Metal pioneers Judas Priest bring iconic act to Sioux Falls

Band's sound became epitome of genre, carried group to peak of commercial success

Judas Priest and their iconic frontman, Rob Halford, have been household names among heavy music fans for more than 50 years, and on Sunday, Sept. 22, the world-renowned act will perform live at the Denny Sanford Premier Center as part of a national tour celebrating the release of their new album.

Invincible Shield is the band’s first record of original material in six years, and came as a bit of surprise. A classic group releasing new material can instill some anxiety in their longtime fans wondering if it’ll meet their expectations, but Invincible Shield does not disappoint.

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“You never know, you just do the best you can,” said Scott Travis, who has been the drummer for Judas Priest since 1990. “You want it to sound the best, and you just put it out there and see what happens. People really do seem to overwhelmingly enjoy it, which makes it all the more pleasurable for us.”

Judas Priest has brought about a lot of changes in the band’s half century of existence. Forming in the late days of the psychedelic music wave, it’s best known for ushering in the heavy metal that came after.