Break out the mullets and the acid wash jeans folks, 'cause by God we've got a full- blown Judas Priest reunion on our hands! It's been 15 years since the original lineup of Halford, Tipton and Downing released Painkiller, and Angel Of Retribution is actually a follow up concept album to Judas Priest's 1976 sophomore breakthrough release Sad Wings Of Destiny. Let's just cut the crap right here why don't we and just cut to the chase. Angel of Retribution is a cash-in record if there ever was one, and you're being fooled if you think otherwise. Oh don't get me wrong, I'm all for cash. Halford's banshee cry over Tipton and Downing's dual guitar attack after all these years apart? It's a downright pleasure to hear it again after a decade and a half hiatus. It even starts off quite promisingly with the one-two punch of the kick-ass openers "Judas Rising" and "Deal With The Devil."

But Angel Of Retribution is anything but original, and most of the time it's a simple lesson in riff lifting 101, as the boys nick one lick after another off of other artists past work. "Revolution" is nothing more than Jane's Addiction's "Mountain Song" with different lyrics, and "Worth Fighting For" is something that Bon Jovi have already done a million times over. Even Jimi Hendrix isn't safe when the intro to "Foxy Lady" is stolen for the beginning of "Wheels Of Fire." Halford and company even commit the cardinal sin of mentioning the titles of past albums in the lyrics here on Angel Of Retribution not once but twice (Painkiller in "Demonizer" and Stained Class in "Eulogy" if you were curious). The biggest snickers though, come courtesy of the bloated 13-minute finale "Lochness." I bet you can't guess what it's about? C'mon, isn't something like the Lochness Monster supposed to be left to the likes of someone like Dio? I mean, really!

I cannot tell a lie - Angel Of Retribution is indeed fun for the first couple of spins, but it definitely isn't something I'll ever want to listen to again anytime soon. And trust me when I say that Judas Priest got just exactly what they wanted out of me with this little reunion - my 15 bucks.