ALBUM REVIEW: Invincible Shield – Judas Priest
After over 50 years and with 18 studio albums to their name, few artists have such status and widespread appeal as JUDAS PRIEST. A legacy band in the truest sense, while they (just about) predate the boom of NWOBHM, few bands have adapted to and personified heavy metal quite like PRIEST. Contemporary artists have sometimes shunned the moniker and label, but Rob Halford gleefully led JUDAS PRIEST into adopting the mantle and happily proclaimed themselves as a heavy metal band. With a catalogue as extensive as theirs, there is a lot for any new recordings to live up to. Six years ago, they released Firepower to great acclaim and showed the world that on the cusp of half a century the Midlands band still very much had it. 2024 sees them once again stepping up to the plate and joyfully; Invincible Shield once more proclaims the altar of heavy metal is still tended to by the PRIEST.
Opening track and lead single Panic Attack is a mission statement of fiery intent. Upon its October 2023 release it offered a tantalising hint that the band were building on something special. The key elements and hallmarks of their past are there – galloping guitars, charging rhythms and of course the octave defying vocals – however, it all still sounds fresh, with crisp and clear production and not a hint of rehashed ideas. It’s the perfect introduction for album number nineteen.
The four lead singles of Panic Attack, Trial By Fire, Crown Of Horns and The Serpent And The King offer a broad cross section of what this album has to offer. However, there is much more to be discovered. Gates Of Hell is an air guitarist’s dream – wall to wall twin guitars trading riffs and lead lines as all the while the powerhouse rhythm section keeps the tempo locked on to give the stable foundation for Halford to soar.
The latter half of the album at first appears to take a step back. There is so much energy released in the opening few tracks that there is a noticeable downshift, but we’re treated to mid-tempo foot stamping anthems such as Giants In The Sky, or the bluesy riff-led Fight For Your Life. These have as much place in the PRIEST DNA as the harder attacking numbers and serve to offer an excellent balance to the frenetic energy already coursing through the album.
There are a lot of boxes ticked throughout Invincible Shield. For fans of JUDAS PRIEST, it is an absolute must. For the more casual fan, it’s an opportunity to listen to all of the key elements that make heavy metal what it is executed to a seriously high standard. The musicianship is what one would expect from any band with such an illustrious career, there is no signs of waning amongst the band. Andy Sneap, touring guitarist and producer of Firepower is back for production duties here. Once again, he is able to bring out some truly epic takes from the individuals and unite them for a powerful no nonsense assault that fills the speakers.
What marks Invincible Shield out is this is a non-stop fun album. Much like its predecessor, this is an example of a metal band with nothing to prove clearly still having as much fun as it is possible to have. They don’t need to produce new music; they could comfortably continue to tour on their previous works and no one would complain. However, they’ve shown consistently that they’re capable of producing exemplary heavy metal. They’ve got a signature style which is often imitated but never replicated and all of their very best qualities shine brightly on this album. Invincible Shield has achieved what many new releases from essential bands have failed to do and it is strong enough to compete against and even be listed among the pantheon of great albums in the JUDAS PRIEST catalogue. All hail the Metal Gods!
Rating: 10/10
Invincible Shield is out now via Epic Records.
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