Is Firepower a good place to start with Judas Priest?

Yes, Firepower is recommended as a starting point for new Judas Priest listeners. Explosive riffs and soaring vocals intertwine, delivering a relentless heavy metal experience infused with classic Judas Priest energy. Released on March 9, 2018, Firepower is Judas Priest's 18th studio album and marks their first release after the departure of guitarist Glenn Tipton from live performances due to health issues. The band was in a phase of revitalization, having experienced a successful comeback with their previous album Redeemer of Souls in 2014, and sought to reaffirm their dominance in the heavy metal genre.

Who is Firepower for?

Firepower works well if you're into dynamic journey with powerful peaks, triumphant anthems for celebration and invigorating energy for workouts.

How many songs are on Firepower?

Firepower has 14 tracks, running approximately 58 minutes.

Firepower

Judas Priest · 2018

58 min · 14 tracks · heavy metal

Explosive riffs and soaring vocals intertwine, delivering a relentless heavy metal experience infused with classic Judas Priest energy.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Firepower Start here — The title track showcases blistering guitar work and anthemic choruses, encapsulating the album's explosive energy and lyrical themes of resilience.
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Lightning Strike — With its infectious hooks and dynamic tempo changes, this track exemplifies the band's mastery of melodic heavy metal while delivering a powerful message about overcoming adversity.
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Never the Heroes — This poignant song stands out for its introspective lyrics about sacrifice and heroism, reflecting a deeper emotional layer that complements the album's aggressive sound.
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Rising From Ruins — A compelling blend of melodic and hard-hitting elements, this track signifies rejuvenation and hope, resonating with listeners through its relatable narrative.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

60 /100

Treeline

Higher than 66% of albums we've rated

The album showcases strong songwriting and performances while maintaining classic heavy metal elements.

What we noticed

The album opens with a high-energy title track that sets a fast pace, which is maintained through the first half before slowing down in the latter tracks.
Each song features prominent guitar solos and harmonized vocals, often alternating between aggressive riffs and melodic choruses.
Several tracks incorporate orchestral elements, particularly in the intros and outros, adding depth to the heavy metal sound.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 6/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

dynamic journey with powerful peaks
triumphant anthems for celebration
invigorating energy for workouts
cathartic release of tension
for road trip playlists

Maybe skip if you

prefer slow, soundscapes
avoid energetic, high-tempo tracks

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Late Career Highlight — Shows continued vitality and strong songwriting in their later years.
Themes: metal anthems· resilience in adversity· fiery rebirth
Moods: Uplifting· Anthemic
Career context: Released on March 9, 2018, Firepower is Judas Priest's 18th studio album and marks their first release after the departure of guitarist Glenn Tipton from live performances due to health issues. The band was in a phase of revitalization, having experienced a successful comeback with their previous album Redeemer of Souls in 2014, and sought to reaffirm their dominance in the heavy metal genre.
Stylistic neighbors: Iron Maiden· Black Sabbath· Accept