I'm bored, didn't see a thread and then thought I'd take the curtsey of sexing up this forum a bit with a thread on what I would think being the first Heavy Metal band, while I wouldn't credit them with inventing the genre, they were the first amongst the bands in what we know as heavy metal.
Sure someone will come in and say Black Sabbath deserves the title but for some reason I can't really consider them being heavy metal, sure Heaven and Hell era and Born Again were very heavy but during the era with Ozzy I'd consider them more or less doom-blues-hard-rock or something, I'd credit them with pathing way for the genre surely.

But enough.
Judas Priest, it's ok if you don't know WHO they are. Wikipedia can give you all the info you'd want, like many bands from the 70s they've gone through several changes. From The blues and funk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXBnAhMDFdI (Dreamer Deceiver) http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=PI0iX2q4pw8 (Rocka Rolla)

Around the time of their 2nd or even 3rd album they began to bring in the darker, heavier sound: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2s-cBPn31ys (Sinner)

The album after this, Stained Class is where I see the beginning of the emerge of Heavy Metal: The Fast paced song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSCygCYmen0 (Exciter)
The Ballad http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqtxCBr_-NE (Beyond The Realms Of Death)

Even within the pace of these few albums can you see or hear which seems to be more appropriate to say, the changes in their musical style. So far this thread is educating the people who don't know JP as well as showing a point I'm trying to make, which is that they've changed a lot in the years. Now, I'll continue.

There was one more album called Killing Machine in the 70's but I can't find a significant change in style in that album.

1980's, this is where we all know metal.
First, there's British Steel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYn5hxeFt10 (Breaking The Law) and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeqsR314erg (Metal Gods, but I can't find a non live version, sorry.)

Change in style, to a more commercial approach but still a heavier music style, after British Steel Came Point Of Entry the 1st 100% commercial album they did, it has it's fairly good points but personally I don't really like it.

After That There was Screaming For Vengeance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpJaAqfE5VU (The Hellion/Electric Eye)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9u2_vHrtHHg (You Got Another Thing Coming')
Commercial yet very heavy and a feel of rock and metal. The Title track is amazing but I can't find a full version, youtube twats.

Continue...

The next album is Defenders Of The Faith, a very dark themed and very heavy album: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEDk5k2jULQ (The Sentinel, AMV, sorry. But the song is incredible) and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pABuVpNZhh4 (Jawbreaker, very 80's metal fashion but very heavy)

Remember when I mentioned Point Of Entry and I said it sucked? Well after Defenders came the 2nd commercial album which wasn't very good but had it's moments, imagine the hair metal/glam rock scene, This album is called Turbo. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vm4KHx1Ymw0 (Turbo Lover)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XzHe1i7Udk (Private Property)

Sudden change of style but it was meant to be part of a Double Album called Twin Turbos with Heavy and Commercial in one, the record company rejected the idea and after Turbo came a very heavy paced album called Ram It Down
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkItoCGOC9s (Title Track but another AMV)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByXHENJLcXQ (Blood Red Skies, Another AMV but this song is multi paced, starts off quite soft and progresses into a fantastic song)
I'll add a third song worth mentioning from this album, that's right a third.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fe6fELUBby0 (Heavy Metal)

Now come the 90's and the final album with Rob Halford until the reunion.
Painkiller, heavy album full of screaming guitars and vocals, black metal fanboy's wet dream basically.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAagedeKdcQ (Painkiller, Title Track)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2wzpfPFBlw (Night Crawler)
Don Airey takes the keyboard duties for the album.

After this, Rob announced he was gay, crashed his Harley Davidson on stage and pissed everyone off and eventually left, incame Tim Ripper Owens, from a JP tribute band.

He made 2 albums and 2 live albums. His vocal style had the band tune down.
First, Jugulator: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-MyoJDAlNA (Title Track)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZgHzrWQACk (Cathedral Spires)
And Then Demolition:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrXlQgq7CKk (Machine Man, Live)

Great singer, bad song writer. JP really wasn't the band for him, he left eventually for the reunion and joined Iced Earth made 2 albums with them and got replaced by the previous singer.

The latest JP album was in 2005 with Rob Halford back, Angel Of Retribution:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJg_YpYyVWY (Judas Rising)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IYdPcuwO84 (Hellrider, AMV, Again, don't hate me, please.)


That's really it. So many changes in musical style, it's a hate love kind of thing for newcomers, but really, discuss:

Musical Style
Favourite Songs and Albums
Favourite Solos and Riffs
Favourite Singer: Rob Halford or Tim Ripper Owens.
Twinkies.

My longest post yet I think.
Wow.
Ok, I'm not really the idiot you all know from the general section, ok.
You need to dumb down to have fun.
It is me.
No, I'm not gay.
I do cocaine.