Judas Priest Have Quietly Started Recording Their Next Album

Judas Priest aren’t slowing down, if anything they’re already gearing up for the next strike.

Guitarist Richie Faulkner has confirmed the band have begun recording their new album, laying early groundwork in the studio just months after dominating stages behind ‘Invincible Shield’ (per Metal Injection).

Speaking to The Metal Voice, Faulkner let it slip that things are further along than most expected.

“We’ve started recording [the next record]. Yeah, we were in the studio for a month in February laying the foundation. I don’t know if I’m allowed to say that, but I’ve said it.”

It’s not a grand announcement, no polished rollout, just a casual admission that Priest are already back at it, classic.

The follow up to ‘Invincible Shield’ is taking shape

The upcoming record will serve as the next chapter after 2024’s ‘Invincible Shield’, which saw the band proving they still hit with weight decades deep into their career.

Faulkner has previously hinted that new material was always on the cards, balancing the grind of touring with constant songwriting.

“We’re creative people — as a group of creative people, that’s gonna happen. So I think, hopefully if we get some time early next year, we’ll be able to pool those ideas and see what we’ve got…”

That time clearly came sooner than expected.

Touring isn’t slowing down either

While the studio lights are on, the road is still calling. Judas Priest have a stacked European run locked in from late July through September 2026, hitting festivals and arenas across Germany, the UK, France, Italy, and beyond.

If anything, it puts a bit of pressure on the timeline., wrapping a record while prepping for a run that heavy isn’t exactly a relaxed schedule, but Priest have never operated like a band ready to ease off.

What to expect

At this stage, there’s no word on a title or release window, but if ‘Invincible Shield’ proved anything, it’s that Priest aren’t interested in coasting on legacy.

They’re still writing, recording and pushing forward, and now we know the next chapter isn’t some distant idea, it’s already underway.

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