Released: 2018

Genres: Heavy Metal, Speed Metal

The Musiquarium’s Firepower Review Score: 8 out of 10

Since Rob Halford re-joined Judas Priest on 2005’s Angel of Retribution, there hadn’t been a new album that could hold a candle to any of the band’s best work between 1976-1990. The aforementioned album was a good enough return for Halford (after two forgotten albums with singer Tim “Ripper” Owens), but a classic it was not. Nostradamus walked the line between ambition and Spinal Tap-like parody, and Redeemer of Souls was the first without founding member K.K. Downing, having some decent songs mired by dull production. Then came Firepower and that all changed. The band had now been with Richie Faulkner for several years and his (relatively) youthful influence seems to have been rubbing off on the Birmingham legends.

Ever since they released Painkiller in 1990, it seems like that has become the benchmark for their style and sound, but considering that was their first album with longtime drummer Scott Travis, it makes sense to use that as a guide. As that album was one of the best metal albums of all time, so it’s more than understandable why the band would try to remake it, and Firepower definitely comes closest.

The title track and Lightning Strikes both show how capable Judas Priest still is at making killer metal songs, decades later, with plenty of fresh-sounding riffs throughout the album. Songs like Evil Never Dies and Children of the Sun have some of the band’s best choruses in ages. Rob Halford continues to sound amazing, being in his late 60s at the time of recording. The interplay between Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner has inched closer to that of Tipton and Downing in their heyday.

Judas Priest was firing on all cylinders with Firepower, which is a testament to the staying power of the band, even all these years later.

For credit breakdowns and historic release details, view Judas Priest on Discogs.

Back to the 2018 Album Guide or the Judas Priest Reviews page.

Written by Brett Nippard