Sony Records - 2024
7/10
For those that don't know, 2018's Firepower took yours truly by absolute storm, working past forty years of releasing full-lengths, and it would have been the perfect send-off for Judas Priest's career. There's a key part of that statement, though; would have been. Six years later, the British heavy metal titans dropped another full-length, making little impact on me at the time. After some time to properly take it in, I felt there's no better time than the present to check out Invincible Shield again. They've created a hard act for themselves to follow, but time sometimes rids me of that expectation.
Similar to the path they've been on, the latest effort from Rob and co. displays the same base with mild alterations on the surface. Power metal-induced traditional metal under a modern banner with that post-Painkiller flair still reigns, going with the cleaner production that proved to work well last time. Similarly, there's a slight attempt at keeping things varied, even opening on chorus-earworm heavy hitters upfront with "Panic Attack" taking the more sing-along route while "The Serpent And The King" amps up the intensity. Hell, perhaps one lesson the band learned was not overdoing the length, clocking in near the fifty minute mark rather than the hour (or more) mark, giving us sturdy footing.
Alas, I can't pretend that I still don't feel underwhelmed. Only part of it is the fact that this was already perfected the last time, with Invincible Shield bringing absolutely nothing new to the table. After all, no band can reinvent the wheel over and over again, especially a band that played a large role in inventing said proverbial wheel in the first place. However, there's a very obvious step-back in songwriting exchanged for what's arguably heavier chops. I won't pretend that much of this isn't more aggressive, showing blatantly in the likes of "With God As My Witness," but it's lacking where it matters. Most of these songs don't have the emotional charge in delivery that I came to love; the opening numbers I mentioned that clearly rely on catchy elements fall short in repetitive and lackluster choruses; "Devil In Disguise" and "Escape From Reality" attempting that slower-crawl is missing the doomy grit; even the epic buildups attempted in several spots really don't sell me, and closer "Giants In The Sky" misses the attempted emotional charge. If there's any actual standout that comes close to deserving praise, it's "Crown Of Horns" and its anthemic vibes actually feeling focused.
Some will say I'm being rather harsh, and to their credit, this isn't a bad record. Maybe I dislike it more on principle than in execution, but the execution lets me down nonetheless, and in a vacuum I don't think I'd like it much better. Things are competent, the formula works, and everyone is good at what they're doing; but almost nothing sticks. Objectively, it's better than the rightfully critiqued Redeemer Of Souls, but I'll once again say that I'll take a rough-around-the-edges outing that still has a distinct identity over a safe, formulaic one that checks all the boxes. Judas Priest has done more for heavy metal than likely any band outside of Black Sabbath, and for that, they can go out with eternal respect and not lift another finger. This album is a sign that perhaps that's the move.
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