Judas Priest’s Rob Halford On The Band’s New Record ‘Invincible Shield’: It’s ‘In Its Own Lane’

Judas Priest singer Rob Halford can still recall when the legendary band recorded their debut album, Rocka Rolla, in 1974—a record rooted more in blues-and-folk-influenced progressive hard rock than the blistering heavy metal that has been Priest’s signature sound. At the time, the conditions that led to the first record were not quite ideal for the then-newcomers.

“We had to record on the cheapest rates available for the studio, which was from 9:00 or 10:00 in the evening till 7:00 or 8:00 in the morning,” Halford, known as the ‘Metal God,’ says. “So we slept in the van during the day, and then went to work at night. I can remember that like it was yesterday. But if you'd have told me that 50 years later I'd be talking about a new album, I'd have said, ‘What are you smoking? Give me one of those pills.’ It's insane.”

Indeed, much has changed since those hard-knock early days for Judas Priest, whose current lineup consists of Halford, bassist Ian Hill, guitarist Glenn Tipton, drummer Scott Travis and guitarist Richie Faulkner. Over the next five decades, the band amassed legions of fans, recorded hit albums, and influenced generations of metal acts. But rather than resting on their laurels, the band is still making music via Invincible Shield, their 19th studio album (due out Friday) and first new record in six years. The reasons for the long hiatus could be traced to the pandemic lockdown and the band's previous tour marking their 50th anniversary.

“I think that you should take the necessary time it takes to create your art,” Halford says. “And there are no rules because rock and roll is all about no rules. It's disorganized chaos as it should be. So you take all of those parameters into the idea, and here it is. Priest has always been about quality over quantity. Having said that, back in the '80s, we were making an album a year and then touring. But that was then. The industry now, in the business sense, is completely different to where we were in the '80s.”

First announced last October during the band's appearance at the Power Trip festival in Indio, California, Invincible Shield carries all the hallmarks of classic Priest: from the blazing razor-sharp guitar attack to Halford's dramatic vocals. In the tradition of such classic Priest albums as British Steel, Defenders of the Faith, Screaming for Vengeance and most recently Firepower, Invincible Shield is a showcase of a veteran band still feeling inspired. Halford says that the band has always been aware of trying to hit a different mark with each new record, and Invincible Shield is no different.

“We've said for as long as I can remember that we make these records to truly represent who we are and what we're about at this specific moment in time. Invincible Shield is in its own lane on the heavy metal highway. And much like a lot of us, we avoid replication. We're not a formula band. With Priest, we blew the doors off the rules of heavy metal.”

The first single released off the record was “Panic Attack,” which joins the canon of classic Priest bangers and has a timely message. “I always feel that you really have to leave the launch pad with your first three tracks,” explains Halford. ““Panic Attack” seems to generate the correct amount of energy and spotlight, and the first firework is launched. And so here we have this song that's quite a dark view of the ability of the internet to do. When I say, ‘The clamor and the clatter of incensed keys can bring a nation to its knees,’ we see that all the time. The primaries are going on, and the internet is full of conspiracy theories, hate, bullying – all of that kind of stuff.

“Priest has a reputation of being a very positive band,” he continues. “When we take you to extraordinary, dramatic, powerful places, we always push through the darkness. The light always breaks through. But this particular song, it stays in a very moody kind of perspective lyrically because that's my job. You wrap that up into the instrumentation and I think we made something very special and unique. And it certainly caused a lot of discussion more so than I anticipated.”

Another track unveiled from the new album, “Crown of Horns,” may be the most accessible song that the band has released. “You look back at your creativity and you go, "Oh, that's where my mind was at. I had no idea." For me, a lot of lyrics are therapy. They're just my way of infusing what's in my head onto these songs, with the band's approval. It's a spiritual definition for me when I'm talking about rapture. It's the searching that everybody has to find the love of their life, which I have with Thomas [my partner]. It also has a little bit of reference to what's happening in Ukraine and probably the other conflicts that are going on in the world. Again, it talks about finding an angel in the dark and eventually lifting off and touching the stars. So it's hope. It's a heavy metal love song full of hope and spirit and possibilities.”

Among the other standout cuts from Invincible Shield is the defiant and empowering “As God Is My Witness,” which Halford describes as “full-on Oprah,” adding: “It's just all these great uplifting feelings of self-empowerment, self-determination, taking on everything that the world throws at you and standing your ground and believing in yourself. And I think that's as important now as it ever was.”

Halford credits Invincible Shield’s dynamic and invigorating sound to producer/guitarist Andy Sneap. “He's such a craftsman in the production sense,” the singer says. “It's not easy to produce a band. We're like these really difficult animals full of tantrums and stamping your feet and holding your breath, all that kind of stuff that you go through the drama of making a record. And he, like most producers, he's a bit like a psychiatrist. He'll lead you through the emotions to get the best possible performance. Andy did a wonderful job...he's got it all.”

Judas Priest will commence their North American tour on April 18 in Wallingford, Connecticut, playing cuts from the new record and their catalog accompanied by a new stage presentation that projects the concept of an invincible shield.

“From day one, I've always felt that you should work really hard to leave your fans with a visual memory of the show,” says Halford. “It can be something simple as riding a motorcycle out on the stage, which isn't easy [and] the way the light sets look, the way the stage set is created, the video screens that you use to reinforce certain songs in the visual texture. All of these are part of the world that Priest has been making since as long as I can remember. So we have a new stage set that defines all the mantra of what an invincible shield is about. I micromanage everything because I love this band so much and I want to give our fans the absolute best show.

“Don't get me started on the setlist,” he continues. “Every album has something strong to say. We did kind of like the heavy metal hits tour with the 50th anniversary. So we're trying to, again, project Invincible Shield, but balance it with some deep cuts that we've never done before. You have to stay focused to try and give in the time that you're on stage the broadest set of entertaining, exciting, memorable songs that you can do.”

From 1974's Rocka Rolla to now 2024's Invincible Shield, it has come full circle for Judas Priest’s discography. Even Halford himself is amazed the band is still making new music 50 years later, albeit probably without having to record during unusual hours and sleeping in a van from the old days.

“It's such a motivation,” he says. “It's such an inspiration. It's all of those beautiful things that creative people get to when a project is completed because the next step is obviously to share it with your fans. So what an amazing place. I never lose the perspective on that. I never lose the perspective of how it all began.

“The journey that we've been through together for 50-odd years and the place that we're at now, it's just wonderful. Sometimes you're at a loss for words to describe the emotions of it all.”