Judas Priest - "Turbo", 1986

I'll say it right away: "Turbo" is - if not my absolute favorite Judas Priest album - certainly among the first three. Now you can either leave the page, practice harakiri while listening to "British Steel", or keep on reading.

In 1985, Priest had finally conquered the hearts of the American metalheads, and it was on its way to becoming a bona fide metal institution. The "British Steel", "Screaming for Vengeance", and "Defenders of the Faith" trifecta (yeah, I purposely left "Point of Entry" out, but we'll talk about that some other day) was as flawless as it gets, and it would have been difficult to top even for the band itself. Judas Priest then thought it would have been better to try something different, both to avoid artistic stagnation and to further expand its following in the US with something more in line with the American market. Around the same time, electronic instrument company Roland offered the band some brand-new synth guitars to test, and guitar duo Downing and Tipton obliged; the whole situation was probably shaping up to be a disaster in the eyes of every 80s heavy metal defender. Predictably, "Turbo" raised more than a few eyebrows on release due to its more commercially viable sound, synth-pop tendencies, and light-hearted mood.

Written, recorded, and mixed between Spain, the Bahamas, Miami, and finally Los Angeles, the sessions saw the band getting often distracted by an excess of partying, with the members indulging in booze, drugs, sex, and other extracurricular activities. It was mid-80s hedonism at its most self-destructive, and Halford later checked himself into rehab before the tour in support of the album. In spite of all the debauchery and personal issues, particularly affecting the singer, "Turbo" doesn't sound like a bunch of guys going through some dark times at all; it's actually one of the most easy-listening albums of the band, and it's a very cohesive effort - while displaying a more radio-friendly approach - showing no signs of confusion or sloppy songwriting whatsoever.

Certainly closer to hard rock than pure metal, it's a record that was tailor-made for the American audiences of the times; virtually every song on it could be the soundtrack to some stereotypical 80s movie, and the band reportedly was asked for "Reckless" to be originally featured on the "Top Gun" soundtrack. The whole album was filled with great material, though; "Locked In", also chosen as a single, was an irresistible song, and it should have been a classic, while the title track combined a darker, synthetic mood with an anthemic chorus and went on to become a beloved staple of the live shows during the 2000s, once the album finally became more tolerated by the new legions of fans.

"Private Property", "Parental Guidance", and "Wild Nights, Hot & Crazy Days" are fist-pumping, arena-rock hits that you'd want to blast at full volume on the car stereo of your convertible 1986 Chevrolet Corvette while riding through the streets of Miami; the more uptempo "Rock You All Around the World", while enjoyable, sports a rather silly chorus, but the harder "Hot for Love" would have fit comfortably in any other Priest record, if not for some of the synth guitars. The same could be said for the excellent "Out in the Cold", showcasing one of the best performances by the Metal God himself.

Talking about Halford, the singer sounds as solid as ever throughout the record, and his vocals combine with the more melodic material brilliantly. The rest of the band plays as tight as it gets, although I wouldn't swear on Holland actually playing the drums on here; if he did, the sound is so processed and it resembles so much a drum machine that it's hard to tell. Still, it's way better than on 1988's "Ram It Down". 

The cover art by Doug Johnson is rather questionable, although it's so kitsch that I ended up liking it; after all, everything on the album is so 80s that one couldn't expect anything less cheesy than that. Still, I prefer the 30th anniversary CD color scheme; I think it fits well with the synth-infused atmosphere of the record. 

The lyrics are pretty shallow too; it's just a collection of songs about love, sex, having fun, and playing rock as loud as possible; it's all quite juvenile, and it seems like it's tailor-made for teenagers, but what would you expect from a record that was named after the new Porsche Turbo that guitarist K.K. Downing bought prior to the recording sessions? 

"Turbo" might not be the heaviest record done by Judas Priest, and it's more in line with the hard rock and glam stuff that was the flavor of the day back then, particularly in the US; still, it's a lot of fun, and the band managed to excel even while being partially out of its element. It's probably not the album Priest will be remembered for, but I'm not ashamed to admit that it's the one that I revisit more often these days.