Coming off the success of 1980's British Steel, Judas Priest released Point of Entry, which marked yet another stylistic change for the band. The songs were shorter, the tempoes simpler, and with a more mainstream feel overall. Indeed, this albums has more of a '70s rock feel than any of their '70s albums. It sounds almost as if it's an evolutionary dead end, a brief foray into mainstream rock before the metallic assault of Screaming for Vengeance. However, even as a dead end, it makes a killer album. The songs are consistently good, with the expected screams from Rob and the dualing Glenn/K.K. solos, and for once in the Dave Holland era, some excellent rythem playing. Rob's lyrics, often silly to near the point of self-parody on later albums, are effective and well-written here. Songs like Desert Plains, already instrumentally great, are pushed over the limit with some great lyrics to accompany them. All in all, if you're a Priest fan who already has most of their releases and is looking to round pout the collection, this is a must-have.

POINT OF ENTRY is to JUDAS PRIEST what CARESS OF STEEL is to RUSH.

Overlooked, neglected, and absolutely MAGNIFICENT.

GUITAR ROCK AT IT'S FINEST!

I first purchased this recording on cassette tape in 1981, I was in my senior year of high school. At the time, I already owned the BRITISH STEEL (1980) and HELL BENT FOR LEATHER (1978) cassettes (purchased in that order). By then, "Living After Midnight", from BRITISH STEEL, had received SO MUCH airplay that I never wanted to hear it again. Much was the same for the entire BRITISH STEEL cassette. My friends just absolutely played it into the ground. POINT OF ENTRY WAS A BREATH OF FRESH AIR! In fact, I think my friends were asleep when this was released, because I was the only person I knew listening to it. I'll say again, POINT OF ENTRY WAS A BREATH OF FRESH AIR, JUDAS PRIEST STYLE!

Positioned between BRITISH STEEL (1980) & SCREAMING FOR VENGEANCE (1982), it lacked the commercial airplay appeal of those other releases, and therefore explains much of the neglect that has occurred. By the time SCREAMING... arrived on the scene, everyone was playing it into the ground too! My friends awoke! POINT OF ENTRY just sort of disappeared in the sunset. Such a SHAME! By now, HELL BENT... & POINT OF... were the PRIEST tapes I was listening to regularly. Quite in contrast to my friends.

The lack of commercial airplay appeal is the one thing that makes this a better recording than either ...STEEL or SCREAMING...

The only track on POINT OF ENTRY that received any airplay at all was "Heading Out To The Highway", and it holds up much better than "Living After Midnight" when it comes to sounding dated.

HEADING OUT TO THE HIGHWAY is to JUDAS PRIEST what RUNNING ON EMPTY (the song) is to JACKSON BROWNE. And yes I know the looks I must be getting, mentioning Jackson Browne in a Judas Priest review. RUSH OK, but Jackson Browne? Just goes to show I like all kinds of music.

THE REST OF THE SONGS ARE A GUITAR DRIVEN TOUR DE FORCE. The songs "Don't Go", "Turning Circles", & "Desert Plains" are PHENOMENAL.

The bonus track of "Desert Plains" (live) showcases the band's ability to get WILD in concert. A tight addition in my book. I saw Judas Priest on the DEFENDERS OF THE FAITH tour in 1984. On stage and in studio are definately two very different things for this band. Play the studio and bonus live tracks back-to-back just for the fun of it.

If you are a Judas Priest fan and don't own this CD, you are missing the best part of Judas Priest. It had been a long time since the old cassettes wore out, and I have just today, 7/6/01, purchased the remastered POINT OF ENTRY & SCREAMING FOR VENGEANCE CD's. I'm still trying to find the courage to buy BRITISH STEEL again. I can still hear it reverberating in my brain from LIVING AFTER MIDNIGHT abuse. POINT OF ENTRY, I'll say it again, IS A BREATH OF FRESH AIR, AS I ALWAYS THOUGHT IT WAS!

Additionally, I did not hear the glitch or skip that the other reviewers spoke of. It seems that my copy is an excellant remaster.

This album is very different from other Priest albums. Its sound is by far the most 70's sounding, although it was released in 1981. Rocka Rolla? Sad Wings? Sin After Sin? Nope.. this album sounds more 70's than all those real 1970's JP releases. You won't get any of the blistering riffs or blazing solos you find in 1980's British Steel or 1982's Screaming for Vengeance (or any other Priest album for this matter). This album is more laid back, has a sader overall feeling, but at the same time it is of the highest quality. You'd find a hard time banging your head to this one, but you may find this one very appropriate at the right mood. The music is superb, and you'll find great numbers anywhere. I wouldn't call this a metal album, it is simply a good Rock n Roll album, with more of an American sound to it, certainly. It's different from other JP releases but still worth any penny. The top highlights are not necessarily the commercial Heading Out To The Highway, but rather songs such as Turning Circles or Desert Plains. A very high quality album to listen to, A must buy for anyone who likes classic rock and metal.

When I was in junior high school in the early 80's I worshipped Judas Priest. "Point Of Entry" is probably their best album in my opinion...back then they were called "albums" by the way.

"Turning Circles," "Hot Rockin'," "Heading Out To The Highway," "Solar Angels," "Desert Plains" and "Turning Circles" were all great tunes and every once in a while I still crank them up on my RoadRunner Rhapsody Software account for a nostalgic kick.

"British Steel," "Point Of Entry" and "Screaming For Vengeance" were definitely the pinnacle of the group's musical career.

Who could forget the old MTV videos of Heading Out To The Highway and Hot Rockin'? Although Rob Halford's admissions to being openly gay were a bit of a shock to me and my macho, heavy metal listening former self, I still respect and enjoy their music regardless, much like the mainstream still enjoys Queen...music is music.

"You Say Yes," "All The Way," and "Troubleshooter" are also quality tunes from Heavy Metal's glory days on this release that have always been under-appreciated.

While gay, hairy, macho guys in leather might give us heterosexual guys the squeamies, no one knew it back then and the subject material of their songs generally referred to women or just plain macho man antics.

Do I feel "betrayed" by Judas Priest being a former big fan as a girl crazy youngster? No, because I never even felt or saw a bit of sexuality in their music, it was just good, hard rockin' British metal.

Point Of Entry is truly one of the finest Heavy Metal albums ever created.

Rock on.

How does a band possibly follow up British Steel? With Point Of Entry. Great album from start to finish. Well crafted songs, true there is more of a rock sound here but it's still got the solid Priest beast metal power in every song. Great album worth every penny.