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 JUDAS
PRIEST -
Electric
Eye (DVD)(Columbia Music Video)
Score: 5 out of 5 Battle-Axes (more about rating system) The quintessential heavy metal band has rekindled its relationship with Rob Halford, and in celebration of this, the band has delivered its first DVD with Halford-era footage. Electric Eye is primarily a culmination of two previously released VHS packages, Fuel For Life (a collection of promotional videos from British Steel through Turbo) and Priest…Live! (a 1986 concert video from a stop on the Turbo tour in Dallas, Texas). Considering the fact that my Fuel For Life VHS was worn out and I never owned Priest…Live! this was a must-have for me. If the combined package isn't incentive enough to buy Electric Eye, the added BBC TV performances, which you may have seen some clips of in their Metal Works '73-'93 video release, and the promos for "Johnny B. Goode," "Painkiller," and "A Touch Of Evil" should be. As far as the BBC TV performances, it's really cool to be able to own pristine copies of "Rocka Rolla" and "Dreamer Deceiver/Deceiver" from the Old Grey Whistle Test, and "Take On The World," "Evening Star," "Living After Midnight," and "United," which I believe are all culled from Top of The Pops. The 1986 live performance features 19 songs, and captures Priest during their more commercial period in front of a capacity filled arena. Songs like "Parental Guidance" and "Private Property" probably will never make it into their set list again. Interestingly, the band ignored their early period (aside from "The Green Manalishi") during this tour. "The Ripper," "Victim Of Changes," and "Beyond The Realms Of Death" are all conspicuously absent, but considering the fact that this was the commercial 80s, it's not surprising. Additionally, the band seems a lot less venomous than they did before and after this tour (Defenders Of The Faith and Painkiller). Costume-wise, the guys are still decked out in their trademark leather but the designers seemed to get a hold of them, removing the spikes in favor of prints and color patches. And the camera crew must have went out of their way not to film bassist Ian Hill, because you'll only see him in the long shots. The video portion of the DVD is a trip down memory lane. While "Don't Go" has clear homosexual overtones, and the band looks absolutely ridiculous lifting weights on the Olympic gym (remember those from your high school days?) and spending time in the steam room in "Hot Rockin'," they totally capture the vibe of what a heavy metal video should be during "Freewheel Burning," "Love Bites," and "Painkiller." And as many times as I see "You've Got Another Thing Comin'," I can't help but come to the conclusion that it may be the definitive heavy metal video. Electric Eye is essential for any Priest and true heavy metal fan. Now, I'm waiting for them to release Live in Memphis, the concert that captured the band on the Screaming For Vengeance tour. In the meantime, buy this DVD and get ready for Priest on tour in 2004! (Chris Dugan) |