So there's a new (ish) Judas Priest album and it's pretty darn good. At least one probable enduring classic ("Halls of Vahalla") and many other strong contenders, a good mix of heavy and melodic with a good dose of the contemplative lilt of the battle-scarred viking princeling in a forest clearing pining for the fjords. I've heard complaints about "muddy production" and I know what they mean, but I'm not sure I don't prefer the grit (or whatever it is) and anyway it's plenty clear enough. (And though it's possible I'm just kidding myself about this, the vinyl really does seem to sound a lot better than the included mp3s.) The "deluxe" version (five extra tracks packaged as a double LP) feels more like a full album to me for what that's worth. Five razor sharp throwing stars from me.