Judas Priest, one of heavy metal’s greatest bands, is set to release a mammoth limited-edition box set which will include every official live and studio album to date plus 13 unreleased discs. This is the most extensive release of previously unreleased music the band has made from its vast archives — a real treat for fans. Restored and mixed by Tom Allom at La Cucina W8 and mastered by Alex Wharton at Abbey Road Studios, this special release will be out on October 15 via Sony Music.
This special box set comes as Judas Priest finally gets the opportunity to celebrate its 50th anniversary with a headline slot at Bloodstock Open Air festival in the U.K. plus the launch of a U.S. tour this fall. The “50 Heavy Metal Years” tour is fueled by the highest-charting album of Priest’s career, Firepower, which peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 and No. 5 in the U.K.
Judas Priest originally formed in 1970 in Birmingham, England (an area that many feel birthed heavy metal). The original nucleus of musicians would go on to change the face of heavy metal. Throughout the 1970s, Priest was responsible for helping trail blaze metal with such classic offerings as Sad Wings Of Destiny (1976), Sin After Sin (1977) and Hell Bent For Leather (1978) as well as one of the genre’s top live recordings, Unleashed In The East (1979), among others.
It was during the 1980s that Priest conquered the world, becoming a global arena headliner on the strength of such all-time classics as British Steel (1980) and Screaming For Vengeance (1982) as well as being one of the first metal bands to be embraced by the then-burgeoning MTV plus performing at some of the decades biggest concerts (1980’s Monsters Of Rock, 1983’s US Festival and 1985’s Live Aid) and being the first to exclusively wear leather and studs — a look that began during this era and would eventually be embraced by metal heads throughout the world. Priest’s success continued throughout the 1990s and beyond with the addition of drummer Scott Travis, as evidenced by such additional stellar offerings as Painkiller (1990), Angel Of Retribution (2005) and A Touch Of Evil: Live (2009), the latter of which saw Priest win a Grammy Award for a killer rendition of the classic “Dissident Aggressor.”
In 2011, new guitarist Richie Faulkner came in to replace K.K. Downing, who had left in 2010. The move seemed to have reinvigorated the band as evidenced by a show-stealing performance on the “American Idol” finale that also served as Faulkner’s debut performance with the band (also in 2011 was the release of a new compilation The Chosen Few which included Priest classics selected by some of metal’s biggest names) and the Epitaph concert DVD in 2013.
Priest’s next studio effort would arrive in 2014 — Redeemer Of Souls — which was supported by another strong tour. In 2017 (and again in 2019), Judas Priest received a nomination for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame and got ready to unleash its latest studio album, Firepower (produced by Andy Sneap and Tom Allom) which received global success and critical acclaim. In 2020, a fully official and authorized photographic book, Judas Priest: 50 Heavy Metal Years, was issued.
A Reflections edition of the box set will also be available to purchase in CD and 2LP formats.
Said singer Rob Halford: “Judas Priest’s curated box set representing 50 heavy metal years is the ultimate treasure trove defining the bands unwavering commitment to keeping and defending the heavy metal faith.”
Added guitarist Glenn Tipton: “If there’s one box set you should have in your heavy metal collection, it should be this one. It’s immortal. Proclaiming and truly representing metal for over 50 years, flying the flag and proudly leading the way inspiring many bands throughout the years, this 42-CD selection says it all. It’s a big part of metal history and as such will live forever.”
Stated bassist Ian Hill: “AMAZING — 50 years of metal crammed into a small box!”
Judas Priest 50 Heavy Metal Years Of Music box set contents:
CD1 – Rocka Rolla
CD2 – Sad Wings of Destiny
CD3 – Sin After Sin (1977)
CD4 – Stained Glass (1978)
CD5 – Killing Machine – (1978)
CD6 – Unleashed In the East (Live in Japan 1979)
CD7 – British Steel
CD8 – Point Of Entry
CD9 – Screaming for Vengeance
CD10 – Defenders of the Faith
CD11 – Turbo
CD12 & CD13 – Priest… Live!
CD14 – Ram It Down
CD15 – Painkiller
CD16 – Jugulator
CD17 & CD18 – ’98 Live Meltdown
CD19 – Demolition
CD20 & CD21 – Live in London
CD22 – Angel of Retribution
CD23 – Nostradamus (Act 1) & CD24 – Nostradamus (Act 2)
CD25 – A Touch Of Evil Live
CD26 & CD27 – Redeemer of Souls
CD29 – Firepower
5 previously unreleased live stereo recordings from the archives
Restored and edited by Tom Allom at La Cucina W8
Mastered by Alex Wharton at Abbey Road Studios, London
CD30 & CD31 – Live In Atlanta ’82 (Previously Unreleased)
CD30
The Hellion / Electric Eye
Riding on the Wind
Heading Out to the Highway
Metal Gods
Bloodstone
Breaking the Law
Sinner
Desert Plains
The Ripper
Diamonds and Rust
CD31
Devils Child
Screaming for Vengeance
You’ve Got Another Thing Coming
Victim of Changes
Living After Midnight
The Green Manalishi (With the Two Pronged Crown)
Hell Bent For Leather
CD32 – Live At The Mudd Club ’79
Hell Bent For Leather
Delivering The Goods
Running Wild
Beyond The Realms Of Death
The Green Manalishi (With the Two Pronged Crown)
Victim Of Changes
Rock Forever
Starbreaker
CD33 & CD34 – Live In Houston ’86
CD33
Out In The Cold
Locked In
Heading Out To The Highway
Metal Gods
Breaking The Law
Love Bites
Some Heads Are Gonna Roll
The Sentinel
Private Property
Desert Plains
Rock You All Around The World
CD34
The Hellion/ Electric Eye
Turbo Lover
Freewheel Burning
Victim Of Changes
The Green Manalishi (With the Two Pronged Crown)
Living After Midnight
You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’
Hell Bent For Leather
CD35 & CD36 – Live In New Haven ’88
CD35
The Hellion/ Electric Eye
Metal Gods
Sinner
Breaking The Law
Come And Get It
I’m a Rocker
The Sentinel
The Ripper
Beyond The Realms Of Death
Some Heads Are Gonna Roll
CD36
Turbo Lover
Ram It Down
Heavy Metal
Victim Of Changes
The Green Manalishi (With the Two Pronged Crown)
Living After Midnight
You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’
Hell Bent For Leather
CD37 – Los Angeles ’90 (Previously Unreleased)
Riding on the Wind
Grinder
Heading Out to the Highway
Between the Hammer & the Anvil
Bloodstone
Better by You, Better Than Me
Leather Rebel
The Green Manalishi (With the Two Pronged Crown)
Hell Bent for Leather
You’ve Got Another Thing Coming
CD38 – London ’81(Previously Unreleased)
Solar Angels Intro / Heading Out to the Highway
Metal Gods
Hell Bent for Leather
Breaking the Law
Sinner
Beyond the Realms of Death
Grinder
Desert Plains
You Don’t Have to Be Old to Be Wise
Victim of Changes
The Green Manalishi (With the Two Pronged Crown)
CD39 – Denver ’80 (Previously Unreleased)
Hell Bent for Leather
The Ripper
Running Wild
Living After Midnight
Sinner
Beyond the Realms of Death
You Don’t Have to Be Old to Be Wise
Grinder
Victim of Changes
Steeler
Genocide
Tyrant
The Green Manalishi (With the Two Pronged Crown)
CD40 – Irvine ’91 (Previously Unreleased)
Hell Bent for Leather
Heading Out to the Highway
The Hellion / Electric Eye
Diamonds and Rust
All Guns Blazing
Metal Gods
Some Heads Are Gonna Roll
The Ripper
Night Crawler
Turbo Lover
A Touch of Evil
Painkiller
The Green Manalishi (With the Two Pronged Crown)
Breaking the Law
Living After Midnight
You’ve Got Another Thing Coming
CD41 & CD42 – Beyond Live & Rare
Previously unreleased stereo recordings from the archives
CD41
Epitaph (Studio Demo) Demo from 1976’s Sad Wings Of Destiny
Solar Angels (Live) July 22, 1981 – New York, NY – The Palladium
Sinner (Live) July 22, 1981 – New York, NY – The Palladium
Desert Plains (Live) July 22, 1981 – New York, NY – The Palladium
You Don’t Have To Be Old To Be Wise (Live) July 22, 1981 – New York, NY – The Palladium
Genocide (Live) May 09, 1978 – Cleveland, OH – Agora Theatre
Victim Of Changes (Live) May 09, 1978 – Cleveland, OH – Agora Theatre
Ripper (Live) May 09, 1978 – Cleveland, OH – Agora Theatre
Screaming For Vengeance (Live) November 24, 1982 – Tucson, AZ – Tucson Convention Center
The Green Manalishi (With The Two Pronged Crown) (Live) June 07, 1981 – Odessa, TX – Ector County Coliseum
Victim of Changes (Live) June 07, 1981 – Odessa, TX – Ector County Coliseum
CD42
Tyrant (Live) June 07, 1981 – Odessa, TX – Ector County Coliseum
Diamonds and Rust (Live) February 14, 1981 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Jaap Edenhal
White Heat Red Hot (Live) July 29, 1978 – Tokyo, Japan – Yuubin Chokin Hall
Better By You Better Than Me (Live) July 29, 1978 – Tokyo, Japan – Yuubin Chokin Hall
Starbreaker (Live) July 29, 1978 – Tokyo, Japan – Yuubin Chokin Hall
Rock Forever (Live) Killing Machine Tour – February 09, 1979 – Tokyo, Japan – Kōsei Nenkin Kaikan
Evil Fantasies (Live) Killing Machine Tour – February 09, 1979 – Tokyo, Japan – Kōsei Nenkin Kaikan
Troubleshooter (Live) World Wide Blitz Tour – February 29, 1981 – Wiesbaden, Germany – Rhein-Main-Halle
Grinder (Live) World Wide Blitz Tour – February 29, 1981 – Wiesbaden, Germany – Rhein-Main-Halle
The Sentinel (Live) May 02, 1984 – Albuquerque, NM – Tingley Coliseum
Freewheel Burning (Live) May 02, 1984 – Albuquerque, NM – Tingley Coliseum
All Guns Blazing (Live) August 17, 1991 – Montreal, QC, Canada – Forum de Montreal
Painkiller (Live) March 26, 1991 – Sheffield, England – Sheffield City Hall
Mother Sun (Live) October 11, 1975 – Slough, England – Slough College
REFLECTIONS – 50 HEAVY METAL YEARS OF MUSIC
1CD
Let Us Prey / Call for the Priest
You Don’t Have to Be Old to Be Wise
Fever
Eat Me Alive
All Guns Blazing
Never The Heroes
Dissident Aggressor (Live)
Out in the Cold (Live)
Judas Priest – Running Wild (Live)
*Victim Of Changes (Live) (May 09, 1978 – Cleveland, OH – Agora Theatre)
*The Green Manalishi (With the Two Pronged Crown) (Live) (Point of Entry ‘Worldwide Blitz’ Tour – Live in Hammersmith, London – November 21, 1981 – Foundations Forum – Hammersmith Odeon)
*Bloodstone (Live) (Screaming For Vengeance World Vengeance Tour – Live in Atlanta, GA – December 11, 1982 – The Omni)
*Judas Priest – The Ripper (Live) (Irvine, CA – July 12, 1991 – Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre)
*Beyond the Realms of Death (Live) (Killing Machine/Hell Bent For Leather Tour – Live In New York, NY – March 11, 1979 – The Mudd Club)
*The Hellion / Electric Eye (Live) (Turbo ‘Fuel For Life’ Tour – Live In Houston, TX – June 21, 1986 – The Summit)
*Sinner (Live) (Ram It Down ‘Mercenaries Of Metal’ Tour – Live In New Haven, CT – August 7, 1988 – New Haven Veterans Memorial Coliseum)
*previously unreleased
REFLECTIONS – 50 HEAVY METAL YEARS OF MUSIC
2LP DOUBLE GATEFOLD RED VINYL, 180GSM
SIDE A
Let Us Prey / Call for the Priest
You Don’t Have to Be Old to Be Wise
Fever
Eat Me Alive
SIDE B
All Guns Blazing
Never The Heroes
Dissident Aggressor (Live)
Out in the Cold (Live)
Judas Priest – Running Wild (Live)
SIDE C *previously unreleased*
Victim Of Changes (Live) (May 09, 1978 – Cleveland, OH – Agora Theatre)
The Green Manalishi (With the Two Pronged Crown) (Live) (Point of Entry ‘Worldwide Blitz’ Tour – Live in Hammersmith, London – November 21, 1981 – Foundations Forum – Hammersmith Odeon)
Bloodstone (Live) (Screaming For Vengeance World Vengeance Tour – Live in Atlanta, GA – December 11, 1982 – The Omni)
Judas Priest – The Ripper (Live) (Irvine, CA – July 12, 1991 – Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre)
SIDE D *previously unreleased*
Beyond the Realms of Death (Live) (Killing Machine/Hell Bent For Leather Tour – Live In New York, NY – March 11, 1979 – The Mudd Club)
The Hellion / Electric Eye (Live) (Turbo ‘Fuel For Life’ Tour – Live In Houston, TX – June 21, 1986 – The Summit)
Sinner (Live) (Ram It Down ‘Mercenaries Of Metal’ Tour – Live In New Haven, CT – August 7, 1988 – New Haven Veterans Memorial Coliseum)
This post first appeared on Rock Confidential.
Judas Priest To Release 42-CD ’50 Heavy Metal Years Of Music’ Box Set
