Judas Priest 최고의 명곡

메탈갓이라고까지 불리는 살아있는 레전설 쥬다스 형님들에겐 수많은 주옥같은 명곡이 있지만 순전히 개취반영 최고의 명곡은 뭐니뭐니 해도 1984년 나온 The Sentinel을 꼽지 않을 수 없다. 요즘 휴대폰이 넣고 다시 들으며 진정 명곡은 곱씹을수록 더 좋다는 걸 새삼 깨닫는다. 

면도날 같이 날카로운 기타리프에 얹혀진 그보다 더 날카로운 흉내낼 수 없는, 노력으로 닿을 수 없는 뢉 핼포드 옹의 초고음 폭격은 노래가 시작하자마자 소름이 돋게 한다.   

              

핼포드 옹의 정정했을 당시 The Sentinel 라이브, 지금 봐도 전율 그 자체다.

The Sentinel

Along deserted avenues
Steam begins to rise
The figures primed and ready
Prepared for quick surprise
He's watchin' for a sign
His life is on the line

Sworn to avenge
Condemn to hell
Tempt not the blade
All fear the Sentinel

Dogs whine in the alleys
Smoke is on the wind
From deep inside its empty shell
A cathedral bell begins
Sending out its toll
A storm begins to grow

Sworn to avenge
Condemn to hell
Tempt not the blade
All fear the Sentinel

Amidst the upturned burned-out cars
The challengers await
And in their fists clutch iron bars
With which to seal his fate
Across his chest is scabbards rest
The rows of throwing knives
Whose razor points in challenged tests
Have finished many lives

Now facing one another
The stand-off eats at time
Then all at once a silence falls
As the bell ceases its chime
Upon this sign the challengers
With shrieks and cries rush forth
The knives fly out like bullets
Upon their deadly course
Screams of pain and agony
Rent the silent air
Amidst the dying bodies
Blood runs everywhere
The figure stands expressionless
Impassive and alone
Unmoved by this victory
And the seeds of death he's sown

Sworn to avenge
Condemn to hell
Tempt not the blade
All fear the Sentinel