'The Ballad of Judas Priest' (C) Paul Natkin via Cache Agency Share on Facebook Share on X Google Preferred Share to Flipboard Show additional share options Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share on Tumblr Share on Whats App Send an Email Print the Article Post a Comment It is easy, oh so easy, to mock heavy metal. For 40 years, This Is Spinal Tap, Rob Reiner's glorious spoof of metal's OTT excess - all volume knobs, spandex and cartoonish sexism - has remained the pop-culture framing of the genre. The directors behind The Ballad of Judas Priest know this well.