# Judas Priest

Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band formed in Birmingham in 1969. They have sold over 50 million albums and are frequently ranked as one of the greatest metal bands of all time. Judas Priest have also been referred to as one of the pioneers of the new wave of British heavy metal (NWOBHM) movement, and are cited as a formative influence on various metal subgenres, including speed metal, thrash metal, and power metal, as well as the hard rock/glam metal scene of the 1980s. During the 1970s, the core of bassist Ian Hill, lead singer Rob Halford and guitarists Glenn Tipton and K. K. Downing saw a revolving cast of drummers, before Dave Holland joined them for ten years from 1979 to 1989. Since Holland's departure, Scott Travis has been the band's drummer.

## Quotes

* From an unknown land and through distant skies came a winged warrior. Nothing remained sacred, no one is safe from the Hellion as it uttered it's battle cry... Screaming for vengeance.
** From the back cover of the 1982 album Screaming for vengeance.
* Rising from darkness where Hell hath no mercy and the screams for vengeance echo on forever. Only those who keep the faith shall escape the wrath of the Metallian... Master of all metal.
** From the back cover of the 1984 album Defenders of the Faith.
* As mankind hurled itself forever downwards into the bottomless pit of eternal chaos, the remnants of civilization screamed out for salvation - redemption roared across the burning sky... the painkiller.
** From the back cover of the 1990 album Painkiller.
* Sad wings of destiny rise up from the abyss into the metal heavens, heralding a new age that beckons revenge from the angel of retribution.
** From the booklet of the 2005 album Angel of Retribution.
* Death, doom and destruction rain down upon the forsaken One being stands alone to save humanity A soldier born from the past on sad wings of destiny Powerful, unflinching and hearing the eternal force that will proclaim and assert metal's deliverance - The Redeemer of Souls!
** From the back cover of the 2014 album Redeemer of Souls.

## Song lyrics

All songs written by Glenn Tipton, Rob Halford and K. K. Downing, unless noted.

### Rocka Rolla (1974)

* Where would you be without music? You would be nowhere at all We wouldn't be here doing this now If you weren't having a ball
** One for the Road, written by Rob Halford and K.K. Downing
* Now winter wind fades from my face My heart will no longer race Sun smiling down from the sky Melts away ice from my eye Warmth eases back to my soul Bitterness shrugs then it goes
** Winter Retreat, written by Rob Halford and K.K. Downing
* Love is gone along with fun Now we're reaching for the gun Changing cast, changing fast No more tether We are never satisfied
** Never Satisfied, written by Al Atkins and K.K. Downing
* I know that the prospects weren't all that good But they improved, and I'd have thought that you could Have strived for that something we all have deep inside Not let it vanish, along with your pride
** Run of the Mill

### Sad Wings of Destiny (1976)

* You'll soon shake with fear Never knowing if I'm near I'm sly and I'm shameless Nocturnal and nameless Except for "The Ripper" Or if you like "Jack The Knife"
** The Ripper, written by Glenn Tipton
* He said in the cosmos is a single sonic sound That is vibrating constantly And if we could grip and hold on to the note We would see our minds were free...oh they're free
** Dreamer Deceiver, written by Al Atkins, Rob Halford, K.K. Downing and Glenn Tipton
* Sin after sin I have endured Yet the wounds I bear are the wounds of love
** Genocide, written by Rob Halford, K.K. Downing and Glenn Tipton
* But spare a thought as you pass him by Take a closer look and you'll say He's our tomorrow, just as much as we are his yesterday
** Epitaph, written by Glenn Tipton
* Skyrider supersonic flyer Nightdriver demon of desire Spinesnapper tried your best to break us Throatchoker thought that you could take us
** Island of Domination

### Sin After Sin (1977)

* Thirty years now sleeping, so sound War raises its head, and looks slowly around The Sinner is near, sensing the fear And the beast will start movin' around
** Sinner, written by Rob Halford and Glenn Tipton
When your back's to the wall come along one and all We shall fight all the slander that's penned It's us we shall choose let the bigoted lose For our triumph's the means to their end
With you by my side I shall ride every storm
** Let Us Prey/Call For The Priest
* Sacks like a hurricane, wrapped in and shattered I was barely holding on to this flying body symphony I guess I dream in pictures, not colors The true free expression I demand is human rights - right
** Raw Deal, written by Rob Halford and Glenn Tipton

### Stained Class (1978)

* Who is this man? Where is he from? Exciter comes For everyone. You'll never see him But you will taste the fire upon your tongue
** Exciter, written by Rob Halford and Glenn Tipton
* Who are not cut out to fight this day will surely fall. The few who stand to take command forever and ever are men.
** White Heat, Red Hot, written by Glenn Tipton
* Long ago when man was king, his heart was clean now he's stained class Time has slashed each untouched thing, so now he's just a stained class king
** Stained Class, written by Rob Halford and Glenn Tipton
* How many like him, Are there still But to us, all Seem to have lost the will They lie in thousands Plagued and lost Is nothing worth this bitter cost
** Beyond the Realms of Death, written by Rob Halford and Les Binks
* If you gaze across timeless years you'll find them always there And many gods will join the list compiled with dying care Hungry mouths are waiting to bite the hand that feeds And so the living dead carry on immortal deeds
** Heroes End, written by Glenn Tipton

### Killing Machine (1979)

* So when you get those blue days, Here's just what to do Switch into this lifeline And feel it rushing through Before you know it, blue days Are better left behind By juicin' up your system With this beat of a heavy kind
** Rock Forever
* I travelled to a distant shore I felt I had to go An inner voice had called me there But why I did not know I saw the evening star rise up Shining out to sea And now I understand at last what it means What it all means
** Evening Star, written by Rob Halford and Glenn Tipton
* There's many who tried to prove that they're faster But they didn't last and they died as they tried
** Hell Bent for Leather, written by Glenn Tipton
* Put yourself in our hands, so our voices can be heard, And together we will take on all the world.
** Take On the World, written by Rob Halford and Glenn Tipton
* No chains can hold me down I always break away I never hear society Tell me what to do or say I taste the life that pleases me And raise a storm for all the world to see I never stumble, never fall Never stop for rest I rebel but I walk tall And I demand respect
** Running Wild, written by Glenn Tipton

### British Steel (1980)

* So much for the golden future I can't even start I've had every promise broken There's anger in my heart You don't know what it's like You don't have a clue If you did you'd find yourselves Doing the same thing too
** Breaking the Law
* Fast devastating and Desolisating the curse Blasting the cannons of Truth through each man Of this earth
** Rapid Fire
* I have my licence It came with birth For self reliance on this earth
** Grinder
* Out on my own Gonna go it alone When I need it then I'll ask for adviceYou don't have to be old to be wise
** You Don't Have to Be Old to Be Wise
* From a fire ball we came Cross sea and mountain We were drinking beauty with our eyes We were given all To make our own Let us be left alone
** The Rage

### Point of Entry (1981)

* Well I've said it before, and I'll say it again You get nothing for nothing: expect it when You're backseat driving, and your hands ain't on the wheel It's easy to go along with the crowd, And find later on that your say ain't allowed Oh that's the way to find what you've been missing
** Heading Out to the Highway
* I'm goin' out in search of the bright lights. Somehow I feel that tonight is the right night! I'm almost there, I've got the vibration. It's coming strong from this generation. My blood is hot, from now on I'm set free! My pulse is hot, so don't try to stop me! Cuz this is it, and I'm Hot Rockin'!
** Hot Rockin'
* Wild mountain thunder Echoes my quest My body aches but I'll not rest Quartz light to guide me Till sunrise leads My passion screams, my heart it bleeds
** Desert Plains
* Golden halos radiating higher Diamond visions softly breathing fire Sky processions we are watching you arrive
** Solar Angels
* Forget about tomorrow Go for it today Cause I'm on, on the run
** On the Run

### Screaming for Vengeance (1982)

* We are screaming for vengeance The world is a manacled place Screaming, screaming for vengeance The world is defiled in disgrace
** Screaming for Vengeance
In this world we're livin' in we have our share of sorrow Answer now is don't give in aim for a new tomorrow [...] There I was completely wasting, out of work, and down
All inside it’s so frustrating as I drift from town to town
Feel as though nobody cares if I live or die
So I might as well begin to put some action in my life
* "You've Got Another Thing Comin'," as quoted by Thom Donovan of American Songwriter

### Defenders of the Faith (1984)

* Look before you leap Has never been the way we keep Our road is free Charging to the top And never give in never stops The Way to be Hold on to the lead With all your will and concede You'll find there's life With victory on high
** Freewheel Burning
* Deadly as the viper Peering from its coil The poison there is coming to the boilTicking like a time bomb The fuse is running short on the verge of snapping if it's caught
** Jawbreaker
* No denyin we're goin' against the grain So defiant they'll never put us down
** Rock Hard Ride Free
* Sworn to avenge Condemn to hell Tempt not the blade All fear the Sentinel
** The Sentinel
* Now facing one another The stand-off eats at time Then all at once a silence falls As the bell ceases its chime Upon this sign the challengers With shrieks and cries rush forth The knives fly out like bullets Upon their deadly course Screams of pain and agony Rent the silent air Amidst the dying bodies Blood runs everywhere The figure stands expressionless Impassive and alone Unmoved by this victory And the seeds of death he's sown
** The Sentinel
* The power-mad freaks who are ruling the earth Will show how little they think you're worth With animal lust they'll devour your life And slice your word to bits like a knife
** Some Heads Are Gonna Roll, written by Robert Halligan, Jr.
* Let's all join forces Rule with iron hand And prove to all the world Metal rules the land We're heavy duty So come on let's tell the world
** Heavy Duty
* We are defenders of the faith
** Defenders of the Faith

### Turbo (1986)

* Well, we don't care in the least Cause our metal is a feast But there's always someone trying to put it down So we crank the music louder And our voices turn to power With a wall of sound we'll blow 'em all away
** Rock You All Around the World
* Around me I feel the shock waves, Building for the energy A force field no one can break through Solid as rock no wonder I am indestructible First placed in everything I do
** Reckless
* A bolt of light that sears the night Of things supreme To chase the sun, forever on And live the dream
** All Fired Up

### Ram It Down (1988)

* An armour plated raging beast That's born of steel and leather It will survive against all odds Stampeding on forever
** Heavy Metal
* Shouting out together Boiling like the sun Metal lives forever Blazing on and on
** Come and Get It
* As I destroy, last thing you'll hear me cry, is victory, is victory
** Hard as Iron
As the sun goes down, I move around Keeping to the shadows Life, hangs by a thread And I've heard it said, that I'll not see tomorrow
If that's my destiny, it'll have to be So I'll face the future Running out of time I'm on the line But I'll go down fighting
** Blood Red Skies
* As the end is drawing near Standing proud, I won't give in to fear As I die a legend will be born I will stand, I will fight You'll never take me alive
** Blood Red Skies
* Took the sound across the seas, the people stood in awe At last the sound had come to them That they'd been waiting forAnd millions roared, and millions cheered This spectacle on stage And everyone went crazy as it bellowed out in rage
** Monsters of Rock

### Painkiller (1990)

* He is the Painkiller This is the Painkiller
** Painkiller
* Faster than a lazer bullet Louder than an atom bomb Chromium plated boiling metal Brighter than a thousand suns
** Painkiller
* Twisting the strangle grip won't give no mercy, Feeling those tendons rip torn up and mean!
** All Guns Blazing
* Like a renegade All alone I walk through fire Till I crash and blaze I'm living on the edge
** Leather Rebel
* Hiding in the darkness Is so futile from its glare Death comes in an instant As they hoped it would Souls ascend to heaven While it feasts on flesh and blood
** Night Crawler
* Storm warning But there's no fear
** Between the Hammer & the Anvil
* Fighting on with dignity In life and death we deal The power and the majesty Amidst the blood and steel
** One Shot at Glory

### Jugulator (1997)

* And while such predators Stalk this earth Disguised as saints They kill our faithObsessed by greed Lying through their teeth They cannot wash The blood stains off
** Blood Stained, written by Glenn Tipton
* Read in my obituary Defiance breeds victory
** Dead Meat, written by Glenn Tipton
* Windows illuminating stains Breakdown closing in again Freefall as I close my eyes Voices talking many lies
** Bullet Train, written by Glenn Tipton
* They have blown away the daylight hours we had Left a legacy, a deadly aftermath We cannot exist in godforsaken lands As we spiral down into oblivion Breathing the fumes of fires that they ignite Losing ground and we are all just losing sight We shall never see another setting sun Time to rise up and ascend, the end has come
** Cathedral Spires, written by Glenn Tipton

### Demolition (2001)

* I am the awful truth I am the fearless youth I am the cross to bear And the one who dares to return your stareI am the fist of God I am the underdog I'll always stand my ground While the others scatter all around
** One on One, written by K.K. Downing and Glenn Tipton
* Say my whole life I've always been disliked Ignored unless you're spitting insults at me And I don't know why you felt so justified In all the degradation that you dished on me
** Hell Is Home, written by K.K. Downing and Glenn Tipton
* My world and yours are not the same I am in a different lane
** In Between, written by Glenn Tipton
* Subterfuge deludes the views of you and me We're confused but still we choose to disagree Subterfuge consumes us but defiantly We refuse to bow down to conformity
** Subterfuge, written by Glenn Tipton and Chris Tsangarides
* He's the man Armageddon Walking through fire Metal Messiah He's the one The Father, the Son Creator destroyer Metal Messiah
** Metal Messiah, written by Glenn Tipton and Chris Tsangarides

### Angel of Retribution (2005)

* War in the heavens Vengeance ignited Torment and tempest Attacks like a swarm Forged out of flame from chaos to destiny Bringer of pain forever undyingJudas is Rising
** Judas Rising
* We built our world of metal Watched it grow Fuelled the fury solid to the bone
** Deal with the Devil, written by Rob Halford, K.K. Downing, Glenn Tipton and Roy Z
* Time to come together Revolution Living on forever Revolution Get ready for the evolution
** Revolution
* For they know only too well That the story they will tell Conjures up an ageless spell Guarded by the sentinel
** Eulogy
* This legend lives Through centuries Evoking history's memories Prevailing in eternities on and on and on
** Lochness

### Nostradamus (2008)

* Many years ago a boy was born A boy with a gift A gift that would be the envy of all mankind To see what no other could - great visions of the future Or would a curse be bestowed on the boy The boy whose name was Nostradamus
** Prophecy
* As the evening comes to pass I prepare myself to ask Never knowing what may come Close the door and turn the key Reeling in uncertainty As my heart begins to race
** Awakening
* Horsemen raised from the light Omens filled with dread Discreation I beheld A world of men gone mad The final age comes to pass Apocalypse is here at last A call to arms - the end to all Peace on earth no more
** The Four Horsemen
* The winds of change Are in the air The winds of change Are everywhere
** Sands of Time
* Seasons come and go Every man's a child to someone Learning as we grow Love and you'll live Forgive
** Peace
* As the day begins to fade Eventide's when I'm afraid I'll never know if you appear But my senses say you're near
** Shadows in the Flame
* Hope in my heart As a new day has dawned I see your light on the wings of a dove Lifting me up as the dark clouds retreat Courage transcends and you make me complete Hope in my heart with the advent of spring I am reborn with the love that you bring
** Hope
* I always tried to keep the faith And held my head up highI stood against those tides of fear And held onto my prideNever lost the will to live And this can't be denied In the calm before the storm
** Calm Before the Storm

### Redeemer of Souls (2014)

* We have roamed so far away We have found there´s no turning back We have seen so many things We have been to hell and back
** Hell & Back, written by Glenn Tipton, Rob Halford and Richie Faulkner
* His immortal soul at stake Hear the storm clouds break He will find you goes for your throat Mesmerize you he is the metalizer
** Metalizer, written by Glenn Tipton, Rob Halford and Richie Faulkner
* Too much information messes with your mind Pushing back the enemy blind leads the blind World of smoking mirrors leaves you in a daze Find your own solution out of the maze
** Crossfire, written by Glenn Tipton, Rob Halford and Richie Faulkner
* When the dark skies came along to test our steel We came together and showed the world just how we feel So remember this We can never fall In our hearts we're all for one and one for all So now we will rejoice Tonight with one voice
** Never Forget, written by Glenn Tipton, Rob Halford and Richie Faulkner

## Quotes about Judas Priest

* For decades, legendary British metal trendsetters Judas Priest boasted two of the genre's greatest dual-lead guitarists in Downing and Tipton. There are countless examples of their collective assault on the metal movement.
** Jeff Mezydlo of Yardbarker (February 2025)
* While Black Sabbath largely get credit for spawning heavy metal, Judas Priest are the band that defined what became the traditional metal standard: twin guitar leads, complex song arrangements mixed in with punchy, concise and anthemic songs topped with Rob Halford’s ear-piercing falsetto and dynamic vocal range.

## External links

* Official website