70's or 80's Judas Priest?
 

For me 70's by far. Wings, Class, Unleashed - nuff said.

70s was probably the most innovative and worthy, but 80s is far less dated and hits harder with some of the sickest hooks in metal.

Both. I fucking love all of their work. But if I had to pick, then probably '80s. They were more in their element, and less awkward than in their early days when they weren't really sure yet what kind of a band they wanted to be.

That being said, there are some real fucking gems from their '70s work that I adore.

Can never deny Stained Class and "Sinner", "The Ripper", and "Hell Bent for Leather" are GOAT.

Plus, what kind of metalhead has never gotten shitfaced and started belting out Victim of Changes?

Honestly that's never been a fav. I want my Priest a little bit more hell bent. They're better as a metal band than a hard rock one. The same reason I never got why anybody liked "Diamonds and Rust". Maybe with a heavier, more distorted production it would have sounded better and not that lightweight 70s sound that makes that time period sound so dated. Every one of their 70s albums needed heavier production tbh. They weren't Deep Purple and should not have been produced like they were making Machine Head.

There's an alt version of Diamonds and Rust that I personally think is better, more raw and jagged. It was released as a bonus track on the CD release of Rocka Rolla. You can probably find it on youtube, if you're curious.

70s ... They became crap in the 80s......

My edit: Every one of their 70s albums needed heavier production tbh. They weren't Deep Purple and should not have been produced like they were making Machine Head.

I'll take 70's over 80's. They hit their stride with British Steel, then they pummeled that stride into the ground. Who they decided to be became their business model, and with it came a string of uninspired albums because of their contract. Give me the experimental energy and ingenuity over the cookie cutter **** all day.