Vocalist Tim "Ripper" Owens - who recorded two albums with Judas Priest - recently spoke with Hollywood Reporter about teaming up with former Judas Priest guitarist K.K. Downing for the new band, KK's Priest. Following is an excerpt from the story.

“It’s a little bit of everything,” Owens said recently about the album project. “It’s K.K. Downing. That’s what’s the best part is. It’s not K.K. reinventing the wheel or trying to do something else. He’s writing exactly how he’s written his career and what he loves to write like. It’s kind of cool.”

When Downing approached Owens about the new band, the singer was almost an immediate yes. He said it didn’t take much convincing because he and Downing are good friends. There seems to be a level of trust between the two performers — a trust that dates back to the days when Owens was the lead singer of Judas Priest (this was the time when Rob Halford stepped away from the band).

“When I’ve been touring solo probably the last 5-10 years, whatever it’s been, going through the UK, he’s always come out,” Owens said of Downing’s friendship. “Whether it’s two hours away, he’d always come out. He’d always have AJ, the guitar player, with him because AJ’s band he was working with, and Ken’s girlfriend would be with him. We’ve always talked. The only difference is I’m pretty busy. I could tour the whole year solo. I could tour the whole year with the Three Tremors, so there’s things that I can be doing. It’s not like he would call and just say, ‘Are you available?’ I would have to make myself available for it. I wasn’t available. I had stuff going on last summer, so I had to make myself available. … I really wanted to do it. I like the music. Ken and I are great friends, so I had to make myself available to do it.”

Read the complete story here.

KK's Priest, the band comprised of renowned former Judas Priest guitarist, K.K. Downing and former vocalist Tim “Ripper” Owens, have released their album, Sermons Of The Sinner, via Explorer1 Music Group/EX1 Records. In celebration, the band have released a video for the song, "Return Of The Sentinel". Watch below, and order the new album here. The album is also available via all global digital streaming partners.

KK’s Priest also features Tony Newton (Voodoo Six) on bass, A.J. Mills (Hostile) on guitar and Sean Elg (DeathRiders/Cage) on drums. Original drummer, Les Binks, unfortunately sustained a wrist injury, but will make special guest live appearances when the band tours.

Tracklist:

"Incarnation"
"Hellfire Thunderbolt"
"Sermons Of The Sinner"
"Sacerdote Y Diablo"
"Raise Your Fists"
"Brothers Of The Road"
"Metal Through And Through"
"Wild And Free"
"Hail For The Priest"
"Return Of The Sentinel"

"Return Of The Sentinel" video:

“Raise Your Fists” video:

"Brothers Of The Road":

"Sermons Of The Sinner" video:

"Hellfire Thunderbolt" video: