Painkiller (Judas Priest album)
| Painkiller | ||||
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| Studio album by Judas Priest | ||||
| Released | 3 September 1990 | |||
| Recorded | January–March 1990 | |||
| Studio | Miraval Studios, Correns, France and Wisseloord Studios, Hilversum, Netherlands | |||
| Genre | Heavy metal,speed metal | |||
| Length | 46:08 | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Producer | Judas Priest and Chris Tsangarides | |||
| Judas Priest chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Painkiller | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   |
| Sputnikmusic | 5.0/5.0 |
Painkiller is the twelfth studio album by British heavy metal band Judas Priest, released in September 1990. It is the last Judas Priest album to feature lead singer Rob Halford until his return for the 2005 album Angel of Retribution and the first to feature drummer Scott Travis.
Painkiller is the first Judas Priest album to feature drummer Scott Travis, who replaced long-time drummer Dave Holland in 1989. Travis was previously a member of Los Angeles band Racer X. The album was recorded at Miraval Studios, Brignoles, France in early 1990 and mixed at Wisseloord Studios, Hilversum, the Netherlands later that year. It was produced by the band and Chris Tsangarides, marking the first time since 1978's Killing Machine that Judas Priest had not worked with Tom Allom.
Many of the album's songs have a fantasy motif, such as the title track describing a superhero-like character who saves mankind from destruction. "A Touch of Evil" uses themes of possession and magic as metaphors for romance. Rob Halford claimed in an interview that the song "Hell Patrol" is about US Air Force pilots flying missions in the Gulf War which started a few months before the release of the album.
Despite the album being finished in March 1990, the album's release was delayed due to the pending, much-publicized subliminal message trial that began on 16 July 1990. The band was the subject of a civil lawsuit alleging their recording was responsible for the suicide attempts of two young men in Reno, Nevada on 23 December 1985. The case was eventually dismissed on 24 August 1990. With the trial behind them, the band finally released the album on 3 September 1990 on LP, cassette and CD.
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