"Few bands are able to pull off two phenomenal records in a row, but Judas Priest was one of them. Though not on the level of "Sad Wings of Destiny", "Sin After Sin" stays true to the original Judas Priest--a bluesy, psychedelic heavy metal act trying to make its mark on the music business. Its easy to understand why many fans of the later Priest fail to see the beauty of an album like this...it doesn't "rock" the whole way through. Not to say that it doesn't at all, "Sinner" and "Dissident Aggressor" are two of the most kick-ass Priest songs of all time. But all it takes is one listen of "Last Rose of Summer" to let Rob Halford take you to another world...where the sun is always setting and there are flowers everywhere. And a leather-clad blonde Englishman is standing in the middle of it all, singing. Whoops, looks like I'm drunk again."
Great Follow Up To Sad Wings
JOHN SPOKUS | BALTIMORE, MARYLAND United States | 01/28/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This record had the impossible task of following up the greatest metal album ever made, and still shines despite not quite measuring up to Sad Wings Of Destiny. 'Sinner' is a great piece in the same vein as 'Victim Of Changes'. 'Dissident Agressor' is pure power (later covered by Slayer).'Last Rose Of Summer' is a nice piece with a lighter acoustic texture, a variation that Priest would lose forever after Hell Bent For Leather. The almost disco 'Diamonds And Rust' is the only weak spot. That song was done way better on Unleashed In The East, a version that I love.All in all their second best though."
STRONG - GOOD - SUPREME
Pitchulo Dun Dun | Filha de Uma Puta | 09/18/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The first album in Columbia / CBS by Priest. IT's just astonishing how Judas could always change their sound completely from one album to another, and still sound good !! As for the music here, reviewer DAniel Pinto said it all. I particularly love this album, love all the PRIEST albuns with the following exceptions: TURBO, RAM IT DOWN, JUGULATOR and DEMOLITION. They do not suck, but are not in the same league of their other albuns."
If this is sinning...
Michael Thomas Roe | Atlanta | 03/23/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Not too sure if it is the dark moods that I find myself in, but this CD is pretty tasty. All in all, "Sin After Sin" verges on the apocalyptic and can be more than a little bit creepy. The listener will know he is being set up for the fall, when, after an excellent pop-rock rendition of Joan Baez's "Diamonds and Rust" (is this surreal enough?), the Priests embark on a conceptual heavy metal, imagery laden tour of Life and Hell. The cauldrin begins to simmer with the "Last Rose of Summer" and reaches a boil with the demonic sweetenings of "Let Us Prey", and "Call For The Priest/Raw Deal". And then... Rob Halford, emotions frayed, drained by the double entendres, seeing nothing but pitch black at the end of his tunnel, screams out to be loved on "Here come the Tears". But not to be! After one mighty explosion the devil himself rides in to the galloping strains of "Dissident Agressor", the final track. Hair raising stuff. Deep Puple's mighty Roger Glover produced this one and it shows."
Still one of the all time greats
mike | new york | 11/22/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This has been and always will be my favorite Judas Priest album. Sad Wings would be a very close second. Much more feeling than the leather and spikes era soon to follow. If you are a big fan of Turbo or Ram it Down you may not appreciate it as much. Dissidant Agressor is one of the best songs ever written by J.P. (Slayer remade this on South of Heaven, while not the same it was still good.)If you haven't listened to this, give it a try."