Heavy Metal Titans JUDAS PRIEST Officially Launch Their 2025 “Shield Of Pain” World Tour With a Thunderous Opening Night in Finland, Unleashing a Ferocious Setlist Packed With Classic Anthems, Deep Cuts, and New Material From Their Upcoming Album, As the Band Reaffirms Their Status as One of the Greatest Live Acts in Rock History and Delivers a Powerful Message That Their Legacy of Leather, Fire, and Unstoppable Riffs Continues to Roar Across the Globe With Unmatched Energy and Aggression
Judas Priest kicked off their much-anticipated 2025 “Shield Of Pain” world tour with an explosive opening night in Helsinki, Finland, electrifying thousands of devoted fans and proving once again that the heavy metal legends remain a live powerhouse with no signs of slowing down.
Taking the stage at the sold-out Hartwall Arena on May 3, Rob Halford and the band delivered a blistering 20-song set that balanced their iconic classics with surprises and fresh material from their upcoming Shield Of Pain album, due later this year.
Opening with the title track “Shield Of Pain,” a brand-new song that mixes punishing riffs with Halford’s soaring vocals, the band quickly ignited the crowd. Fans were treated to beloved anthems like “Hell Bent for Leather,” “Electric Eye,” and “Painkiller,” as well as deeper fan favorites such as “Bloodstone” and “The Sentinel.”
The night’s most emotional moment came during “Beyond the Realms of Death,” with Halford dedicating the song to “the fallen metal warriors who live on in sound.”
Guitarists Richie Faulkner and Andy Sneap shredded with razor-sharp precision, while bassist Ian Hill and drummer Scott Travis anchored the sonic assault with thunderous rhythm.
“We’ve come back to burn through the noise and give you the purest form of metal we’ve got left in us,” Halford roared to the crowd.
The tour is scheduled to hit 35 cities across Europe and North America, with ticket sales already booming after the Helsinki opener stunned both critics and fans.
As the curtain dropped on the final encore “Living After Midnight,” one thing was clear: Judas Priest’s metal machine still runs full throttle, and the “Shield Of Pain” tour is poised to be one of the most defining chapters in the band’s legendary career.
