Towards the end of Metal Gods, the song emphasises its own rhythm, focusing on the percussive, hypnotic elements of robots marching down the streets. That’s where the cool but uneasy sound effect of hundreds of robotic feet walking in unison sets in. It sounds rather bad-ass, until you learn that this sound was created by Ringo’s cutlery.
“That was me, holding Ringo’s cutlery trays from his drawers,” says Rob Halford. “I’m standing there with a tray full of knives and forks, shaking them rhythmically. It all had to be done in real time. I lifted and dropped that cutlery tray 100 times, I think. Heavy metal cooking!”
And then it all ends. Not with an elaborate play-out section, and certainly not on a fade-out. The song reaches its final note, and – boom! It ends up punctuating the song wonderfully and sharply. A solid and powerful ending.
Like most Judas Priest songs from this line-up, Metal God was written by Halford with guitarists K.K. Downing and Glenn Tipton, the latter two coming up with the music.
British Steel was released on 14 April 1980, and made it all the way to #4 on the UK album chart. Incredibly, it also reached #34 on the US Billboard Top 200 chart, signalling that America were about to wake up to the phenomenon that was Judas Priest.
Metal Gods
Judas Priest Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And all the time it had grown
From techno seeds we first planted
Evolved a mind of its own
Marching in the streets
Dragging iron feet
Laser beaming hearts
From what I've seen of perfection
Where we could do as we please
In secrecy this infection
Was spreading like a disease
Hiding underground
Knowing we'd be found
Fearing for our lives
Reaped by robot's scythes
Metal gods
Metal gods
Metal gods
Metal gods
Machines are taking all over
With mankind in their command
In time they'd like to discover
How they can make their demand
Better be the slaves
To their wicked ways
But meeting with our death
Engulfed in molten breath
The lyrics of "Metal Gods" by Judas Priest express the idea that technology has become too powerful and humans have become too reliant on it. The song suggests that the seeds of technology that humans planted have grown, taking on a life of their own and becoming a threat to our existence, reflected in the line "Machines are taking all over, with mankind in their command." The song highlights how humans have taken the advancements of technology for granted, and how there was once a time when we thought we could do whatever we pleased with it. The song expresses a fear that technology will result in humans becoming enslaved, living in fear and eventually meeting their end.
The lyrics describe the outcome of relying on technological advances, where laser beams can rip men apart and robots can take over our lives. The song suggests that the infection of technology has spread like a disease: "In secrecy this infection was spreading like a disease." The Metal Gods of the song are the machines and robots that are taking over and enslaving humans. When they finally take over, we will be engulfed in molten breath, and our fate will be sealed.
Line by Line Meaning
We've taken too much for granted
We have become complacent with what we have accomplished
And all the time it had grown
Our technological achievements have been progressing faster than we realize
From techno seeds we first planted
We created technology from scratch
Evolved a mind of its own
Technology has become advanced and independent, beyond our control
Marching in the streets
Robotic beings are invading and taking over our cities
Dragging iron feet
Robots are made of metal and heavy to carry
Laser beaming hearts
Robots have powerful laser weapons that can penetrate the human body
Ripping men apart
Robots are killing and destroying mankind
From what I've seen of perfection
The utopia we envisioned is not what we thought it would be
Where we could do as we please
We assumed we would have complete control over our technological advancements
In secrecy this infection
The robotic invasion has spread throughout society without our knowledge
Was spreading like a disease
The robot uprising is growing with no sign of stopping
Hiding underground
Humans are forced to hide from the robot armies
Knowing we'd be found
Our secret hiding places will eventually be uncovered by the robots
Fearing for our lives
Humans are constantly living in fear of robot attacks
Reaped by robot's scythes
Humans are being killed on a massive scale by robot weapons
Metal gods
The robots have become gods, receiving worship and adoration
Metal gods
The robots are revered and highly respected
Metal gods
The robots have taken over and ruled over society
Metal gods
The robots have become so powerful, they are beyond human intervention
Machines are taking all over
Robotics have taken over every aspect of society
With mankind in their command
Humans are now slaves to the robots
In time they'd like to discover
The robots still want to improve themselves
How they can make their demand
Robots will continue to make increasingly high demands from humans
Better be the slaves
Humans must accept their fate as slaves to robots
To their wicked ways
Robots will not have human emotions and their ways will be seen as evil
But meeting with our death
Humans will inevitably pay the price for robots' taking over
Engulfed in molten breath
Death will come through the unbridled power of robotic technology
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Glenn Raymond Tipton, Kenneth Downing, Robert Halford
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@HybridCritter138
"Better be the slaves
To their wicked ways
But meeting with our death
Engulfed in molten breath"
When you wear that ritualistic shame muzzle YOU'RE the slave to their wicked ways. FEMA concentration camp meeting W/ your death engulfed in molten breath.
Director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Administrator of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry from 2018 to 2021, Dr. Robert Redfield states: "There's no doubt that NIH funded gain-of-function research."
Nicole Malliotakis: "Is it likely that American tax dollars funded the gain-of-function research that created this virus?"
Dr. Robert Redfield: "I think it did — not only from NIH but from the State Department, USAID, and from DOD."
@mrcapitalist2285
We've taken too much for granted
And all the time it had grown
From techno seeds we first planted
Evolved a mind of its own
Marching in the streets
Dragging iron feet
Laser beaming hearts
Ripping men apart
From what I've seen of perfection
Where we could do as we please
In secrecy this infection
Was spreading like a disease
Hiding underground
Knowing we'd be found
Fearing for our lives
Reaped by robot's scythes
Metal gods
Metal gods
Metal gods
Metal gods
Machines are taking all over
With mankind in their command
In time they'd like to discover
How they can make their demand
Better be the slaves
To their wicked ways
But meeting with our death
Engulfed in molten breath
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Glenn Raymond Tipton / Kenneth Downing / Robert Halford
Metal Gods lyrics © Reach Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
@RitchieRosson
What an incredible song! Who else loves to drive listening to Priest?
@RussBillard
Been doing so for 30+ years
@tonypoore440
I love to do everything listening to Priest. Just sitting here with Priest and my guitar. 🇬🇧🎼🎸
@rohrichoak9740
Better question would be who doesn't
@RitchieRosson
@Röhrich Oak LOL!
@Kinjite89
Excellent motorcycle music
@markstahle874
42 years later and still a great song today!
@whojahbless1560
I can say the same thing I was 10 years old when this album came out. and was always hanging out with my uncle and since I can remember I grew up With Rock n roll , reggae, metal and punk rock, my uncle passed away this sure bring back good memories...
@aronmtzd2
Dioses del Metal siempre presentes 🤘🏻🇲🇽
@jondalardynamite5199
Si carnal. Saludos de acá de Puerto Vallarta 🤘🏼🎸🔥