The YouTube Theater in Los Angeles was packed on Oct 15th for Judas Priest’s Invincible Shield Tour. The Swedish power metal band Sabaton opened the show and immediately captivated the audience. Many of the band’s songs are focused on Swedish military events. The high-energy band is fun to watch, with a lot of banter between each song with the guitar players sticking guitar pics on the singer’s head. The stage setting for the band is striking, with the drummer, Karl-Hannes Dahl, playing on top of a tank. The twelve-song set included “Ghost Division,” “Swedish Pagans,” and “Stormtroopers.” The band performed the Swedish version of “Carolus Rex,” the title track from their sixth studio album based on the rise and fall of the Swedish Empire. During “Resist and Bite,” a pink “Hello Kitty” guitar was brought out for singer Joakim Broden, while the band teased the audience with a snippet of Judas Priest’s “Breaking The Law.” The highlight of the set was the powerful song “Attack of The Dead Men” with singer Broden storming onto stage with a gas mask. Their set ended with “To Hell and Back.” Sabaton commanded the stage with their incredible musicianship and powerful vocals and the audience loved it!
The amped-up audience jumped out of their seats ready for Judas Priest as Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs” played over the speakers. “The Invincible Shield Tour Anthem” played as a gigantic, colorful flag dropped down from the ceiling. The band took over the stage with their song “Panic Attack” from 2024’s album ‘Invincible Shield.’ The eighteen-song set was a great mix of their current and classic songs. Singer Rob Halford’s powerful vocals were impeccable as he prowled the stage. The guitarists Richie Faulkner and Andy Sneap, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis were phenomenal to watch.
Colorful red and orange lights brightened the stage as the audience went wild during “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’” and “Breaking the Law.” During “Love Bites” from 1984’s ‘Defenders of the Faith,’ the video screen played black and white footage of Nosferatu. A highlight of the show was “Devil’s Child” from 1982’s ‘Screaming for Vengeance,” with Halford’s impressive signature screams.
Another cool moment from the show was when Halford sat down on a speaker and spoke about the 50th anniversary of their debut album ‘Rocka Rolla,’ He spoke about Judas Priest’s and Black Sabbath’s impact on the music scene as the first metal bands.
As the show drew to a close, drummer Travis teased the fans that they would play one or three more songs. As the audience screamed for three more songs, the lights dimmed as “Hellion” began playing with the Judas Priest Cross dropping from the ceiling. The show ended as Halford drove a motorcycle on stage to perform two timeless fan favorites, “Hell Bent for Leather,” and “Living After Midnight.” As the band exited the stage, Halford said, “We will back, we always come back. We are Judas F***king Priest!”
Photos: I’m Music Magazine Contributing Photographer © Kevin Estrada / @KevinEstradaPhotography
Review: I’m Music Magazine Associate Editor/Writer Meesha Walden
