Judas Priest Rides in with Firepower | TD Place, Ottawa

Judas Priest with their Firepower Tour united a capacity crowd at the TD Place in Ottawa and had no trouble reminding the world that metal is not a long lost art form. – it’s always been here.

Iconic heavy metal band Judas Priest brought their Firepower 2018 world tour to TD Place Lansdowne Park, along with guests Black Star Riders and Saxon, to an anxiously awaiting room full of denim vests, long hair and patches. Tonight everyone gathered around the sounds of the classic metal era these guys were so much part of, sporting devil horns and screaming bloody murder alongside a plethora of talent.

Up first, and the real standout for me, was the legendary Saxon, who’s tribute to Motorhead, “They Played Rock And Roll” sounded surprisingly fresh and crisp. Here is a band that arguably never really got their due. Full of contagious energy, touring together for over 40 years, and putting on a dynamic stage show that included humor, audience interaction, Facebook live videos, and a ton or charm and talent. What a fantastic way to kick this night off.

The crowd gathered in anticipation of the Metal Gods Judas Priest and wait patiently to see. Being there to see Rob Halford take the stage on a motorcycle for “Hellbent for Leather” proved mind blowing.  This being his trade throughout this long career. The guitar riffs and licks were no disappoint and consistent with what you’d expect at a Priest concert – strong, hypnotizing and powerful.

The audience loyalty and passion for the group was evident as they took the musical tour through the classics and new material. Rob Halford’s iconic outfits and presence helped the nostalgia seem well placed, and the audience clamored for them like they were The Beatles of doom. An elaborate stage show and a passionate crowd made this a worthwhile experience for me, and helped me check one more item off of my bucket list. Catch these guys before it’s took late.

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