yes its conjecture, I havent got my time machine perfected yet to be able to play out multiple scenarios yet.

the music may be different, but it grabed a few new fans.  dunno.

		guidogodoy wrote:
		That is pure conjecture. They certainly could have mounted a comeback. Neither here nor there, really. I just didn't like either album. NOT Priest, as far as I was concerned. "Halford," on the other hand, was something that shook me to my soul.      Head banger wrote: the style and such was different, but without hiring a singer, the band would have died.  Priest could not have been dead for 10+ years and mounted any kind of comeback.      Deep Freeze wrote: Well said, indeed...HOWEVER, I beg to differ. Allow me; While I do understand that the Band wanted to continue, play, compose, make a living, etc.....I do not agree that the music was "true" or "classic" Priest. Now, I don't blame Owens for that. I mean, as you said, he was just an employee. A singer-for-hire, if you will (as far as WE know). My problem lies with the musical direction. As I have said before, I do not think it was anything like the classic, melodic Priest which we all so know and love. Yes, the sound was "heavy". In fact, it was far TOO heavy for me. Much more like a contemporary Metal sound than an "old school" sound. As for seeing them live, my wife (at the time) worked security for a show here at the Hard Rock in Vegas and she said that it was like "watching a Priest Cover Band." It did not have the same look, feel or sound of Priest. I do not like Jugulator or Demolition. I have a few of the songs (through the Metalogy set) and I do not care for them at all. I have heard all the others and I feel the same way. Are they well done? Sure. Are they "heavy"? Absolutely. Are they true Priest? I do not think so. They lack the classic melody that I look for in a Priest song. I have nothing against Owens. He is a great vocalist and has done well for himself since. I do not "criticize" him, as he was just singing. I was not there when he was hired, nor was I involved with the Band on an intimate level so I have NO idea what they said to him or made him do. I believe all of that is conjecture. When I compare AoR to Demolition or Jugulator, there is no comparison..for me. None. There is no comparison to ANY Priest album and those two. They were a completely different band, as far as I am concerned and AoR proves my point. All it took was bringing Rob back to find what was missing. How that was done is not important to me. Only that it happened.      Budred wrote: Ripper bashing makes me go hmmmm...   Do Priest fans not realize that there was an 8 year gap between albums. They were going nowhere.   Then (THEY) discovered Ripper. Rob wasn't coming back and for us and them they had to do something.    Some seem to think Ripper tried too hard to copy Rob but Priest actually dictated that. They chose his wardrobe,      his singing style and so on. Ripper was an employee of Priest. As far as the musical direction Priest has        always evolved their sound so as not to sound the same each time out. In my mind the only problem with Jugulator         was the production more so than the music. I think they corrected that with Demolition. To me there are some            very heavy songs on that record. Lastly if anyone saw Priest on the Demolition tour(I did 4 times) they were as tight and great              sounding as ever. Ripper kept the Priest going. Praise him don't criticize him. Just my opinion, only matters to me.                                                              PEACE!