Judas Priest Releases First Single Off 'Redeemer of Souls' Album

Judas Priest, heavy metal legends, released the title song of their upcoming album Redeemer of Souls, their first new music in six years on Monday.

Judas Priest released “Redeemer of Souls” on YouTube and the song is also available for download on iTunes

“Redeemer of Souls” is the first song from the band recorded without K.K. Downing, a founding member and guitarist of the group who left the band in 2011. Instead, new Judas Priest guitarist Richie Faulkner makes his debut with the band.

Rob Halford, Judas Priest’s frontman, has high hopes for their upcoming album, saying, “It’s heavy. It’s something we think our Priest fans will be thrilled with. We know we have a reputation to maintain, and we know we have to deliver something really strong and solid. The album is going to be full of all the great things you love about Judas Priest.”

Redeemer of Souls is the band’s first album since 2008’s Nostradamus, and guitarist Glenn Tipton describes the album as “13 songs of pure classic Priest metal.”

The highly anticipated album may be a long time coming, but Judas Priest has been keeping busy, going on a world tour and writing songs for their new album. They were also featured in an episode of The Simpsons, for which they rewrote their song “Breaking the Law” to “Respecting the Law.”

The album Redeemer of Souls, the band’s 17th album to date, will be released July 15.

– Olivia Truffaut-Wong