Judas Priest to record new studio album in 2026
Metal icons Judas Priest have confirmed they are set to record their next album in 2026.
In a new interview with Anne Erickson of Audio Ink Radio, the band ruminated on the possibility of a follow-up to 2024’s Invincible Shield. Bassist Ian Hill said: “There are plans to go back into the studio in the new year. So when it’ll be released, I don’t know. It’s a long process. We’re in no rush either, so it’ll be a while. But the recording is gonna happen, it looks like, next year.”
On the topic of writing the songs, Hill had more great news to share. He said of their guitarist, Richie Faulker, “He’s got quite a few ideas together, yeah. So we’ve got a head start there.”
Leaving no stone unturned, Hill also spoke on the topic of a potential future tour. He shared nonchalantly, “Well, that’ll happen as well. Obviously, if you have an album, you have to go out and tour with it. So, yeah, that’ll happen too.”
Their last album entered the UK chart at number two, following right behind Ariana Grande’s Eternal Sunshine. It landed at the top spot in Germany, Finland, Sweden, and Switzerland.
Judas Priest are currently on tour in the US with Alice Cooper. Frontman Rob Halford also recently revealed the band recorded a version of the Black Sabbath classic ‘War Pigs’, which has been a staple at their gigs for many years, with Ozzy Osbourne, and shared his hopes that it will eventually be released.
Meanwhile, in a recent appearance on the Queer The Music podcast, Halford discussed being LGBTQ+ in the heavy metal realm and shared his belief that America remains hostile to the gay community.
He stated on the show, “America is still incredibly homophobic. I’ve lived here for a long time and I’ve seen a lot happen since the ’80s. It really gets me angry and upset.” Halford came out as gay in 1998 during an interview with MTV and is married to his husband, Thomas.
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