It’s opening day at St. Louis Music Park and the tour did not disappoint. Sabaton played a high energy opening set that included great production values for a smaller stage. This Swedish band rocked the IKEA references, keeping the mood light despite the heaviness of every song. Their songwriting is very heavily influenced by Iron Maiden with mostly war themes. I would say their stage show also shows a Maiden influence as well.
Singer Joakim Brodén had a great rapport with the audience and commented how impressed he was with our Sunday energy. Guitarists Chris Rörland and Tommy Johansson are both fantastic guitarists. All the band members used the entire stage with near constant movement. The tank prop where the drummer, Hannes Van Dahl, lived was the center point of the visuals.
The crowd was enthusiastic all night and it was one of those great live experiences where you can feel the energy flowing through the venue between the band and The U.S. Panzer Battalion.
The main event: Judas Priest.
They’ve been living after midnight for over 50 years, and on Sunday they did it again. With a discography they’ve been building since the 70’s, they manage to fill the show with enough to songs to get your fix from every decade of JUDAS PRIEST.
Right before the band came on they played a snippet from Black Sabbath’s WAR PIGS. The song that’ll unite every metalhead into a hyped frenzy. Everybody young and old sang along and right as Ozzy’s vocals ended everything went black.
Then all of a sudden these colorful lights shine from the stage and this large curtain falls revealing JUDAS PRIEST. They rip into their new song “PANIC ATTACK.” The shrieking vocals of Rob Halford and the shredding guitar solos from Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner.
Especially from Mr. Faulkner, he’d solo every chance he could. If it was in the middle of a song or in between songs, he’d pick the strings like no other. Not only could he shred guitar like a mad man but he had incredible crowd interactions. The picks and conversations it looked like he had with the crowd show how wonderful he is at not only being a musician but also being a respectable and passionate performer.
Richie wasn’t the only member up there being exotic, Rob Halford was shrieking and singing like there was no tomorrow. To think he can still perform as good as he could when he was younger is incredible but even he said himself “age is just a number.” Halford’s best moment on stage however would have to be when the band started playing “Hell Bent for Leather”. He walks off stage and these loud motorcycle sound start to play. As you see him appear, you can tell he’s riding on this beast of a vehicle.
The other three members were in their own zone built off of each other. Ian Hill and Glenn Tipton both stayed connected to their instruments rather than the crowd but they didn’t need to be these flamboyant rockstars to put on a good show. They just needed to do what they’ve always done. Play Heavy Metal and have a good time.
Finally, for Scott Travis he did what he’s meant to do play the drums and make it sound damn good. He’s an Incredible drummer and left my jaw on the floor with how great he is. My favorite moment of his was before Painkiller started and it was just him and his drum kit on the stage. He grabs the mic and says that they’ve got time for one more song and so what do we wanna hear? Everybody in unison screams “PAINKILLER.” The song that made even the non Judas fans sing that night.
Luckily for the fans, that wasn’t it. The encore included some of the most popular Priest tunes: Hellion/Electric Eye, Hell Bent for Leather, and Living After Midnight.
For a group like Judas Priest to do this for over half a century is some great evidence to show that heavy metal isn’t a trend but instead a way of life.
PHOTO GALLERY: https://photos.micklite.com/Music/Judas-Priest-at-STLMP-5524
