On March 23, 1976, the British band Judas Priest released their second studio album, “Sad Wings of Destiny”, which celebrates 49 years since its release.
This album, the last the band recorded with Gull Records, received very positive reviews since its release and has been recognized as an album that redefined heavy metal, being considered one of the most influential of the genre, comparable to Black Sabbath's debut album.
Most of the songs included in “Sad Wings of Destiny” had already been performed live during the promotional tour of their first album, “Rocka Rolla”.
At the end of 1976, thanks to the success of the album, Judas Priest signed a new contract with CBS Records, which implied their departure from Gull and the loss of rights to their first two albums.
The recording of the album took place at Rockfield Studios in Wales in a short two-week period, with the band members taking temporary jobs to finance the project.
The cover art, created by Patrick Woodroffe, features a fallen angel that has become an iconic symbol of the band.
Over time, “Sad Wings of Destiny” has left a significant mark on the hard rock and metal world, being mentioned as a favorite by artists such as Dave Mustaine of Megadeth and Mikael Åkerfeldt of Opeth. Among his most outstanding songs are “Victim of Changes” and “The Ripper”.