As Judas Priest embarks on the North American leg of their Invincible Shield tour, frontman Rob Halford has expressed both surprise and excitement about the renaissance of the heavy metal genre. In an interview with Classic Rock from his home in Arizona, Halford noted the palpable enthusiasm surrounding metal, particularly in the aftermath of their successful European performances. "The European leg we did, they were going nuts in Europe for Priest, for Invincible Shield," Halford stated.
Halford also highlighted the growing global appeal of heavy metal, referencing the French band Gojira's participation in the Olympic Games as a sign of the genre's rising status. He observed, "There's this great vibe out there that everybody wants to check out all these different bands," emphasizing the engagement of younger fans in their teens and twenties with legacy bands like Judas Priest, Saxon, and Iron Maiden.
Reflecting on the role of heavy metal in providing an escape from today's global tensions and political unrest, Halford remarked, "I think that metal now, and has always, served as a catalyst for people to go somewhere and scream their heads off and let go of all this stuff that's been building up during the day or the weeks before you see your favourite metal band."
Judas Priest will commence their North American tour on September 13 in Montreal, with 14 scheduled stops, concluding on October 26 in Irving, Texas. Following this tour, the band will travel to Japan for a four-date run.
Coincidentally, a remastered 50th anniversary edition of their debut album, Rocka Rolla, is set for digital release, ahead of physical copies on November 22. Halford commended remastering engineer Tom Allom for retaining the album's original charm, stating, "It still works; in 2024 I'm still getting the same vibes with those songs that I am when I go and play a track from Invincible Shield."
Full tour dates are available, and tickets can be purchased now.
Tour Dates:
- September 13: Montreal, QC
- Following stops include several dates across North America, concluding in Irving, TX on October 26.