Jugulator

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Professional reviews
Jugulator

Studio album by Judas Priest
Released	October 28, 1997
Recorded	1996
Genre	Heavy metal
Length	58:08
Label	SPV
Producer(s)	Glenn Tipton K.K. Downing Sean Lynch
All Music Guide link
Judas Priest chronology
Metal Works (1993)	Jugulator (1997)	Live Meltdown (1998)

Jugulator is the 13th studio album by British heavy metal band Judas Priest, and the first featuring vocalist Tim 'Ripper' Owens. The album was a departure from their older style, referencing late 80s thrash reminiscent of Exodus, post-thrash, nu-metal and death metal. Priest's fantasy lyrics, usually cartoonish in nature, were hardened to deal with grittier and harsher themes such as the eponymous mechanized beast which disembowels its prey, and the end of the world in the song "Cathedral Spires". The guitars were also tuned down as low as C and C#.

The entire album seems to describe the end of the world, from the coming of the Jugulator ("Jugulator") to the actual ending of it ("Cathedral Spires"). The Jugulator itself seems to be a metaphor for the evil that is done in the world. Songs like "Dead Meat", "Decapitate" and "Burn in Hell" all describe the evils that humans do. In the end, the evil deeds are so great in number that it consumes and destroys the world.

Reaction to the album was roughly divided among those who enjoyed the album on its own terms, those who liked the music but preferred that Rob Halford would sing it, and those who disliked it on all counts. However, "Cathedral Spires" is generally regarded as a classic, even by some critics who disliked the rest of the album.

A music video was put into circulation for the song "Burn in Hell", though over 2 minutes of the song was removed in the final video. This song and "Blood Stained" were also included on Judas Priest's box set Metalogy.