On document, Priest’s line-up is comprised of singer Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis. However as a consequence of Tipton’s ongoing battle with Parkinson’s illness, Andy Sneap (who additionally serves as Priest’s producer) fills in for stay performances – which he might be doing as soon as extra on the band’s upcoming tour.
Hill spoke with AllMusic shortly earlier than the March 8, 2024 launch of Invincible Defend, discussing the brand new album, his picks for favourite and most underrated Priest album, and if a twentieth studio album is a chance.
How does Invincible Defend differ from earlier Judas Priest albums?
Hill: “As we normally do, we take a step ahead and attempt to make issues higher each time. We’re nonetheless studying – in spite of everything these years. So, we attempt to enhance on what we did beforehand. It has been an ongoing factor now since about 1974. No matter bell or whistle there’s, we’ll give it a go. If it really works, nice. If not? It is discarded. It is a step ahead from Firepower.”
What are a few of your favourite tracks on the brand new album?
Hill: “In the intervening time, most likely the title observe – it is acquired numerous elements to it. It goes again to these early, type of ‘Sufferer of Adjustments’ kind issues – with the totally different turns, and bits and items to it. Different standout tracks are ‘Panic Assault,’ and ‘The Serpent and the King’ – that is only a actual ‘hold on and reserve it for the tip of the set’ sort of music. It is an actual quick one, an actual thrilling music.”
How is Glenn at the moment doing, and the way a lot of a job did he have within the writing and recording of the album?
Hill: “He is doing about in addition to anyone can – given the state of affairs. He is acquired a horrible illness there. It is stopping him from approaching tour. He simply hasn’t acquired the energy to do it. Though he can do [guest appearances] – simply final fall we did that factor in California, Energy Journey, and he did the encores. However his mind remains to be working – he nonetheless comes up with these concepts and ideas. So, he is nonetheless acquired an enormous half to play – though he is sadly not on the street anymore.”
What does Andy Sneap deliver to the band as a producer?
Hill: “His expertise – in a easy reply. He is a really, very intelligent bloke. His information of metallic is unparalleled. He is proven his expertise on the final album and on this one. He is a really explicit man. He will not accept something. He’ll hold going again and doing issues, and remixing, and tweaking this and tweaking that – till he thinks it is excellent. And he brings out perfection to Judas Priest. He is an excellent asset.”
Sonically, what do you consider modern-day metallic albums in comparison with ’70s or ’80s metallic albums?
Hill: “Oh, effectively even we do not sound like ’70s metallic albums anymore! [Laughs] Properly, it is improved, hasn’t it? The way in which issues are recorded and the tools that’s accessible today, you could have higher high quality there, for one. The devices are higher, the strings are higher, the amplification is best, the recording tools – every thing has improved. It is modified past all description since we began in ’74. It sounds fully totally different. And the opposite factor is the infinite quantity of tracks you may placed on a document. Once we began within the early ’70s, it was I feel eight tracks…it might need been sixteen. However positively no extra on the primary album [1974’s Rocka Rolla] – on the second album [1976’s Sad Wings of Destiny] it might need been 24-track. After which the final of the tape recordings would have most likely been 48-track.”
How does the songwriting work within the band at present in comparison with earlier on?
Hill: “Just about the identical. Up till lately, it was Glenn and Ken [KK Downing] would put the music collectively and Rob did the lyrics. Then after all Ken’s spot has been taken over by Richie, and the standard is at the least the identical – if not higher – with the songwriting. That is the best way it is all the time been, just about. There was a time once I’d throw a number of concepts collectively – however not for a very long time now. The lads do an excellent job, and if it ain’t broke, do not repair it.”
Which Priest songs did you could have a hand in writing again within the day?
Hill: “I had a hand in writing ‘Winter,’ and I feel the final one I wrote was ‘Invader.’ And ‘Dreamer Deceiver,’ I feel. However nothing since about ’78.”
Which Judas Priest album is your favourite and why?
Hill: “It is most likely Defenders of the Religion. It was the tip of that street, actually. You may hint the roots of that album all the best way again to Rocka Rolla. After that, we did the gorgeous a lot experimental Turbo – with guitar synthesizers. After which we ran off on a tougher edge altogether – with Ram It Down and Painkiller. I feel that is most likely nonetheless my favourite from all these years in the past – as an entire.”
Which Priest album is essentially the most underrated?
Hill: “In all probability Level of Entry. We had been slighted with that – folks had been saying, ‘Oh, it is actually industrial.’ However at the least it acquired us by way of to a extra mainstream viewers. Should you get a music on…it was ‘AM radio,’ which is now ‘mainstream media’ I suppose, you get your self a observe on that, and your viewers expanded by a gazillion. Whereas simply preserving it on the rock channels and the metallic channels – once more, the viewers is there, however you are not making an attempt to get your self throughout to any new followers. So, that is one. And the opposite ones are the Ripper albums [1997’s Jugulator and 2001’s Demolition]. Particularly Demolition is neglected.”
Are you continue to in contact with KK Downing and would you ever take into account working with him once more?
Hill: “I feel he is gone a bit too far for that now. I gave him a few probabilities to principally say good day, and he blanked me. So, he ain’t going to get one other probability. It is a pity the best way it is turned out. However issues are what they’re.”
What are some recollections of when Priest was inducted into the Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame in 2022?
Hill: “Shock, I feel. I had completely no thought what it was going to be. I used to be anticipating possibly just a little presentation ceremony. I by no means knew it was going to be as massive a deal because it was. I used to be leaning two methods to start with to start out with – take it or go away it. However I am so glad we did it. On the finish of the day, it was only a nice stay present – all these totally different bands getting on a stage, enjoying fully totally different music for essentially the most half. And everybody at the least appreciated it for its musical worth. You may not prefer it, however…I nearly acquired rap! Nearly acquired it, however not fairly. It was simply an enormous occasion. I used to be amazed at how large it was. I am glad we did it ultimately.”
Do you assume by Priest lastly getting inducted, it could open the doorways for different heavy metallic bands, like Iron Maiden, Skinny Lizzy, and Slayer?
Hill: “That is what I hope for. We have been neglected as a style for a very long time now. Perhaps it will – possibly it is going to crack the ice just a little bit.”
What can followers anticipate from the upcoming tour?
Hill: “It is going to be the standard massive Priest manufacturing. All of the important elements might be there – lights, flashes, bangs, cinemas…all of the parts of a Priest manufacturing might be there.”
Was the Energy Journey efficiency and expertise on par with the US Pageant?
Hill: “That is a tough one, as a result of it was a distinct idea. The US Pageant went on for about three days [in 1983], and there have been a hell of lots of people there – there was one thing like 300,000 folks at that one. That is not to remove from the Energy Journey Pageant we did – as a result of that was superb, as effectively. And once you assume there have been solely six bands on, that made it all of the extra particular, I suppose. I do not know what the up-and-coming bands considered that, seeing as they did not get a chunk of the motion, however once more, it was one other good thing to do. I totally loved it. You are mixing with all of the previous guys, as effectively – I spoke with the Metallica lads, a few Maiden lads came to visit, as effectively. It was good to see them, it actually was.”
Invincible Defend is Priest’s nineteenth studio album total. What are the possibilities of a twentieth?
Hill: “Oh, we’ll see. There is not any cause why not in the meanwhile. We’ll play this one first, after which take a breather, after which see the place we go from there. It might be a pleasant quantity to complete on.”
For more information, go to the Judas Priest official web site.
