British Steel is Judas Priest‘s thickest, toughest-sounding album. It’s also one of their best—though I think Painkiller is more consistent in its greatness and equally valid for those descriptors. “Metal Gods” and “United” are the odd duds on British Steel, the latter clearly being an attempt to recreate Queen‘s “We Are the Champions.” Judas Priest’s sense of playfulness and unwillingness to take their heavy metal posturing as seriously as some of their contemporaries is what makes them such a lovable band.

British Steel has two of my personal favorites, “Rapid Fire” and “Grinder,” and the undeniable classic, “Breaking the Law.” Other than that, only Motörhead brought heavy metal this close to punk rock. It’s difficult to pin a single album down as a starting point for Judas Priest, and likewise their greatest, but few fans would be upset at the suggestion of British Steel, and for good reason.