HEAR THE ROAR
AS THEY SENSE THE FEAR
WHEELS !
A GLINT OF STEEL
AND A FLASH OF LIGHT
SCREAMS !
FROM A STREAK OF FIRE
AS HE STRIKES
Killing Machine
(also known as Hell Bent for Leather)
is the fifth
studio album
by English
Heavy Metal band
released in
November 1978,
by CBS Records internationally,
and received a
United States release on
February,28th 1979,
by Columbia Records.
The album pushed the band
towards a more
commercial style
while still featuring
the dark lyrical themes
of their previous albums.
At about the same time,
the band members
adopted their now-famous
"leather-and-studs"
fashion image,
inspired by
Rob Halford's interest in
leather culture.
It is the band's
last studio album
to feature drummer
Les Binks.
International and American Versions
The album was retitled
Hell Bent for Leather
for its US release
on
February,28th 1979.
Singer Rob Halford
simply said that their
US-label found
Killing Machine
too much of a
heavy statement to use,
and suggested the
alternative title
to the band.
It was feared that the
‘murderous implications’
of the original title
would be too much
for the larger record retailers
to want to put the LP
on its racks.
Both album titles
are drawn from the titles
of songs on the album
with
"The Green Manalishi (With the Two Prong Crown)",
an early
Fleetwood Mac cover,
being added to
the US release.
The album was also pressed in red vinyl in the UK.
Overview
With
Killing Machine,
Judas Priest
began moving to a
more accessible,
commercial format
that abandoned the complex,
fantasy-themed songs
of their previous
three albums.
While this album
still had dark undertones,
it was more grounded
in realism.
This was reflected in
their change of
stage costumes
from flowing Gothic robes
to leather,
but was also a reaction
to the rising punk
and new wave movements.
Priest were part of the influence
on the NWOBHM,
but not part of it.
The band's new,
simpler sound was the result
of several factors,
amongst them being
a desire to compete
with the energy
and speed of
punk rock,
the need to produce songs
that were easier
to perform live,
and the wish to appeal more
to American audiences.
Tracks such as
"Burnin' Up"
and
"Evil Fantasies"
are replete with
S&M themes
while
"Running Wild"
is about
late-night partying
and
"Before the Dawn"
a depressing ballad.
"Hell Bent for Leather"
reflected their newly
adopted leather costumes
as well as
Rob Halford's
soon-to-be-trademark
entrances on stage
riding a
Harley-Davidson motorcycle.
The single
"Take On the World"
was an attempt at
producing a
stadium shoutalong tune
in the mould of
Queen's
"We Will Rock You",
and was also covered by
new wave band
The Human League
on their 1980 tour.
The song's influence endures:
in 2021,
the band Spoon
released the single
"Wild",
which samples its
drum patterns from
"Take On the World".
The record was
released as a
7-inch single
and was backed with
a remix
by Dennis Bovell
which features
the same drum pattern.
"Hell Bent For Leather"
and a cover version of
the Fleetwood Mac song
"The Green Manalishi"
were the two songs
from
Killing Machine
which became
standard parts
of the band's
Live Set Lists
The lyrics on the album were
simplified somewhat
in comparison with the
band's previous albums,
adapted into a more
mainstream arena rock format,
but the instrumentation
retains the band's
characteristic aggressiveness
with heavier guitar riffing
and elements of
blues influence
returning on some songs.
The album is certified gold
by the RIAA.
Reissues
The album was remastered in 2001,
with two bonus tracks
added
(three in the UK).
The bonus track
"Fight for Your Life"
was the
"original"
version of
Judas Priest's
"Rock Hard Ride Free"
from their
Defenders of the Faith album.
"The Green Manalishi
(With the Two-Pronged Crown)"
is considered a
bonus track
on the
UK remaster,
but a regular track
on the
U.S. version.
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