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)
Creatures
Judas Priest Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your heart rate grows
Your pulse is racing faster
They're on your trail
They know you'll fail
You're flirting with disaster
The frost lies thick
Your breath comes quick
No chance for your survival
Life takes it's toll
And burns your soul
They've never had a rival
Creatures of the night
Born and raised to fight
Creatures of the night
Creatures of the night
Creatures
Their sense of smell
Was honed in hell
Their eyes sharp as needles
You're bathed in sweat
You've lost your bet
Caught in this upheaval
Creatures
You're on your own
So scream and moan
It's pointless now for praying
They'll run you through
You'll get what's due
Then they'll call it a day
Creatures of the night
Born and raised to fight
Creatures of the night
Creatures of the night
Creatures
The night wind blows
Your heart rate grows
Creatures of the night
Born and raised to fight
Creatures of the night
Born and raised to fight
Creatures of the night
Born and raised to fight
Creatures of the night
Creatures of the night
Creatures
"Creatures" by Judas Priest is a song about the fear of the unknown and the dangers that hide in the darkness. The lyrics describe a person who is being chased by creatures of the night, whose senses have been honed in hell. The singer is clearly afraid and has lost their chance for survival. The creatures are described as being born and raised to fight, with a sense of smell honed in hell and eyes sharp as needles.
The lyrics also touch on the idea of the inevitability of death, with the line "Life takes its toll and burns your soul, they've never had a rival." The singer is described as being bathed in sweat and having lost their bet, caught in upheaval. They are ultimately left on their own, with no one to save them.
The overall message of "Creatures" is one of warning against the unknown, and the dangers that may lurk in the darkness. The lyrics are ominous and brooding, creating a sense of tension and fear.
Line by Line Meaning
The night wind blows
The setting is sinister with wind blowing in the night, which could be a harbinger of incoming danger.
Your heart rate grows
The singer is scared and their anxiety is climbing up, making their heart beat faster.
Your pulse is racing faster
The fear has gotten to the singer, which is reflected in their increased pulse rate.
They're on your trail
The impending danger has started to unfold, and they're already chasing the artist.
They know you'll fail
The creatures know that the artist's fate is already sealed, and there's no escape from them.
You're flirting with disaster
Despite knowing the danger, the singer is taking foolish chances, and their actions will lead to a catastrophic outcome.
Creatures
The creatures that are after the singer are a force that cannot be reasoned with or tamed, and they are much more powerful than the singer.
The frost lies thick
The surroundings are cold and unforgiving, and the artist is in a place which is unsuitable for human survival.
Your breath comes quick
The fear has made the artist's breathing shallow and rapid, making them vulnerable.
No chance for your survival
The artist's situation is dire and hopeless, there's no way they can outrun or outsmart the creatures.
Life takes its toll
The struggles of life have made the singer weak, and they couldn't withstand the creatures' onslaught.
And burns your soul
The fear, pain, and loss that the artist feels will leave a lasting scar in their mind.
They've never had a rival
The creatures are the apex predator in this scenario, and no one has ever been able to challenge them.
Creatures of the night
The creatures are most active during the night and can operate without being noticed.
Born and raised to fight
The creatures are foragers and hunters by nature, and their entire life is focused on gathering food and protecting themselves.
Their sense of smell
The creatures' sense of smell is so heightened that they can pick up any trace of their prey from miles away.
Was honed in hell
The creatures have lived in harsh environments and have struggled for survival, making them adapt to their surroundings and develop extraordinary hunting skills.
Their eyes sharp as needles
The creatures' vision is exceptionally keen, and they can spot their prey even in total darkness.
You're bathed in sweat
The singer's fear has become too overwhelming, making them sweat profusely.
You've lost your bet
The artist made a bet that they could defeat the creatures or at least escape from them, which has now proved to be a terrible miscalculation.
Caught in this upheaval
The artist is amidst chaos and turmoil, something they're not equipped to handle.
You're on your own
The artist has no allies or support, and they must face the creatures alone.
So scream and moan
The singer can do nothing but make noise to vent out their fear and disappointment.
It's pointless now for praying
The artist has already accepted their fate, and no amount of prayers or pleadings can save them now.
They'll run you through
The creatures will take the singer's life in a gruesome fashion, leaving no chance for survival.
You'll get what's due
The singer has reaped what they sowed, making a series of ill-fated decisions that led to their death.
Then they'll call it a day
The creatures are callous and do not derive pleasure from killing, and once they're done, they will move on, leaving the singer to waste away.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING
Written by: GLENN RAYMOND TIPTON, RICHARD FAULKNER, ROBERT HALFORD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind