JUDAS PRIEST
JUDAS PRIEST “Invincible Shield”
By Dr. Abner Mality
This is album #19 for the godfathers of metal. Time stands still for no one and the mighty PRIEST is approaching their finish line, as much as we would like to think otherwise. This album seems more thoughtful than their last effort “Firepower”, which was a powerful roar of metallic defiance. In many ways, it’s a tour through all the phases of JUDAS PRIEST and designed to show off their versatility instead of being just a flat-out headbanger.
I want to clarify that I’m reviewing the deluxe version of the LP, which features 3 extra songs than the standard version, bringing the total up to a generous 14 tracks. The extra tunes are widely available in these days of Youtube and digital downloads, so a lot of people will get the whole package. I will say right off that while “Invincible Shield” is an impressive album and PRIEST through and through, the deluxe version has some filler. The album would be a lot tighter at 10 or 11 songs.
I understand Glenn Tipton did indeed play guitar throughout the album, although his live replacement Andy Sneap contributed axework as well. Andy remains as the main producer, with help from PRIEST mainstay Tom Allom. Sneap did a tremendous job on “Firepower” and the sound on “Invincible Shield” is equally clear and powerful. It’s also more nuanced, because the songs themselves are more nuanced and trying harder for differences between the tracks. Let’s dive into the album itself…
“Panic Attack” starts things off with a fast song that has a lot of “Firepower” trademarks to it. It reminds me of older album-starters like “Ram It Down” and “Freewheel Burning”. It’s a tasty enough track, with great dueling guitars and strong vocals from Halford, but there’s better and more interesting to come. We don’t have to wait long, as second track “The Serpent and the King” burns down the house with one of the best tracks this band has done in the last 30 years. It’s a speed metal scorcher in the vein of “Painkiller” but Halford’s high pitched vocals are uncanny for a guy 70 years old. I mean, he sounds like he did on “Stained Class” here and there are traces of that album in the song structure as well as the vocals. By far, my favorite track on the album, outstanding in every regard.
There is no let up as the epic title track, the longest song here, follows with almost the same intensity. This is fast and mean, coming across like something from the “Screaming for Vengeance”/”Defenders of the Fatih” days, with a killer chorus and some awesome twin harmony guitar. This is pure JUDAS PRIEST at their best! So far this album is a screamer. Track #4 “Devil In Disguise” shakes things up, but in a good way, as this is a down and dirty rocker with a great mid-paced grind. It has the sound of something that could have been on “Hell Bent For Leather”. Simple but really effective!
Then things cool down a bit. “Gates of Hell” sounds like a “Firepower” out-take...not a bad track at all, but not up to the first four songs. Then comes “Crown of Horns” and this one I am still trying to process. It’s the most melodic song on the album by far and definitely the more commercial side of PRIEST. At first I dismissed it, but it is really growing on me and its placement in the middle of the album makes it fit well in the context of the whole thing. I dig that phased guitar intro...in the vein of “The Sentinel” or “Bloodstone”. It’s a different look at Rob’s vocals for sure.
“As God Is My Witness” is a good jolt of adrenaline, a fast speed metal track that again has that “Screaming/Defenders” touch to it. That’s followed by the boring “Trial By Fire” and this one really seems like it was written on autopilot. This is one of the songs I would have cut. “Escape From Reality” is a slower, melodic cut that’s like something from “Redeemer of Souls”...not bad, but nothing special. The album is now in its doldrums, which is borne out by “Sons of Thunder”, which has filler written all over it. This is just a bland track.
Things recover nicely with “Giants In the Sky”. This is one of my favorite tracks and it sounds like something from the early days of PRIEST. The lyrics are a plea not to forget those who have gone before us and paved the way...at this stage of JP’s career, they come across as very heartfelt. The song is another bluesy, heavy grind, with an outstanding vocal line in the chorus that will embed itself in your head. Great track! This marks the end of the “standard” album.
As for the bonus tracks, I have no idea why “Fight For Your Life” was left off the “real” album, as this catchy, bluesy tune blows “Sons of Thunder” and “Trial By Fire” right out of the water. Some of Rob’s best work is in this song. “Vicious Circle” is another “afterthought” track...hard and heavy, but not very memorable. As for the final cut “The Lodger”, this stands out with its emphasis on melody and atmosphere. A very different kind of track for modern-day PRIEST...lyrically, it’s almost a sequel to “The Ripper”!
That’s “Invincible Shield”. While not a perfect album by any stretch, it sees JUDAS PRIEST showing the breadth of their experience and their willingness to try different things. They could have easily done “Firepower 2”, but chose not to go that route. The result is a strong album that rewards the careful listener. I certainly hope it is not their last!