ORIGINALLY POSTED AUGUST 6, 2016

This Welsh heavy metal trio never made it big in the U.S. (though Metallica's 1998 cover of their 1973 "Breadfan" song gave them more visibility), though continued to have a steady following in Europe into the 21st-century (with vocalist/bassist Burke Shelley being the only continuing member [he died earlier this year, 2022]).   1975's Bandolier was their best album, but 1997's Best of Budgie (not to be confused with two earlier "best of" collections!) gives you all the most memorable tunes from that album plus a few others (also from early-to-mid 70s albums).  Like the early Judas Priest, they often have a strong sense of melody–especially during the interludes that often follow the main riff–and I find them quite listenable in a way that I can not abide the "heavy metal" of the 1980s and after.