Metal Rules' Robert Cavuoto recently caught up with Judas Priest guitarist Richie Faulkner, who discussed the band's recent Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame performance, and offered an update on Priest's forthcoming new album, their follow-up to 2018's Firepower.

Asked if fans will like the new album as much as previous albums, Firepower (2018) and Redeemer Of Souls (2014), Faulkner responds: "You know what, the internet seems to know everything these days, about what the new album is going to sound like, based on a couple of words that you put out there. I think we've used the word 'progressive', and everyone thinks it's going to become Nostradamus (note: Priest's sixteenth studio album, released in 2008) or Rush, which is two different things. I've definitely used the word 'progressive', purely because it's got a few musical turnarounds that Firepower doesn't have, but that doesn't make it a Rush record. It just makes it... instead of like a verse into a bridge into a chorus, there might be a couple more musical passages in there, to make it a bit more... interesting? Might be the wrong word, I dunno, you've got to be careful with the words you use these days. It's not Firepower 2, but it's the same band, a few years later, so there's obvious connections to the last record."

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Judas Priest will be touring with Ozzy Osbourne in early 2023. Rob Halford recently said, "Finally, it's happening. Judas Priest and Ozzy Osbourne in our home country initially, kicking off a UK tour together. Never been done before. It's gonna be sensational, to be on the stages through the UK with a dear, dear friend of hours. It's gonna be a blast!"

Ozzy Osbourne / Judas Priest dates:

January
26 - Berlin, Germany - Mercedes-Benz Arena
28 - Prague, Czech Republic - O2 Arena
31 - Zurich, Switzerland - Hallenstadion

February
2 - Budapest, Hungary - Budapest Arena (Ozzy only)
5 - Madrid, Spain - WiZink Center
8 - Bologna, Italy - Unipol Arena
11 - Mannheim, Germany - SAP Arena
14 - Hamburg, Germany - Barclaycard Arena
17 - Helsinki, Finland - Hartwall Arena
19 - Stockholm, Sweden - Friends Arena
21 - Dortmund, Germany - Westfalenhalle
24 - Munich, Germany - Olympiahalle
27 - Nottingham, UK - Motorpoint Arena

March
1 - Dublin, Ireland - 3Arena
4 - Birmingham, UK - Resorts World Arena
7 - London, UK - The O2
9 - Manchester, UK - AO Arena
12 - Newcastle, UK - Utilita Arena
14 - Glasgow, UK - The SSE Hydro

(Photo - Joel Barrios)