Band : Judas Priest
Album Title : A Touch Of Evil - Live
Label : Columbia/Sony Music
Distribution : Sony Music
Release date : August 2009
Review : CD

“A Touch Of Evil - Live” is the fifth live album of the English heavy metal band Judas Priest. Yes, you read it right: already the fifth live album of Judas Priest in their 40 years spanning career. To recapitulate: in the past, Priest already released the live albums “Unleashed In The East” (1979), “Priest…Live!” (1987), “Live Meltdown” (1998) and “Live In London” (2003).
This raises the question if this new live album isn’t a superfluous release?
Anyway, the quality of recording is quite decent, but it’s a bit strange that there is silence between the songs. But that’s probably because the live recordings were made on different locations during the world tours of 2005 (following the release of “Angel Of Retribution”)and 2008 (following the release of the concept album “Nostradamus”), even if the accompanying booklet does not specify where each recording actually took place.
Another question raised, is why this live album only contains one CD (containing 11 songs and with a playing time of 60 minutes) and why not a complete concert on double CD?
Strong point though of “A Touch Of Evil - Live” is the excellent setlist, featuring some songs that have never appeared on a previous live album, or at least not with Rob Halford as singer (but at that time with Ripper Owens as vocalist). From the eleven songs, there are four tracks from the period 1977 – 1984. Another three tracks come from the “Painkiller” album (1990) and the four remaining songs originate from the two latest studio releases, “Angel Of Retribution” and “Nostradamus”.
My conclusion: will the true Judas Priest fan be offended if I dare say that the release of this live album smells like a quick money gain from band and record label

60/100

Erik.