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## Judas Priest Celebrates *Painkiller*’s 35th Anniversary in Poland
On **Monday, July 7, 2025**, Judas Priest stormed the stage at the **Atlas Arena in Łódź, Poland**, delivering a blistering performance that honored the 35th anniversary of their genre-defining album, *Painkiller*, which originally hit the shelves on **September 14, 1990** ([BLABBERMOUTH.NET][1]).
### A Tour Worthy of Its Name: *Shield Of Pain*
The band’s European **“Shield Of Pain”** tour launched in June in Turku, Finland—kicking off at Rockfest on **June 12–13**—and quickly solidified its identity as a tribute to *Painkiller*’s enduring legacy ([BLABBERMOUTH.NET][2]). Across the continent, Priest promised a **“rare and unique set”** to defend the metal faith with powerful moments drawn from that iconic album and other beloved classics ([BLABBERMOUTH.NET][3]).
Despite speculation from fans, frontman **Rob Halford confirmed** they would *not* perform the entire *Painkiller* album live—but rather alternate “clumps of *Painkiller* songs” with other selections, arranged to build excitement within a broader setlist framework ([BLABBERMOUTH.NET][4]).
### Łódź Setlist: *Painkiller* Front And Center
In Łódź, the band delivered **seven tracks** from *Painkiller*:
* *All Guns Blazing*
* *Hell Patrol*
* *A Touch of Evil*
* *Night Crawler*
* *One Shot at Glory*
* *Between the Hammer and the Anvil*
* *Painkiller* (the climactic finale of the section) ([BLABBERMOUTH.NET][1], [Radio Eska ROCK][5])
These were interwoven with signature classics like **“You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’”**, **“Freewheel Burning”**, **“Breaking the Law”**, and live staples in the encore: **“The Hellion / Electric Eye”**, **“Hell Bent for Leather”**, and **“Living After Midnight”**—creating a powerful journey through Judas Priest’s legacy ([BLABBERMOUTH.NET][1]).
### Why *Painkiller* Still Matters in 2025
Recorded in **Miraval Studios, France**, and released in **September 1990**, *Painkiller* marked a seismic shift in Judas Priest’s sound—with the introduction of **Scott Travis** on drums unleashing blistering double-kick rhythms that revolutionized the band’s energy and heaviness on stage and on record ([BLABBERMOUTH.NET][3]).
K.K. Downing, reflecting on Travis’s impact, noted how those drum capabilities allowed Glenn Tipton and himself to explore more rhythmically aggressive songwriting—a turning point in their creative evolution ([BLABBERMOUTH.NET][3]). Travis himself spoke in later interviews about how the iconic drum intro of *Painkiller* became one of the most celebrated in metal history—crew and fans alike ranking it alongside classics by Led Zeppelin and Van Halen ([BLABBERMOUTH.NET][3]).
### Fan & Critical Reception: *Painkiller* as a Metal Milestone
*Painkiller* is widely regarded by critics and fans alike as Judas Priest’s **most essential metal statement**: fast, ferocious, and ultimately triumphant. Reddit fans often declare it the **“perfect metal album,”** one praising its relentless track‑by‑track intensity and modern relevance even decades after release .
One fan wrote:
> “I legitimately think it’s the perfect metal album … if someone with no knowledge of metal asked me ‘what is heavy metal’ I would show them this album” ([Radio Eska ROCK][6], [Reddit][7]).
Another fan’s reaction to hearing *Painkiller* in full for the first time:
> “Just had my first complete listen … STOP EVERYTHING YOU’RE DOING AND LISTEN. 20/10 rating” ([Reddit][8]).
### Touring Europe & Poland’s Role
Łódź was one peak in a busy European **12‑date tour**, spanning Scandinavia, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Sweden, Luxembourg, and ending in Oberhausen, Germany, on **July 20** ([BraveWords][9]). The Polish show came after Ferrara and Zürich, linking to Priest’s growing momentum in Europe during summer 2025 ([BLABBERMOUTH.NET][10]).
Poland’s **Atlas Arena**, with its large, dedicated fanbase and stadium-scale production, proved the ideal venue to amplify the sonic assault of *Painkiller*. Fan-filmed videos showed a roaring crowd, massive energy, and an immersive experience—with pulsing lights, dramatic pyrotechnics, and palpable communal enthusiasm.
### The Legacy of *Painkiller*—Then and Now
In addition to being Rob Halford’s **last album before he briefly left** the band (only returning in 2003), *Painkiller* ushered in a new era heavy on speed, energy, and raw power. The album redefined what Judas Priest could be and influenced countless bands in the 1990s and beyond ([Radio Eska ROCK][6], [Louder][11]).
The added drummer Trentsville unlocked new musical possibilities—Scott Travis had to keep pace with Glenn Tipton’s solos and K.K. Downing’s riffs, enabling a sound that felt faster, more intense, and more modern than anything they’d done earlier ([BLABBERMOUTH.NET][3]).
### What Makes the *Shield Of Pain* Tour Special?
Rob Halford emphasized early on that the **Shield Of Pain tour is a one‑time, once‑in‑a‑lifetime event**—crafted to highlight *Painkiller* songs in special segments amid a broader retrospective of metal classics ([BLABBERMOUTH.NET][2]). His words: “You’ll only see the show once. We hope fans will be on the rail and banging their heads to it.” ([BLABBERMOUTH.NET][1]).
This approach allowed Priest to honor the longevity of their catalog while spotlighting the *Painkiller* era as a centerpiece—not merely replaying the full record but embedding it thoughtfully into a broader metal celebration.
### A Night to Remember in Poland
The Łódź show delivered not just nostalgia, but adrenaline. *Painkiller* tracks were presented with fresh fire, and classics like *Breaking the Law* and *Hell Bent for Leather* ensured long‑time fans got everything they came for.
That concert reaffirmed the album’s relevance in 2025—not as a relic, but as something that still commands respect, power, and emotion in live performance.
### In Summary: Legacy, Celebration, and Metal Faith
At 35 years old, *Painkiller* remains a towering achievement in heavy metal—something Judas Priest continues to celebrate with passion. The **Shield Of Pain tour** brought that celebration to life for fans across Europe, with the Polish show as a standout moment: ferocity, fan energy, and a thoughtful revisiting of an album that re‑energized the band and the genre.
They didn’t play the album in full—but that decision encapsulated the spirit of the tour: no repetition, just powerful choices from *Painkiller* embedded within metal classics—and a message: Judas Priest still champions “metal faith” on stage in 2025 and beyond .
As the tour heads on toward Munich and London’s O2 Arena in mid‑ and late July, fans will continue to experience what Rob Halford billed as a *rare, unique, and thrilling treat*—a celebration of *Painkiller*’s legacy and Judas Priest’s enduring relevance in heavy metal history.
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[1]: https://blabbermouth.net/news/watch-judas-priest-celebrates-35th-anniversary-of-painkiller-album-in-poland?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Watch: JUDAS PRIEST Celebrates 35th Anniversary Of ‘Painkiller’ Album In Poland – BLABBERMOUTH.NET”
[2]: https://blabbermouth.net/news/judas-priest-launches-shield-of-pain-tour-celebrating-35th-anniversary-of-painkiller-album?utm_source=chatgpt.com “JUDAS PRIEST Launches ‘Shield Of Pain’ Tour Celebrating 35th Anniversary Of ‘Painkiller’ Album – BLABBERMOUTH.NET”
[3]: https://blabbermouth.net/news/judas-priest-to-celebrate-35th-anniversary-of-painkiller-album-on-shield-of-pain-tour-in-2025?utm_source=chatgpt.com “JUDAS PRIEST To Celebrate 35th Anniversary Of ‘Painkiller’ Album On ‘Shield Of Pain’ Tour In 2025 – BLABBERMOUTH.NET”
[4]: https://blabbermouth.net/news/rob-halford-says-judas-priest-wont-perform-entire-painkiller-album-on-shield-of-pain-tour?utm_source=chatgpt.com “ROB HALFORD Says JUDAS PRIEST Won’t Perform Entire ‘Painkiller’ Album On ‘Shield Of Pain’ Tour – BLABBERMOUTH.NET”
[5]: https://www.eskarock.pl/radar/czy-judas-priest-bedzie-gral-w-calosci-album-painkiller-na-koncertach-w-2025-rob-halford-odpowiada-fanom-aa-3pqN-Zg41-2oNB.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Judas Priest będzie świętował 35-lecie \”Painkillera\”. Czy zespół zagra album w całości na koncertach? – EskaROCK.pl”
[6]: https://www.eskarock.pl/radar/czy-judas-priest-bedzie-gral-w-calosci-album-painkiller-na-koncertach-w-2025-rob-halford-odpowiada-aa-3pqN-Zg41-2oNB.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Judas Priest będzie świętował 35-lecie \”Painkillera\”. Czy zespół zagra album w całości na koncertach? – EskaROCK.pl”
[7]: https://www.reddit.com/r/MetalForTheMasses/comments/1gng17o?utm_source=chatgpt.com “You ever discover a song long after it was released that blows your mind?”
[8]: https://www.reddit.com/r/MetalForTheMasses/comments/1ibio1u?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Just listened to painkiller”
[9]: https://bravewords.com/news/judas-priest-to-celebrate-painkiller-s-35th-anniversary-with-shield-of-pain-tour-2025-this-rare-unique-set-will-be-defending-the-metal-faith-in-a-truly-memorable-experience/?utm_source=chatgpt.com “JUDAS PRIEST To Celebrate Painkiller’s 35th Anniversary With Shield Of Pain Tour 2025 – This Rare Unique Set Will Be Defending The Metal Faith In A Truly Memorable Experience”
[10]: https://blabbermouth.net/news/watch-judas-priest-celebrates-35th-anniversary-of-painkiller-album-at-italys-ferrara-summer-festival?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Watch: JUDAS PRIEST Celebrates 35th Anniversary Of ‘Painkiller’ Album At Italy’s FERRARA SUMMER FESTIVAL – BLABBERMOUTH.NET”
[11]: .
com “Judas Priest to celebrate Painkiller’s 35th anniversary on 2025 European tour | Louder”
