Well my friend, I think it is important that I say I do not want to go on record as accusing Rob of "selling out" That may be a bit harsh. Rob, Glenn and all other musicians make music for a living. That is their job. In the case of a Rob Halford, he is an entire "industry" within himself. He is larger than life in many respects. As such, the things that he does professionally affect many people and THEIR livelihoods. He is not making decisions only for himself. He has agents, producers, etc that all rely on him to do things that are at least somewhat lucrative so they can feed their families. I am not positive but I would guess Rob has a very nice bank account and lives very comfortably.  In short, it is not ALL about him.

Having said this, perhaps Rob honestly enjoyed making these songs? There is really no way to get "inside his head" and say without a doubt that it is all about money. I have mentioned before that Priest are in the very unique and comfortable position of being able to experiment and try things that many bands cannnot afford to do. They do not NEED to sell out massive stadiums or sell millions of new albums to eat. That is a very enviable position indeed!

My comments earlier today were really more of an observation. I think it is incredibly savvy on Rob's part to release these songs at this time of year.  If not him, then others around him who will clearly benefit. In any event, if I were in Rob's shoes and had accomplished all the great things he has in his career, I might very well spend time "experimenting", too. I don't know.

Well ok,maybe he did bash him a little bit. But I can understand "why".  This Winter Songs idea is rather "strange". I will not buy the album,nor listen to it. I fucking HATE CHRISTMAS!!!! Scrooge ruls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LMAO!!

		JT_Small_Deadly_Space wrote:
		Actually J.D he did mention Hellrider he didn't mention Demonizer which i am shocked at lol as it is one of my favourite all time Priest tracks! And Lochness i love that song, i think the only reason people don't like it is because it was their first epic song and the lyrics were cheesy but Hell the music is badass and it is bloody Heavy too. I can't resist banging my hed when the main verse riff comes in it's awesome. Kinda reminds me of the music you would get from the Dynasty warriors games. Well he did call him a Sellout and Senile. I would say that's insulting considering Halford is not either of those! He's far from a sellout as his amitions and musical directions don't appeal to most lol!      J.D. DIAMOND wrote: What? You really think that Angel Of Retribution was not that good? WTF? LOL!  Oh my god Painkiller is a good album man but it doesn't wipe the floor up with it,no way. And you only mention Judas Rising and Demonizer?  You don't even mention "Hellrider" which has to be in the top 5 best songs from Judas Priest of all time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Judas Rising Deal With The Devil Revolution Worth Fighting For Demonizer Wheels Of Fire Angel Hellrider Eulegy The only less quality track on here is Lochness but the first 9 tracks are fabulous!!!  Revolution sounds like it could of been on Hell Bent For Leather right after the Killing Machine track!!! Worth Fighting For reminds me of Desert Plains and Take These Chains mixed kind of,excellent track.  Angel is total classic Judas Priest as was Dreamer Deceiver off Sad Wings Of Destiny. Angel Of Retribution is the 5th best Judas Priest album of all time in my opinion,only Sad Wings Of Destiny,British Steel,Screaming For Vengeance,and Painkiller are better than this record!!!! And I see where Jimmy James is coming from,the usual metal fan wants "metal" especially from the "metal god"....not "christmas songs".  I don't think he really bashed Halford as he was just frustrated with Rob's decision with Winter Songs.  It is what it is...I just hope that the nest Priest record doesn't get infected by this!!!!    (Quoting Message by Skybreaker from Wednesday, October 07, 2009 8:45:42 PM)   Skybreaker wrote:   You really think AOR is that good? I think Painkiller wipes the floor with it. Judas Rising and Hellrider are the only standout tracks on AOR in my opinion. Everything on Painkiller is top choice metal. I think they could push traditonal metal to new heights if they wanted to but for some reason they try to do something different and it disapoints.    (Quoting Message by J.D. DIAMOND from Wednesday, October 07, 2009 3:29:24 PM)   J.D. DIAMOND wrote:   I agree with you up untill you said :Painkiller was the last great Judas Priest record. I "disagree". I think Angel Of Retribution is almost as good as Painkiller, big time. I do agree with everything else you have said here. I  "hate it" when they try and "push metal into unfamiliar territories". Why can't they just push traditional metal.      Skybreaker wrote:      Judas Priest has to be one of the most unpredictable heavy metal bands of all time. Thats good up to a certian point until they go too far with something like Nostradamus and Christmas songs. In my opinon they have released some very disapointing cd's. They are not very consistant and you have to waite forever between cd's. At one time I considered Priest the greatest metal band of all time but I'm not convinced of that any more. Painkiller was the last great Priest CD. Can they do it again with this next cd and regain their status as the best of all time or continue on with this pushing metal forward business and release another disapointing cd.   Edited at: Wednesday, October 07, 2009 8:56:20 PM Edited at: Thursday, October 08, 2009 4:42:35 AM

You really think AOR is that good? I think Painkiller wipes the floor with it. Judas Rising and Hellrider are the only standout tracks on AOR in my opinion. Everything on Painkiller is top choice metal. I think they could push traditonal metal to new heights if they wanted to but for some reason they try to do something different and it disapoints.

  [Show/Hide Quoted Message] (Quoting Message by J.D. DIAMOND from Wednesday, October 07, 2009 3:29:24 PM)

		J.D. DIAMOND wrote:
		I agree with you up untill you said :Painkiller was the last great Judas Priest record. I "disagree". I think Angel Of Retribution is almost as good as Painkiller, big time. I do agree with everything else you have said here. I  "hate it" when they try and "push metal into unfamiliar territories". Why can't they just push traditional metal.      Skybreaker wrote:      Judas Priest has to be one of the most unpredictable heavy metal bands of all time. Thats good up to a certian point until they go too far with something like Nostradamus and Christmas songs. In my opinon they have released some very disapointing cd's. They are not very consistant and you have to waite forever between cd's. At one time I considered Priest the greatest metal band of all time but I'm not convinced of that any more. Painkiller was the last great Priest CD. Can they do it again with this next cd and regain their status as the best of all time or continue on with this pushing metal forward business and release another disapointing cd.

You really think AOR is that good? I think Painkiller wipes the floor with it. Judas Rising and Hellrider are the only standout tracks on AOR in my opinion. Everything on Painkiller is top choice metal. Ithinktheycouldpushtraditonalmetal

		J.D. DIAMOND wrote:
		I agree with you up untill you said :Painkiller was the last great Judas Priest record. I "disagree". I think Angel Of Retribution is almost as good as Painkiller, big time. I do agree with everything else you have said here. I  "hate it" when they try and "push metal into unfamiliar territories". Why can't they just push traditional metal.      Skybreaker wrote:    Judas Priest has to be one of the most unpredictable heavy metal bands of all time. Thats good up to a certian point until they go too far with something like Nostradamus and Christmas songs. In my opinon they have released some very disapointing cd's. They are not very consistant and you have to waite forever between cd's. At one time I considered Priest the greatest metal band of all time but I'm not convinced of that any more. Painkiller was the last great Priest CD. Can they do it again with this next cd and regain their status as the best of all time or continue on with this pushing metal forward business and release another disapointing cd.

You really think AOR is that good? I think Painkiller wipes the floor with it. Judas Rising and Hellrider are the only standout tracks on AOR in my opinion. Everything on Painkiller is top choice metal. Ithinktheycouldpushtraditonal

		J.D. DIAMOND wrote:
		I agree with you up untill you said :Painkiller was the last great Judas Priest record. I "disagree". I think Angel Of Retribution is almost as good as Painkiller, big time. I do agree with everything else you have said here. I  "hate it" when they try and "push metal into unfamiliar territories". Why can't they just push traditional metal.      Skybreaker wrote:    Judas Priest has to be one of the most unpredictable heavy metal bands of all time. Thats good up to a certian point until they go too far with something like Nostradamus and Christmas songs. In my opinon they have released some very disapointing cd's. They are not very consistant and you have to waite forever between cd's. At one time I considered Priest the greatest metal band of all time but I'm not convinced of that any more. Painkiller was the last great Priest CD. Can they do it again with this next cd and regain their status as the best of all time or continue on with this pushing metal forward business and release another disapointing cd.

You really think AOR is that good? I think Painkiller wipes the floor with it. Judas Rising and Hellrider are the only standout tracks on AOR in my opinion. Everything on Painkiller is top choice metal. Ithinktheycouldpush

		J.D. DIAMOND wrote:
		I agree with you up untill you said :Painkiller was the last great Judas Priest record. I "disagree". I think Angel Of Retribution is almost as good as Painkiller, big time. I do agree with everything else you have said here. I  "hate it" when they try and "push metal into unfamiliar territories". Why can't they just push traditional metal.      Skybreaker wrote:    Judas Priest has to be one of the most unpredictable heavy metal bands of all time. Thats good up to a certian point until they go too far with something like Nostradamus and Christmas songs. In my opinon they have released some very disapointing cd's. They are not very consistant and you have to waite forever between cd's. At one time I considered Priest the greatest metal band of all time but I'm not convinced of that any more. Painkiller was the last great Priest CD. Can they do it again with this next cd and regain their status as the best of all time or continue on with this pushing metal forward business and release another disapointing cd.

You really think AOR is that good? I think Painkiller wipes the floor with it. Judas Rising and Hellrider are the only standout tracks on AOR in my opinion. Everything on Painkiller is top choice metal. Ithinktheycould

		J.D. DIAMOND wrote:
		I agree with you up untill you said :Painkiller was the last great Judas Priest record. I "disagree". I think Angel Of Retribution is almost as good as Painkiller, big time. I do agree with everything else you have said here. I  "hate it" when they try and "push metal into unfamiliar territories". Why can't they just push traditional metal.      Skybreaker wrote:    Judas Priest has to be one of the most unpredictable heavy metal bands of all time. Thats good up to a certian point until they go too far with something like Nostradamus and Christmas songs. In my opinon they have released some very disapointing cd's. They are not very consistant and you have to waite forever between cd's. At one time I considered Priest the greatest metal band of all time but I'm not convinced of that any more. Painkiller was the last great Priest CD. Can they do it again with this next cd and regain their status as the best of all time or continue on with this pushing metal forward business and release another disapointing cd.

You really think AOR is that good? I think Painkiller wipes the floor with it. Judas Rising and Hellrider are the only standout tracks on AOR in my opinion. Everything on Painkiller is top choice metal. Ithinkthey

		J.D. DIAMOND wrote:
		I agree with you up untill you said :Painkiller was the last great Judas Priest record. I "disagree". I think Angel Of Retribution is almost as good as Painkiller, big time. I do agree with everything else you have said here. I  "hate it" when they try and "push metal into unfamiliar territories". Why can't they just push traditional metal.      Skybreaker wrote:    Judas Priest has to be one of the most unpredictable heavy metal bands of all time. Thats good up to a certian point until they go too far with something like Nostradamus and Christmas songs. In my opinon they have released some very disapointing cd's. They are not very consistant and you have to waite forever between cd's. At one time I considered Priest the greatest metal band of all time but I'm not convinced of that any more. Painkiller was the last great Priest CD. Can they do it again with this next cd and regain their status as the best of all time or continue on with this pushing metal forward business and release another disapointing cd.

You really think AOR is that good? I think Painkiller wipes the floor with it. Judas Rising and Hellrider are the only standout tracks on AOR in my opinion. Everything on Painkiller is top choice metal. Ithink

		J.D. DIAMOND wrote:
		I agree with you up untill you said :Painkiller was the last great Judas Priest record. I "disagree". I think Angel Of Retribution is almost as good as Painkiller, big time. I do agree with everything else you have said here. I  "hate it" when they try and "push metal into unfamiliar territories". Why can't they just push traditional metal.      Skybreaker wrote:    Judas Priest has to be one of the most unpredictable heavy metal bands of all time. Thats good up to a certian point until they go too far with something like Nostradamus and Christmas songs. In my opinon they have released some very disapointing cd's. They are not very consistant and you have to waite forever between cd's. At one time I considered Priest the greatest metal band of all time but I'm not convinced of that any more. Painkiller was the last great Priest CD. Can they do it again with this next cd and regain their status as the best of all time or continue on with this pushing metal forward business and release another disapointing cd.

You really think AOR is that good? I think Painkiller wipes the floor with it. Judas Rising and Hellrider are the only standout tracks on AOR in my opinion. Everything on Painkiller is top choice metal. I

		J.D. DIAMOND wrote:
		I agree with you up untill you said :Painkiller was the last great Judas Priest record. I "disagree". I think Angel Of Retribution is almost as good as Painkiller, big time. I do agree with everything else you have said here. I  "hate it" when they try and "push metal into unfamiliar territories". Why can't they just push traditional metal.      Skybreaker wrote:    Judas Priest has to be one of the most unpredictable heavy metal bands of all time. Thats good up to a certian point until they go too far with something like Nostradamus and Christmas songs. In my opinon they have released some very disapointing cd's. They are not very consistant and you have to waite forever between cd's. At one time I considered Priest the greatest metal band of all time but I'm not convinced of that any more. Painkiller was the last great Priest CD. Can they do it again with this next cd and regain their status as the best of all time or continue on with this pushing metal forward business and release another disapointing cd.

Yeah,your right JT. Rob should be able to do what he wants and Halford band is not Priest. I am just getting impatient for this next Judas Priest album. K.K. may have said they will not be repeating history but with Angel Of Retribution they may as well of repeated history because the album sounds like it even could of been out in 1985 right after 1984's Defenders Of The Faith. So if they are trying to push thier metal into an unfamiliar territory as they did with Nostradamus,then I'm not to sure about how traditional it will sound. I am not a fan of  Turbo,Demolition or Nostradamus the 3 Judas Priest albums that are the most experimental.

LOL! A release of these 2 new Halford tracks and I'm already starting to get worried again about the next Priest album!!!!! lol!!    I am not a fan of "something different".   I am a fan of "the same old thing".
British Steel was "the same old thing".  Screaming For Vengeance was "the same old thing".Defenders Of The Faith was "the same old thing". Painkiller and Angel Of Retribution were "the same old thing".
All of Motorhead's albums are "the same old thing".  Saxon the last 15 years and 7 studio albums are "the same old thing". And these albums are raved about being some of the very best material ever.

So I guess only time will tell. Judas Priest does best when they stick to thier guns and fire out "the same old thing". So its up to you K.K.!!!   LOL!!!

		JT_Small_Deadly_Space wrote:
		I hear what you are saying JD and i respect that. All i need to say though is that this is Halford not Priest. Every musician has an entitlement to do what they have always wanted to do and i guess this is a big thing for Rob. When Priest return again which they will, it will be an awesome album i posted a link in the links to Priest interviews, it's with KK and he says (to quote) 'We have a few shows to do in Japan but then we have to see where we want to take Judas Priest from this point. One thing is for sure, we are not going to be repeating history, we are going to be pushing metal forward as we always do.' So get ready for something unique and new but I, like you my firend can only hope that it is rip roaring heavy metal! I'm sure it will have the elements! I hope it's more stuff like Nostradamus (the song not the whole album) because music to me is pure Priest heavy metal!      J.D. DIAMOND wrote:    JT-Small-Deadly-Space wrote:  " At the end of the day it makes you feel good and happy like what Christmas music is supposed to do" But JT........I "hate" christmas!!!! YUK!  I hate everything "about" christmas,I think it "sucks". (LMAO!!!)  I agree with Skybreaker here...I think its been to long since the band has released a proper heavy metal album. And 2005 is almost 5 years ago now. I really think that the next Judas Priest studio album is going to set a pace as to what they are evolving into. Another "Nostradamus" could spell the demise of this band's career. I don't think they will do that again but whos to really know especially that we are almost 5 years from Angel Of Retribution now,the last album that was traditional british heavy metal with no opera or winter songs influenced.   (Quoting Message by JT_Small_Deadly_Space from Tuesday, October 06, 2009 1:33:47 PM)   JT_Small_Deadly_Space wrote:   You know when i first heard that Halford was releasing this, i thought what the Hell? But i was excited none the less. I mean come on people it's Halford!!!! It's all part of his plan to fill every corner of the music business with metal. Now comes Christmas time. Get into the spirit rocks hard in fact it doesn't even sound like a Christmas song! But now at last the whole metal community has an album that can be listened to over Christmas without fear of the band going 'soft'. I've listened to these two and i have thoroughly enjoyed them both. Get into the Spirit is better but We three kings put a big smile on my face. At the end of the day it makes you feel good and happy like what Christmas music is supposed to do except you have the God of Metal fronting it and it's heavy stuff! Long live Halford!!!! Edited at: Tuesday, October 06, 2009 4:05:13 PM

Oh come on jimmy. Even I hate this direction but I still will not "give up" untill the next Judas Priest studio album.That is where the line will be drawn in the sand.Yes I "hate" christmas always have,its just to "holy" for me as I hate "holy" things(lmao!) and I will not be groving on christmas carols anytime soon but I still give some credit to Rob's abilities here. I think that we have been to far away from Angel Of Retribution where they were in a mode of traditional pure heavy metal music and Rob was in the mood of "The Scream Of The Demon,Theres Evil About!!!!!!"   

If Judas Priest releases an album with these christmas songs influenced in them or with Nostradamus still in the style than I would start to wave the white flag myself.

		jimmyjames wrote:
		It's shit. Fucking christmas carols, Halford is going senile. Hope the guys still have Rippers number