THE Judas Priest thread - v. new album and tour in 2024

[wolfking]

I am no better. I have been guilty of this before.

A new album comes out by an aging band, one that really surprises you and your immediate reaction is of such surprise that you think, "Damn, this is so good, it is good as their best material from way back in the day."  Then a bit of time passes, you go back and listen to those classics, and then the realization hits you: "okay, not even close."

That is what this feels like.

I'd agree, but I would never expect this anyway.

[ozzy554]

Saw some clips of the first show of the tour. Band sounds great and there's some surprises in the set including a song from stained class that had never been done live before.

[MirrorMask]

Just by number and not mentioning the songs themselves - how many new ones played? I'd wager 3, maximum 4.

[Zydar]

19 songs in total, 3 songs from Firepower (I checked the setlist).

[MirrorMask]

Thanks. Well, both numbers (new songs and total songs) are what I'd expect. I think 19 is even more optimistic than one could hope for, even though it depends on the songs selection - playing, say, Victim of Changes AND Beyond the Realms of Death AND Blood Red Skies takes up a huge part of the set, that could be occupied by 6 shorter songs such as Running Wild for example.

[ProfessorPeart]

Statement from Glenn changes some things. Has only known about his disease for 4 years now.

https://judaspriest.com/news/fullstory.asp?id=65E8195C-82C2-4F10-BFFD-23CFA45B56D2

PERSONAL MESSAGE FROM GLENN:

By now many of you will know I won't be doing the forthcoming Judas Priest tour because of health issues---I’m so sorry but four years ago I was diagnosed with Parkinson's and was told by my specialist that I had already had it for over ten years - I knew something was wrong with my co-ordination and fluency regarding my playing but I worked around it and battled on - I have good days and bad days but the disease is degenerative and I would never want to compromise the greatest metal band in the world---it was therefore during the last rehearsals I decided to step down and have Andy Sneap fill in---he's a great guy and I'm sure he'll do a great job - I'm sure the band will be as strong than ever

I have been overwhelmed by the massive support and love I’ve had from other artists and from fans all over the world and from many friends and metal maniacs out there - it's not the end for me - I’ll still be able to write and record and on good days even join the band on stage for a few songs - with new medication and advances being made who knows what the future holds - but one thing's for sure - it will certainly involve Priest!

Finally the biggest thanks goes to Rob, Richie, Ian and Scott who have stood by me and supported me through everything - GLENN

[MirrorMask]

"Personal"? I'm sure Glenn read it, approved it and expressed what wanted to be said, but that weirdass style of writing sentences separated by a line belongs to Jayne Andrews, Priest's manager.  Look around the Priest site news section - you can always find sentences structured this way - I don't know why she insists in writing like this - it's annoying and distracting!

[wolfking]

"Personal"? I'm sure Glenn read it, approved it and expressed what wanted to be said, but that weirdass style of writing sentences separated by a line belongs to Jayne Andrews, Priest's manager.  Look around the Priest site news section - you can always find sentences structured this way - I don't know why she insists in writing like this - it's annoying and distracting!

Yeah, that's a fucking strange and wrong way of writing, weird.

Sad he only was diagnosed 4 years ago, but had the disease 6 years prior!  Positive message though and hope he continues to deal with everything the best he can.

[NoseofNicko]

Anyone else thinks Nostradamus is very good? Listened to it for the first time in many years last night and I really liked it. I think Prophecy, Revelations, Pestilence and Plague, Death, Conquest, Persecution, Alone, Nostradamus and Future of Mankind are all great songs. I even like Lost Love.

If it wasn’t a concept album and it didn’t have those interludes, I think it would be an excellent album. As it is it’s still a very good album imo.

[wolfking]

Anyone else thinks Nostradamus is very good? Listened to it for the first time in many years last night and I really liked it. I think Prophecy, Revelations, Pestilence and Plague, Death, Conquest, Persecution, Alone, Nostradamus and Future of Mankind are all great songs. I even like Lost Love.

If it wasn’t a concept album and it didn’t have those interludes, I think it would be an excellent album. As it is it’s still a very good album imo.

There was a bit of a conversation some pages back.  I hated it when it came out but posted a version with a lot of the filler taken out and it came out to be quite a strong album.

[TAC]

I've never heard it. I have the files on CD, but have never listened to it.

[wolfking]

I've never heard it. I have the files on CD, but have never listened to it.

I wouldn't worry too much about it.

[wolfking]

Jeez, No Surrender is a fucking cracker.  One of the coolest songs I've heard in a while from anyone.

[bl5150]

Jeez, No Surrender is a fucking cracker.  One of the coolest songs I've heard in a while from anyone.

Looks like we share our two faves - Rising From Ruin and No Surrender .   

I agree with most of what's been said - not quite up there with the classics but relative to what you might expect (and efforts from other very "mature" bands) it is a very good effort with 3 or 4 standouts and a bit of filler.   I really wish bands would stop releasing 14 track albums as it almost inevitably means an album broken up by filler.

[wolfking]

Jeez, No Surrender is a fucking cracker.  One of the coolest songs I've heard in a while from anyone.

Looks like we share our two faves - Rising From Ruin and No Surrender .   

I agree with most of what's been said - not quite up there with the classics but relative to what you might expect (and efforts from other very "mature" bands) it is a very good effort with 3 or 4 standouts and a bit of filler.   I really wish bands would stop releasing 14 track albums as it almost inevitably means an album broken up by filler.

A 10 track album would be almost classic I think.  And yeah, those two are easily my favs.  Another one that hasn't really gotten a mention that has become one of my favs also is Spectre, that's killer.

[NoseofNicko]

Yeah I think Guardians/Rising From Ruins, No Surrender and Spectre are my 3 favorites.

[TAC]

No love for Traitor's Gate, people? To me, it's the standout track.

I like No Surrender as well.

[wolfking]

No love for Traitor's Gate, people? To me, it's the standout track.

I like No Surrender as well.

Yeah, that's a good one too, probably top 5.

[wolfking]

Just watching a couple of clips from the current Priest tour and I'm all for the band continuing on and playing but it just looks weird.  Sneap looks totally out of his depth and it seems that Richie is playing Glenn's main parts with Sneap playing KK's but only watched a couple of quick clips  Good luck to them but it's just strange and they should have gotten someone with more stage presence and guitar skill than Sneap.  Rob's pretty average too.

[Zydar]

My 5 favourites on the new album are Spectre, Never The Heroes, Firepower, No Surrender, and Lightning Strike.

[MirrorMask]

Jeez, No Surrender is a fucking cracker.  One of the coolest songs I've heard in a while from anyone.

Damn right!!! 

Short, addictive and to the point, it's just awesome.

[wolfking]

Jeez, No Surrender is a fucking cracker.  One of the coolest songs I've heard in a while from anyone.

Damn right!!! 

Short, addictive and to the point, it's just awesome.

Great lyrics too.

[Mladen]

My 5 favourites on the new album are Spectre, Never The Heroes, Firepower, No Surrender, and Lightning Strike.

These might actually be my favorites as well.

[RodrigoAltaf]

My 5 favourites on the new album are Spectre, Never The Heroes, Firepower, No Surrender, and Lightning Strike.

For me too, and I'd add to the list Evil Never Dies.

[Zydar]

Not sure which songs to be cut though. Perhaps Flame Thrower and Lone Wolf. Sea Of Red hasn't clicked for me yet, so I'm undecided about it right now.

[jjrock88]

I have full confidence that No Surrender will end up being one of my all time Priest favorites.  Just awesome.

[wolfking]

Not sure which songs to be cut though. Perhaps Flame Thrower and Lone Wolf. Sea Of Red hasn't clicked for me yet, so I'm undecided about it right now.

Flame Thrower and Lone Wolf would definitely be the 2 to get cut.  FT is crap but Lone Wolf is pretty good, just different to the rest.  Children of the Sun doesn't do much for me either.  Sea of Red I quite like as a closer.

[El Barto]

Man, that's really a good setlist. Quite a few chestnuts I'd like to see dusted off. Rob sounded alright (Saints was tuned way down, but no surprise there). Downside is that seemed kind of lifeless up there. It's weird seeing Faulkner trying to be the second frontman after so many years f it being KK/Glenn.

(obviously a spoiler)   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_IpC1ewIgg

[NoseofNicko]

Something that has bothered me for 13 years, where the fuck have I heard the chorus of Lochness before? Sounds so goddamn familiar!

[Mladen]

I'm not sure what's so wrong with Flamethrower. It's pretty top notch musically.

[wolfking]

I'm not sure what's so wrong with Flamethrower. It's pretty top notch musically.

You're on the run from the stun of the flame thrower
Sealing your fate, incinerate by the flame thrower

[wolfking]

Something that has bothered me for 13 years, where the fuck have I heard the chorus of Lochness before? Sounds so goddamn familiar!

Reminds me of Delilah.

[Mladen]

I don't think those lyrics are more offensive than anything Priest has been writing about since the beginning of time. How about Metal meltdown and stuff?

I'm quite happy with this album overall and I'm pleasantly surprised. The production and songwriting are much better than on Redeemer. In fact, this album makes Redeemer sound like a transitional album - now it has a purpose, it had to happen. They tried stuff and had the opportunity to improve on them on this album. There were some great songs on it, but Firepower is much better.

My favorites would now be Spectre, title track, Never the heroes, Flamethrower and Lightning strike. The only songs I didn't care about are Lone wolf and Traitors gate. The others are all very solid and entertaining enough.

[wolfking]

Wait, Flame Thrower one of your favs and Gate not?  Wow!

[Evermind]

Went to the record store today and bought the record, I like it a lot. Don't get the overwhelming love for No Surrender yet, but Traitor's Gate is indeed awesome, probably my favourite so far.