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

[DoctorAction]

People, people, people... R137 and OOR are fantastic! That swing feel in 137 is so good. Once I noticed it in the instrumental section, I was sold. Blending that vibe into a meaty prog metal song without it being too far either way was genius, I thought  A top MM choice for me.

Back to Priest, Sons Of Thunder is really fun. Even more so when I substitute "Sons" with "Buns". 

[Trav86]

People, people, people... R137 and OOR are fantastic! That swing feel in 137 is so good. Once I noticed it in the instrumental section, I was sold. Blending that vibe into a meaty prog metal song without it being too far either way was genius, I thought  A top MM choice for me.

Back to Priest, Sons Of Thunder is really fun. Even more so when I substitute "Sons" with "Buns". 

They should play Buns of Thunder and Eat Me Alive, back to back.

[DoctorAction]

 

I've been the older Priest albums a while now and am now ready to deliver an opinion:

Killing Machine > British Steel > Stained Class

I like all three, mind.

[Dream Team]

Room 137?

Interesting. I was thinking of something slower-paced like some of that heavy stuff on Master of Reality.

[MirrorMask]

Tonight I'm gonna see Judas Priest with Saxon and Phill Campbell & the Bastard Sons 

Luckily I'm going in almost blind, these are the only things I know about the setlist:

Either 3 or four new songs
Panic Attack as opener, Rapid fire second song
Crown of Horns most likely there
Saints in Hell and Killing Machine being in the set, ironically two songs I don't really care for

Not bad in the era where spoilers are almost impossible  see you tomorrow with impressions from the show!

[EPICVIEW]

Tonight I'm gonna see Judas Priest with Saxon and Phill Campbell & the Bastard Sons 

Luckily I'm going in almost blind, these are the only things I know about the setlist:

Either 3 or four new songs
Panic Attack as opener, Rapid fire second song
Crown of Horns most likely there
Saints in Hell and Killing Machine being in the set, ironically two songs I don't really care for

Not bad in the era where spoilers are almost impossible  see you tomorrow with impressions from the show!

enjoy   lets us know how it was

[MirrorMask]

And enjoy I did!!! what a fantastic awesome metal night!!! 

No Uriah Heep as opener, Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons were there. Got three Motorhead songs: Going to Brazil, Born to Raise Hell which I like a lot and I never got to hear with Motorhead so yay, and the immortal Ace of Spades, with the crowd obviously going wild.

Saxon were next; it's funny, I never cared to properly follow Saxon, I know who they are, I know their most famous songs, but for whatever reason, I never took the time to listen to their albums. But when they appear on a festival or as opener like in this case.... boy if they're NOT to be missed. They're probably my favorite bands out of those I don't actually care for  they were impressive, bunch of 70 years old still kicking ass, powerful and precise, and Bill Byford is a beast, excellent powerful performance from him. One hour of solid, devastating NWOBHM great music.

And then JUDAS FREAKING PRIEST. It's been a long time since I saw them, after the Redeemer of Souls tour they only came at festivals I couldn't attend, so this was my first time seeing them in almost a decade or so. And they were brilliant as ever, powerful, loud and destructive 

This was the setlist, for those who don't care for spoilers:

https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/judas-priest/2024/mediolanum-forum-di-assago-assago-italy-6bab9e52.html

I got a tour debut, Devil's Child, and luckily I got Lighting Strikes, yay! Seeing previous dates I guess I would have enjoyed Sinner more than Victim of Changes, which I heard many times, but it's ok. 50 years of muisc, 19 albums, it really has not much sense to play the "I wish they played this song" game. Having said that, it's a pity I didn't get a song from my second favorite album, Defenders of the Faith.

The place was packed. It's the place Dream Theater always play in Italy, and that Iron Maiden sell out in two days. If it wasn't a technical sold out, it was still 99% full. I'm glad, Priest gave me the idea of relatively winding down with audiences, and I'm very glad to see the appreciation for them going still strong. What a powerful performance, awesome stage setup, they really outdid themselves this time and moved away from the usual ramp things they were always doing incorporating more technology and video screens in the stage.

Honestly, I'm going on an hyperbole and say that they're becoming what they're singing about in their songs. Invincible. Made of metal. Undestructible. Between them and Saxon, how is it possible that a bunch of 70 years old are this good and this kickass??? I know, Scott Travis is younger and he has the most physically demanding job, and Richie Faulkner wasn't even born when Sad Wings of Destiny came out, but Biff Byford and Rob Halford are what, 73 and 72 years old and they're still this insanely good? Ok, Rob uses a phuckton of reverb and echo but he's STILL DAMN GOOD. The insane screams were there, including the 15 seconds one at the end of Victim of Changes.

And - I got to see Glenn Tipton for the last two songs!!! he came out to a roar of the big packed arena and everyone rose up from their seats (I only found tickets for the "roof" of the arena basically), it was a damn well deserved standing ovation that almost moved me. He could have stayed home to enjoy his most normal days but he still comes up thin and frail on stage to try and play two songs at least. What a legend and what a cruel destiny for a musician, the world is full of 70 years old people with ailments but it must take a real toll for a musician to get a disease that prevents them from playing.

Show was 1h40' and felt intense and not short at all. Fun fact, while I was thinking in my head about which songs were missing, I totally forgot about Electric Eye and when it came on, I was so energized from it. It was also one of the better received songs, with wild moshpits, and just as Priest commented about it, also Turbo Lover got one of the best reaction.

All in all it was a great and basically perfect evening of british geriatric metal  but really, we need to hold on to these old guys as much as we can, they still have a lot to offer and they're basically undestructible. Rob Halford is gonna die on stage I'm sure. He truly IS the Metal God and if this was not the last time I'll be seeing Priest, the next time I will definitively be there. The screen at the end of the show as they were taking their bows said it after all - THE PRIEST WILL BE BACK. Fuck yeah!!! 

[Dream Team]

Nice!! Saxon is awesome, been releasing one great album after another since reclaiming their sound in 1997.

[nick_z]

What a great write-up!!!

Sounds like it was a great evening of music...

[Stadler]

How did Devil's Child sound?  Definitely a top five Priest track for me.

[MirrorMask]

How did Devil's Child sound?  Definitely a top five Priest track for me.

Not the biggest fan of the song but it was cool and rocking and it went down just fine. But honestly, they were on fire, so there was not a single song where I thought "eh, this was better left off the setlist". It was a good pick as any!

[EPICVIEW]

Thank You MM for that great review of the show.
I saw Saxon on the Denim and Leather and  Long arm of the Law era tours.

[emtee]

Can't stop spinning this. I love the intro to Invincible Shield. The drum parts, while not complicated, really elevate the intro.

[EPICVIEW]

Can't stop spinning this. I love the intro to Invincible Shield. The drum parts, while not complicated, really elevate the intro.

agreed   its amazing how good it is    I especially love track 5 to the end

[MirrorMask]

So I am there minding my business or doing stuff, and from time to time, several times during the week, out of nowhere it pops in my head:

"AGONY!!!! ...escape from reality!!!"

It's not my favorite song on the album (though I like it quite nicely), but that specific chorus is stuck in my head and just won't go away 

[cramx3]

So I started listening to a playlist of the setlist for the tour and now I remember why I was never a fan of JP before.  Not a fan of basically all these older songs    

I'm mostly looking forward to Sabaton and the new songs

[EPICVIEW]

So I am there minding my business or doing stuff, and from time to time, several times during the week, out of nowhere it pops in my head:

"AGONY!!!! ...escape from reality!!!"

It's not my favorite song on the album (though I like it quite nicely), but that specific chorus is stuck in my head and just won't go away 

funny...  Devil in Disguise is my least fav on IS ( I still like it tho ) and it was stuck in my head this morning...   IS IS GREAT!!!

[cramx3]

Scored a day of sale ticket that includes the buffet, can't wait to feast and rock out tonight 

[DoctorAction]

So I am there minding my business or doing stuff, and from time to time, several times during the week, out of nowhere it pops in my head:

"AGONY!!!! ...escape from reality!!!"

It's not my favorite song on the album (though I like it quite nicely), but that specific chorus is stuck in my head and just won't go away 

Love this track. That chorus is so ear-wormy. The whole album is so catchy.

Edit: Just stepped out of the car with Sons Of Thunder playing. Love that one too!

[cramx3]

Thought they were overall pretty good last night.  I honestly did not expect Rob to sing consistently like that all night.  I'll give him credit for performing at a high level.  I think sadly my opinion still stands that I'm just not a huge fan overall of his vocals though.  Just not for my tastes for the most part.  The band was good, they shredded and sounded tight.  Crowd was tame, maybe too tame for a metal show.  Sounded like no one was singing, but could also have just been my location.  Also thought for an arena show, the stage show could be a lot better.  Regardless of my criticism, they were pretty good live metal band.  Lots of respect for them and very glad I finally got to see them for the first time.  I'd see them again for sure, but probably not going out of my way.  Sabaton were a solid opener, crowd was even more dead for them (makes sense) but I don't think Sabaton had a "wow" performance.

Judas Priest - Breaking The Law LIVE @ Prudential Center Newark NJ 4/19/2024

Judas Priest - Crown of Horns LIVE @ Prudential Center Newark NJ 4/19/2024

Judas Priest - Invincible Shield LIVE @ Prudential Center Newark NJ 4/19/2024

Judas Priest - Living After Midnight LIVE @ Prudential Center Newark NJ 4/19/2024

in case anyone is interested...

Sabaton - Soldier of Heaven LIVE @ Prudential Center Newark NJ 4/19/2024

[MirrorMask]

Nice videos! 

Yeah, crowd at my show was way better. I can't judge from the videos 'cause you have to be there to assest it, but at my show it was a riot, the classics were always received with a roar and it was basically a total triumph, I didn't read a single complaint about it online.

And yes, Rob sounds very good and consistent indeed!

[TAC]

Awesome shots, as usual, Marc!

[emtee]

Took a few days break from this and spun it again last night. Damned if it didn't become even more appealing! The guitar work on this is next level. All riffs and solos are top notch. They really knocked this one out of the park.

[KevShmev]

I still need to check out the new album in full.  I checked out the three songs last week that I knew they were playing this tour, that way I knew them when I saw them this past Sunday night.  Excellent show.  Rob can't hold notes for as long as he used to (although he picked a few spots where he did, like at the end of Victim of Changes), but he still sounds pretty darn good overall.  Loved seeing Love Bites, Devil's Child, Saints in Hell and Sinner all on the set list.  Painkiller is still a bit of a wtf to me as the set ender before the encore (and the crowd didn't seem to be that into that one either), but I know it's a favorite for many, so I won't quibble with it too much. 

[EPICVIEW]

I still need to check out the new album in full.  I checked out the three songs last week that I knew they were playing this tour, that way I knew them when I saw them this past Sunday night.  Excellent show.  Rob can't hold notes for as long as he used to (although he picked a few spots where he did, like at the end of Victim of Changes), but he still sounds pretty darn good overall.  Loved seeing Love Bites, Devil's Child, Saints in Hell and Sinner all on the set list.  Painkiller is still a bit of a wtf to me as the set ender before the encore (and the crowd didn't seem to be that into that one either), but I know it's a favorite for many, so I won't quibble with it too much.

awesome!!! glad you enjoyed the show

[MirrorMask]

Painkiller is still a bit of a wtf to me as the set ender before the encore (and the crowd didn't seem to be that into that one either), but I know it's a favorite for many, so I won't quibble with it too much.

The hell? all the times I've seen Priest, Painkiller is a f'kin carnage and everyone goes nuts. As skinny and of average height that I am, I wouldn't want to be in the moshpit during that song 'cause I might as well die. It's heresy to me that people over the pond are relatively bored with that song 

[cramx3]

The hell? all the times I've seen Priest, Painkiller is a f'kin carnage and everyone goes nuts. As skinny and of average height that I am, I wouldn't want to be in the moshpit during that song 'cause I might as well die. It's heresy to me that people over the pond are relatively bored with that song 

Mosh pit for Judas Priest???  We must have completely different crowds 

[MirrorMask]

Not on every song, but I was high above in the venue, and during Electric Eye I could see the floor with all the mess that was going on there and the openings. They tried even a bit of a wall of death. When we europeans go to a metal concert, we metal 

[cramx3]

Not on every song, but I was high above in the venue, and during Electric Eye I could see the floor with all the mess that was going on there and the openings. They tried even a bit of a wall of death. When we europeans go to a metal concert, we metal 

Oh wow, yeah, that sounds so much better than the seated floor here, but even if it was a GA floor, not sure a pit would break out here.

[KevShmev]

Maybe we would have gone nuts if it were a better song.

Joking aside, even though I am not really a fan of the song Painkiller, it's a fun live tune.  I just wish a song I loved was last in the regular set, but that is my problem, not theirs.

[Stadler]

Maybe we would have gone nuts if it were a better song.

Joking aside, even though I am not really a fan of the song Painkiller, it's a fun live tune.  I just wish a song I loved was last in the regular set, but that is my problem, not theirs.

Just want to throw it out there, not a fan of that song either.

[MirrorMask]

This is what I'm talking about 

Also, this is the Painkillah!

[cramx3]

This is what I'm talking about 

I think I would have enjoyed the NJ show a lot more if the crowd was like this, that energy even if not in the pit can usually be felt.  Now I get why my video had so many comments about the dead crowd  I just blamed it on being an older band.  Sabaton would have done much better with that GA crowd too. 

[pg1067]

Oh wow, yeah, that sounds so much better than the seated floor here, but even if it was a GA floor, not sure a pit would break out here.

There were several when I saw Maiden back in September 2022 at the Pond in Anaheim (where the Anaheim Ducks play).  The entire floor was GA.  Had it been Priest, I have no doubt, there'd have been a big-ass pit for Painkiller.

[EPICVIEW]

Just want to throw it out there, not a fan of that song either.

Painkiller is towards the bottom of my list of favs.. not my fav use of Robs majestic beautiful voice either..

Id trade it for Last Rose of Summer at this point : )