Blog Post
Judas Priest – 'Invincible Shield'
Album Review by MB Photography Scotland • 21 February 2024
Let’s start with the obvious here….50 years as a band with over 50 million albums sold worldwide. 18 studio albums, 6 live albums, 7 compilation albums, 29 singles, you could say this band are Heavy Metal Gods and with their latest and 19th studio album Invincible Shield they show no signs of stopping. I think everyone reading this knows who the might Priest are, what they do and how they do it. Lasers adorn their live show, the Harley, the sublime twin guitar attack and the instantly recognisable tones of frontman Rob Halford. They are a rock n roll juggernaut. One that we haven’t seen on these UK shores for quite a while thanks to postponed Ozzy tours. However, with this new release we have a full UK tour and one in big arenas to boot. So, what have these guys got to promote?
Invincible Shield kicks of with lead single Panic Attack that was released back in October 2023. You would think that we are revisiting the synth laden era of Turbo with the intro. But wait, normal service is resumed pretty quickly with some modern guitar riffs courtesy of Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner. It’s an in-your-face rocker which features something pretty similar to the Turbo era wail in the middle just for some nod back to the past. Halford extends his pipes in his own style and boy it really fits the song. As a first glimpse into Invincible Shield, you get exactly what you have come to expect with Judas Priest. It’s catchy, it has the harmony guitars, double bass drums and it is also melodic. What’s not to like about this 2024 version of Judas Priest.
The metal onslaught continues with The Serpent and The King and title track Invincible Shield. Fast and furious but always in control and something that sounds new, which is important in gaining new fans as well as keeping the loyal fans satisfied. Devil In Disguise brings the pace down a touch but still has that killer guitar riff starting the song. Gates Of Hell has another interesting guitar intro before this mid-tempo song kicks into gear and another metal masterclass is laid at our feet. You could imagine this song being played live and while being quite melodic it has some heavy guitar riffs.
When us metalheads talk about guitar riffs the usual Tony Iommi, Jimmy Page name come up but you have to remember the classic guitar parts that Tipton and Downing wrote. This incarnation of Priest with Faulkner and Tipton is a step above and some of these riffs are just plain insane. Maybe that’s the guitarist in me getting a little geeky, but listen carefully and then try to imagine playing them.
Anyway, back to the sonic assault and latest single Crown Of Horns. Another melodic epic here and I really hope this is going to be in the live set for the upcoming tour. The lyrics in this song seem a bit of an autobiographical journey for Halford. “Heavy is the Crown Of Horns” is the line and maybe that’s how he feels his life in one of the biggest heavy metal bands is, but something that has given him satisfaction and immense pride.
And moving on we get back into some ear splitting, fast hitting offerings with As God Is My Witness and Trial By Fire with the latter having an off-beat riff and drum pattern that draws you in to listen closer. Credit has to be given to the backroom rhythm section of original member Ian Hill and long time drummer Scott Travis. It’s just nailed to the wall in every song and they compliment each other as well as letting the guitars soar when required.
Escape From Reality isn’t an instant earworm but is more of a brooding track with a slower tempo and groove to it. A very modern feel to this track. Sons Of Thunder and Giants In The Sky finishes off this 11-track slab of metal. The finishing track Giants In The Sky has a Black Sabbath feel to it and nods to bands that have gone before and paved the way for this band to succeed in their particular brand of rock.
All in all, this album shows a clear modern progression from Firepower. It’s cleverly written with some blistering guitar lines, something that Judas Priest has always been known for and mixed and produced immaculately. The younger influence of Faulkner shows on this album and it helps to keep Judas Priest relevant and likely to be here for some time yet. Some bands fizzle out and disappear, not Priest. This album is current but will also satisfy the cravings of those who have been with the band most of their career and also those who just know the more modern band. For me this surely is going to be in the most favourite albums of 2024 when we get the end of the year and talk about all things great and good that were bestowed upon our ears and eyes.