Customer Rating: 
Summary: At Times Astoundingly Great
Comment: I picked this remastered version up last week, after not having heard the album itself in almost twenty-five years. To put it simply, I was completely ROCKED by it. I had let Hell Bent For Leather get neglected in my beloved Judas Priest collection, mostly because I felt the recording had way too thin a sound and a weak production quality overall. The songs mostly sounded WAY better live.
My listening to the remaster completely changed my mind. From the quintessential Judas Priest ruckus of "Deliverin' The Goods", to the what-if-Led-Zeppelin-had-any-real-balls pound of "Evil Fantasies", this album wipes out most everything that existed for Rock and Metal at that time. Sure, "Highway To Hell" overall rocked harder, and Scorpions' "Lovedrive" had more than a couple of equally great songs; and it could be argued that Rainbow's Down To Earth perhaps better musicianship.
What this album has is the most vividly erotic music I've ever heard on a rock record. And you can include whomever you wish in opposition. It's interesting: a song like Burnin' Up was most probably written as a grinding, homoerotic mating track (given Rob Halford's orientation) , but (speaking as a male heterosexual), it ends up crossing any sexual orientation boundary by dint of its hugely rocking sound as well as Halford's outstanding vocal (one of his most personable ever).
Even the ballads are good here ("Before the Dawn" is notable mostly for its great guitar solo , I grant that).
Bottom line, this is the best thing Judas Priest would release until "Screaming For Vengeance" (and oh YES I'm including "British Steel" here). So don't hesitate in considering this purchase, EXCELLENT MUSIC!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Deliverin' The Goods
Comment: An absolute metal/hard rock classic. This was way hard in 78.
Another from the 70's. This record, British Steel and Unleashed In The East are absolute must owns.
Customer Rating:
Summary: early Priest at its best.
Comment: This is my favorite 70s Priest album, and for good reason. Hell Bent For Leather takes the heavyness of earlier albums and speeds it up. Cross "Sinner" with "Exciter," and that's kind of what you've got. "Delivering The Goods" is a kick-@ss opener and one of my five favorite Priest songs. It's an overlooked classic. The variety between the tracks while still maintaining a constant aggressive attitude is amazing. "Evening Star" is a bit more commercial, but still kicks along. Then, of course, there's the title track and "The Green Manalishi," both of which are very good as well. "Before The Dawn" is a beautiful ballad sort of thing that feels just a bit out of place, but the musicianship and emotion more than makes up for that. Essential Priest.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Priest...Priest..Priest!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment: A great album of course. Just received my cd version and it rocks!!!! Knew many of the tunes already."Delivering The Goods","Hell Bent For Leather","Take On The World","The Green Manalishi"(cover of The Mac),"Killing Machine" and "Before The Dawn" are the standouts.get it if you love Priest and re-visit the oldies. They are well worth it.
Look out for "Nostradamus" in the middle of the year or so.
Long live Priest and HALFORD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Customer Rating: 
Summary: A headbanging classic.
Comment: Hell Bent was my first Judas Preist album and it was quite good, to me it seems like Judas were one of the most influential heavy metal bands of all time, they basicly reinvented speed metal and thrash. Every one from Iron Maiden to Metallica have been influenced by this group anyway Hellbent for leather was released in 1979 right after Stained Class it was a strong album but not as good as the previous one an album that sounded a bit darker and heavier. Hell Bent was aiming for a heavy metal and rock'n'roll type of sound and was more about staying up all night and partying which is great cause I like those things I mean who doesn't, there are alot of great tracks in this that make you want to headbang like Delivering the goods, Burning up, Green manalishi and Hellbent for leather and if you want the more slower but still excellent songs like the ballad Before the dawn and Evening star which has more of a commercial sound to it but its still very catchy, the song Take on the world is the only song I didn't like cause of its sing-a-long chorus line that sounds like a rip of from Queen's We will rock you. As time progressed throughout the 80's Judas Priest were one of the biggest heavy metal bands of all time, if you're looking for a fast, aggresive and brutally intense album then check this out the two guitar attack of Glen Tipton and K.K. Downing is characteristically blistering and they often come up with the most amazing solos and not to mention Rob Halford with his great high pitched voice and signature scream makes for a great combination, make sure that you get this album if your interested in Judas Priest becaues its very essential and make sure that you also get these other great releases from JP like Stained Class, British Steel, Screaming For Vengeance and Angel Of Retribution alot of people didn't like Turbo but I thought it was pretty good even though during that time they did sound like a cheesy 80's hair metal group it was still a fun album to listen to.
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