“Metal Gods” Judas Priest crank up the “Firepower”

Photos by Daniel DeSlover

Six years removed from the “Epitaph” Tour, seminal heavy metal rockers Judas Priest returned to The Venue At Horseshoe Casino in support of its latest album, “Firepower.” Laden with heavy riffs and machine gun drum signatures, it’s arguably the band’s best effort since 1990’s “Painkiller” and the guys will be on the road throughout 2018 to prove it.

It was of course Judas Priest who helped define both the sound and appearance of heavy metal, yet the group was glaringly snubbed by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on the 2018 ballot—despite landing in the top five of fan voting.

Though the classic lineup is down to vocalist Rob Halford and bassist Ian Hill, veteran drummer Scott Travis has long-outlasted his predecessors and his heavy-handed presence pairs perfectly with Hill’s thunderous bass licks. Richie Faulkner continues to perform admirably replacing original guitarist K.K. Downing, while guitarist Glenn Tipton’s absence is the hardest pill to swallow as he battles Parkinson’s disease.

Tour replacement Andy Sneap did well as a substitute, handling Tipton’s complex solos, while also trading blazing solos with Faulkner, most notably, on the driving “Painkiller.” The ageless and iconic Halford remains steadfast in his vocal delivery, not quite reaching the soaring highs—though he came very close on “Sinner.”

Opening with the lead and title-track from the new album, Halford may have spent a fair amount of time in front of the teleprompter, but he still commanded a presence with his power vocals and trademark “Metal God” poses. Hill marched in place laying the rhythm, while Faulkner was the most dynamic figure on the night.

Highlights were found early in the show as Judas Priest tore through the classics “Running Wild,” “Grinder” and “The Ripper.” More heavy hitters from the new album included “Lightning Strike” and “Evil Never Dies,” otherwise members meandered through their extensive catalog and focused on longtime favorites, including metal anthems “Breaking The Law” and “Hell Bent For Leather.”

It was of course Judas Priest who helped define both the sound and appearance of heavy metal, yet the group was glaringly snubbed by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on the 2018 ballot—despite landing in the top five of fan voting. This tour was routed perfectly to keep everyone close to Cleveland for the induction ceremony, and while that unfortunately won’t matter this time around, anyone who caught the scorching show at The Venue could ascertain this recognition is long overdue.

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For additional information on Judas Priest, visit JudasPriest.com.

Upcoming concert highlights at The Venue At Horseshoe Casino include “Rain”: A Tribute To The Beatles (Apr. 28); Kirk Franklin and Tamela Mann (May 12-13); Mat Franco (May 18); The Whispers and Roy Ayers (May 25); Chris Tucker (Jun. 1); Ledisi with Melanie Fiona and Tweet (Jun. 9); Gabriel Iglesias (Jul. 13); Boney James with Avery Sunshine (Jul. 20) and Brian Wilson with Al Jardine and Blondie Chaplin: “The Christmas Album” Live! (Nov. 30). For additional details, visit TheVenueChicago.com, ConcertMgmt.com and Ticketmaster.com.

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“Metal Gods” Judas Priest crank up the “Firepower”

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