Album · Judas Priest
Killing Machine by Judas Priest
Killing Machine is an album by Judas Priest, released in 1978. 1 song from it has charted on rock radio countdowns, with 7 countdown appearances in total. The biggest is “Hell Bent for Leather”, on 7 lists with a best position of #196.
Killing Machine, the fifth studio album from Birmingham's Judas Priest, also known as Hell Bent for Leather, came out in November 1978 and reached America early the next year, and it's the sound of a heavy metal band sharpening its blade for the mainstream. Rob Halford, the twin guitars of Glenn Tipton and K. K. Downing, bassist Ian Hill and drummer Les Binks, making his last studio appearance with them, push toward a more commercial sound without letting go of the dark, menacing subject matter.
The look changed right along with the sound. Around this time the band traded in their old stage gear for leather and studs, an idea sparked by Halford's own interest in leather culture, and "Hell Bent for Leather" is the anthem to match, a roaring, full-throttle blast built for fists in the air. The big breakthrough was still a record away, but here's where the machine got its chrome.
Written with AI assistance from RockLists chart data, MusicBrainz and Wikipedia.
Songs from Killing Machine on radio countdowns
| # | Song | Strength | Lists | Best | #1s | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hell Bent for Leather | 7 | #196 | – | 1990–2002 |
Only songs that appear on at least one countdown are listed. Release data from MusicBrainz.