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)
Painkiller -
Judas Priest Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Terrifying scream
Enraged and full of anger
He is half man and half machine
Rides the metal monster
Breathing smoke and fire
Closing in with vengeance soaring high
This is the painkiller
Planets devastated
Mankind's on its knees
A savior comes from out the skies
In answer to their pleas
Through boiling clouds if thunder
Blasting bolts of steel
Evils going under deadly wheels
He is the painkiller
This is the painkiller
Faster then a laser bullet
Louder than an atom bomb
Chromium plated boiling metal
Brighter than a thousand suns
Flying high on rapture
Stronger free and brave
Nevermore encaptured
They've been brought back from the grave
With mankind resurrected
Forever to survive
Returns from Armageddon to the skies
He is the painkiller
This is the painkiller
Wings of steel painkiller
Deadly wheels painkiller
He is the painkiller
This is the painkiller
He is the painkiller
This is the painkiller
Pain! Pain! Killer! Killer!
Pain! Pain! Killer! Killer!
Can't stop the painkiller
Pain (pain)
The song "Painkiller" by Judas Priest is a fast-paced heavy metal track that has been a favorite of headbangers since its release in 1990. The lyrics are an ode to a mysterious figure known as the "painkiller," who is described as being half-man and half-machine. He rides a "metal monster" that breathes smoke and fire and is faster than a bullet. The painkiller is portrayed as a powerful force of vengeance, swooping in to save mankind from destruction at the hands of evil forces.
The lyrics of "Painkiller" are filled with vivid imagery and are meant to be a celebration of the power and strength of heavy metal. The song has been interpreted in many different ways, with some seeing it as a metaphor for the power of human resilience in the face of adversity, while others see it as a tribute to the raw energy and excitement of heavy metal music.
Line by Line Meaning
Faster than a bullet
The main character in this song moves quickly and with aggression.
Terrifying scream
This character is also vocal, probably yelling as it moves with such speed and anger.
Enraged and full of anger
This character is not moving casually or calmly. It is completely full of rage and fury.
He is half man and half machine
The character is not human or robot, but a combination of the two.
Rides the metal monster
The character is moving on a metallic beast or machine, like a motorcycle or plane.
Breathing smoke and fire
The machine or beast is exhaling smoke and flames as it moves.
Closing in with vengeance soaring high
As the character moves, it is getting closer and closer to its target, burning with a need for revenge.
He is the painkiller
The title is revealed - this character is the driven by a need to extinguish pain or evil.
Planets devastated
Not even entire planets can stand up to the force this character brings to bear.
Mankind's on its knees
In the face of such catastrophic damage, humanity is helpless and defeated.
A savior comes from out the skies
But salvation comes from above, as the title character arrives to save the day.
Through boiling clouds of thunder
As the painkiller moves through the skies, they pass through dangerous and stormy weather.
Blasting bolts of steel
With every shot or motion, the painkiller is unleashing powerful energy.
Evils going under deadly wheels
This character is unstoppable and crushing forces of evil or destruction.
Faster then a laser bullet
The painkiller moves with spectacular speed and precision.
Louder than an atom bomb
This character's presence is not merely big, but explosive and deafening.
Chromium plated boiling metal
The machine or beast the painkiller is riding on is covered in shiny, hot metal.
Brighter than a thousand suns
This character and its machine possess extreme luminosity and glare that outshines familiar light sources.
Flying high on rapture
As the immediate danger subsides, the character experiences an additional level of ecstasy caused by its extraordinary feat.
Stronger free and brave
The painkiller is not merely empowered by its machine, but has gained courage and self-assurance from its victory.
Nevermore encaptured
The painkiller has shaken off all shackles and bonds and will never become enslaved again.
They've been brought back from the grave
This superhero's deeds are so grand that their impact is felt by the dead, who come back to life.
With mankind resurrected
Positivity becomes omnipresent, as humankind is saved from utter destruction.
Forever to survive
Having survived certain doom, the characters in the story, and by extension listeners, learn that survival is possible no matter how bleak the outlook may seem.
Returns from Armageddon to the skies
The ultimate battle or conflict experienced is concluded, and victory brings the painkiller back high in the sky.
Wings of steel painkiller
Now that the story has come full circle, the title character is back in motion, with the machine as powerful as ever.
Deadly wheels painkiller
An oft-repeated reminder that there is no stopping this character, the line drives home that the painkiller and its machine are lethal.
Can't stop the painkiller
As a variation on a recurring theme, the chorus reiterates that the painkiller cannot be halted or slowed down.
Pain (pain)
Yet more emphasis is added to the single-minded drive and intention of the title character.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Round Hill Music Big Loud Songs
Written by: Glenn Raymond Tipton, Kenneth Downing, Rob Halford
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind