Sad Wings of Destiny - Judas Priest
 

Artist: Judas Priest
Album: Sad Wings of Destiny
Released: 1976

Genres covered: heavy metal, progressive rock, hard rock.


Tracklist:

Apparently, there are several versions of this album, and I have re-ordered the tracklist on this album to suit the most current release of it.

1. Prelude - 5/5
2. Tyrant - 5/5
3. Genocide - 3/5
4. Epitaph - 4/5
5. Island of Domination - 3/5
6. Victim of Changes - 5/5
7. The Ripper - 5/5
8. Dreamer Deceiver - 5/5
9. Deceiver - 5/5

Overall: 4/5

Overall thought about the album: I believe Moss said it best: "Victim of chaaaaaangeeeessssss!"



With this tracklist, (which is exceptionally better than the original tracklist) the album opens very well with the intriguing melody of "Prelude" and its notable use of a piano, and the hard-hitting "Tyrant." Without a doubt, "Tyrant" is more intense (and also closer to heavy metal) than anything found on their previous album, especially its guitar solo. It is also my favorite track from the album by far, and my favorite two tracks when combined with its intro "Prelude."

From here, the album takes a rather sour note as I find the next three tracks of "Genocide," "Island of Domination" and its intro track "Epitaph," to be annoying. The piano on Epitaph is top-notch, but none of the instrumentation for any of these songs overcomes my dislike at the vocals on any of these three songs.

The album quickly, and I do mean quickly, redeems itself with the guitar work, lyrics, and heavy metal & progressive elements found on "Victim of Changes." "The Ripper" is arguably the most atmospheric and well-produced song found on this album, when you factor in the spoken vocals, edgy guitar work, and dark subject matter.

The last of the three 'intro-song-leading-into-another-song" found on this album does not initially appear to be an intro song: "Dreamer Deceiver" a long, melodic, sorrowful, and progressive power ballad that features an extensive and awe-inspiring guitar solo, that is tied with the solo on "Tyrant" for my favorite solo on the album. Again, this song leads into "Deceiver." "Deceiver" also features an aggressive guitar solo. My favorite part of the song is its noticeably mellow (and abrupt) ending, mirroring the overall start of the album with "Prelude."

On every version I've ever seen Victim Of Changes is track 1. And I used to own the original Gull Records version on vinyl.
I've never seen it listed the way yours is but it totally ruins the flow of the album.

This is the same tracklist that's on the album if you buy The Complete Albums Collection that they released a few years ago. The tracklist I provided here is the same as the Sad Wings of Destiny album on there, and The Complete Albums Collection is endorsed by Judas Priest.

The only explanation for that that I can see is that the tracklist on the vinyl, etc., was not how the band wanted it to be.

EDIT: Also, it ruins the flow? I have to disagree as this sounds loads better than having it open "Victim of Changes."

Still horrible

I'd never play it in that order.

I have the old album and do not like the new song order at all. I love JP, and have been a fan since high school. They were pioneers in rock music, and were among the first heavy metal bands. Album reviews are subjective at best. It's funny how artists create something and then some random person with an over-inflated sense of their ability to judge good and bad will latch onto a real piece of work like a parasite and try to tear it down.

Sad Wings is a masterpiece, and it came from a different time and context. It's like trying to write a review on a Mozart concerto, after finding a note about re-ordering the movements. Pretty arrogant.

I can't really imagine that album not starting with "Victim of Changes" either. I think track order can at times make or break an album especially when the album has some weaker material.

Sometimes editions of certain albums can have their order changed, because the band originally didn't agree with the order put out by the record company.