March 17 2024 - Diary of an Ardent Fan

The classic Heavy Metal band Judas Priest released their 19th studio album March 8 of 2024 called Invincible Shield.

Priest have been a favorite of mine since I was 15 or 16.

I consider them the second ever Heavy Metal Band after Black Sabbath.

The band still consists of classic members Rob Halford (Vocals), Glenn Tipton (Guitar), and Ian Hill (Bass), along with Scott Travis (Drums-who has been there since 1990), and Richie Faulkner (Guitar-replacing KK Downing in 2011).

This album, in a word, is PHENOMENAL!!

All 14 songs are amazing.

You have to hear the whole album.

No song is worth skipping.

It has everything you want in a Priest album.

Phenomenal vocals, phenomenal musicianship, great production/mix.

It’s got it all.

I cannot recommend this album enough.

Thank you guys for making another Heavy Metal masterpiece!!

Rock on!!

For the first time in 15 years, I saw K.K. Downing in concert!!

K.K. is the former co-guitarist/co-songwriter/classic member of the super influential Heavy Metal band and now Rock And Roll Hall of Famers Judas Priest.

K.K. left Priest in 2011 and aside from playing some guitar on Queensryche’s Frequency Unknown album in 2013, produced a few bands, started a metal news website and eventually a club called KK’s Steel Mill, and got into the golf course business and other things, he quit music until roughly 2020 when he formed KK’s Priest.

Along with former Judas Priest singer Tim “Ripper” Owens (who replaced classic singer Rob Halford from 1996-2003), co-guitarist A.J. Mills, bassist Tony Newton, and drummer Sean Elg, KK’s Priest have made two solid classic sounding Heavy Metal albums, Sermons of The Sinner in 2021 and The Sinner Rides Again in 2023 (mostly written by K.K.), and are now as of this writing, finally touring the United States.

I got to see them at The King of Clubs in Columbus, OH.

Like I said, this was the first time I saw K.K. in 15 years. I had last seen him in Judas Priest in 2009 in Cincinnati, OH. See review here.

And actually, this is the first time I saw Tim since 2002 when I saw him with K.K. and the rest of Judas Priest for the first time, also in Columbus, OH. See review here.

I have complained a lot about what K.K. has said about leaving Judas Priest and about some things he said in his book, but at the end of the day, I love him, he’s still a great player, and I’m super glad he’s playing again and making albums. And I’m really glad he’s working with Tim again and has a very good band.

They played great, playing a set of half their own material and half Judas Priest classics, and both they and the fans, including myself, had a great time.

Thank you guys for such a great time. I really needed it because this has been a terrible year for me, health wise. But enough about me.

L.A. Guns also played!!

This was the third time I saw this version of the band, featuring classic singer Phil Lewis and founding member/part namesake guitarist Tracii Guns.

Their lineup is filled out with guitarist Ace Von Johnson (who I actually met briefly later on, great guy!), bassist Johnny Martin, and drummer Shawn Duncan.

They are always amazing and have really been on a roll since 2017, releasing 4 great albums (The Missing Peace, The Devil You Know, Checkered Past, and Black Diamonds), and have another one coming later this year. I cannot wait to buy it!!

I love this band. Phil is one of the best singers. He said he was having voice issues during this show, but I could not tell because he sounded amazing as always.

Tracii is one of the great guitar players and needs to be more known than he is. I consider him a guitar genius.

The whole band is solid as a rock and I can’t say enough great things about them.

Check them out!!

And opening the show was an all female Swiss Metal band called Burning Witches.

It consists of singer Laura Guldemond, guitarist Larissa Ernst, guitarist Romana Kalkuhl, bassist Jeanine Grob, and drummer Lala Frischknecht.

I was semi aware of them, but this was definitely the first time I ever saw and heard them.

They’re very heavy and very good.

Great singing and musicianship.

This was a great show, all around.

Again, I really needed this one.

Thanks to all the bands for such a great time.

Rock on!!

KK's Priest Set List:

Intro/Hellfire Thunderbolt
One More Shot At Glory
The Ripper (Judas Priest song)
Reap The Whirlwind
Night Crawler (Judas Priest song)
Burn In Hell (Judas Priest song)
Beyond The Realms of Death (Judas Priest song)
Hell Patrol (Judas Priest song)
Brothers of the Road
The Green Manalishi (With the Two-Prong Crown-Fleetwood Mac song covered by Judas Priest)
Breaking The Law (Judas Priest song)
Victim of Changes (Judas Priest song)
Encore: Strike of the Viper
Raise Your Fists