''Metal Works'' is a

compilation album A compilation album comprises Album#Tracks, tracks, which may be previously released or unreleased, usually from several separate recordings by either one or several Performing arts#Performers, performers. If by one artist, then generally the tr ...

by English heavy metal band

Judas Priest Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band formed in Birmingham in 1969. They have sold over 50 million albums and are frequently ranked as one of the greatest metal bands of all time. Despite an innovative and pioneering body of work in th ...

, released in April 1993. A remastered edition was released in 2001, with the same track listing. All material was previously available. All albums to that date are represented with the exception of their debut, ''

Rocka Rolla ''Rocka Rolla'' is the debut studio album by English heavy metal band Judas Priest, released on 6 September 1974 by Gull Records. It was produced by Rodger Bain, who had made a name for himself as the producer of Black Sabbath's first three ...

'', although a live version of "Victim of Changes" (from ''

Unleashed in the East ''Unleashed in the East'' is the first live album by the English Heavy metal music, heavy metal band Judas Priest, released in September 1979 on Columbia Records. It was recorded live over two nights in Tokyo during their Hell Bent for Leather ...

'', with what appears to be an American sounding audience dubbed on at the end, instead of the familiar Japanese one from the album version) is used rather than the studio version on ''

Sad Wings of Destiny ''Sad Wings of Destiny'' is the second studio album by English heavy metal band Judas Priest, released on 23 March 1976 by Gull Records. It is considered the album on which Judas Priest consolidated their sound and image, and songs from it suc ...

''. This is because the band no longer owns the rights to their first two albums. The band selected the tracks themselves, and made comments in the sleeve-notes. As an album it showcases versatility of their musical career. This album also brought

Rob Halford Robert John Arthur Halford (born 25 August 1951) is an English heavy metal singer. He is the lead vocalist of Judas Priest, which was formed in 1969 and has received accolades such as the 2010 Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance. He has b ...

back into the fold for a short while following his departure from the band due to internal tensions.

Cover art

The album cover by

Mark Wilkinson Mark Wilkinson (born 3 October 1952) is an English illustrator. He is best known for the detailed surrealistic cover art he created for a number of British bands. Wilkinson's breakthrough came through his association with the neo-progressive r ...

(who had done the band's cover art from ''

Ram It Down ''Ram It Down'' is the eleventh studio album by English heavy metal band Judas Priest, released on 13 May 1988 by Columbia Records. It was the band's last album to feature longtime drummer Dave Holland, and was promoted in Europe and North A ...

'' to ''

Nostradamus Michel de Nostredame (December 1503 – July 1566), usually Latinised as Nostradamus, was a French astrologer, apothecary, physician, and reputed seer, who is best known for his book ''Les Prophéties'' (published in 1555), a collection o ...

'') combines elements from the band's previous releases. In the foreground are the Hellion from ''

Screaming for Vengeance ''Screaming for Vengeance'' is the eighth studio album by the English heavy metal band Judas Priest, released in July 1982 by Columbia Records. Considered the band's commercial breakthrough, it has been certified double platinum in the United S ...

'' and the Painkiller from its eponymous 1990 album. Under the Hellion's body is a razor blade, a reference to the album '' British Steel''. The lower left shows the female hand holding a gear shift knob from ''

Turbo In an internal combustion engine, a turbocharger (often called a turbo) is a forced induction device that is powered by the flow of exhaust gases. It uses this energy to compress the intake gas, forcing more air into the engine in order to pro ...

'' and a mannequin wearing sunglasses and a studded leather headband representing '' Killing Machine/Hell Bent for Leather''. The lower right corner features the door and columns from ''

Sin After Sin ''Sin After Sin'' is the third studio album by English heavy metal band Judas Priest, released on 8 April 1977 by Columbia Records. Produced by Deep Purple bassist Roger Glover, it was the band's major label debut, their first album for the lab ...

'', the metallic head from ''

Stained Class ''Stained Class'' is the fourth studio album by English heavy metal band Judas Priest, released on 10 February 1978 by Columbia Records. It is the first of three Judas Priest albums to feature drummer Les Binks, as well as the first to feature t ...

'' enveloped in smoke, and the Metallian from ''

Defenders of the Faith ''Defenders of the Faith'' is the ninth studio album by English Heavy metal music, heavy metal band Judas Priest, released on 13 January 1984 by Columbia Records. The album was RIAA certification, certified platinum by the Recording Industry A ...

''. At the end of the trail of flames in front of the Metallian is the shaft of light from '' Point of Entry''. Additionally, one of the chimneys on the factory in the lower right corner is the band's familiar trident logo.

Track listing

Charts

References

{{Authority control Judas Priest compilation albums 1993 greatest hits albums Albums produced by Chris Tsangarides Albums produced by Tom Allom Albums produced by Roger Glover Columbia Records compilation albums