Unrivalled among the classic heavy metal bands visiting Metaldays this year, and equally unrivalled among the headlining acts of the year, we had the mighty Judas Priest. Hell, Metaldays had even gone all out and created a Painkiller beer for us to enjoy.
We had loved the band’s show in Copenhagen earlier in the year, and were absolutely ready for seconds of that, but could the old rock machine keep it up?

“Are you ready for some Judas Priest style heavy metal?!”
- Rob Halford (vocals)

Black Sabbath’s War Pigs played over the speakers, and the main stage was covered by a curtain. Anticipation was growing among the crowd.
Music shifted to the Firepower intro, and we knew shit was about to go down, as they say. As the band moved into the actual song Firepower, the curtain fell, and revealed a shining stage show and a band clad in leather and metal. Andy Sneap and especially Richie Faulkner were full of energy straight from the start, and got a good non-spoken communication going with the audience. Ian Hill was for some reason still hiding in the back of the stage, which is a pity as I’m sure he has as much to offer as everyone else in the band.
Not surprisingly, it was Rob Halford that garnered the loudest cheers though, as he entered in time for the vocals to begin. He’s clearly not as young and energetic as Faulkner, who’s almost 30 years younger than him, but he did as well as can be expected with the performance, and his voice was absolutely in place this evening.

“Slovenia, you doing alright? Yeah, I’m going to rename you Rockvenia!”
- Halford (vocals)

Judas Priest delivered a set full of classics as well as a handful of great rockers from the latest album, the aforementioned Firepower. This was perfect for a festival setting such as this, and it had the entire festival rocking along, singing and cheering the band on in every chance they had. Our guitarists had moments to shine in extended solos, and after the motorbike was rolled out for Hell bent For Leather, Scott Travis got his time in the limelight as well, as he got to play around for a while, and entertain us with highflying drumstick tricks.
There were more people amassed for this show than any other at the festival, as far as I could see, and it could be heard. Apart from completely taking the chorus of Turbo Lover over for themselves, there was constant singing along with Halford as well, as he made his way through the set.
Carried on top of these voices, and likely a few arms as well, there was a constant and great stream of crowdsurfers. Crowdsurfing is a favoured sport at Metaldays in general, but this show in particular saw an amazing amount of it. Judas Priest even put Kataklysm’s famed security stress test to shame.

So, yes. The old gents could absolutely deliver another impressive show. We missed the visit of Glen Tipton this time around, but the rest of the gang could definitely hold their own. A great booking, and a great way to round off the day.

Setlist:

War Pigs (Black Sabbath song)
Firepower
Grinder
Sinner
The Ripper
Lightning Strike
Bloodstone
Saints In Hell
Turbo Lover
Prelude
Tyrant
Night Comes Down
Freewheel Burning
Guardians
Rising From Ruins
You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’
Hell Bent For Leather
Painkiller
Metal Gods
Breaking The Law
Living After Midnight