New Judas Priest coming in 2024

I was enjoying the album until I came to Gates of Hell, particularly one lyric about the Holy Ghost. Ruined the album for me. Musically it’s a great release, though.

Yeah, that's garbage. And Michael Sweet is calling Rob a fellow believer

I don’t generally pay a lot of attention to Priest’s lyrics, but that level of blasphemy surprised me.

I don’t necessarily understand that lyric, but I also don’t think it’s blasphemous either. Rob has many times affirmed his faith. I know he’s confused about a great many things, but I don’t see him going blasphemous, either.

I found this take to be interesting. I don’t know if he’s right, but I could see it being true. 
https://www.songtell.com/judas-priest/gates-of-hell

That explanation doesn't really make it better. He's embracing evil and dining with the beast, not a positive.

The particular lyric about the Holy Ghost is awkward, but hard to know what Rob means (presuming Rob wrote the lyrics like usual). Might just be referring to the tongues of fire imagery of the HS. It's more disturbing in the entire song seemingly glorifying evil. 

To be fair there are several classic Priest songs that are about an evil character, whether written in the third person or first person. It would seem Rob's intention in similar songs like "Sinner" or "Touch of Evil" is to describe someone who is lost and in league with the devil as a cautionary tale, not as a "look how great this is." Heavy metal lyrics aren't always that straight forward.

Of course the idea that Rob is a real Christian is utterly preposterous. Michael should know better.

In isolation I might be able to give the lyric the benefit of the doubt. But since the entire song is about giving into evil it comes off much worse.

musically I think Invincible Shield is quite good, more impressive guitar playing than Firepower but not quite as catchy imo, though I've only heard it once

Finally found the time to sit and really listen to this.

Some lyrics aside, this is a great album.

I love the layered vocal arrangements that are showcased in several songs.

I think it takes the Firepower sound a bit further and actually surpasses that album IMO.

It's no Painkiller, but nothing can really compete with nostalgia.

If this ends up being the final Priest studio album, it's a good one to end things with!

I agree. This album is slammin!