JUDAS PRIEST, iconic figures of British heavy metal, have unveiled the official lyric video for “The Serpent And The King,” their fourth single from the forthcoming studio album, “Invincible Shield”
Scheduled for release on March 8, 2024, via Sony Music, the album has garnered significant anticipation.
JUDAS PRIEST singer Rob Halford spoke with Zane Lowe of Apple Music 1 about “The Serpent And The King”, saying: “JUDAS PRIEST screaming heavy metal for over 50 years. The passion and the power and the love and the dedication and all the other glorious words that you can utilize into this band, JUDAS PRIEST, are just roaring in this song, ‘The Serpent And The King’. It’s just another definition of this particular style of metal, this intense, relentless, unyielding, invincible approach and love that we have in this band for this particular song. And we’ve talked about a lot of things.
“We’ve talked about the sinner, we’ve talked about the saints, and we’ve talked about the painkiller but we’ve never talked about God and the devil getting into the universal boxing ring, so to speak. That’s the message. We’re talking about this age-old thing that’s been going on since the universe began. It’s God, it’s the devil. It’s black and white, it’s positive, negative, it’s good, it’s evil, it’s love, it’s hate. It’s all of these different textures wrapped up into this fierce non-stop, relentless track, ‘The Serpent And The King’.”
Regarding how the themes in “The Serpent And The King” are reflective of the current time, the JUDAS PRIEST singer said: “This ‘Serpent And The King’ issue couldn’t be more relevant right now, man. I don’t have to talk about current topics on the news wire. But yeah, this is it. This is raging right now, this fight that’s going on.
“The good news is the battle always ends in the right place, which is, good overcomes evil. Love always wins. Love will always come out on top. No matter how dark, how bleak, how terrible things might be, love will come out, the light will shine, the power will reign, and humanity progresses. This is the context of all of the imagery and fantasy of ‘The Serpent And The King’.”
To pre-order “Invincible Shield”, visit shop.judaspriest.com.
“Invincible Shield” track listing:
01. Panic Attack
02. The Serpent And The King
03. Invincible Shield
04. Devil In Disguise
05. Gates Of Hell
06. Crown Of Horns
07. As God Is My Witness
08. Trial By Fire
09. Escape From Reality
10. Sons Of Thunder
11. Giants In The Sky
Deluxe edition bonus tracks:
12. Fight Of Your Life
13. Vicious Circle
14. The Lodger
For a taste of what’s to come, you can watch the official music videos for the album’s initial two singles, “Panic Attack” and “Trial By Fire,” provided below.
Additionally, the cover artwork for both the CD and vinyl editions of “Invincible Shield” is displayed above, offering fans a glimpse into the visual aesthetics accompanying the musical journey.
Formed in Birmingham, England in 1969, the iconic JUDAS PRIEST is a legendary heavy metal band known for their powerful vocals, dual guitar harmonies, and electrifying stage presence. With a career spanning over five decades, they’ve released iconic albums like “British Steel” and “Screaming for Vengeance,” shaping the metal genre with hits such as “Breaking the Law” and “Painkiller.”
Their influence extends across generations, earning them a devoted global fanbase and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. JUDAS PRIEST continues to captivate audiences worldwide with their timeless music and uncompromising dedication to the metal ethos.