Personnel: Rob Halford (vocals); Glenn Tipton, K.K. Downing (guitar); Ian Hill (bass guitar); Scott Travis (drums).

Liner Note Author: Geoff Barton.

Presenting 34 tracks on two discs, THE ESSENTIAL JUDAS PRIEST does an excellent job of living up to its title by featuring many of the revered British heavy-metal band's finest moments. Wisely bypassing the group's years with Tim "Ripper" Owens, the collection features only Priest's beloved Rob Halford-fronted incarnation, with songs ranging from the ensemble's late-1970s beginnings to its 2005 reunion.

Although the non-chronological order may put off some purists, the sequencing does highlight the group's consistency of vision, with tracks ranging from the ferocious "Judas Rising" to the fist-pumping "You've Got Another Thing Comin'" to the blistering "Painkiller," all the while showcasing Halford's banshee shriek and K.K. Downing and Glenn Tipton's dual-guitar attack. As an overview of Halford-era Priest, this excellent compilation can't be beat.