Judas Priest is an English heavy metal band formed in Birmingham, Warwicksh… Read Full Bio ↴Judas Priest is an English heavy metal band formed in Birmingham, Warwickshire in 1969. They have sold over 50 million albums and are frequently ranked as one of the greatest metal bands of all time. Despite an innovative and pioneering body of work in the latter half of the 1970s, the band had struggled with indifferent record production and a lack of major commercial success until 1980, when they rose to commercial success with the album British Steel.

The band's membership has seen much turnover, including a revolving cast of drummers in the 1970s and the departure of singer Rob Halford in 1992. Tim "Ripper" Owens, formerly of Winter's Bane, replaced Halford in 1996 and recorded two albums with Judas Priest, before Halford returned to the band in 2003. The current line-up consists of Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill and drummer Scott Travis. The band's best-selling album is 1982's Screaming for Vengeance, with their most commercially successful line-up featuring Ian Hill, Rob Halford, Glenn Tipton, guitarist K. K. Downing, and drummer Dave Holland. Tipton and Hill are the only two members of the band to appear on every album.

Halford's operatic vocal style and the twin guitar sound of Downing and Tipton have been a major influence on heavy metal bands. Judas Priest's image of leather, spikes, and other taboo articles of clothing were widely influential during the glam metal era of the 1980s. The Guardian referred to British Steel as the record that defines heavy metal. Despite a decline in exposure during the mid-1990s, the band has once again seen a resurgence, including worldwide tours, being inaugural inductees into the VH1 Rock Honors in 2006, receiving a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 2010, and having their songs featured in video games such as Guitar Hero and the Rock Band series. In 2022, Judas Priest were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judas_Priest

Studio albums
Rocka Rolla (1974)
Sad Wings of Destiny (1976)
Sin After Sin (1977)
Stained Class (1978)
Killing Machine (1978)
British Steel (1980)
Point of Entry (1981)
Screaming for Vengeance (1982)
Defenders of the Faith (1984)
Turbo (1986)
Ram It Down (1988)
Painkiller (1990)
Jugulator (1997)
Demolition (2001)
Angel of Retribution (2005)
Nostradamus (2008)
Redeemer of Souls (2014)
Firepower (2018)
Invincible Shield (2024)

14.Hell Bent for Leather
Judas Priest Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Seek him here, seek him on the highway
Never knowing when he'll appear
All await, engine's ticking over
Hear the roar as they sense the fear

Wheels! A glint of steel and a flash of light!
Screams! From a streak of fire as he strikes!

Hell bent, hell bent for leather
Hell bent, hell bent for leather

Black as night, faster than a shadow
Crimson flare from a raging sun
An exhibition, of sheer precision
Yet no one knows from where he comes

Fools! Self destruct cannot take that crown
Dreams! Crash one by one to the ground

Hell bent, hell bent for leather
Hell bent, hell bent for leather

There's many who tried to prove that they're faster
But they didn't last and they died as they tried

There's many who tried to prove that they're faster
But they didn't last and they died as they tried

Hell bent, hell bent for leather
Hell bent, hell bent for leather

Hell bent, hell bent for leather
Hell bent, hell bent for leather

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to “Hell Bent for Leather” by Judas Priest seem to be about a mysterious, powerful, and unstoppable force that leaves destruction in its wake. The song describes a person or entity that can appear at any time and strike fear into those who witness it. The opening lines suggest that this force can be found anywhere, whether on the highways or in one’s own mind. The anticipation of its arrival is palpable, as the sound of an engine ticking over is enough to send shivers down the spines of those waiting for it.

The imagery used in the lyrics of “Hell Bent for Leather” portrays what seems to be a motorcycle ride or a race. The repeated phrase “Hell bent, hell bent for leather” suggests an intense focus and determination to win at all costs. The use of “black as night” and “faster than a shadow” adds to the sense of danger and wild abandon. There is also a sense of excellence and perfectionism in the description of this entity’s movements: “An exhibition, of sheer precision.”

However, the song also hints at the dire consequences that come with pursuing such a reckless and dangerous lifestyle. The phrase “self-destruct cannot take that crown” suggests that those who attempt to follow in the footsteps of this entity will ultimately fail, as evidenced by the line “there’s many who tried to prove that they’re faster, but they didn’t last and they died as they tried.” The overall message of the song seems to be one of caution, urging the listener to consider the cost of their actions before blindly pursuing their own desires.

Line by Line Meaning

Seek him here, seek him on the highway
Looking for him everywhere, on the streets

Never knowing when he'll appear
Uncertain about his arrival

All await, engine's ticking over
Everyone is ready, the engine is running

Hear the roar as they sense the fear
Hearing the sound of the engine indicates fear

Wheels! A glint of steel and a flash of light!
The car is fast and shiny, and moves quickly

Screams! From a streak of fire as he strikes!
Scary screams from the car moving quickly

Hell bent, hell bent for leather
Going fast, feeling reckless

Black as night, faster than a shadow
The car is black and moving faster than a shadow

Crimson flare from a raging sun
Bright red light from the sun, like fire

An exhibition, of sheer precision
A display of superb driving skills

Yet no one knows from where he comes
The driver is unknown