"“The Warning” signalled the first full album release from Queensrÿche, following the release of their EP the previous year. That EP had been full of the kind of material that heavy metal fans look for, and its short sharp burst had fans keyed up to see what would come from the band on their fledgling debut opus.

It is obvious early on that while the EP had been packed full of the kinds of riffs and solos that set the mouth-watering, “The Warning” does not go down that same metal path, though my thoughts do tend to be different from many of the so-called experts. To me this is a much more progressive kind of album than straight out heavy metal, and yet many out there think exactly the opposite. And yet I believe there is a greater variety of tunes here, with the band not afraid to put in parts that are much softer and quieter than a traditional metal band would do. And while there are some great riffs and solos here, they don't really match that initial fury of what was produced on that four-track starter. Now that is not to suggest this album therefore doesn't cut it. In fact, there are some great songs here, but some come here looking for more songs that could be directly attributed to those first songs than what we find here on this album".

On this episode we are going to talk about “The Warning” by Queensrÿche, the band’s debut studio album released 40 years ago this week, on today’s episode where ‘most of this is memory now, I've gone too far to turn back now’ on Music from a Lifetime.

"For those who have not heard Mercyful Fate before, it tends to be the vocals of the amazing King Diamond that becomes the most difficult part of the music to comprehend, or sometimes even get past. And to get past it is an amazingly rewarding experience. One of the best pieces of advice I have heard in regard to listening to Mercyful Fate is that you have to just ‘go with it’. Don’t just immediately cast it side because the vocals scare you off. I said the same thing on the episode dedicated to the album “Melissa”. Over time the vocals will fit, you just have to ‘go with it’. Because the music itself is more than enough to make you a fan of this band and especially this album. Believe me, King Diamond and his vocal style will soon be a favourite for you. His singing on this album is a huge jump forward from the debut album as well, he isn’t just throwing those high pitched squeals and screams in at a random place because he can, they are more structured within each song on “Don’t Break the Oath”".

On this episode we are going to talk about “Don’t Break the Oath” by Mercyful Fate, the band’s 2nd studio album released 40 years ago this week, on today’s episode where ‘when the black Book appeared the Lights were dim, but the Face in the Book was in Daylight’ on Music from a Lifetime.

"With the departure of Atkins, Downing and Hill went out and recruited two new members, drummer John Hinch and his lead singer from his band, Rob Halford, who was also the brother of Hill’s then girlfriend. The band then played gigs all through 1973, and in 1974 made their first tour of Europe, all still without a record contract. On their return to England in April of 1974, they signed a deal with Gull Records, and began preparations to record their debut album. It was at this time that the band decided to fill out the group with a second guitarist, and so recruited Glenn Tipton to join the band. However, as this came at the time when the songwriting had been completed, his contributions to this album were minimal, and would become more important down the track.

And so, after five years, one dissolution, one rebirth, countless changes in personnel and a long apprenticeship on the gigging tour, Judas Priest finally had their chance to show what they had to offer on vinyl, with the album that became their debut opus, “Rocka Rolla”".

On this episode we are going to talk about “Rocka Rolla” by Judas Priest, the band’s debut studio album released 50 years ago this week, on today’s episode where we ask ‘where would you be without music, you would be nowhere at all’ on Music from a Lifetime.