Review by Adam M on November 30, 2014.

Stained Class remains one of Judas Priest's absolute finest albums and one of the pinnacles of their seventies era material along with Sad Wings of Destiny. It shows them dropping some of the progressive tendencies that album had in favor of a more molten, pristine sound that remains compelling although it might sound a bit more straightforward. All of the songs display energy and passion that you'll very rarely witness in a metal album. There's a purity that really stands out as a strong point.

One of the greatest songs of all time can be found in Beyond the Realms of Death which is a long ballad that features one of the best solo breaks you'll ever hear. It really packs an emotional punch. But that's not the only marvelous track to be found on the disc. Stained Class and Better By You Better Than Me are both metal classics that have the drive and standout chorus' necessary to completely enrapture the listener. The entire album is really a tour de force of solid songwriting and performances. It shines with power and grace on numerous occasions. Halford's vocals are excellent as is the guitar playing of Downing and Tipton throughout.

Taken as a whole I think this is one of the three best Priest recordings along with the aforementioned Sad Wings of Destiny and Screaming for Vengeance. It has the consistency and majesty to remain one of the greatest metal albums of all time forever. The band really found a sound that was splendid here and would slightly commercialize it on their Hell Bent for Leather and British Steel albums. This comes absolutely recommended to any and all metal fans that for some reason have yet to hear it yet. Essential.

Rating: 10 out of 10

Review by Adam M on November 30, 2014.

Stained Class remains one of Judas Priest's absolute finest albums and one of the pinnacles of their seventies era material along with Sad Wings of Destiny. It shows them dropping some of the progressive tendencies that album had in favor of a more molten, pristine sound that remains compelling although it might sound a bit more straightforward. All of the songs display energy and passion that you'll very rarely witness in a metal album. There's a purity that really stands out as a strong point.

One of the greatest songs of all time can be found in Beyond the Realms of Death which is a long ballad that features one of the best solo breaks you'll ever hear. It really packs an emotional punch. But that's not the only marvelous track to be found on the disc. Stained Class and Better By You Better Than Me are both metal classics that have the drive and standout chorus' necessary to completely enrapture the listener. The entire album is really a tour de force of solid songwriting and performances. It shines with power and grace on numerous occasions. Halford's vocals are excellent as is the guitar playing of Downing and Tipton throughout.

Taken as a whole I think this is one of the three best Priest recordings along with the aforementioned Sad Wings of Destiny and Screaming for Vengeance. It has the consistency and majesty to remain one of the greatest metal albums of all time forever. The band really found a sound that was splendid here and would slightly commercialize it on their Hell Bent for Leather and British Steel albums. This comes absolutely recommended to any and all metal fans that for some reason have yet to hear it yet. Essential.

Rating: 10 out of 10

Review by JD on February 24, 2012.

Norway and metal seems to go together so amazingly. The heavier and darker the metal is, the better it seems to be. Being the womb of the Black Metal movement, it is surprising to some that there are other styles of metal bands that come out of the country and many still with such brutal power and intensity. These bands are as powerful as any Satanic aria delivered by the BM masses. One band that tops the list of these other metallic warriors are a Progressive/Power metal outfit called Pagan’s Mind.

With five studio albums and a well received 2 Disk Live under their belts, Pagan’s Mind are true veterans in the metal world. Touring along side such illustrious acts as Sonata Arctica and Symphony X, they have received deserved acclaim in Europe and even a little State side as well. Sounding close to Iron Maiden meets Dream Theatre with Queensryche and Satavage elements to it, they deliver it all with their own brazen tilt around it. They have earned that acclaim and should get more.

Just taking the few scant moments out of your day to listen to songs like the explosive video single 'Enigmatic Mission' to the pulse accelerating power of 'Celestial Calling'- you’ll get exactly what I am saying. These guys can play, and still blow your mind with the massive sound and very explosive melodies that fuel every second of this album. Truly, this is a work of pure Power/Progressive Metal that speaks volumes, and showcases why the Europeans are so into Power Metal.

I can really get into music that has this heightened sense of intelligence and still keeping heavy as these guys are. Even if you don’t agree with the use of keyboards in metal, Pagan’s Mind has found the way to use them in the right way. Children Of Bodom need to take heed - these Norwegians got it right.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 9
Atmosphere: 9
Production: 8
Originality: 9
Overall: 9

Rating: 9.4 out of 10