JUDAS PRIEST
Invincible Shield
(Heavy Metal)
Label: Sony Music
Format: (LP)
Release: 08.03.2024
Anyone who has ever immersed themselves in the metal and hard rock genre, or has spoiled their ears with metallic sounds, is definitely familiar with the British legend JUDAS PRIEST. Even those who have nothing to do with the hard genre and have electric light and running water at home will have heard the English at least with “Breaking The Law” at some point and somewhere. A legend through and through.
That’s why there was a huge outcry after their performance at the Power Trip Festival (as a replacement for Ozzy Osbourne) when they announced a new album for 2024. The fans had great expectations as to whether the band could maintain the quality of their 18th album “Firepower”, which was released in 2019. The first single “Panic Attack” fueled the expectations even more, as you could already hear from this track that big things are probably coming our way. Probably because, as we all know, one swallow doesn’t make a summer and how many bands do you know who released a great first number and then the rest was rather poor?
But the fears quickly vanished because JUDAS PRIEST gradually released one hit after the other. And it happened as it had to happen: “Invincible Shield” is in no way inferior to its predecessor. No, it almost overshadows it in terms of hardness and variety.
The reception trio consisting of “Panic Attack”, “The Serpent and The King” and the title track was already known in advance through releases and leaves no one alive. Here the trigger is pulled as if there is no tomorrow. The following two tracks “Devil In Disguise” and “Gates Of Hell”, the former being my secret favorite on the album, are in the same vein and encourage the listener to raise their fist to the sky and roar along.
“Crown Of Horns” comes around the corner a bit staid. The song, which officially found its way to listeners and online in February, reminds me strongly of the colorful 80s era of “Turbo”. “God is My Witness” isn’t really my cup of tea either, even though it rocks appropriately, but there’s something about the song that doesn’t suit me. Fortunately, the middle part, which is rather weak for me, only consists of these two songs and PRIEST more than skillfully closes their 19th studio album with 4 grenades. “Trial by Fire” opens the finale hard and catchy and the song has nothing to do with the SATAN song of the same name. With “Escape From Reality” the priests seemingly bow to another legend. Namely BLACK SABBATH, the doomy song is completely different than the other tracks, but is definitely convincing. When singing, Halford seems to be vocally thanking Ozzy for allowing them to be a replacement at the “Power Trip Festival”. “Sons of Thunder” then hands over the scepter to the bouncer “Giants In The Sky” in crisp metal art. And if the word “Gigantic” appears in the title, then the song should also contain this attribute. Mortal Kombat would be given the title “Flawless Victory”, “Giants in The Sky” is not only a very worthy conclusion, but stands out as another future anthem for the band.
With their new work, JUDAS PRIEST show that even after 50 years there is still a lot of metal in the Metal Gods and that they didn’t get this title for nothing. At the age of 72, Rob Halford’s vocals are on top and problems from the past no longer seem to be an issue. This year’s extensive and mostly sold-out tour will show whether it still sounds that way live. The rhythm section is firmly in the hands of Scott Travis and Ian Hill (some of the remaining original members) and it’s also nice that Glen Tipton, who despite his Parkinson’s disease is still a permanent band member (in the studio, he will only be there live very rarely). ) and has contributed his bit in terms of songwriting. Richie Faulkner hasn’t been guilty of anything in the past 13 years and knows what a JUDAS PRIEST riff should sound like.
The band has successfully defended their title as Metal Gods and has put another stone in their crown with their protective shield. If “Invincible Shield” is the last album of their career, the Brits have done everything right, but I think the story is far from over.
Ps: If you decide to buy the CD, you should definitely get the deluxe version, because it contains three really good songs that are definitely worth the few euros more.
Anyone who has ever immersed themselves in the metal and hard rock genre, or has spoiled their ears with metallic sounds, is definitely familiar with the British legend JUDAS PRIEST. Even those who have nothing to do with the hard genre and have electric light and running water at home will have heard the English at least with “Breaking The Law” at some point and somewhere. A legend through and through.
That’s why there was a huge outcry after their performance at the Power Trip Festival (as a replacement for Ozzy Osbourne) when they announced a new album for 2024. The fans had great expectations as to whether the band could maintain the quality of their 18th album “Firepower”, which was released in 2019. The first single “Panic Attack” fueled the expectations even more, as you could already hear from this track that big things are probably coming our way. Probably because, as we all know, one swallow doesn’t make a summer and how many bands do you know who released a great first number and then the rest was rather poor?
But the fears quickly vanished because JUDAS PRIEST gradually released one hit after the other. And it happened as it had to happen: “Invincible Shield” is in no way inferior to its predecessor. No, it almost overshadows it in terms of hardness and variety.
The reception trio consisting of “Panic Attack”, “The Serpent and The King” and the title track was already known in advance through releases and leaves no one alive. Here the trigger is pulled as if there is no tomorrow. The following two tracks “Devil In Disguise” and “Gates Of Hell”, the former being my secret favorite on the album, are in the same vein and encourage the listener to raise their fist to the sky and roar along.
“Crown Of Horns” comes around the corner a bit staid. The song, which officially found its way to listeners and online in February, reminds me strongly of the colorful 80s era of “Turbo”. “God is My Witness” isn’t really my cup of tea either, even though it rocks appropriately, but there’s something about the song that doesn’t suit me. Fortunately, the middle part, which is rather weak for me, only consists of these two songs and PRIEST more than skillfully closes their 19th studio album with 4 grenades. “Trial by Fire” opens the finale hard and catchy and the song has nothing to do with the SATAN song of the same name. With “Escape From Reality” the priests seemingly bow to another legend. Namely BLACK SABBATH, the doomy song is completely different than the other tracks, but is definitely convincing. When singing, Halford seems to be vocally thanking Ozzy for allowing them to be a replacement at the “Power Trip Festival”. “Sons of Thunder” then hands over the scepter to the bouncer “Giants In The Sky” in crisp metal art. And if the word “Gigantic” appears in the title, then the song should also contain this attribute. Mortal Kombat would be given the title “Flawless Victory”, “Giants in The Sky” is not only a very worthy conclusion, but stands out as another future anthem for the band.
With their new work, JUDAS PRIEST show that even after 50 years there is still a lot of metal in the Metal Gods and that they didn’t get this title for nothing. At the age of 72, Rob Halford’s vocals are on top and problems from the past no longer seem to be an issue. This year’s extensive and mostly sold-out tour will show whether it still sounds that way live. The rhythm section is firmly in the hands of Scott Travis and Ian Hill (some of the remaining original members) and it’s also nice that Glen Tipton, who despite his Parkinson’s disease is still a permanent band member (in the studio, he will only be there live very rarely). ) and has contributed his bit in terms of songwriting. Richie Faulkner hasn’t been guilty of anything in the past 13 years and knows what a JUDAS PRIEST riff should sound like.
The band has successfully defended their title as Metal Gods and has put another stone in their crown with their protective shield. If “Invincible Shield” is the last album of their career, the Brits have done everything right, but I think the story is far from over.
Ps: If you decide to buy the CD, you should definitely get the deluxe version, because it contains three really good songs that are definitely worth the few euros more.
Tracklist „Invincible Shield„:
1. Panic Attack
2. The serpent And The king
3. Invincible Shield
4. Devil In Disguise
5. Gates Of Hell
6. Crown Of Horns
7. As God Is My Witness
8. Trial By Fire
9. Escape From Reality
10. Sons Of Thunder
11. Giants In The Sky
12. Fight Of Your Life (Bonus)
13. Vicious Circle (Bonus)
14. The Lodger (Bonus)
Total playing time: 63:56
Band-Links:
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