While Van Halen thrived following a lead-singer switch (the first time around, at least!), Judas Priest aren't likely to be that lucky. It's due not so much to the departure of founding vocalist Rob Halford and the entrance of stellar replacement Tim "Ripper" Owens as it is the waning interest in the old-school metal Priest spearheaded. That and the fact that Demolition's songs--all 70 minutes of them--are pedestrian and often silly. Priest still has the dual-guitar onslaught of K.K. Downing and Glenn Tipton powering the music, and Owens's vocals soar. But many of the disc's 13 often-too-lengthy cuts lack the catchy hooks of "Turbo Lover" or the driving force of "Living After Midnight." There's a surprising lack of power in "Jekyll and Hyde," "One on One," and the sappy "Close to You." "Feed on Me" and "Machine Man" are winners, but, as a whole, Demolition inflicts little damage. --Katherine Turman
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