10 Best Rock Album Openers Of The 1990s

10. Painkiller - Judas Priest (Painkiller)

Judas Priest's popularity was definitely on the decline as the 90s rolled around, but that didn't mean they were finished releasing kickass metal albums.

In the decade's first year, the band put out the record Painkiller. This would turn out to be quite important, as it would mark the final appearance of singer Rob Halford for 15 years.

Thankfully, whilst Halford was still around, he contributed to this banger of an opening track.

Painkiller not only gave this album its name but it also got it off to the best possible start.

New drummer Scott Travis announced himself in a big way with a blistering drum solo to set the mood. Then comes an instantly-memorable riff and one of the maddest vocal performances of Halford's career.

And that's saying something.

The singer unleashes lyrics like a man possessed, screeching them at the very top of his register as the rest of this wild track unfolds around him.

A typhoon of noise, Painkiller laid the groundwork for the rest of the record, which had a hard job keeping up with the manic pace it had set.