Judas Priest Prove the Metal Gods Still Reign Supreme on Their 2025 Tour

Four decades after first witnessing the Priest live, one fan reflects on how the band continues to evolve without surrendering an ounce of power

LIVE NATION PRESENTS:

JUDAS PRIEST LIVE AT FIRSTBANK AMPHITHEATER IN FRANKLIN, TN ON 10/7/25

When the originally scheduled Judas Priest show in September in Franklin was postponed due to a storm, I figured the chance to catch them again might not come until 2026. By the grace of the Metal Gods, the band rescheduled less than three weeks later. This show marked my own four-decade milestone of seeing the band. I say that because Judas Priest’s 2025 tour isn’t just another victory lap — it’s a defiant statement that the heavy metal’s godfathers still command the throne they built. From the moment the lights dropped and Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs” blasted through the speakers as the crowd sang along, you knew it was time for the band to hit the stage. Priest delivered a set that honored their 50-plus-year legacy while reminding us that age has done little to dull their bite. The show was a full-on sensory assault, blending high-voltage precision with the theatrical flair that made them icons in the first place.

Back in the ’80s, Judas Priest shows were beautiful chaos. With the “New Wave of British Heavy Metal” hitting the U.S., their concerts turned into leather, spikes, roaring motorcycles, and sound so loud your chest rattled. You didn’t just watch Priest — you survived them. The difference now is focus. That wild energy of youth has evolved into a masterclass in precision. In 2025, the chaos is controlled — not weaker, just sharpened. It’s like watching warriors who’ve seen every battle and still walk into a venue with fire in their eyes. The Metal God himself, Rob Halford, may not sustain those piercing falsetto notes like he once did, but he’s still a commanding presence on stage, putting on one hell of a show. At this point in the band’s career, the performances are less about proving themselves and more about celebrating a legacy carved into stone decades ago.

The twin-guitar attack that Glenn Tipton and K. K. Downing built in the ’70s became the backbone of Priest’s live arsenal. Sadly, neither is part of the current lineup, but the music and the mission carry on. Back then, Priest’s sound was raw and loud enough to shake the seats loose. Fast-forward to now, and that same fire burns—just sharper, cleaner, and powered by decades of mastery. The danger is still there; it’s just wielded with more control. In the current version of the band, Richie Faulkner and Andy Sneap carry the torch with honor. Faulkner, once the “new guy,” now plays with the swagger of a lifer, shredding with a ferocity that would make Downing proud. Sneap’s rhythm work locks everything down, letting Faulkner soar. Together, they bridge the classic and modern eras seamlessly, with “Solar Angels” hitting just as hard as “Freewheel Burning.” And though founding bassist Ian Hill rarely steps into the spotlight, his thunderous low end still anchors the band he helped create.

Rob Halford remains a force of nature. Even in his 70s, he commands the stage like the metal messiah he is. Thinking back to the first time I saw him in the ’80s — leather from head to toe, arms wrapped in spikes — he was a badass with a golden voice. Decades later, he still dons the leather and studs, now refined for a new generation. He uses more sustain and echo in his delivery, but it’s all live — no backing tracks here. His voice may not soar quite as high as it once did, but every growl and sustained note carries more grit and gravity. It’s not about perfection anymore; it’s about power, and Halford still has it in spades.

The ’80s shows relied on pyrotechnics and lasers; today’s performances embrace cinematic visuals and dynamic lighting that rival anything on the road. Halford seems more at ease than ever, pacing center stage in slow circles as he belts out “All Guns Blazing,” “You’ve Got Another Thing Coming,” and “Breaking the Law.” Perhaps the most powerful part of a Judas Priest concert now is the unity across generations. You’ll see metalheads shoulder to shoulder — older fans who saw the band in ’82 beside teenagers in Firepower shirts. It feels like a torch being passed, proof that this music isn’t just surviving; it’s thriving. Judas Priest helped define heavy metal’s DNA, and they’re still teaching a masterclass on how it’s done live.

One of the night’s most emotional moments came during “Giants in the Sky.” As the song played, images of Ronnie James Dio, Lemmy, Freddie Mercury, Eddie Van Halen, Chris Cornell, and Ozzy Osbourne appeared on the screen — a powerful tribute to rock’s fallen icons from one of its greatest surviving bands. Then came the encore, as Halford roared onto the stage on his motorcycle to tear through “Hell Bent for Leather” and “Living After Midnight.” By the end of the night, one thing was clear: Judas Priest have adapted to the modern age without compromise, matured without mellowing, and proven once again that true metal never dies — it just gets louder.

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