Stained Class

Description

Pioneering 1978 Record Planted Flag for Speed Metal

Youve got another thing comin! Distinguished by dual magnesium-burn guitars, leather-tough percussion, molten-hot melodies, and the unmistakable piercing falsetto of operatic vocalist Rob Halford, Judas Priest defines British heavy metal on 1978s Stained Class, the follow-up Killing Machine (a.k.a. Hell Bent for Leather), and 1982s Screaming for Vengeance. These platinum albums remain incalculably influential touchstones on which precision-based speed, mainstream accessibility, and hard-edged rebelliousness meet in triangular equilibrium.

The 1978 release was the fourth album for these heavy-metal playing Brits. Stained Class was the groups only album to feature songwriting by all five members. The cover artwork, by Roslav Szaybo, introduced their classic logo.