JUDAS PRIEST sin after sin SCBS82008

A Heavy Metal Milestone: Judas Priest’s ‘Sin After Sin’ (CBS 82008)

Today’s entry highlights a pivotal moment in the history of heavy metal. We are looking at the original 1977 UK pressing of Sin After Sin by Judas Priest, released on the CBS label with the catalog number CBS 82008.

Released in April 1977, this album marked the band’s major-label debut after leaving Gull Records. Produced by Deep Purple’s Roger Glover, it represents a significant sonic upgrade and a shift toward a heavier, more aggressive style. Crucially, the drum duties for these sessions were handled by session legend Simon Phillips (then just 19 years old). His technical prowess and thunderous double-bass drumming, particularly on the opening track Sinner, added a new level of intensity that would define the band’s future sound.

The tracklist is legendary. It features the definitive heavy metal cover of Joan Baez’s Diamonds And Rust, the groove-heavy Starbreaker, and the incredibly heavy closer Dissident Aggressor. With its high-pitched screams and chugging rhythm, Dissident Aggressor is widely cited as a proto-thrash classic that heavily influenced bands like Slayer.

For collectors, this original UK pressing is of particular interest due to the specific details in the runout grooves. The lacquers were cut at the famous Abbey Road Studios by engineer Nick Webb. Consequently, the dead wax features the signature NICK W. etched into the surface. Furthermore, Side A features the distinct etching CRIMINAL RECORDS, a unique characteristic found on these early pressings. The album is housed in a striking sleeve designed by Roslav Szaybo (who also designed the British Steel cover) with photography by Bob Carlos-Clarke, perfectly capturing the gothic, metallic atmosphere of the music.