Judas Priest: Their 50 Best Songs, Ranked
Judas Priest is one of the greatest bands in heavy metal – it’s hard to imagine the genre without them, and arguably they’re the second most influential metal group after…
LAS VEGAS – MAY 25: Members of the rock band Judas Priest (L-R) guitarist K.K. Downing, guitarist Glenn Tipton and singer Rob Halford, perform during the VH1 Rock Honors at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on May 25, 2006 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)Judas Priest is one of the greatest bands in heavy metal – it’s hard to imagine the genre without them, and arguably they’re the second most influential metal group after only Black Sabbath. So, we’re totally stoked that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is finally – FINALLY! - inducting them later this year (yeah, it’s the “Musical Excellence” award, but we’ll take it). And as Screaming For Vengeance is about to turn 40, and the band is celebrating its 50th anniversary, we thought that this would be a perfect time to rank the band’s 50 best songs.
50. “Jawbreaker” from ‘Defenders of the Faith’ (1984)
Sony Music49. “(Take These) Chains” from ‘Screaming For Vengeance’ (1982)
Sony Music48. “Angel” from ‘Angel of Retribution’ (2005)
Sony Music47. “Dragonaut (live)” from ‘Battle Cry’
Sony Music46. “Revelations” from ‘Nostradamus’ (2008)
Sony Music45. “Last Rose Of Summer” from ‘Sin After Sin’ (1977)
Sony Music44. “Bloodstone” from ‘Screaming For Vengeance’ (1982)
Sony Music43. “Sword of Damocles” from ‘Redeemer of Souls’ (2014)
Sony Music42. “Epitaph” from ‘Sad Wings Of Destiny’ (1976)
KOCH Records41. “The Rage” from ‘British Steel’ (1980)
Sony Music40. “Genocide” from ‘Sad Wings of Destiny’ (1976)
KOCH Records39. “Grinder” from ‘British Steel’ (1980)
Sony Music38. “Tyrant” from ‘Sad Wings of Destiny’ (1976)
KOCH Records37. “Freewheel Burning” from ‘Defenders of the Faith’ (1984)
Sony Music36. “Let Us Prey/Call For The Priest” from ‘Sin After Sin’ (1977)
Sony Music35. “Dreamer Deceiver/Deceiver” from ‘Sad Wings Of Destiny’ (1976)
KOCH Records34. “Winter/Deep Freeze/Winter Retreat/Cheater” from ‘Rocka Rolla’ (1974)
KOCH Records33. “Island of Domination” from ‘Sad Wings of Destiny’ (1976)
KOCH Records32. “No Surrender” from ‘Firepower’ (2018)
Sony Music31. “Rocka Rolla” from ‘Rocka Rolla’ (1974)
KOCH Records30. “Judas Rising” from ‘Angel of Retribution’ (2005)
Sony Music29. “Evening Star” from ‘Hell Bent For Leather’ (1978)
Sony Music28. “Lightning Strike” from ‘Firepower’ (2018)
Sony Music27. “A Touch Of Evil” from ‘Painkiller’ (1990)
Sony Music26. “Out In The Cold” from ‘Turbo’ (1986)
Sony Music25. “Metal Gods” from ‘British Steel’ (1980)
Sony Music24. “Starbreaker” from ‘Sin After Sin’ (1977)
Sony Music23. “Stained Class” from ‘Stained Class’ (1978)
Sony Music22. “Delivering The Goods” from ‘Hell Bent For Leather’ (1979)
Sony Music21. “The Hellion/Electric Eye” from ‘Screaming for Vengeance (1982)
Sony Music20. “Running Wild (live)” from ‘Unleashed in the East’ (1979)
Sony Music19. “Riding On The Wind” from ‘Screaming For Vengeance’ (1982)
Sony Music18. “Never Satisfied” from ‘Rocka Rolla’ (1974)
KOCH Records17. “The Ripper” from ‘Sad Wings of Destiny’ (1976)
KOCH Records16. “Firepower” from ‘Firepower’ (2018)
Sony Music15. “Sinner” from ‘Sin After Sin’ (1977)
Sony Music14. “Beyond The Realms of Death” from ‘Stained Class’ (1978)
Sony Music13. “Fever” from ‘Screaming For Vengeance’ (1982)
Sony Music12. “Heading Out To The Highway” from ‘Point of Entry’ (1981)
Sony Music11. “Painkiller” from ‘Painkiller’ (1990)
Sony Music10. “The Green Manalishi (With The Two-Pronged Crown)” from ‘Hell Bent For Leather’ (1979)
Sony Music9. “Dissident Aggressor” from ‘Sin After Sin’ (1977)
Sony Music8. “Exciter” from ‘Stained Class’ (1978)
Sony Music7. “Diamonds and Rust” from ‘Rocka Rolla’ (1974)
KOCH Records6. “Living After Midnight” from ‘British Steel’ (1980)
Sony Music5. “Victim Of Changes” from ‘Sad Wings of Destiny’ (1976)
KOCH Records4. “Screaming For Vengeance” from ‘Screaming For Vengeance’ (1982)
Sony Music3. “Breaking The Law” from ‘British Steel’ (1980)
Sony Music2. “You’ve Got Another Thing Coming” from ‘Screaming For Vengeance’ (1982)
Sony Music1. “Hell Bent For Leather” from ‘Hell Bent For Leather’ (1979)
Sony MusicBrian has been working in pop culture and media for about three decades: he’s worked at MTV, VH1, SiriusXM, CBS and Loudwire. Besides working as a writer and an editor-in-chief, he’s also appeared on air as a pundit, guested on radio shows and hosted podcasts. Over the years, he’s interviewed the surviving members of Led Zeppelin, the members of U2, Beyonce, Pink, Usher, Stevie Nicks, Lorde… and is grateful to have had the chance to interview Joe Strummer of the Clash and Tom Petty.
