Essential Judas Priest

Presenting 34 tracks on two discs, THE ESSENTIAL JUDAS PRIEST does an excellent job of living up to its title by featuring many of the revered British heavy-metal band's finest moments. Wisely bypassing the group's years with Tim "Ripper" Owens, the collection features only Priest's beloved Rob Halford-fronted incarnation, with songs ranging from the ensemble's late-1970s beginnings to its 2005 reunion.Although the non-chronological order may put off some purists, the sequencing does highlight the group's consistency of vision, with tracks ranging from the ferocious "Judas Rising" to the fist-pumping "You've Got Another Thing Comin'" to the blistering "Painkiller," all the while showcasing Halford's banshee shriek and K.K. Downing and Glenn Tipton's dual-guitar attack. As an overview of Halford-era Priest, this excellent compilation can't be beat.