British metal titans Judas Priest took over the MGM Music Hall in Boston, as they begin the second leg of their 50 Heavy Metal Years Tour, joined by special guests Queensrÿche. Fans packed the recently inaugurated venue, with many looking forward to seeing the tour return to Massachusetts after a health related cancellation back in April.
Kicking off the evening was hard rock band Queensrÿche, taking the stage to “Queen Of The Reich”. The band focused heavily on 1984’s The Warning, but would also take time to introduce two new tracks off their latest album, Digital Noise Alliance. Lead singer Todd La Torre was visibly grateful towards fans, especially those familiar with the newer material. He would also share a moving story about meeting a fan facing serious health issues; the band dedicated “Take Hold of the Flame” to him, as fans clapped showing support. The powerful set closed with “Eyes Of A Stranger”, setting the tone perfectly for the rest of the night.
The energy was vibrant in the room, reaching its peak when Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs” started playing in the background. Lead singer Rob Halford was escorted onto the stage in the dark, as “The Hellion” signaled the start of the show, followed by the rest of the band and the thunderous “Electric Eye”. The band revamped the setlist for the second leg of the tour, focusing on the 40th anniversary of the release of Screaming For Vengeance and a heavy dose of rarities. Fans were thrilled to hear tracks like “Riding On The Wind” and “Jawbreaker”, but the biggest surprise was “Genocide”, which was performed live for the first time since its release in 1982.
One of the highlights of the show was undoubtedly Halford’s powerful voice, as he continues to reach soaring heights and blowing fans away with his sheer strength. The audience would get their chance to join the band on singing duties, as the Metal God rode back to the stage on a roaring motorcycle for the iconic “Hell Bent For Leather”. The show drew to a close with the upbeat “Living After Midnight”, and the words “The Priest Will Be Back” lit up on stage. It serves as a testament of the staying power that Judas Priest still holds after 50 years of metal, a band that has never stopped and continues to create and move forward. Make sure to catch the second leg of the 50 Heavy Metal Years Tour.
JUDAS PRIEST
QUEENSRŸCHE
Photos by Maria Alejandra Mata
Keep up with Judas Priest: Twitter / Instagram / Facebook
Keep up with Queensrÿche: Twitter / Instagram / Facebook
