If I was to ask you ‘what is a ‘Metal Master’?’, chances are if you are of a certain age you might think it was a contestant for one of the millions of reality shows you see everywhere nowadays, and maybe this one is about welding. For everyone else, this term has a whole other meaning, and sadly it is referring to something that is becoming rarer and rarer these days.
When I think about that question, there are a few bands that immediately come to mind. Bands like Black Sabbath, Motörhead, Led Zepplin, Slayer and, of course, Judas Priest. These are bands who have not only stood the test of time by staying true to their sound for decades, but have also influenced the landscape of what metal music is and consistently inspiring generation after generation of the next era of metal/hard rock bands.
These are bands who have blatantly ignored whatever bandwagon it was safe to jump onto at any given time for easy chart/radio success, and who have weathered the storm regardless. Not because of any business plans or bigger picture ideas, but because it is simply what they are meant to do. Metal music has always been its own beast, operating outside all of the other genres and always doing its own thing. Sometimes to its benefit, sometimes to its detriment, but always true to itself.
The same can be said for its fans. While many genres can appeal to various types of people and you can have crossovers and varied tastes, one thing is for sure, you always know a metal fan when you meet one.
They are a completely different breed, loyal to the death, obsessed, consumed, and in my experience some of the nicest people I’ve ever met. That metal music has stood the test of time and that bands like Judas Priest are still packing out huge arenas like the 3 Arena in Dublin on the week of the release of their 19th studio album, literally 55 years after they first formed, is a testament to this.
As a band that have flirted with huge success and who have also seen the music landscape change to the point where metal was as underground as you could get, they have never stopped, never gave in and always just kept going, driven by the fact that they had no choice. And from what I saw on Friday 15th March, they’re not gonna stop for a long time yet.
They were preceded by Saxon, a band who, in their own right, could’ve probably headlined the gig that night too, and who set the tone for what was going to be a non stop barrage of riffs, solos, massive drums and gnarly bass tones, of singers who can still hit perfect pitch and command an audiences attention while never once seeming like they didn’t want to be there, even though they must’ve performed thousands of shows by now.
When they walked off the stage and the massive curtain covered the instruments, you could hear the classic metal songs play over the PA, keeping the engine that was the audience ticking over nicely, getting them ready for ‘The Priest’ to explode onto the stage. As soon as I heard Black Sabbaths ‘War Pigs’ begin…I knew this was it.
I turned my camera on and pointed it at the curtain, waiting for it to drop and the fun to begin. It seemed everyone else also knew this as the entire place was singing along, and as soon as the curtain dropped the whole arena exploded as Rob Halford stormed forward, mic in hand and signature sunglasses and started his onslaught. They played every song with the energy and enthusiasm of a band who were playing it for the first time. The instruments sounded amazing, and were played even better. Every member of the band was completely into it and you could tell they were having as much fun as everyone else was, blasting from classic hit to classic hit.
Halford seemed to be all over the massive stage, popping up everywhere at once and prowling around every member while never missing a note. There is a reason why Judas Priest are considered to be one of the greatest metal bands of all time, and if you were to cut out a random 20 seconds from anywhere in the gig, you would immediately know why.
You don’t last 55 years and the fickle nature of the music business if you are not made of British Steel…are not completely consumed with the unwavering urge to do what you were put on this planet to do…are not at the top of the game when it comes to whatever instrument you are playing…or have the balls to still walk on stage wearing outfits made entirely of leather and metal (and absolutely pull it off).
This is metal…and these guys are the true masters.
If you can catch them and find a ticket, go to the closest show you can find. You won’t regret it. If you miss them this time or are new to the band, lucky you, you have decades of back catalogue to absorb until the next gig…and there will be a next gig…because clearly these guys are going nowhere…and if you think they are…you’ve got another thing coming.
Saxon photos & set-list:
Set-list:
The Prophecy (Tape intro)
Hell, Fire and Damnation
Motorcycle Man
Sacrifice
There’s Something in Roswell
And the Bands Played On
Madame Guillotine
Power and the Glory
Fire and Steel
Crusader
Strong Arm of the Law
747 (Strangers in the Night)
Play Video
Wheels of Steel
Denim and Leather
Princess of the Night
Judas Priest photos & set-list:
Set-list:
War Pigs (Black Sabbath tape intro)
Invincible Shield Tour Anthem (Tape intro)
Panic Attack
You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’
Breaking the Law
Rapid Fire
Sword of Damocles
Love Bites
Saints in Hell
Crown of Horns
Turbo Lover
Invincible Shield
Sinner
You Don’t Have to Be Old to Be Wise
The Green Manalishi (With the Two Prong Crown) (Fleetwood Mac cover)
Painkiller
Encore:
The Hellion
Electric Eye
Hell Bent for Leather
Living After Midnight
We Are the Champions (Queen cover)
Words & photos – David McEneanery