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Cover: 4
Biker Hats out of 10
It's a studded metal german-style cross with the Halford logo superimposed
over it. Not really striking. It stands out a little bit, looks heavy,
but it could have been a little more creative.
Booklet: 10
Riding Crops out of 10
Now this is a booklet! It's a 6-pane foldout rife with tons of color
photos, all the lyrics, production notes, and thank you's from everyone
in the band. There's alot to look at, with a wacked opposing-face layout
for the lyrics, loads of sepia tones interspersed with color band shots
and a dark feel overall, kind of like a Clive Barker comic book or a
Tool video. The photos of Rob make him look like a bad-ass and not someone
you'd want to intentionally piss off. Strangely enough, I find myself
getting a little excited when I look at the back-cover photo of Rob
sitting on a throne. It's strangely erotic. But I digress... Warrant
drummer Fuckazo gets major props in the production credits: "Mike
Fasano is the best drum tuner we know of." There's obviously some
creativity and effort put into this booklet, plus
they had the balls to mention The Sack by name, and for that, it gets
a perfect score.
Songs: 8
Whips and Chains out of 10
After all these years, the Metal God's still got it! 'Crucible' is a
bit of a departure from Halford's debut effort a few years ago. While
that album was a nod to Rob's ancient past ala Judas Priest, his new
album takes a massive step forward. The opening instrumental and subsequent
title track give you an audial kick in the balls and never let up. It
has a little more to do with Rob's post-Priest projects (e.g., Fight)
as the sound is heavy, modern, dark and moody. That's not to say that
there's not melodic moments; the anthemic "One Will" could
easily be an updated version of a leftover from 'British Steel' or 'Screaming
For Vengeance.' The verse line for "Hearts of Darkness" almost
has a middle-eastern feel to it, showing Rob's (and the band's) musical
diversity. And we know that Rob Halford is all about diversity! Highlight
tracks include "She," the single "Betrayal,"
"Wrath of God," and "Golgotha," one of the songs
in which Halford shows off
his varied vocal styles. Just as important as Rob's voice is the Halford
band. These guys are tight musicians and have their chops honed to the
bone.
(No gay references there. Please!) The players weave from old school
thrash
sounds to cutting edge metal without blinking. They contribute an undeniable
element to the sound of this record; the Metal God has surrounded himself
with a world-class cadre of musicians - his foresight and ear for talent
definitely pays off.
Comments: Rob Halford is like
the Elton John of heavy metal. Everyone knows he's gay, nobody cares,
and he keeps moving forward and putting out over-the-top albums year
after year. 'Crucible' is a heavy album that rivals what a lot of newer
bands are putting out today. If you're into more melodic, radio-friendly
rock like Def Leppard or Poison, then you may wish to give this disc
a pass, but if you've ever been a Judas Priest fan or are willing to
check out something that'll scare your neighbors and make small children
cry, then do yourself a favor and grab a copy of 'Crucible.' After all,
he is the 'Metal God,' a moniker that has never, ever taken for granted
by Rob Halford.
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