Now three records into the Richie Faulkner era, Birmingham’s metal ambassadors since 1969 are on firm footing, turning in what just might be the band’s best album since 1979’s Hell Bent for Leather. Strong words to be sure, but for this fan since ’76, there’s not been a collection of songs from Judas Priest this relentless and rich from track to track and steely strength to strength since that ancient and hallowed masterpiece of two realities, first as Killing Machine in the U.K. in 1978 and then Hell Bent for Leather for us across the pond in ’79.
Essentially what we get with Invincible Shield is all of the capability and culpability of 2018’s Firepower but with myriad surprises embedded in the songs. And when Judas Priest settle on more of a conservative tack, the melodies — and thus the memories — are stronger, while the grooves are more organic, with Scott Travis opening up that high-hat and bashing about the place, again, taking us back to the analog days of the ’70s.
But you can’t really go back, so this is still a production of perfection and gleaming steel, at the hands of Andy Sneap, who is also the band’s touring guitarist in place of Glenn Tipton, who is waging his ongoing battle with MS. Tom Allom also produced some of the earlier sessions conducted for the album, helping the band — rounded out by bassist Ian Hill and the Metal God himself, Rob Halford — achieve their fevered dream of metal dominance.
“That’s great to hear, man; I appreciate that,” begins guitar-slinger Faulkner, putting up with my raves. “You never know how it’s going to be when you let it go out into the world. You’ve put 1,000 percent into what you do. We all love it and we will get behind it, but you’ve just got
