Invincible Shield

Last updated

Invincible Shield
Judas Priest - Invincible Shield.png
Cover art by Mark Wilkinson
Studio album by
Released6 March 2024 (2024-03-06)
Recorded2022 – May 2023
Genre Heavy metal
Length52:36
Label
Producer Andy Sneap
Judas Priest chronology
Firepower
(2018)
Invincible Shield
(2024)
Singles from Invincible Shield
  1. "Panic Attack"
    Released: 13 October 2023
  2. "Trial by Fire"
    Released: 17 November 2023
  3. "Crown of Horns"
    Released: 19 January 2024
  4. "The Serpent and the King"
    Released: 22 February 2024

Invincible Shield is the nineteenth studio album by English heavy metal band Judas Priest, released on 6 March 2024 by Sony in Japan, [1] and globally two days later through Columbia and Epic Records. [2] [3] It was produced by the band's touring guitarist Andy Sneap, who also produced 2018's Firepower , while the album's last two tracks ("Sons of Thunder" and "Giants in the Sky") were co-produced by Tom Allom.

Contents

The album debuted at number two on the UK Albums Chart, the highest position in the band's discography to date. In the US, it debuted at number 18 on the Billboard 200 and topped the spot for the Billboard Top Hard Rock Albums chart, earning 25,000 album-equivalent units in its first week. [4]

Background and recording

In February 2020, the band officially began writing sessions for their 19th album, [5] but as guitarist Richie Faulkner stated later, they "faced some challenges with schedules due to the pandemic" and had not been able to get together and work on new music: "We wanted to keep it the same dynamic as Firepower – as we all got together, played the songs in pre-production before recording them". [6]

In September 2021, after the pandemic restrictions were lifted the band started their 50 Heavy Metal Years world tour. "So the next obstacle, if you wanna call it that, was the tour. We had to go out and tour and record bits and pieces in between the tour legs." [7] Due to ongoing restrictions, the album was recorded in various places: Scott Travis and Richie Faulkner in Nashville, Tennessee (where they reside), Rob Halford in Phoenix, Arizona, and Ian Hill while on tour in various European cities. [8]

In March 2022, Faulkner revealed that the drums for the new record had already been recorded [9] and emphasized that the songs "are a bit more progressive in places" having a few twists and turns musically that Firepower does not have. [10] To avoid misunderstandings Faulkner stated later that the album will not be a musical continuation of the experimental Nostradamus or progressive in a Rush-like interpretation, but "instead of verse, chorus, verse, chorus, solo, chorus, finish, sometimes it goes off and plays it a little... like the old '70s Judas Priest used to, like the 'Sinner' and stuff like that". [11]

In May 2023, after Rob Halford laid down his parts in the studio in Phoenix, Arizona with producer and touring guitarist Andy Sneap, the band stated they had finished tracking and the album had moved on to the mixing and mastering stage. [12] The songs "Sons of Thunder" and "Escape from Reality" were written by Glenn Tipton, and he performed guitar solos on both "Sons of Thunder" and "Vicious Circle." [13] [14] The bonus track "The Lodger" was written by Bob Halligan Jr., who has written other songs for the band, most notably "Some Heads Are Gonna Roll".

The album was announced on 7 October 2023 before the band's performance at the first Power Trip festival in Indio, California. [15] The album trailer was then uploaded on the band's YouTube channel containing the intro of "Panic Attack". [16]

The first single, "Panic Attack", was released on 13 October 2023, [17] followed by "Trial by Fire" on 17 November, [18] "Crown of Horns" on 19 January 2024 [19] and "The Serpent and the King" on 22 February. [20] The band will embark on a world tour from the month of the album's release. [16]

Reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?7.4/10 [21]
Metacritic 80/100 [22]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [23]
Classic Rock Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [24]
Kerrang! 4/5 [25]
Record Collector Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [26]
Metal Hammer Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [27]
Blabbermouth.net 9/10 [28]
Sputnikmusic 4.3/5.0 [29]
musicOMH Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [30]
The List Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [31]
laut.de Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [32]

Invincible Shield received generally favourable reviews from music critics. On Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has an average score of 80, indicating “generally favorable reviews”. At AnyDecentMusic?, which collates critical reviews from more than 50 media sources, the album scored 7.4 out of 10.

Philip Wilding of Louder Sound described the album as “pristine and powerful”, while Sam Law of Kerrang! praised it with a 4 out of 5 stars rating, highlighting its powerful riffs and dynamic vocals. Blabbermouth.net’s Dom Lawson gave it a high score of 9/10, commending the band’s ability to stay relevant and deliver a fresh yet classic heavy metal sound. Sputnikmusic rated it 4.3/5.0, noting the album’s strong songwriting and production quality.

Rich Hobson of Louder Sound remarked that “Fifty years on from their tentative first steps, Priest have produced what may well be the most defiantly, unrelentingly triumphant record of their career”.

Year-end lists

Select year-end rankings for Invincible Shield
Publication/criticAccoladeRankRef.
Decibel Top 40 Albums of 20244 [33]
Ultimate Guitar Top 20 Albums of 20241 [34]

Track listing

All songs written by Glenn Tipton, Richie Faulkner and Rob Halford except "The Lodger" by Bob Halligan Jr.

Invincible Shield standard track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Panic Attack"5:25
2."The Serpent and the King"4:19
3."Invincible Shield"6:21
4."Devil in Disguise"4:46
5."Gates of Hell"4:38
6."Crown of Horns"5:45
7."As God Is My Witness"4:36
8."Trial by Fire"4:21
9."Escape from Reality"4:24
10."Sons of Thunder"2:58
11."Giants in the Sky"5:03
Total length:52:36
Deluxe edition / 7" bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
12."Fight of Your Life"4:19
13."Vicious Circle"3:01
14."The Lodger"3:52
Total length:63:48

The three bonus tracks on the deluxe edition were also released on a bonus 7" EP sold separately and included in promotional bundles.

Personnel

Judas Priest

Additional personnel

Design

Charts

Release history

Release formats for Invincible Shield
RegionDateLabelFormatCatalogue
Japan6 March 2024 SMEJ SICP-31698
North America8 March 2024 Epic 1 96588 51642 9
Various Columbia

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Judas Priest</span> British heavy metal band

Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band formed in Birmingham in 1969. They have sold over 50 million albums and are frequently ranked as one of the greatest metal bands of all time. Judas Priest have also been referred to as one of the pioneers of the new wave of British heavy metal movement, and are cited as a formative influence on various heavy metal subgenres, including speed metal, thrash metal, power metal, and the hard rock/glam metal scene of the 1980s. Despite an innovative and pioneering body of work in the latter half of the 1970s, the band had struggled with poor record production and a lack of major commercial success until 1980, when their sixth studio album British Steel brought them notable mainstream attention.

<i>Defenders of the Faith</i> 1984 studio album by Judas Priest

Defenders of the Faith is the ninth studio album by English heavy metal band Judas Priest, released on 13 January 1984 in the US and on 20 January 1984 in the UK. The album was certified platinum by the RIAA, and spawned the singles "Freewheel Burning", "Some Heads Are Gonna Roll", and "Love Bites".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">K. K. Downing</span> British guitarist

Kenneth Downing Jr. is an English guitarist and a founding member of the heavy metal bands Judas Priest and KK's Priest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glenn Tipton</span> English guitarist

Glenn Raymond Tipton is an English guitarist. Often noted for his complex playing style and classically influenced solos, he is best known as one of the lead guitarists for the heavy metal band Judas Priest. He is the second longest-serving member of the band, after bassist and co-founder Ian Hill. Tipton and Hill are the only two members of the band who have appeared on every studio album.

<i>Turbo</i> (Judas Priest album) 1986 studio album by Judas Priest

Turbo is the tenth studio album by English heavy metal band Judas Priest, released in the UK on 7 April 1986 by Columbia Records. The album is notable for the band's change to a commercial glam metal sound, that had them using synthesizers for the first time.

<i>Angel of Retribution</i> 2005 studio album by Judas Priest

Angel of Retribution is the fifteenth studio album by English heavy metal band Judas Priest, released in 2005. It is the band's first album since 1990's Painkiller to feature Rob Halford. The album debuted at No. 13 on the US Billboard 200 chart, which makes it the fourth highest charting Judas Priest album in the US. The album was produced by Roy Z, who co-wrote the song "Deal with the Devil". It won a 2005 Metal Hammer award for Best Album. In the 2005 Burrn! magazine Readers' Pop Poll, it was voted Best Album of the Year and Best Album Cover.

<i>Ram It Down</i> 1988 studio album by Judas Priest

Ram It Down is the eleventh studio album by English heavy metal band Judas Priest, released on 13 May 1988 by Columbia Records. It was the band's last album to feature longtime drummer Dave Holland, and was promoted in Europe and North America with the Mercenaries of Metal Tour.

<i>British Steel</i> (album) 1980 studio album by Judas Priest

British Steel is the sixth studio album by English heavy metal band Judas Priest, released on 11 April 1980 by CBS Records, and on May 1980, by Columbia Records. It was the band's first album to feature Dave Holland on drums.

<i>Priest...Live!</i> 1987 live album by Judas Priest

Priest...Live! is the second live album by English heavy metal band Judas Priest, recorded at The Omni, Atlanta, Georgia on 15 June 1986 and the Reunion Arena, Dallas, Texas on 27 June 1986, and released in the UK on 1 June 1987.

<i>Jugulator</i> 1997 studio album by Judas Priest

Jugulator is the thirteenth studio album by English heavy metal band Judas Priest. It was released in Japan on 16 October 1997 and the rest of the world on 28 October 1997. It was their first studio album since Painkiller in 1990 and the first of two studio albums the band recorded without Rob Halford and with American lead vocalist Tim "Ripper" Owens. Jugulator is the only Judas Priest album that has never been released on any major digital media website, due to German independent record label SPV falling under and going bankrupt around 2009.

<i>Demolition</i> (Judas Priest album) 2001 studio album by Judas Priest

Demolition is the fourteenth studio album by English heavy metal band Judas Priest, and the first in the decade of the 2000s. It is the second and final studio album to feature Tim "Ripper" Owens on vocals. It is also the only Judas Priest studio album to feature a Parental Advisory label on the album cover due to the songs "Machine Man", "Hell Is Home", and "Metal Messiah" containing profanity.

<i>Nostradamus</i> (album) 2008 studio album by Judas Priest

Nostradamus is the sixteenth studio album by English heavy metal band Judas Priest, focusing on the 16th-century writer Nostradamus. It is a double album and a concept album. It was originally intended to be released in late 2006 before being pushed back to a 2007 release, and was finally released on 16 June 2008 on Epic Records. It is the last Judas Priest studio album to feature the Painkiller-era lineup with guitarist and founding member K. K. Downing retiring in April 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richie Faulkner</span> British-American guitarist

Richard Ian Faulkner is a British-American guitarist best known as one of the lead guitarists for the heavy metal band Judas Priest since 2011, replacing original member K. K. Downing. He has also performed with Lauren Harris, Christopher Lee, Voodoo Six, Deeds, and Ace Mafia.

<i>Redeemer of Souls</i> 2014 studio album by Judas Priest

Redeemer of Souls is the seventeenth studio album by English heavy metal band Judas Priest, which was released in the US on 8 July 2014, in Europe on 11 July, and in the UK on 14 July. It is their first album without founding guitarist K. K. Downing, who quit the band in 2011 and was replaced by new guitarist Richie Faulkner. It also marks the band's last album to be produced by Glenn Tipton. The album sold around 32,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to peak at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 chart, marking the band's first top 10 album debut in the US. It has sold 110,000 copies in the US as of February 2016.

<i>Battle Cry</i> (Judas Priest album) 2016 live album by Judas Priest

Battle Cry is the sixth live album by English heavy metal band Judas Priest, released on 25 March 2016. It was recorded at the Wacken Open Air festival in Germany on 1 August 2015 during their Redeemer of Souls Tour. The album was released as both a standalone title and a bundled package containing the DVD version.

<i>Epitaph</i> (video) 2013 video by Judas Priest

Epitaph is a live video released by Judas Priest on DVD and Blu-Ray on 28 May 2013. It was filmed at the Hammersmith Apollo on 26 May 2012, which was the last date of the Epitaph World Tour, where they performed songs from each Halford-era album from Rocka Rolla to Nostradamus. The show was first seen in cinemas in New York City on 14 May and in London on 15 May with special screenings around the world on 16 May. It then premiered on VH1 Classic in the United States on 25 May.

<i>Firepower</i> (album) 2018 studio album by Judas Priest

Firepower is the eighteenth studio album by English heavy metal band Judas Priest. Released in 2018, it was the band's first studio album since 1988's Ram It Down to be produced by Tom Allom and the first one with Andy Sneap as co-producer. The album sold around 49,000 copies in the United States within its first week of release, debuting at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 chart, making it the band's highest-charting album in the US. The album also reached No. 5 in the UK, making it their first top-ten album in the UK since British Steel. Music videos were made for "Lightning Strike", "Spectre" and "No Surrender". A lyric video was made for "Never the Heroes". The record also produced three singles.

The Firepower World Tour was a worldwide concert tour by English heavy metal band Judas Priest, in support of the album Firepower. It ran from 13 March 2018 to 29 June 2019.

"Panic Attack" is a song by the English heavy metal band Judas Priest from their 2024 album Invincible Shield. It was released as the album's lead single on October 13, 2023, and became its most popular song, having over 8 million Spotify listens and 2 million YouTube views.

References

  1. "最新アルバム「インヴィンシブル・シールド」発売記念キャンペーン「鋼鉄の聖地」開催決定!! | ジューダス・プリースト" [Campaign to commemorate the release of the latest album Invincible Shield, Steel Sanctuary will be held!! | Judas Priest]. Sony Music (in Japanese). Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  2. Irwin, Corey (8 October 2023). "Judas Priest Announces New Album Invincible Shield". Ultimate Classic Rock . Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  3. "Judas Priest To Release New Studio Album, Invincible Shield, In March 2024". Blabbermouth.net . 7 October 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  4. Rutherford, Kevin (20 March 2024). "Judas Priest's Invincible Shield Reigns on Top Hard Rock Albums Chart". Billboard . Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  5. "Judas Priest Officially Begin Work on New Album". Consequence . 4 February 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  6. "Ian Hill Doesn't Think Next Judas Priest Album Will Arrive Before 2023". Blabbermouth.net . 22 September 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  7. Kennelty, Greg (27 September 2022). "Judas Priest Made Lots of Progress Recording a New Album". Metal Injection. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  8. "Judas Priest's Ian Hill On Recording Process For Invincible Shield: 'It Was Different'". Blabbermouth.net . 26 February 2024. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  9. "Richie Faulkner Says Drums For Next Judas Priest Album Have Already Been Recorded". Blabbermouth.net . 30 March 2022. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  10. Kennelty, Greg (17 February 2022). "Judas Priest's New Record Is More Progressive With "Killing Machine Swagger"". Metal Injection. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  11. Emre, Yunus (28 March 2023). "Richie Faulkner Interview on Details of Judas Priest New Album". Metal Shout. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  12. "Rob Halford Has Finished Recording Vocals For New Judas Priest Album: 'It's Sounding Fantastic'". Blabbermouth.net . 31 May 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  13. Voice, The Metal (10 February 2024). "Invincible Shield is Judas Priest in 2024, Less Commercial Than Firepower- Says Guitarist Richie Faulkner". themetalvoice. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  14. Blabbermouth (12 March 2024). "RICHIE FAULKNER On GLENN TIPTON's Contributions To 'Invincible Shield': 'It Was Important For Him To Be Involved As Much As He Could'". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  15. Rettig, James (8 October 2023). "Judas Priest Announce New Album Invincible Shield". Stereogum . Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  16. 1 2 Grow, Kory (9 October 2023). "Time for a 'Panic Attack': Judas Priest Tease New Single and Album, Invincible Shield". Rolling Stone . Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  17. "New Judas Priest Single 'Panic Attack' To Arrive On Friday". Blabbermouth.net . 8 October 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  18. "Judas Priest Releases New Single 'Trial By Fire' From Upcoming Invincible Shield Album". Blabbermouth.net . 17 November 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  19. "Judas Priest Shares Another New Song, 'Crown Of Horns', From Upcoming Invincible Shield Album". Blabbermouth.net . 19 January 2024. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  20. "JUDAS PRIEST Releases New Song 'The Serpent And The King' From Upcoming 'Invincible Shield' Album". Blabbermouth.net . 22 February 2024.
  21. "Invincible Shield by Judas Priest reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
  22. "Invincible Shield by Judas Priest". Metacritic . Retrieved 7 November 2024.
  23. "Invincible Shield - Judas Priest | Album". AllMusic . Retrieved 17 March 2024.
  24. Wilding, Philip (8 March 2024). "Out now: Judas Priest's Invincible Shield is pristine and powerful". Louder Sound . Retrieved 17 March 2024.
  25. Law, Sam (8 March 2024). "Album review: Judas Priest – Invincible Shield". Kerrang! . Retrieved 17 March 2024.
  26. "Record Collector – March 2024". Record Collector . March 2024. p. 103.
  27. Hobson, Rich (4 March 2024). ""Fifty years on from their tentative first steps, Priest have produced what may well be the most defiantly, unrelentingly triumphant record of their career." New Judas Priest album Invincible Shield is nothing short of magnificent". Louder Sound . Retrieved 17 March 2024.
  28. Lawson, Dom (5 March 2024). "Invincible Shield". blabbermouth.net . Retrieved 17 March 2024.
  29. Schroer, Brendan. "Review: Judas Priest - Invincible Shield". Sputnikmusic . Retrieved 17 March 2024.
  30. Horton, Ross (8 March 2024). "Judas Priest - Invincible Shield | Album Reviews". musicOMH . Retrieved 17 March 2024.
  31. Thomas, Greg. "Judas Priest: Invincible Shield album review – A clarion call for tolerance". The List . Retrieved 17 March 2024.
  32. Temminghoff, Yan. "Ein Manifist des Metals" (in German). laut.de . Retrieved 17 March 2024.
  33. Decibel Magazine staff (12 November 2024). "SPOILER: Here Are Decibel's Top 40 Albums of 2024". Decibel Magazine. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  34. kalu15051 [UG Writer] (12 November 2024). "UG Awards: Top 20 Albums of 2024". Ultimate Guitar. Retrieved 23 December 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  35. "ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. 18 March 2024. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  36. "Austriancharts.at – Judas Priest – Invincible Shield" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  37. "Ultratop.be – Judas Priest – Invincible Shield" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
  38. "Ultratop.be – Judas Priest – Invincible Shield" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
  39. "Judas Priest Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  40. "Hrvatskoj tjedan 12. 2024". HDU-toplista.com. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  41. "Czech Albums – Top 100". ČNS IFPI. Note: On the chart page, select 11.Týden 2024 on the field besides the words "CZ – ALBUMS – TOP 100" to retrieve the correct chart. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  42. "Hitlisten.NU – Album Top-40 Uge 11, 2024". Hitlisten . Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  43. "Dutchcharts.nl – Judas Priest – Invincible Shield" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  44. "Judas Priest: Invincible Shield" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  45. "Top Albums". SNEP. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  46. "Greekcharts.com – Judas Priest – Invincible Shield". Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  47. "Offiziellecharts.de – Judas Priest – Invincible Shield" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  48. "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2024. 11. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  49. "Official Irish Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  50. "Album – Classifica settimanale WK 11 (dal 08.03.2024 al 14.03.2024)" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana . Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  51. "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2024-03-18" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  52. "Oricon Top 50 Digital Albums: March 18, 2024" (in Japanese). Oricon . Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  53. "Billboard Japan Hot Albums – Week of March 13, 2024". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  54. "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 18 March 2024. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  55. "Album 2024 uke 11". VG-lista . Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  56. "OLiS - oficjalna lista sprzedaży - albumy" (in Polish). OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Note: Change the date to 08.03.2024–14.03.2024 under "zmień zakres od–do:". Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  57. "Portuguesecharts.com – Judas Priest – Invincible Shield". Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  58. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  59. "Spanishcharts.com – Judas Priest – Invincible Shield". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  60. "Veckolista Album, vecka 11". Sverigetopplistan . Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  61. "Swisscharts.com – Judas Priest – Invincible Shield". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
  62. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  63. "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  64. "Judas Priest Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  65. "Judas Priest Chart History (Top Hard Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  66. "Judas Priest Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  67. "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts . Retrieved 9 December 2024.