Crucible

OK, a bit of WARNING at first for those purists out there. If you're one that disliked the '04 remixed and remasters of the Capitol Records Megadeth albums then you may not like this remaster. Because most songs on here sound entirely different than their original mix. In fact, in some cases, it sounds like they could have been totally re-recorded. Because I don't recognize half of the parts in them. And Crucible was my favorite Halford album, so I know these songs pretty well.But with that said, this has got to be the most reworked album to date. Most of the time, you can't tell a whole hellava lot of difference between originals and remasters, but this one is like a whole new album. All instruments are very clear. I kept my original MP3s on my PC just to compare them to this one and they sound extremely muddy compared to this version, but like I said, the additional clarity brings out such a newer and richer sound, along with the remixing, they don't sound like the original versions hardly at all.That said, I give this release 4 stars for not including a disc of the original mixes just remastered only. 'Cause as I listen to these I'm expecting certain parts and stuff and they have been changed so much that I hardly recognize the songs anymore.

Rob Halford continues to prove himself the metal god with his solo band's sophomore effort "Crucible". This is a hard hitting modern metal album sprinkled with all of the elements that made Halford's main band Judas Priest great. Overall this album is heavier that Priest and is even more intense Halford's first album "Resurrection". The version I am reviewing here is the 2010 re-master. I never heard the original so cannot really comment on the differences between the two. Apparently there are 4 or 5 tracks not on the original disc and the order has been changed. Indeed this album is chock full of 16 tracks almost all of which are strong. Halford's voice is incredible on this album and there are plenty of loud guitars and hard hitting drums to back him up. Most of the album rocks pretty hard, but also included are songs like "She". Although not exactly a ballad, it is a slower tempo tune that really shows how well Rob can sing and not just scream. Overall this is a very strong release for those who like classic modern metal.

This cd is more like a 'fight' cd than a judas priest cd. And for me that's not a good thing. I believe the best metal is the melodic metal done in the old way. Speed metal, thrash and the rest were always sidebars to the far more popular melodic metal that was once the worlds number one music, at the time I enjoyed the other types of metal some but knew that musically they just weren't to me as enjoyable and most people agreed , although they had their place in the grand sceme and deserved some radio play too , in fact hugely popular traditional melodic metal was under attack and then sidelined by meth head types and metal became a very small enterprise indeed. With most hard rock channels quickly ceasing to exist!Metal was a very large field but when programmers tried to mainly go thrashy and growly or poor vocal stylings they effectively consigned hard rock to almost oblivion. Their desire to be Thrashy HARD, or extreme ONLY caused this if they had nutured the melodic beside the grunge or even worse thrashy things would have been ok and metal not a limited scope enterprise. Halford is more of a speed metal type of disc and that may please some of those fans. And it's a decent disc but for me it's just like the terrible hard rock channels that somehow exist today but few listen to. It's not melodic metal as much as speed metal so don't expect your woman to like it where they could back in the days of 1980's. So if you are looking for that type of melodic metal with awesome vocals that soar you won't find it here. It's still good speed rock almost type of music. WHich I enjoy sometimes. If you don't buy the new priest disc "nostradamus" it's pretty good in a more melodic manner.

This album and Fight War of Words are my two favorite Halford solo works. War of Words is raw and unpretentious. This is more produced, but stops short of being glossy. Fantastic compositions and arrangements, killer playing by all band members and one of the fattest sounding albums in metal.

I was a bit surprised as to how good his voice sounds after all of these years. In fact, I like his recent music like this one better than the music from Judas Priest. It had been a while since I had bought a heavy metal CD, but I thought that I would try it after enjoying the Winter Songs album which has some interesting takes on Christmas music. There were a couple of songs that I didn't care for but for the most part it was very well done.

Stephen notes that a lot of songs sound similar to other bands on this CD. I agree. One such song that Stephen mentions is "Handing Out Bullets". To me, this song sounds something like what Overkill would do. In fact, the vocals sound very similar to how Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth sings. I'd say that if you didn't know you were listening to Halford, you'd swear you'd be listening to a new Overkill album.Also, Halford is not pushing 60, as some reviewer stated. Halford was born in August 1951. So you do the math, depending on when you see this review. Currently, as of Feb. 2006, he's 54. Quite a big difference if you ask me.

If you like Halford's resurrection then you will love Crucible...I really liked Resurrection and IMO this CD is stronger top to bottom !!!!!!!BOTH GREAT CD'S and a must have !!!!!!! to any Halford fan..Halford's solo projects Halford, and his band FIGHT, are all better than any Judas Priest cd since Painkiller (though i am really digging FIREPOWER!!!)

Not Priest but very good

GRRREAAAT!!!

Dark,claustrophobic, mourning and cohesive. The metal god explores his dark and sad emotions." Trail of tears " is astonishing and shivering: " God is with you but won't help you"...

Como digo Rob en estado puro, no le pongo 5 estrellas porque, en el anterior disco que se sacó en 2002 el disco original (yo tengo los dos por eso lo sé) hay una canción que a mí juicio tenía que estar aquí y no está, algo incomprensible, en este disco hay 16 canciones y tenía que haber con la nueva remasterización 1 más, juntando las canciones del anterior, es por eso que no le pongo 5 estrellas pero bueno, que se le va hacer, paso a decir que canciones tiene.Y otra cosa el orden de las canciones, no es el mismo que en el original, y tambien voy a poner las canciones que son nuevas con un asterisco, y la canción que salió en el original y que no aparece aquí, en esta remasterización.1 - Betrayal2 - One Will3 - Hearts Of Darkness4 - Golgotha5 - Handing Out Bullets6 - Crystal7 - Fugitive8 - Wrath Of God9 - In The Morning*10 - Rock The World Forever*11 - Crucible12 - Heretic13 - She14 - Weaving Sorrow15 - Sun16 - Trail Of TearsDisco Original1 - Park Manor

Etwas unterkühlt, viell. für einge zu modern und sperrig kam 2002 "Crucible" als Nachfolger von der starken (Priest - mässigen) "Resurrection" daher. Richtige Kracher - Fehlanzeige.Die Bandmitglieder Patrick Lachmann(g), Mike Chlasciak(g), Bobby Jarzombek(d), Ray Riendeau(b) sind neben dem "Metalgod" allerdings die selben - mit einem Unterschied: Roy Z tritt nur als Produzent und Songwriter in Erscheinung - Er fehlt als aktiver Gitarrist.Die Songs klingen meist wieder mehr nach seinem ersten Solo Projekt *Fight*. Die Klasse und Energie vom ersten Fight Album: "War Of Words" wird aber nicht erreicht. Dazu kommt noch, die nicht ganz gelungene, dünnere Produktion - klingt alles bisschen weit weg.Halfords Stimme ist aber nach wie vor ein Pfund. Was er aus den Songs herausholt, seine Art die Dinge zu interpretieren gefällt mir. Die Songs ungewöhnlich, aber hörenswert. Der eingängiste - ist Track 3: *One Will*. Track 8: *Heretic* hat paar Metallica Anleihen.Sicher haben viele Priest Fans das Album gekauft und waren enttäuscht (ging mir damals auch so) - Im Grunde war hinter den Kulissen klar, das Rob bald wieder zu seiner alten Band zurückkehrt - musste eben noch ein Solo Album abliefern und hat passende Priest Ideen für später einbehalten. *Crucible* ist - wenn man es mehr mit *Fight*, als mit *Judas Priest* im Hinterkopf beurteilt - aber gar nicht so übel.(Ich liege so zwischen 3 od. 4 Sternen - runde hier aber mal nicht auf...)