British heavy steel legends JUDAS PRIEST carried out at Atlas Area in Łódź, Poland on Monday, July 7. Fan-filmed video of the live performance could be seen beneath.
As a part of JUDAS PRIEST‘s “Defend Of Ache”, the band’s setlist included seven tracks from PRIEST‘s 1990 album “Painkiller”, which is celebrating its thirty fifth anniversary this yr.
Along with performing the “Painkiller” title observe, PRIEST performed “All Weapons Blazing”, “Hell Patrol”, “A Contact Of Evil”, “Evening Crawler”, “One Shot At Glory” and “Between The Hammer And The Anvil” from the identical LP.
When PRIEST first introduced the “Defend Of Ache” tour final fall, the band promised a “uncommon” and “distinctive set” which would come with “beloved classics” and would “be defending the steel religion in a very memorable expertise all through Europe”.
JUDAS PRIEST‘s setlist for the Łódź live performance was as follows:
01. All Weapons Blazing
02. Hell Patrol
03. You’ve got Obtained One other Factor Comin’
04. Freewheel Burning
05. Breaking The Regulation
06. A Contact Of Evil
07. Evening Crawler
08. Photo voltaic Angels
09. Gates Of Hell
10. One Shot At Glory
11. The Serpent And The King
12. Between The Hammer And The Anvil
13. Giants In The Sky
14. Painkiller
Encore:
15. The Hellion / Electrical Eye
16. Hell Bent For Leather-based
17. Residing After Midnight
PRIEST‘s 2025 European tour will subsequent hit München, Germany on Sunday, July 13 and can conclude on the O2 in London, United Kingdom on July 25.
Final December, JUDAS PRIEST singer Rob Halford instructed Heavy Consequence concerning the setlist for the “Defend Of Ache” tour: “It is nonetheless within the works, however we’re gonna go and present [‘Painkiller’] off. Not in its entirety. I have not discovered but whether or not we’re simply gonna do a clump of ‘Painkiller’ songs — that is the ‘Painkiller’ part — or we’re gonna go, a ‘Painkiller’ tune, a few others, a ‘Painkiller’ tune, a few others. It is all in idea in my thoughts for the time being, however, nevertheless, I believe it is gonna be an actual thrill and a deal with. And, once more, a once-in-a-lifetime factor for the band. You will solely see the present as soon as. You will solely see the ‘Defend Of Ache’ present as soon as. So, we hope our followers might be on the rail and banging their heads to it.”
Rob additionally mirrored on PRIEST‘s mindset whereas going into the recording course of for “Painkiller”. He stated: “The significance was we needed to actually go right into a huddle and say, ‘We actually want to point out off what this band’s true coronary heart and soul and spirit is about.’ And I am utilizing that in reference to a number of the earlier albums and a number of the earlier songs. Our angle was, ‘We’re gonna make the toughest, heaviest, strongest, most energized steel album we have ever accomplished,’ and we did that — we achieved it. It is full-on. It solely pulls again a bit bit for ‘A Contact Of Evil’. The remainder of it’s simply continuous, continuous, continuous. We did it in Miraval Studios within the south of France. It was very remoted, so, in contrast to Ibiza [where ‘Screaming For Vengeance’ and ‘Defenders Of The Faith’, among others, were recorded], the place we have been going into the golf equipment each night time, it was very, very remoted, so we actually bought into the work in a really, very robust approach with no interference. And so the train of reaching all the parts to make that album as robust as we needed it to be was a hit. And, once more, a band will inform you we have accomplished every thing we are able to. Let’s examine what occurs. The world embraced that album.”
He continued: “It is a beloved, revered steel album. A whole lot of our pals in several bands will say, ‘In the event you wanna hear what a steel album is all about, placed on ‘Painkiller’.’ And that is fairly cool. However our followers, as effectively, acknowledge that of all the 19 albums that this band has ever made, ‘Painkiller’‘s nonetheless very closely underneath the highlight. And right here we’re, 35 years [in 2025].”
PRIEST‘s twelfth album, “Painkiller” was recorded at Miraval Studios in Brignoles, France, and was blended at Wisseloord Studios in Hilversum, the Netherlands. It was the primary LP to function drummer Scott Travis following the departure of Dave Holland.
In a 2023 interview with “The Jeremy White Present”, founding JUDAS PRIEST guitarist Kenneth “Ok.Ok.” Downing spoke about how the addition of then-new drummer Travis affected PRIEST‘s sound and songwriting on “Painkiller”. He stated: “I believe with the addition of Scott, as a result of we knew his capabilities from his former band, RACER X, which have been a terrific band… After so a few years, having Scott within the band with these double kicks once more, it simply opened doorways for myself and Glenn [Tipton, PRIEST guitarist] to jot down rhythmically and musically. And we knew that Scott may play something that we may — as quick as we may play on guitar, we knew he may match us on the equipment, which helped quite a bit, actually, as a result of it meant we may increase writing after so a few years, actually, in respect of the quicker facet of steel, if you happen to like.”
In 2022, Travis spoke to “Drumtalk”, the video podcast by German drummer and videographer Philipp Koch, about the truth that the intro to the title observe of “Painkiller” has develop into some of the iconic drum intros of all time. He stated: “Me personally, I all the time cherished the drum intro of sure songs. Everyone knows ‘Rock And Roll’ by LED ZEPPELIN and ‘Stroll This Approach’ by AEROSMITH, and, in fact, ‘Sizzling For Instructor’, which is VAN HALEN. So, anyhow, I grew up like that, all the time understanding that, ‘Man, if ever I may provide you with a signature drum intro — no guitars; simply drums — and make it actually impactful.’ And generally I get emotional, now that I have been taking part in for thus lengthy, that I used to be capable of provide you with one thing.”
He continued: “[I recently saw a video featuring] ‘Prime 15 drum intros’. And, in fact, it is subjective. I do not know who made the record; I believe it was some rock journal. So, naturally, I watch it, and it had ‘The place Eagles Dare’ [by IRON MAIDEN], it had ‘Rock And Roll’, and quantity two was ‘Painkiller’. And I used to be, like, ‘Oh my God. Thanks a lot.’ And primary, which I am pleased to take a backseat, was ‘Sizzling For Instructor’ — Sir Alex Van Halen. If I am second place to previous Alex, then, man, that is incredible. Once more, that is one opinion and one little one thing somebody made up. However nonetheless, I did not make it, so I am pleased that folks recognize ‘Painkiller’ and it has develop into a signature JUDAS PRIEST tune, which I by no means in one million years would have imagined that.”
Again in 2020, Travis instructed Invisible Oranges that he wrote the “Painkiller” intro at Miraval Studios in early 1990 as producer Chris Tsangarides and engineer Patrice Roullion have been testing microphone placements.
“We have been arrange on the studio… Studio Miraval in Good, France,” Travis recalled. “The drums are all arrange and so they’re in an enormous room after which, in fact, the management room is on the different finish of the studio. I used to only go and heat up very first thing within the morning and simply work on the subsequent tune we have been gonna do the subsequent day, and simply begin taking part in it with my very own headphones on. It was only a cool place — very comfy to only go and play no matter you needed. I knew we have been gonna be engaged on the ‘Painkiller’ tune and it was meant to be a fast-paced upbeat tune. And I used to be simply messing round doing the intro sort stuff.”
He continued: “I do not know what these notes I play with my ft [are called]… between my ft and my arms. Technically, it is 4 with the ft, one with the hand. So it isn’t a quad however I do not know, septuplet, quintuplet… Reveals you ways educated I’m on drumming, proper? [I was] simply on the market messing round, doing a flurry of issues like that, workout routines and whatnot. I had the ‘Painkiller’ concept in my head and so they actually preferred what I used to be doing and so they stated, ‘Hey, simply do some extra of that, some stuff like that.’ And I simply type of whipped it up…
“As a younger drummer or simply as a drummer, interval, I all the time… I do not wanna say dreamt as a result of that sounds corny, however I all the time hoped that I may provide you with a signature drum intro, and I believe each drummer needs that. Not often does a drummer get to do an intro and particularly one that basically sticks. Given the truth that it exists now, I am type of blown away. It is cool.”