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

[Scorpion]

I don't think it's a bad album. I just think it's a good album sandwiched between their two masterpieces. None of it really works for me on the level that Sad Wings or Stained Class does.

I basically agree with this, though Sinner is the song that comes closest. I really love that song, it has one of KK's best solos ever imo, and the energy is just amazing.

That said, nothing Sin After Sin comes close to Victim of Changes, Dreamer Deceiver, Exciter or Beyond the Realms of Death.

[Stadler]

Love "Invader".   Actually, all of side one is killer. 

[PowerSlave]

I don't think it's a bad album. I just think it's a good album sandwiched between their two masterpieces. None of it really works for me on the level that Sad Wings or Stained Class does.

I basically agree with this, though Sinner is the song that comes closest. I really love that song, it has one of KK's best solos ever imo, and the energy is just amazing.

That said, nothing Sin After Sin comes close to Victim of Changes, Dreamer Deceiver, Exciter or Beyond the Realms of Death.

Dissident Aggressor stands with any song they've ever wrote, in my opinion.

[Mladen]

Here's a controversial opinion - I'd rather play Sin after sin than Sad wings or Stained class. Sinner,  Call for the priest, Diamonds and rust, Last rose of the summer, Dissident aggressor - five fantastic songs. And Starbreaker is pretty good as well.

What drags the other two albums for me is a completely subjective thing. I never went crazy about songs like Victim of changes, Beyond the realms of death, Saints in hell and especially Dream deceiver, I consider them slightly overrated. If we're talking about longer, more epic early Judas Priest stuff, I'd take Run of the mill over those any day.

[Evermind]

Well, given that Diamonds and Rust is a cover - a great cover, but still - I don't count it.

[KevShmev]

Sin After Sin is really good, but it dips in the middle.  Sinner and Dissident Aggressor are definitely two of their best tunes, however.

Mladen, while not in my top tier of Priest songs, Run of the Mill is definitely pretty great.

[Imaginos]

I disagree about the dip in quality in the middle of Sin After Sin. I'll admit Last Rose of Summer, while not a horrible song, is still not one of their best, but Call for the Priest and Raw Deal are two of my favorite tracks on the album. I too would definitely take this album over the two surrounding it, or any other Priest album for that matter.

[Mosh]

Raw Deal is the only low moment on Sin After Sin. The rest of the album is really strong and greater than the previous or following albums. Call For the Priest has some really great moments. I especially love the twin guitar bridge.

[wolfking]

Here's a controversial opinion - I'd rather play Sin after sin than Sad wings or Stained class.

I'd probably agree with this.  Definitely Stained Class at least.  It's a great album, but to be honest, I never understood the love it got.

[Zydar]

Bumping this for a bit of info - their upcoming album is titled 'Firepower' and will be released in early 2018.

Oh yeah, and some NA tour dates.

https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/judas-priest-to-release-firepower-album-north-american-tour-announced/

[wolfking]

Freaky, just posted the new album name in the hard rock thread.

Anyway, I'll say it again, I really like the album title and is a classic, old school Priest title.

[Mladen]

I think they could have done better than Firepower. 

[bl5150]

Rumour is that KK is going to make a comeback with KK Downing's Power of Fire.

[MirrorMask]

Cool! I hope we'll get a tracklist and cover artwork soon.

[ozzy554]

Redeemer was a solid album but some songs sounded a bit flat production wise. Songs like march of the damned while I still like it could've had a bit more of a punch to it.

I hope firepower is better from a production standpoint but im sure the material will be solid regardless.

[MirrorMask]

The spring american tour keeps alive the rumor about a tour with Iron Maiden (and Anthrax) in the summer 

[TAC]

The spring american tour keeps alive the rumor about a tour with Iron Maiden (and Anthrax) in the summer 

WOW!! Haven't heard that rumor!

[MirrorMask]

Saw it discussed at other forums more than once. Someone who is acknowledged as an insider of the promoter world and that strongly hinted that indeed there will be an european Maiden summer tour last summer, didn't deny the package, or if he did, I missed if that happened. Crossing fingers!

[wolfking]

Redeemer was a solid album but some songs sounded a bit flat production wise. Songs like march of the damned while I still like it could've had a bit more of a punch to it.

I hope firepower is better from a production standpoint but im sure the material will be solid regardless.

The production killed it for me.  Some of the worst production I've ever heard.  Andy Sneap doing this one so I'm sure it will sound amazing.

[Stadler]

The spring american tour keeps alive the rumor about a tour with Iron Maiden (and Anthrax) in the summer 

WOW!! Haven't heard that rumor!

What does that look like?   Maiden sold out arenas without an issue, as a headliner.   I don't see them opening for Priest at this point.  Priest opening for Maiden?    I'd go see that in a heartbeat (Cram!   Keep your membership active!!!), but is that really happening? 

[MirrorMask]

Iron Maiden most likely will tour Europe next summer... so if Judas Priest are on the bill, they'll come over after doing the US in the spring. Sorry folks on the other side of the pond!

(And yeah, if that should ever happen, Iron Maiden will be headliners, or at the very least, close the night after Priest did their full set)

[abydos]

I was under the impression that they did something similar to a farewell tour few years ago?

[ozzy554]

I was under the impression that they did something similar to a farewell tour few years ago?

Yep. That's the tour I saw them on.

It started out as a retirement tour. Then it turned into a retirement from big world tours tour. Then after that they made another album and went on a big world tour lol.

[MirrorMask]

Actually they didn't even went back on their words.

"This is the farewell tour!"

[A couple of years pass]

"Hey guys, we're doing another album and tour"

 

BTW - That "Epitaph" tour was glorious. Probably their best show I've seen 

[ozzy554]

Actually they didn't even went back on their words.

"This is the farewell tour!"

[A couple of years pass]

"Hey guys, we're doing another album and tour"

 

BTW - That "Epitaph" tour was glorious. Probably their best show I've seen 

It was the first concert I ever went to. Awesome 2 and a half hour set with most of my favorite songs.

[Mladen]

That was a fantastic concert. I never thought I'd see Priest again, but then they delivered another fine show two years ago. And now there's a chance to catch them live again, which is fantastic. 

[El Barto]

That Farewell Tour in 2014 was the end for me. They've been through a couple of times since then, and I find the whole thing too depressing to support. Watching Rob struggle (really struggle) and the rest of the band go through the motions isn't how I want to remember them. Kenny was right to quit when he did.

[Stadler]

That Farewell Tour in 2014 was the end for me. They've been through a couple of times since then, and I find the whole thing too depressing to support. Watching Rob struggle (really struggle) and the rest of the band go through the motions isn't how I want to remember them. Kenny was right to quit when he did.

For all the shows I've seen I've only seen them once, and then it was back in the day (Screaming... tour).   I don't know that I want to see them now, I really don't.   Look, I have nothing bad to say about any of them  - and I REALLY liked both Nostradamus and the newest one - but they're a band that are really of a time for me.  I think I'd rather have my memories of that time when I was listening to Screaming... after just having gotten British Steel, Stained Class and Point of Entry (I love that album, by the way).  I never really embraced the whole "metal god" thing, it was a little cartoony for me, and if they can't really do it justice, it's not really the same.   

[abydos]

Some years ago, just after Halford rejoined or short after, they came here and Queensryche was the opening act. I walked out of the stadium after QR as I didn't want to hear Halford not in his prime. Getting him back was financially wise but in terms of longevity of the band and their live performance not so much. At the time I thought they did it for the cash grab before they retire. I wish I was right - nothing I've heard since Halford's return sounds good nor fresh to me. And most of the live stuff is just sad.

[MirrorMask]

Trivial question: since Rob Halford changes clothes on stage (and I want to wear basically all of them) the same frequency of Lady Gaga or Madonna, do you think in the crew there's a "wardrobe guy" for him? I can totally imagine someone being backstage with the setlist and the order of the clothes, ready to help him to take away the previous one and put the next one 

[El Barto]

Trivial question: since Rob Halford changes clothes on stage (and I want to wear basically all of them) the same frequency of Lady Gaga or Madonna, do you think in the crew there's a "wardrobe guy" for him? I can totally imagine someone being backstage with the setlist and the order of the clothes, ready to help him to take away the previous one and put the next one 

He changes clothes now? Never noticed. However, I think all touring acts have somebody in charge of that. Somebody has to make sure laundry gets done and their stage clothes are in the right place. Particularly since so many bands tend to wear the same thing each night now.

Some years ago, just after Halford rejoined or short after, they came here and Queensryche was the opening act. I walked out of the stadium after QR as I didn't want to hear Halford not in his prime. Getting him back was financially wise but in terms of longevity of the band and their live performance not so much. At the time I thought they did it for the cash grab before they retire. I wish I was right - nothing I've heard since Halford's return sounds good nor fresh to me. And most of the live stuff is just sad.

That was actually an excellent show. Rob wasn't the same as he was in 84, of course, but he was still perfectly good. Belted out Painkiller like he was trying to summon the antichrist. It started going downhill pretty fast, though.

[MirrorMask]

He wears like 10 different trench coats for 16 songs of setlist. That's why I was picturing a wardrobe guy with all the clothes in setlist order just to help him out, justl ike there's a guitar tech with the guitars lined up according to the songs.

[KevShmev]

I was under the impression that they did something similar to a farewell tour few years ago?

Yep. That's the tour I saw them on.

It started out as a retirement tour. Then it turned into a retirement from big world tours tour. Then after that they made another album and went on a big world tour lol.

A friend of mine saw The Who on their farewell tour...in 1982.

[ozzy554]

I think halford sounds pretty damn good for his age. He pretty much knocked it out of the park when i saw them. And i really enjoyed the live CD they put out last year.

[jjrock88]

I thought Rob did an excellent job when I saw them two years ago.  And Redeemer of Souls was a fantastic album.  I figured that might have been the last album from the band, so this is just a big bonus that we are getting another one.