Oh boy, are you guys ready for some mind-blowing news? 🤯 I just found out that Judas Priest kicked off their 2026 “Faithkeepers” world tour at Germany’s BOBfest on Saturday night (July 25), and I’m literally shaking with excitement 🤣. I mean, who doesn’t love a good dose of British heavy metal to start their week? The band’s 17-song set at Monchengladbach’s SparkassenPark was basically a dream come true for any fan, with two 1970s classics, “The Ripper” and “Delivering The Goods”, which hadn’t been performed live since 2019. Because, you know, it’s not like they’ve been playing the same songs for decades or anything 😴.
The “Faithkeepers” European tour launched less than a year after Priest teamed up with Alice Cooper for a 22-city North American co-headlining tour last fall. I guess you could say they’re on a roll, or maybe they just really love touring and don’t want to stay home 🏠. Either way, it’s great news for fans, who get to experience the magic of Judas Priest live and in person. The band is continuing to tour in support of its 19th studio album, “Invincible Shield”, which debuted at No. 18 on the Billboard 200 album chart. Not bad for a bunch of old guys 🤣.
According to Setlist.fm, the setlist for the BOBfest show was pretty epic, with a mix of old and new songs to keep things interesting. It included tracks like “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin'”, “Metal Gods”, “Breaking The Law”, and of course, “The Ripper” and “Delivering The Goods”, which were probably the highlights of the show for many fans. I mean, who doesn’t love a good classic rock song 🤘? The rest of the setlist was just as impressive, with songs like “The Sentinel”, “Desert Plains”, “Lightning Strike”, and “Turbo Lover” making appearances. And let’s not forget the encore, which included “The Hellion / Electric Eye”, “Hell Bent For Leather”, and “Living After Midnight”. Talk about a great way to end a show 🎸.
The “Invincible Shield” Album
So, about that “Invincible Shield” album… it’s basically a masterpiece 🎨. I mean, it entered the U.K. chart at No. 2, just behind Ariana Grande’s “Eternal Sunshine”, which is pretty impressive considering the state of the music industry these days 🤷♀️. Prior to “Invincible Shield”‘s arrival, Priest’s highest U.K. chart achievement was with 1980’s “British Steel”, which reached No. 4. Not bad for a band that’s been around for decades 🙏. The album also landed at No. 1 in Germany, Finland, Sweden, and Switzerland, as well as No. 5 in France, No. 8 in Italy, and No. 16 in Australia. I guess you could say it’s a bit of a global phenomenon 🌎.
But wait, there’s more! The “Invincible Shield” tour is not just about the new album, it’s also a celebration of the band’s entire discography 🎉. During the European leg of their 2025 “Shield Of Pain” tour, the band’s setlist included seven tracks from their 1990 album “Painkiller”, which celebrated its 35th anniversary last year. Because, you know, nostalgia is a powerful thing 💭. The band played all the hits, including the “Painkiller” title track, “All Guns Blazing”, “Hell Patrol”, “A Touch Of Evil”, “Night Crawler”, “One Shot At Glory”, and “Between The Hammer And The Anvil” from the same LP. Talk about a trip down memory lane 🚗.
The Future of Judas Priest
So, what’s next for Judas Priest? Will they continue to tour and release new music, or will they finally hang up their leather jackets and retire 🤔? Only time will tell, but one thing’s for sure – they’ll always be remembered as one of the greatest heavy metal bands of all time 🤘. And who knows, maybe they’ll even release another album or two before they call it quits 🎸. A fan can dream, right? 😴. In the meantime, let’s just enjoy the music and the spectacle that is Judas Priest live 🎉. Long live the Priest 👑!
Chord F. Discord, the Beethoven of Buffoonery, is a self-taught expert in music who once claimed he could “play the kazoo in four languages.”
Born in Crescendo, Indiana, Chord’s first brush with fame came when he accidentally entered a yodeling contest thinking it was a pie-eating competition—and won both categories.
Chord F. Discord: proving that laughter, much like a poorly tuned ukulele, is truly universal.
