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As one of the founding fathers of heavy metal, Judas Priest should need no introduction to anyone in the alternative scene. Continuing to evolve throughout the 70s, 80s and 90s with smash hits like ‘Breaking The Law,’ ‘Electric Eye’ and ‘Painkiller,’ the band have cemented their legacy and then some. It’s astounding, then, that a group with nothing more to prove still sound so impassioned and dedicated on their 19th studio album, ‘Invincible Shield.’
Despite the band’s pre-release comments that their next output would be a more progressive outing for the group, fans should feel right at home with ‘Invincible Shield.’ Throughout its 53-minute runtime, Halford and company harken back to the best and brightest moments of their long and storied career, catering to any and all Judas Priest enjoyers. Fans of 1990’s ‘Painkiller’ should be pleasantly surprised by the return of aggressive thrash riffs and fry screaming on tracks like ‘Panic Attack,’ or ‘As God Is My Witness,’ while casual listeners may prefer more classic cuts like ‘Devil In Disguise’ or ‘Sons of Thunder.’
Thankfully, these sounds are still as exciting today as they always have been as slick modern production and shockingly strong performances keep the album sounding both polished and frantic every step of the way. Whether it be Halford’s soaring lead vocals, Tipton’s ever-impressive lead guitar work or Travis’ thunderous percussion, every member of the band could be mistaken for a counterpart 30 years younger.
That’s not to say, however, that Priest are resting on their laurels with this one. ‘Escape From Reality,’ with its doom metal adjacent riffs and monstrous chorus, feels pulled straight from a Black Sabbath album, though Ozzy would surely have struggled to hit the high-notes that Halford continues to nail at 72 years old. The record’s epic closer ‘Giants in the Sky’ is similarly intrepid for the band, incorporating more blues-based scales and a personal lyrical theme. The metal gods may have little left to prove in 2024, but their continued dedication to evolving their sound is admirable and shines through on every track.
‘Invincible Shield’ sounds like Judas Priest’s victory lap as they celebrate their legacy and impact while continuing to look into the future of the very genre they helped pioneer. If this turns out to be their last album, it will have been a worthy - even wondrous - conclusion to their legendary story.
Words: Jay Kirby
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