Great album this shows that after 50 years Judas Priest can still put out pure metal this album proves that invisible shield is perfection

Best JP album since the late 70s. It is only the last 2 songs where I hear a dip in the quality, but the rest is top shelf Priest.

This is exceeding my expectations personally. I think it’s better then Firepower

So far I think As God Is My Witness might be my favorite. I really liked Gates of Hell quite a bit too.

The Lodger was pretty different, and Giants in the Sky is a proud homage to our fallen rock and metal heroes. Plenty of the stuff on this album boasts a strong '70s/early '80s feel, and that's a good thing.

I really like the album but if they had never released the 4 singles early & this entire unheard album had dropped on the 8th & I got to listen to the entire album for the first time-start to finish ( no bonus tracks) I would have been completely BLOWN AWAY!

This review is how I felt about KK's Priest. Except with the name "KK's Priest" dragging it down a bit. Thank you for your opinions, they are appreciated.

Please review the KK's Priest show, as well. Sadly I will be out of state when they visit NJ. Your assessment of the 'Rob Return' era is spot on. The only Highnote I heard so far from Shield is Richie's intro on the very confusing Horns song. Where are the adventuresome 'Solar Angels', 'Nightcrawler' or 'Jawbreaker'?

Thanks for the honest review great job.

Cool to hear your perspective. I see it differently. I've listened to it twice and already have connected with it more than I ever connected with Redeemer of Souls or Firepower. We'll see how it fares upon repeated listens.

Hi John I love it, bought complete package fantastic album for me 💯💯🤘🤘

Before watching.... Best since Defenders

Interesting. We're polar opposite. I think this is their best in many yrs, and one of their best. Theres 3 or 4 songs im not big on, but the rest are bangers. And im not a huge fan of the last two albums as a whole. Firepower obviously has better production than Redeemer, but I probably like more songs off Redeemer. This one has more energy, better riffs and catchier hooks with the best production they've ever had and is stacked with more great songs.

I listened to it for the first time in total, front to back, last night! Played it on vinyl, and reeeeeally loud. Other than 'Crown Of Thorns' (which just has a really lame chorus) I think the album is pretty amazing, certainly much more than I would expect from them at this point. I thought the songs are good, a thorough intensity and energy that I was not prepared for. I hear shades of lots of classic Judas Priest, through Stained Class and SFV to DotF and even Turbo, but given a very contemporary injection that works for it rather than against it. The overall production, for which I am admittedly a real stickler about in music in general, is uniformly excellent ... everything is balanced, there is a perfectly congealed sound that puts a smart amount of space between the instruments without sacrificing the whole. It doesn't sound compressed or sludgy or shrill or any of the qualities that so much modern metal is guilty of. And, it must be said that Rob Halford sounds amazing!! I'm not saying there wasn't some studio assistance, but in the end I don't really care about that -- it's all in what is delivered from my stereo speakers to my ears. I will say Rob's lyrics are as cheesy as ever, but that is par for the course. 8.5/10 ... would have given it a 9 but I docked half a point for the suckery that is 'Crown Of Thorns' LOL ... ps - have not listened to the three bonus tracks that come with the CD and digital -- my assessment is based on the core 11 songs.

After 1 day the songs I like are panic attack, crown of thorns,vicious circle, giants in the sky, escape from reality, sons of thunder and gates of hell. I know what you mean by too similar in songs. All heavy. I had heard rob described the album as “proggy”. I would have loved to hear something atmospheric like desert plains.

I like the album, if anything there are too many songs on it. That said though, one of the best tracks is one of the extra tracks on the deluxe version. The second half of the album is the strongest for me.

A Better Shield What did you pick? I got seven from your review. Did I miss something?

I agree. I’ve only listened twice and the second time through was more enjoyable. But “Gates of Hell” is the worst offender for me here. Too formulaic. There are at least a couple others like that. I tend to prefer the songs that Halford sings near the bottom of his range rather than the top. As usual, I want more and longer solos. Not that I mind, but doesn’t “Panic Attack” borrow a riff from “Tom Sawyer”?

I have listened till this one once and I thought it was very good if somewhat uninspired.

I agree, a little too samey samey. Very good though. I had a couple Peavey guitars with that headstock. I was dumb and sold them!

Rob sounds amazingly good and the songs were very impactful to me on first listen, but after a few listens it started to sound a bit like they are following the formula. It ticks nearly every box, but it sounds to me like they are doing it for the money and that the songs and riffs come more from the head than from the heart.

Sounds pretty good. Firepower the first two songs released were standard Judas songs and then I heard the album and a lot of more interesting and better songs made it an excellent album. Will see if invincible shield is the same.

Agree with your take. It’s good not great. Got the same vibe from the new Saxon album (note: hell fire and damnation song is fantastic). Nothing to dislike but nothing to get excited about. Serpent and the king for me is a standout. As far as your review of the new Bruce……said in an earlier comment on another channel, I to like the variety. Bruce sounds good.

I think it's a very good album. Not great but very good. Cut it down to 45mins and eliminate 3 songs would be better

Maybe too much Richie Faulkner? - He's talented but it's a one guitar Judas Priest album. I would've opened the album with Invincible Shield - Sons of Thunder - Vicious Circles - Escape from Reality - Trial by Fire - Gates of Hell - As God as my witness - Serpent and the King - and finish with Giants in the Sky

actually new album blows me away! much better than firepower, redeemer of souls, crown of horns seems seems like a ballad, didnt care for it just my opinion

My god this album is great. Go review a take that album

I picked 7 songs from this album for my scaled down version and I felt like I'd be judged for not being onboard with all of it. Hearing your list is cool because you chose every song from my list. This could have been a classic Priest album. Instead, it felt a little like they were pandering to their Metal stereotype. Trying too hard to be Metal. To be honest, I haven't liked much of their stuff since Scott Travis came into the band. His drumming is too relentlessly heavy for my taste. Priest was never the heaviest band in the world and quite frankly, when they tried to compete for that title, they stopped being the Priest we all knew and loved. Yngwie wouldn't agree with me but, less is more sometimes.

How dare you dude....

Terrible from start to finish. The KK Priest albums have that Judas Priest sound. This album could be more like the Halford solo band. IMO a big letdown. 2/5