Judas Priest - Newport Centre, Newport - 15th July 2011 (Live Review)
Monday, 18 July 2011
Written by Jon Stickler
As the curtain (eventually) dropped unveiling a huge stage dripping with chains and lighting rigs, Judas Priest kicked-off the UK leg of their hugely-anticipated 'Epitaph' Tour at South Wales' Newport Centre. If you couldn't make it to the show, be sure to check out the below images taken by our photographer Craig Thomas.
Few heavy metal bands have managed to scale the heights that Judas Priest have during their 40 year career and despite this trek being billed as a 'Farewell Tour', Judas Priest continue to back-up their status as one of the leading arena rock acts boasting an ultimate heavy metal show.
Responsible for issuing some of Metal's all-time classic albums, Judas Priest deliver a set made up of all the favourites from albums such as 'British Steel', 'Screaming For Vengeance' and 'Painkiller' amongst others. Metal God Rob Halford, still perfectly able to make your ears bleed after forty years of screaming, leads the band through legendary cuts such as 'Heading Out To The Highway', 'Judas Rising', 'Starbreaker', Diamonds & Rust', 'Prophecy' 'Painkiller', 'Turbo Lover', 'The Green Manalishi' and 'You Got Another Thing Coming'. Highlights of the set include a fantastic rendition of 'Breakin The Law' which saw Halford turn the mic-stand 180 degrees to an ecstatic crowd who, accompanied by the band, screamed the vocals to the entire song. The leather-clad front-man has never been so quiet on stage!
Obviously looking to go out with all guns blazing, with the amps cranked up to eleven the show was laced with lashings of pyrotechnic displays, some fantastic laser shows as well as numerous outfit changes by the iconic front-man. Living-up to their nicknames of Metal Gods, I'm led to believe that Rob Halford doesn’t own any clothing that isn’t spiky or shiny!
Refusing to leave quietly, Priest stick around for 2 encores before Halford rides onto stage – we wont ruin the surprise, just don’t miss it – for one final chance to witness one of their most popular anthems 'Livin' After Midnight'. Draped in the Welsh national flag, Rob Halford launches into one final assault before a huge applause erupts from the crowd. A memorable send-off from one of the most influential heavy metal bands of all time, expertly delivered.
It'll be a long time before we see the likes of a band coming close to the status achieved by Judas Priest, be sure to secure your ticket for the remainder of the tour which closes with a show in Bournemouth on July 24th.
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Refusing to leave quietly, Priest stick around for 2 encores before Halford rides onto stage – we wont ruin the surprise, just don’t miss it – for one final chance to witness one of their most popular anthems 'Livin' After Midnight'. Draped in the Welsh national flag, Rob Halford launches into one final assault before a huge applause erupts from the crowd. A memorable send-off from one of the most influential heavy metal bands of all time, expertly delivered.
