CONCERT REVIEW: Judas Priest rocks new generation in Edmonton
There are three things you can rely on in Edmonton in the spring: unpredictable weather, potholes and a proper heavy metal extravaganza from a classic band.
When we found out that Judas Priest was coming to Edmonton in support of their No. 1 album FIREPOWER, I just had to share this local spring tradition with my seven-year-old son. He’s already a huge Priest fan.
There’s a multi-generational appeal to these legacy bands. Despite the sinister imagery associated with them, they and their fans provide a very friendly and welcoming experience to everyone “united” by that bond of music. From the moment we walked into Rogers Place on Tuesday night, the boy instantly became one of the roughly 5,000-member metal family. Everyone was there to enjoy an evening of what frontman Rob Halford called “Judas Priest-style heavy metal” – which must be experienced to be appreciated – in the company of fellow friendly metalheads. We all had a blast.
I can only imagine what was going through my boy’s mind as the crowd started chanting along to the Sabbath classic War Pigs as it played over the PA just before the house lights went down. This was his first concert – and he couldn’t have had a better initiation. The boy was a bit overwhelmed by the sheer spectacle, but smiled that huge seven-year-old grin every time they started one of his favourites – he knows them all – Starbreaker and Victim of Changes, in particular. He said his favorite part was the giant disco ball during the power ballad Out in the Cold. Overall, he said, “I loved it.”
There was close to no chit chat between songs. Halford addressed the crowd at the beginning of No Surrender – with classic heavy metal tropes of living your life, standing up for yourself, believing in yourself, and so on. The crowd took it in and cheered.
These high priests of British metal were rocking before the boy’s parents were even born. Judas Priest formed in the late ‘60s in Birmingham, England (the same birthplace of the creators of the genre, Black Sabbath), and released a string of four adventurous, experimental heavy records – before finding the tongue-in-cheek studs and leather image and mega success that carried them through the ‘80s.
Almost 50 years of touring and releasing records comes with casualties. Scott Travis is the sixth drummer to appear on a Priest record. Even singer Rob Halford, the metal god himself, removed himself for over a decade. The departure of original founding member K.K. Downing a few years back led to the inclusion of virtuoso guitarist Richie Faulkner. Glen Tipton, the other guitarist, has pretty much been forced to retire from live performance, due to being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease shortly after the 2018 release of FIREPOWER. Taking his place stage right was producer-guitarist Andy Sneap. The only member on stage who played and toured every Judas Priest release is bassist Ian Hill.
The Necromancer, a new track, started the night with Halford in top metal campy style, stalking the stage in a faux-voodoo priest outfit while brandishing a staff – heavy metal Broadway. The classic Heading Out to the Highway followed, as did the first of several outfit changes. Halford has joked he has more costume changes than Cher.
What set this show apart were Halford’s vocals. At 68 years old, he consistently hit those infamous shrieks he’s legendary for. His voice has definitely aged, but you would swear he was 25 years old up there. Then there was the set-list. This is the third leg of the Firepower Tour. Each leg has featured a different setlist, rotating the songs from the new album. Every track has been aired on this tour, but this was a “deep cuts” set, a set for die-hards. They pretty much alternated more recent songs with lesser known songs from the classic eras. Gems like Tyrant, and All Guns Blazing, seamed flawlessly with more contemporary tracks like Judas Rising, Traitor’s Gate, and Halls of Valhalla. Add an encore with a riding crop-wielding Halford astride a Harley for three classics – Hell Bent for Leather, Breaking the Law and Living After Midnight – and a crowd of the faithful chanting “PRIEST! PRIEST! PRIEST” over and over again – and you had the perfect night for the fans, old and new.
The sound was pretty decent, considering Rogers was set up for around only 5,000 fans, if a bit loud. I lost count of how many staff members offered earplugs to the boy.
The openers, ‘70s stalwarts Uriah Heep, played a short 45-minute set that managed to touch most corners of their long career, opening with a cut from the most recent release, 2018’s Living the Dream, and closing with the their classic Easy Livin’. Vocalist Bernie Shaw, despite health issues which spurred rumours they weren’t going to make it last night, was in fine form, and founding member Mick Box was a fantastic presence.
Halford photo by Ralph Notaro, others by Caleb Bradley
