According to Billboard, JUDAS PRIEST's "Firepower" has entered the Billboard 200 chart at position No. 5, making it the band's highest-charting album ever. 2014's "Redeemer Of Souls" debuted and peaked at No. 6, while 2008's "Nostradamus" landed at No. 11 and 2005's "Angel Of Retribution" came in at No. 13.
"Firepower" moved 49,000 equivalent album units in first week of release. Of that sum, 48,000 were in traditional album sales, just shy of the 54,000 copies sold by "Angel Of Retribution" in that album's first week. The "Firepower" chart position was bolstered by sales generated from a concert ticket/album sale redemption offer in association with the band's current North American tour.
The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week based on multi- metric consumption, which includes traditional album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA).
As previously reported, "Firepower" landed at position No. 5 on the U.K. album chart. It marks the band's highest ranking, and first time in the Top 10, since "British Steel" reached No. 4 in 1980. Elsewhere, "Firepower" has also become PRIEST's first-ever No. 1 in Sweden.
"Firepower" was released on March 9 via Epic. The disc was recorded by British producer Andy Sneap, the band's longtime collaborator Tom Allom and engineer Mike Exeter (BLACK SABBATH). The cover artwork for "Firepower" was created by the Chilean/Italian artist Claudio Bergamin.
JUDAS PRIEST "Firepower" world tour marks the band's first run of dates since guitarist Glenn Tipton announced that he was retiring from the road due to his battle with Parkinson's disease. He is being replaced on tour by Sneap, also known for his work as the guitar player in NWOBHM revivalists HELL and cult thrash outfit SABBAT.
Tipton was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease four years ago after being stricken by the degenerative condition at least half a decade earlier but only recently announced he was going to sit out touring activities in support of "Firepower". The guitarist, who is now 70 and has performed on every PRIEST album since the band's 1974 debut set, "Rocka Rolla", is not quitting the band, but simply cannot handle the rigorous challenges of performing live.
The North American leg of the "Firepower" tour will wrap on May 1 in San Antonio, Texas.
It is interesting that, after posting a lot of rough anti-homo stuff in the sidebar and your constant attacks on sneakypete along those lines, you just adore this heavy-metal sodomite singer. How do you reconcile that mentally? I really do wonder.
I just liked the music,before he ever came out. When you are listening to their music for like 20 years before he comes out, do you suddenly pretend that you never liked that music.
Ask Grandisland he likes them too and he dislikes faggots as much as I do.
So am I going to hell because I listen to this music?
We all sin TC. Maybe he will repent someday. Probably not but you never know. It is not like Rob Halford is my hero.
"I'm a different guy to when I was 20," Halford said during an appearance on HATEBREED frontman Jamey Jasta's official podcast, "The Jasta Show" (hear audio below). "I've been able to look at the world and see the world and find out what really is the most important and valuable thing, to me, as I live from day to day."
He continued: "When I got clean and sober 28 years ago, that was a major change in my life. And part of my recovery is just having this higher-power belief. And it works. It works, man. It really, really is important."
Halford added: "There probably will be people listening to [this] podcast who don't have anything like that in their life, and that's great; it's all about acceptance. But I always say to people, if you're thinking about it, the simplest thing I do is I pray. I pray quite a bit, actually. And even if you don't believe in prayer, just have a go. Pray for a good day, or just pray for your friend, or whatever it might be. And it's amazing, man, 'cause it absolutely works. I guarantee, it genuinely does work. And now I'm sounding like [American evangelical Christian evangelist] Billy Graham, but I'm just trying to express some of the things that are important to me on a day-to-day basis that make me able to walk out on that stage each night and do my work."
While Halford states that he doesn't want to preach and force people to drink and act responsibly, he is quick to warn up-and-coming musicians that there will be consequences to their actions.
(Here's someone's who's obviously a former Judas Priest fan, seeing the band in the light and exposing it.
I watched and listened to Alford in your youtube. He wasn't very credible when describing the song's meaning. At best he's as usual calling for a mere rebellion. This time he calls the enemy "The Administration." Which one? The US Gummint? God's Kingdom? You tell me.
All of I can take from this band is about 10 seconds.
To each his own, but I consider Death Metal the equivalent of White Rap. There is no real melody. It's not "singing," it's one long chant.
You seem to still be deluded about who and what the band is truly about; Alford is STILL a flaming Satanic homo and Judas Priest OPENLY proselytized for rebellion and Satan, in tone, lyrically, symbolically, through its very vibe.
Look -- I've had to refrain from some music I used to like....before I realized what it was really about.
Regarding the "Firepower" title: Gee, what do you you think Halford is referring to??
About destroying bad guys. It is what we need to do to the evil radical muslims that is the way I see it. Would be a killer song to listen to if you were in war and had the artillary going shooting the enemy up.
"Firepower"
With weapons drawn we claim the future Invincible through every storm Bring in the foe to be defeated To pulverize from dusk till dawn
Firepower Petrifies Firepower
The die is cast, make no exceptions We're forged by evil to compel Come rally round this flag of freedom Our unions thrives so go to hell
Firepower Taking lives Firepower Neutralize
Empty the chamber Lock and reload This world thrives on danger It's bound to explode
Aim for the target With laser and light Releasing the trigger Puts victory in sight
No time to pray or ask forgiveness Those blessed souls are now deceased There is no sense in this contrition With open arms we fight for peace
We fight with firepower Petrifies Firepower Between the eyes Firepower Mortifies Firepower Man's demise
...the simplest thing I do is I pray. I pray quite a bit, actually. And even if you don't believe in prayer, just have a go. Pray for a good day, or just pray for your friend, or whatever it might be.
Ever wonder just who or what he is "praying" to?
“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul
Those who most loudly denounce Fake News are typically those most aggressively disseminating it.
Well, it is an explanation of sorts. But there simply is no Judas Priest without the lead singer. The same way there is no Queen without Freddy Mercury. It's not unusual for a group's entire career to rest on the talent of a single singer/songwriter.
"The die is cast, make no exceptions We're forged by evil..." "Come rally round this flag of freedom [to do evil] Our [demonic] unions thrives so go to hell [with us]..." No time to pray or ask forgiveness [from God]..." "This world [of Satan] thrives on danger It's bound to explode..."
You are posting a video of an adulterer. Who divorced his wife in 2001 and married a pretend wife in 2007. Shame on you. ;)
So you think the open homo lead singer of Judas Priest, a band who has always had a blasphemous vibe and songs, is just fine but a divorced singer who remarried 6 years later is far worse?
#43. To: Tooconservative, A K A Stone, Deckard (#36)
There simply is no Judas Priest without the lead singer. The same way there is no Queen without Freddy Mercury. It's not unusual for a group's entire career to rest on the talent of a single singer/songwriter.
Without him, there is no Judas Priest.
True.
And when your frontman is a flaming homo who might also have sung about satanism, it's inevitable that recruitment be in the cards and/or seep in to the unconscious (whether lyrically or as a life-style "role model.")
Btw, has anyone noticed Alford spoke of the lyrics coming to him "subconsciously"? As though the lyrics came to him from an external source?
#52. To: A K A Stone, Deckard, TooConservative, tpaine (#51)
Ok, now I'm about to disinfect this thread with fake hippie utopian love cast with fake beautiful-people. (Ok, so it's a caricature of the truth: filthy, dirty, commie hippies.)
In the entire history of the world,the only nations that had to build walls to keep their own citizens from leaving were those with leftist governments.
I think I see Pete sneaking onto the hippie set, toting his guitar (or was that a 12-pack of Coors?)
"Coors"? "COORS!"????
I have never been so insulted!
If you had seen me,I would have most likely been tipping up a gallon milk jug full of some mysterious white liquid well over 100 proof. Sometimes it would have peaches in it for a little flavor and for health reasons.
If you are going to do something,do it right.
In the entire history of the world,the only nations that had to build walls to keep their own citizens from leaving were those with leftist governments.
Their tone and vibe were still not "Godly." No such thing as "Messiah Metal." The lyrics don't change it. I understand that's what the genre of Death Metal is, but naah.
"Good Music" is said to be defined by 5 characteristics:
1) Beautiful melody 2) Rich Harmony 3) Rhythm or Flow 4) Resolution -- Blend of components then a nice and closing 5) Meaningful Communication, aka Lyrics
Do I necessarily always listen to music like this? Not all the time. But the formula does work.
Interestingly, it's also been said that religion and music are inseparable. That music is a spiritual barometer of man and his spirit. We know music can affect or alter a man's emotion or heart -- in all ways. It's that powerful. Remember when the US Army used to blare Death Metal to the enemy in the Middle East? It can be intimidating, a weapon of sorts. Besides the mind and emotions, it even affect the physiology of humans. Ever notice that concerts have a "religious" feel to it? The stage is like an altar, the band its "Priests'.
Music isn't neutral. That why a group like Stryper -- despite its God-centered lyrics still drives disturbing beat, bass line and guitar work that's as chaotic and disturbing as other "Heavy Metal" music in its genre.