It will be album Number 18 for Judas Priest, and it’s single “Lighting Strike” is available now. Considering that the majority of the musical world already views the band’s music as the best ever written, it’s fascinating that Rob Halford describes the album as some of the best work they’ve done. It’s hard to top Judas Priest… even when it’s Judas Priest.
Take a look at the new “Lightning Strike” video:
The legendary British heavy metal band has been “making metal” for four decades now, and they continue to seek out new riffs and new melodies. It’s something they enjoy. The new “Firepower” is the first studio album released since “Redeemer of Souls” in 2014. They also released a live recording of “Battle Cry” recorded in Germany at the Wacken Open Air festival during their August 2015 performance there as part of their ‘Redeemer of Souls” tour.
It’s hard to believe that Judas Priest was rejected for the 2018 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame after being nominated. Rob Halford shared their rejection letter from Greg Harris, President and CEO of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, with 100.7 KSLX radio station Phoenix. Halford said that Judas Priest has easily put in their “10,000 hours and more” and that they “feel that heavy metal” should be included on more shelves in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Halford said that the band members would have “loved” to be included and “deserve it”. The nomination for them was “thrilling” and “bittersweet”.
Pre-orders for the full album and PledgeMusic pre-orders are also all set to go. Available include limited offerings of a some highly desirable items:
– Autographed Judas Priest guitars- just a few
– An exclusive t-shirt- absolutely Judas Priest
– Vinyl test pressings — limited and exclusive
– Colored vinyl- limited and exclusive
Billboard’s inclusion of the album on its 2018 Most Anticipated List reflects the album’s production quality and recording methods. The fourteen tracks are the work of producer Tom Allom. He produced all of Judas Priest’s releases between 1979 and 1988. He’s old school classic metal. He was joined by Andy Sneap, known for his Grammy Awards and modern metal production style. Mike Exeter, Black Sabbath genius, was the engineer. What’s distinguished the album even more is that the band got together in a studio, old school, to play and record. The result is high-octane metal.
The album will be released through Columbia Records on March 9, 2018. What’s more is that the band will set off on their North American Tour to support the new album. They’re coordinating their tour with the release of Judas Priest: Road to Valhalla”, the new mobile app. It’s designed so fans can use bits from the “Battle Cry” album to compose songs of their own.
The tour is scheduled to kick off on March 13, 2018 in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Casey Plaza. It will be the first of 25 dates set throughout the United States and Canada. The dates include performances in San Antonio, Texas, San Francisco, Dallas, Washington D.C., Detroit, Phoenix, Ottawa, and Los Angeles to start. Joining the band will be the black Star Riders. Concert tickets are on sale now. A quick check of a few local venues show that prices range anywhere from $85 to $3006 depending on venue and seats. But, it’s Judas Priest. Worth whatever the price.
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