Point of Entry [Bonus Tracks] [Remaster] (CD - 1981)

Judas Priest: Rob Halford (vocals); Glenn Tipton, K.K. Downing (guitar); Ian Hill (bass); Dave Holland (drums).

Digitally remastered by Jon Astley.

Judas Priest: Dave Holland , Glenn Tipton, Ian Hill, K.K. Downing, Rob Halford.

Personnel: Rob Halford (vocals); Glenn Tipton, K.K. Downing (guitar); Ian Hill (bass guitar); Dave Holland (drums).

Audio Mixer: Tom (Colonel) Allom.

Recording information: Puk Studios, Denmark (1981).

Photographer: Art Kane.

Having reinvented themselves as an arena metal act with the hugely successful British Steel, Judas Priest naturally opted to stay the course with Point of Entry, keeping things simple while adding a bluesy boogie in places, a sound they hadn't really attempted in quite some time. However, where British Steel's simplicity was an effective reworking of the band's sound, Point of Entry's songs aren't always up to par, making its less well-crafted tracks sound like lunkheaded, low-effort filler. When Point of Entry works, it works well -- "Heading Out to the Highway," "Solar Angels," and "Desert Plains," for example, are great, driving hard rock songs, but British rock anthem hits "Don't Go" and "Hot Rockin'" seem oddly generic given Priest's reputation for inventiveness. Even if Point of Entry is somewhat disappointing overall, though, it's partly because of the album's genre-transforming predecessors; it does have enough good moments to make it worthwhile to diehards and fans of the group's more commercial '80s output. ~ Steve Huey

During Judas Priest's lengthy and successful career, at certain times the band has tried to crossover to a wider, not strictly headbanging audience. While 1986's TURBO is Priest's most obvious attempt in this direction, 1981's POINT OF ENTRY comes a close second.

After the release of BRITISH STEEL, its most successful album yet, the band decided to take the singalong anthem direction of "Breaking the Law" and "Living After Midnight" one step further with POINT OF ENTRY. Such tracks as "Hot Rockin'," "Heading Out to the Highway," and "Don't Go," were all early MTV favorites, and although Judas Priest didn't exactly battle REO Speedwagon and Styx for the top of the charts on this outing, it deserves credit for this attempt to widen its horizons.

Having reinvented themselves as an arena metal act with the hugely successful British Steel, Judas Priest naturally opted to stay the course with Point of Entry, keeping things simple while adding a bluesy boogie in places, a sound they hadn't really attempted in quite some time. However, where British Steel's simplicity was an effective reworking of the band's sound, Point of Entry's songs aren't always up to par, making its less well-crafted tracks sound like lunkheaded, low-effort filler. When Point of Entry works, it works well -- "Heading Out to the Highway," "Solar Angels," and "Desert Plains," for example, are great, driving hard rock songs, but British rock anthem hits "Don't Go" and "Hot Rockin'" seem oddly generic given Priest's reputation for inventiveness. Even if Point of Entry is somewhat disappointing overall, though, it's partly because of the album's genre-transforming predecessors; it does have enough good moments to make it worthwhile to diehards and fans of the group's more commercial '80s output. [The 2001 Columbia/Legacy reissue adds two bonus tracks: "Thunder Road" and a live version of "Desert Plains."] ~ Steve Huey minimize