Judas Priest- Prudential Center, NJ 11/7/15

Judas Priest returned to NJ to play the Prudential Center for another U.S. leg of the "Redeemer Of Souls" tour. Mastodon was support for the tour.

Judas Priest last played in NJ at the now closed Izod Center in October 2014. The stage show was pretty much the same as a year ago but they changed around the set list quite a bit, adding the very popular song "Painkiller". The stage show is somewhat scaled back from the last "Epitaph" tour. No pyro or lasers this time around, just great lighting and some video screens behind the band.

Rob Halford has the title of "The Metal God" for a reason as he was simply amazing this night. Vocally, this was the strongest I have heard Rob in some time and he was moving around all over the stage. At the start of the night Rob uses a walking stick for only the first song and the rest of the show he did not stop moving and interacting with the energetic crowd & Richie Faulkner.

Even know the fans miss the departed K.K. Downing, Richie Faulkner really is a breath of fresh air for Judas Priest. Richie shreds on lead guitar and commands his side of the stage. He loves to interact with the fans and you can see his enthusiasm in his playing and understands what Priest is all about. Redeemer was his first studio album with Priest and it was good to see him get the majority of the solos.

Glenn Tipton and Ian Hill did not stray from their side of the stage most of the night but that is what you come to expect. Glenn does come to center stage for a few of the solos and to play along with Richie. Halford and Richie did more than enough to entertain the crowd. Drummer Scott Travis is incredibly fun to watch behind his double-bass kit and his playing is exceptional.

This was my first time Judas Priest and one of my personal highlights of this past year. Judas Priest is one of my favorite bands and their live show is not to be missed if you have the chance.

Camera gear: Canon 70 and Canon 18-135 F3.5-5.6
(Click on any picture to expand)

Set list:

1. Battle Cry
2. Dragonaut
3. Metal Gods
4. Desert Plains
5. Victim of Changes
6. Halls of Valhalla
7. The Rage
8. Turbo Lover
9. Redeemer of Souls
10. Beyond the Realms of Death
11. Screaming for Vengeance
12. Breaking the Law
13. Hell Bent for Leather
    Encore:
14. The Hellion
15. Electric Eye
16. You've Got Another Thing Comin'
    Encore 2:
17. Painkiller
18. Living After Midnight
    Beginning of the End