Judas Priest – Sad Wings Of Destiny (CD)

Before the twin-guitar assault of British Steel or the arena dominance that followed, Judas Priest were still finding their footing, and Sad Wings of Destiny is where the blueprint crystallized. Rob Halford's vocal range announced itself as something genuinely rare here, and tracks like "Victim of Changes" and "The Ripper" remain benchmarks of what heavy metal could be before the genre even knew its own name.