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 order 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 after he had left the band following the “Painkiller” album 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 faux-live setting. Interestingly however, in an article by Ville Krannila on K.K. Downing’s current website, he quoted Glenn Tipton as saying Rob had the flu and a case of partial laryngitis when these recordings were made, which took some of the edge off his voice. Thus, when Priest returned to England, some overdubs were necessary in order to finalise the recording. The difference in explanation has left some people even today that are not convinced the whole album isn’t a ‘sham’, and those of this belief offer the album the rather harsh title of “Unleashed in the Studio”. 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, and that the touch up of vocals was inobtrusive and necessary to provide the best product available.
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, indeed the equal of any other opening side of a live album ever produced. Opening with the brilliance of “Exciter”, Halford reigns in the crowd with his call of “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 studio version on “Killing Machine” is terrific, but it is this live album that makes it the kind of going-out-and-party anthem that should be sung at the top of your voice as you walk between pubs on a Friday night. The awesome “Sinner” follows, again ramping up the studio version into a real humdinger, and then another superb rendition of “The Ripper” leads into the still-perfect version of “The Green Manalishi (With the Two Prong Crown)”. Yes, this may be a cover of a very early Fleetwood Mac song, but here on “Unleashed in the East” it becomes a Judas Priest anthem for ever more. 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 catch match the first half, but only because side A is just so superb. Again, a heavy fast-paced version of “Diamonds and Rust” is the perfect track to lead off side two, another cover song that gets completely blown to pieces here to become a Judas Priest anthem and not a Joan Baez tome. This is followed by “Victim of Changes”, and my word how good does this sound in this live format. Rob’s vocals here are just tremendous, he nails everything brilliantly. One of Priest’s best songs and performed brilliantly by all. 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, but for me this is the album as I will always remember it.
My Judas Priest journey began with this album, and I can think of no better way to do it. The first time I heard Judas Priest was the music video for the song “Freewheel Burning” on ABCTV’s Rage program late one Friday or Saturday night, which blew me away. The following week I went to school and was discussing this with my resident heavy metal music dealer, and his reply was “OK, I’ve got something at home for you”. A few days later, on a blank cassette, he had recorded a different album for me (it was Black Sabbath’s “Heaven and Hell” believe it or not) and on the remaining room left on the cassette I had the first side to Judas Priest’s “Unleashed in the East”. Far out, did that cassette get a hammering over the time that it was alive!! I became obsessed by both albums, but after becoming increasingly annoyed by the fact that I didn’t have the whole album (the cassette cut out just as Rob sings “I’ll be damned, here comes your ghost again” from “Diamonds and Rust”) I had to get my dealer another cassette to record the whole album for me. And then I soon got completely sick of that, and found a way to purchase my own vinyl copy to satisfy my needs (memory serves that “Heaven and Hell” was also purchased around that time).
And I was obsessed by this. And how can you not be? There is nothing bad about this album. It is Judas Priest’s version of Kiss Alive! And for me I believe had the same effect. Prior to “Alive!” Kiss was a good band with a solid following, but that alive showcased what they were, a live band, and how their best songs sounded even better live, and Kiss took off. It is the same here with “Unleashed in the East”. For instance, have a listen to “Rocka Rolla”, the band’s first album, and one I did an episode on just this month. Listen to the way Priest sounded on that album, and then listen to this album. Now THAT’S a journey, and only a period of five years has passed between the two. Priest had EXPLODED in that time, and their songwriting and aggressive joy on stage was a huge part of that. Les Binks’s huge drumming, the booming and underrated bass guitar of Ian Hill. The twin synchronised guitars of K.K. Downing and Glen Tipton at their absolute peak, with solos that scream through the speakers. And Rob freaking Halford ripping vocal chords to shreds. This is a tour de force, a blitzkrieg of metal proportions. I have listened to this again at least 20 times in the past three weeks, and I have been excited when it starts every single time.
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. You know what? I’m going to go and put it on again. Right Now!
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