comfortably steady moments seem intended to fill the album's hour-long runtime, which can soon feel wearisome. A key reason why is that throughout this lengthy course, Redeemer of Souls seldom captivates.
Keep in mind these Brits have been releasing material and putting on shows for 40 years (Rocka Rolla does count), so the fact we're getting an album that doesn't completely hold back could almost be called admirable. If nothing else, each track on Redeemer of Souls has a definitive Priest vibe that makes the entire album listenable, and miles more approachable than Nostradamus.
All that being said and considered, there's still the question of how the album stands on its own merits. The simple answer is that it does stand, just not tall or stoutly. Even when taking the best individual tracks into account, Redeemer of Souls falls short of the band's established pedigree. Most of the ear-pleasing moments are short segments that are seldom followed through. Compelling? Hardly so. Competent? Maybe. Ultimately the most reassuring case one could make for Redeemer of Souls is that it's a far more proper swan song than Nostradamus could have been. That is, assuming this is their final studio album.
