(Live Review) JUDAS PRIEST + SABATON - Milwaukee, WI (9/18/24)

By

The Beard & Little Johnny

Welcome friends, fans, and followers to another episodic adventure and live concert review by your ever nomadic reviewing duo the Beard & Little Johnny. This evening, for show #58, and bands #202-203, we journeyed to the Miller High Life Theater in Milwaukee, WI for one of metal's all time greats, Judas Priest with support from the Swedish power metal stalwarts Sabaton.

Reporting from row N of the left center (floor level), the Beard was rather in the heart of the crowd as it were. Little Johnny was thrilled saying “Nice to see you hanging with the bangers old man.”

SABATON

First up on the stage, the historically accurate war metal of Sweden's Sabaton.

Coming out with one I knew, “Ghost Division” from Art of War, Sabaton rolled through that one and “The Last Stand,” before Broden introduced himself and the band to the newbies in the audience as “the Swedish Village People…but with no YMCA.” Then it was “Swedish Pagans” and “The Red Baron,” before a great duo of “Bismarck” & “Stormtroopers.”

Broden asked if the crowd would indulge them singing one in Swedish, which of course got the expected huge pop, and then launched into “Carolus Rex” from the album of the same name. “Resist & Bite” and “Attack of Dead Men” would follow before the next one I really knew, “Primo Victoria” from their first album. Sabaton would conclude a nice hour of show with “Soldiers of Heaven” and “To Hell and Back.”

Sabaton was allowed nice lighting, (often the openers get extraordinarily little), and with effects like the costume change into the chemical gun spewing soldier for “Attack of the Dead Men,” Broden cut a cool figure on stage. Overall, this was a solid set and although the strength of Sabaton is largely in their particular attention to lyrical detail, Joakim Broden was engaging, and he always pulls the energy from the crowd with what seems like genuine appreciation for his audience and their loyal support.

We all know it is modus operandi for a band to say “(insert city name here) is the loudest and or the best crowd or that it is the bands favorite place to play.” The trick is how convincingly you sell it. Broden, in my four times seeing Sabaton, always does well in that regard and I do find myself wanting to cheer for him and the band. I am therefore awarding Sabaton a particularly good 87/100.

What did you think Little Johnny? “Beard, they had a tank for a drum kit! That was awesome. Plus, that singer dude did that song in the suit with the smoke gun. That was cool too. I didn’t really understand a lot of the lyrics, but man they were fun to watch perform. Good call.”

JUDAS PRIEST

Next up, the headliners and a band I have seen numerous times over the decades, Heavy Metal Royalty in the mighty Judas Priest.

There is little point doing a Judas Priest historical as anyone reading this has certainly heard of and is at minimum somewhat familiar with these legendary Birmingham boys that originally formed almost 55 years ago and still have OG Ian Hill on the bass. Of course, Rob Halford was on vocals along with the dual guitars of Richie Faulkner and Andy Sneap, as well as Scott Travis on the drums. (Note: Glenn Tipton is still a full band member in the studio although his medical condition precludes his performing live any longer.) Judas Priest is touring behind their nineteenth album 2024’s Invincible Shield.

The Beard had not seen Judas Priest since almost three years ago. It was the very last concert I was able to attend with my long-time wife before the end and in my memory it was one of Priest’s absolute best performances with Rob Halford still being in excellent voice. Given the particulars, I knew it would be hard for this one to measure up, but, as my own history has told me, one never knows when something will be for the very last time ever, so I wanted to see the boys doing their thing one more time.

Coming out with “Panic Attack” (from the new release), I was pleased as it was a good song and given I was unfamiliar with it, I could easily assume it sounded exactly as good as it was supposed to. The next song was their biggest charting single “You’ve Got Another Thing Coming.” Now, this one has never been a favorite of mine, (despite the crowd adoration for it), and I already noticed some deterioration in Rob Halford's voice. I hoped it was that he just needed a bit longer to fully warm up.

“Rapid Fire” from British Steel was one I had never heard them play live before, so I was back on the happy train to see and hear something I knew for the first time. Next it was “Breaking the Law,” another must-play that is purely crowd driven. Rob allowed the crowd to sing most of the song and just stalked the stage encouraging fans to sing louder. I never rank this song too highly, although it is always a nostalgic moment when Halford & the other guitarists synch up after the bridge and do their little dance shake thing while they play. Always loved that and of course I “marked out” for it again. (Check out my TikTok of this one @ thebeard0728)

“Riding on the Wind” was particularly good. Halford hit almost all the notes and showed that even at 73, he still has vocal power many singers never will. At this point I am still on the great set train. Unfortunately, the next two songs “Love Bites” and “Devils Child” exposed more clearly how much Halford has lost of the iconic voice. It is NOT that I want to be critical, and ANY Judas Priest tribute act sounding that well vocally would be impressive, but he is not a tribute to Rob Halford, he IS Rob Halford, and those two songs were a vocally weaker Rob Halford.

“Saints in Hell” was a deep cut from their fourth album Stained Class and that caught me completely by surprise. I am not familiar enough to grade that one fairly as it has been many years since I have heard it. Just throwing it into the set list though was a positive because, even after all these years, I got to hear a Judas Priest song live for the first time. “Crown of Horns” was from the new album and was also unfamiliar, so once again I must assume it sounded exactly like it was supposed to.

“Sinner” was both great and not great. Faulkner nailed KK Downing’s work perfectly and when Rob could hit and hold the notes, it was classic Judas Priest. Several times though he fell off the note and, even though I doubt he relied on it too heavily, sustain and delay could be noticed. Loved the solo and the song musically, but less so vocally although the good parts of it were truly classic era good.

“Turbo Lover” and “Invincible Shield,” I once again thought were weak. "Turbo" was weakly performed, and "Invincible Shield" I just did not think was that strong of a song (at least upon first listening.) So far this set has been a roller coaster with great high points and a few stomach dropper spots.

For me, the high point came with “Victim of Changes.” Given I had heard where Halford's voice was weaker and his lung capacity was shorter, I was surprised he left this one on the set list as it required several ear-piercing notes held for several seconds. Well, whatever power was left in that 73-year-old man’s body, he gave it to Milwaukee on this one. He nailed both screams in “Holy Shit” fashion. At the first one I smiled in appreciation and on the finale I applauded in sincere love for the opportunity of hearing one more time the singer that no metal fan should ever argue against when discussing who belongs on the Mt. Rushmore of metal vocalists. (Note: The Beard says Halford, Dio, Diamond, & Tate.) (Ed: What? No Stace "Sheepdog" McLaren?) The point is, that song was worth the price and the trip.

Now, basking in the glow of that one, I somewhat sleep-listened through their cover of Fleetwood Macs “Green Manalishi with the two-pronged Crown,” but just as I had experienced the high point, next up came the low point. “Painkiller” is an impossible song to replicate live. The cadence, the high notes, the impossibly long notes. That song was Rob Halford when he was 100%. This rendition was less than that. Honestly, quite a bit less than that. I know people loved it, but it showed me everything he “can’t” do anymore, and that made me sad because another of my childhood icons is fading away, and in a way that means so am I.

The three-song encore included “Electric Eye,” (which frankly Rob sounded exhausted on), then “Hell Bent for Leather,” (that despite having the motorcycle prop was also tired sounding.) Finally, “Living After Midnight” brought the show to a close. As Halford walked the stage bumping fists with (it seemed) every single fan he could reach, I watched thinking “he knows.” While I hear he wants to do another album, (and if that is true then he should be allowed to), Rob Halford gave his life to both metal and the fans and if he wants to keep going, he should be afforded that opportunity, but he knows. He knows what he was, what he is and what might be coming anytime.

Steven Tyler had to call it quits with Aerosmith, and eventually Halford will have to call it quits with Judas Priest. I am not saying I want that, but I am saying I “hope” he knows when to exit with pride. Halford is one of the greatest to ever do it. Judas Priest is as iconic as any metal band ever has been. From the Beard to them, “please don’t turn into THAT band that stays too long.” For tonight’s ups and downs, I must weigh the 95’s against the 80’s and say this set was an 88/100 based on the “Icon Rule.”

Johnny, what did you think? “Well Beard, actually, I thought you were NEVER gonna stop talking. I liked the set. The guitars were good. That bearded bald Santa still has an amazing voice and the crowd was hot. That is all I need. I know you think in more grandiose terms, but I just like a show that rocks.”

Okay, as always thank you for listening/reading along. Follow us every week on The Mighty Decibel, check out our videos on TikTok at thebeard0728, and friend or follow Mark McQueen on Facebook for all the non-metal reviews. Until next time, this is the Beard & Little Johnny saying Live Life, Stay Heavy & Horns Up.