Judas Priest, 'Panic Attack': Listen to the Fiery New Song

Judas Priest, ‘Panic Attack’: Listen to the Fiery New Song

2023-10-13

Judas Priest vocalist Rob Halford – Story by Cat Badra, photo by Anne Erickson

Judas Priest: “Panic Attack,” the band’s new song, offers raging guitars and soaring tenor vocals

The moment Judas Priest fans have been waiting for is here. The metal greats have released their new song, which marks the first single off their 2024 album, “Invincible Shield.” Musically, the new Judas Priest song, “Panic Attack,” is heavy yet melodic, featuring frantic, dueling guitars and vocalist Rob Halford’s soaring tenor. It packs musical drama and theatrics, along with Halford dramatic vocals. This is really classic Priest, updated for 2023. Listen to “Panic Attack” below and watch the official lyric video.

Judas Priest announced “Invincible Shield” during their performance at last weekend’s Power Trip festival, where they performed as the same night as AC/DC. The latter band was playing their first show in eight years and welcomed vocalist Brian Johnson back on the stage. Judas Priest were filling in for Ozzy Osbourne, who had to drop off the festival due to health issues. Power Trip marked Judas Priest’s first and only live show for 2023, as they’ve been working on wrapping up the new album. The festival also featured performances from Guns N’ Roses, Iron Maiden, Metallica and Tool.

As for “Invincible Shield” and its musical direction, Judas Priest guitarist Richie Faulkner talked about the style of the new music and said it was more vintage Judas Priest. Specifically, he said, it’s “a bit more ’70s Priest, which I welcome as a guitar player,” so expect the guitars to take center stage here. Also, Faulkner said that, It’s ’70s Priest, but it’s not a retro album, by any means. It’s the influence of ’70s Priest in the progressive sense, but it sounds like Priest in 2023.” Elsewhere in the interview, he said that the new album was more “progressive” and that “it’s not verse-chorus-verse-chorus-solo-chorus-finish. It’s musical part-verse-musical part.”

“Invincible Shield” marks Judas Priest’s 19th studio album and follow-up to 2018’s “Firepower.” The new album will arrive on March 8, 2024. To pre-order “Invincible Shield,” go here.

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Cat Badra

Meet the expert - Cat Badra is a music writer for Audio Ink Radio and a range of other music, sports and lifestyle publications. She's a graduate of Michigan State University with a master's degree in theater and speech. Contact her at cat@audioinkradio.com.