The oft-used formula of recording and releasing a live album once a band has released four or five studio albums comes to the fore once again, this time for Judas Priest. Having released five studio albums over a reasonably short period of time, Unleashed in the East: Live in Japan was the result of two nights recording on their Hell Bent for Leather World Tour in Japan, and brought to life a selection of their best material for the fans to feats upon.
Okay, so there has always been some controversy about this album, over whether or not it can be considered to be a ‘live’ album. All through the 1980’s and well into the 1990’s there was a chorus of opinion that the album wasn’t a true live album, and that if it was not in fact recorded in the studio and had live effects dubbed over it then there was a certain amount of ‘clean up’ done in post-production in orders to cover up spots where things didn’t sound as good as the band had hoped for. Eventually, vocalist Rob Halford admitted in an interview that some of the vocals had been ruined on the original recordings, and that to fix these he went into the studio and re-recorded some of those songs in a live setting. Even today there are those out there that are not convinced the whole album is a ‘sham’, but given that no further explanations have ever come from anyone surrounding the band at the time surely it should be accepted that this was the only part that didn’t come from those two nights in Japan.
Beyond this circle of discussion, just listen to the album and discover how terrific it is. Judas Priest’s albums to this point were for the most part excellent and there are plenty of terrific songs on them. Many of them appear on this album. And it is not until you hear them here that you understand just how good those songs are, because they are all improved immeasurably on stage. They are played at a faster tempo, they are louder, and the guitars of Tipton and Downing are superb, flailing their licks and solos in strident support. The rhythm of Ian Hill’s bass is deep and booming and Les Binks’ drums ring through perfectly. Mixed with the screaming vocals of Halford and you have an atmosphere that brings every angle of these songs to a more positive end.
The first side of this album to me is perfect. Opening with the brilliance of “Exciter”, Halford reigns in the crowd with “Fall to your knees and repent if you please!” while the duelling guitars of Tipton and Downing excel. This is followed by an amazing version of “Running Wild” which for me is almost the highlight of the album, as it really brings this song to life. The awesome “Sinner” follows and then another superb rendition of “The Ripper” leads into the still-perfect version of “The Green Manalishi (With the Two Prong Crown)”. Every single one of these songs is improved on this recording and they are still brilliant to listen to with the stereo on 11 today.
The second half of the album isn’t quite to the same standard, but only marginally. Again, a heavy fast-paced version of “Diamonds and Rust” is the perfect track to lead off side two, and is followed by “Victim of Changes” where Rob nails the vocal brilliantly. To complete the set we have great versions of “Genocide” and “Tyrant” to finish off the original album in style. For those that also gained the remastered edition of the CD later on down the line you also get four additional songs which are worth listening to.
Whether or not you consider this to be a true live album is, in the long run, irrelevant. What matters is just how much you enjoy listening to this album, and how good you think it is. Since I was first given a copy of this back in 1986, I have considered it to be an absolute gem. Every version of every song on Unleashed in the East: Live in Japan is a classic, and I never get tired of putting the album on and air guitaring along to every part of it.
Rating: “In for surprise, you’re in for a shooooOOOOOOOCK!!!”. 5/5
Okay, so there has always been some controversy about this album, over whether or not it can be considered to be a ‘live’ album. All through the 1980’s and well into the 1990’s there was a chorus of opinion that the album wasn’t a true live album, and that if it was not in fact recorded in the studio and had live effects dubbed over it then there was a certain amount of ‘clean up’ done in post-production in orders to cover up spots where things didn’t sound as good as the band had hoped for. Eventually, vocalist Rob Halford admitted in an interview that some of the vocals had been ruined on the original recordings, and that to fix these he went into the studio and re-recorded some of those songs in a live setting. Even today there are those out there that are not convinced the whole album is a ‘sham’, but given that no further explanations have ever come from anyone surrounding the band at the time surely it should be accepted that this was the only part that didn’t come from those two nights in Japan.
Beyond this circle of discussion, just listen to the album and discover how terrific it is. Judas Priest’s albums to this point were for the most part excellent and there are plenty of terrific songs on them. Many of them appear on this album. And it is not until you hear them here that you understand just how good those songs are, because they are all improved immeasurably on stage. They are played at a faster tempo, they are louder, and the guitars of Tipton and Downing are superb, flailing their licks and solos in strident support. The rhythm of Ian Hill’s bass is deep and booming and Les Binks’ drums ring through perfectly. Mixed with the screaming vocals of Halford and you have an atmosphere that brings every angle of these songs to a more positive end.
The first side of this album to me is perfect. Opening with the brilliance of “Exciter”, Halford reigns in the crowd with “Fall to your knees and repent if you please!” while the duelling guitars of Tipton and Downing excel. This is followed by an amazing version of “Running Wild” which for me is almost the highlight of the album, as it really brings this song to life. The awesome “Sinner” follows and then another superb rendition of “The Ripper” leads into the still-perfect version of “The Green Manalishi (With the Two Prong Crown)”. Every single one of these songs is improved on this recording and they are still brilliant to listen to with the stereo on 11 today.
The second half of the album isn’t quite to the same standard, but only marginally. Again, a heavy fast-paced version of “Diamonds and Rust” is the perfect track to lead off side two, and is followed by “Victim of Changes” where Rob nails the vocal brilliantly. To complete the set we have great versions of “Genocide” and “Tyrant” to finish off the original album in style. For those that also gained the remastered edition of the CD later on down the line you also get four additional songs which are worth listening to.
Whether or not you consider this to be a true live album is, in the long run, irrelevant. What matters is just how much you enjoy listening to this album, and how good you think it is. Since I was first given a copy of this back in 1986, I have considered it to be an absolute gem. Every version of every song on Unleashed in the East: Live in Japan is a classic, and I never get tired of putting the album on and air guitaring along to every part of it.
Rating: “In for surprise, you’re in for a shooooOOOOOOOCK!!!”. 5/5
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