Judas Priest 's 50th anniversary tour landed in São Paulo last Thursday, the 15th, and showcased the band's full firepower and the grandeur of the living legend that is Rob Halford , even in front of a tired and more reserved audience.
The chaos in São Paulo spared no one, including headbangers trying to reach Vibra, formerly Credicard Hall, and the traffic delayed many people – including our editorial team, who didn't arrive in time to see the first show of the night, a Pantera (see photo gallery here ). Both shows are part of Metal Week , a series of parallel shows before the Knotfest , which takes place this Sunday, the 18th.
Despite the setbacks typical of a weekday, the venue was packed to welcome Judas Priest, even with groups of Pantera fans leaving before the night's headliners arrived.
The finalization of the stage setup took considerably longer than expected. The scheduled start time for the show came and went, but the technicians were still working on the sound check and adjustments to the decoration, which included gas canisters, barrels of toxic material, danger warning signs, and the gleaming Judas Priest crucifix that illuminates the audience and the crowd during the band's light show.
Almost a few minutes late, Black Sabbath suddenly began to announce the arrival of the moment. With Rob Halford , Ian Hill , Andy Sneap, Scott Travis , and the newest member, Richie Faulkner , guitarist in the group since 2011, the band showed the energy that has kept them on the road – with highs and lows, fights and reconciliations – for the last 50 years as one of the cornerstones of heavy metal.
At 71 years old, dressed in leather and sequins, Rob Halford proves himself worthy of the title of "metal god" in every moment. Even if his movements aren't as agile as they once were, the vocalist impresses with precise and powerful high notes, enough to hurt the eardrums of those too close to the speakers, and he explores the characteristic, mournful vibrato that makes him recognizable anywhere, knowing very well how to lower his pitch with impressive dexterity.
Early in the evening, the frontman greeted the audience more quietly, walking around the stage, and quickly expressed his happiness at returning to Brazil. The crowd seemed attentive and ready for the grand choruses, but perhaps the fatigue of the week coming to an end and the approaching workday didn't favor a reception of the band in the best Brazilian style, with the chants of "Priest, Priest!" or the characteristic "olês" losing momentum too quickly in all attempts.
In the corner of the stage, Richie Faulkner stands out for his charisma in interacting with fans, always asking for applause and encouraging the audience to sing. Facing the accessible area, reserved for people with disabilities and their companions, the guitarist noticed a fan's request for a guitar pick and seemed to refuse the gift, but soon gestured that he would distribute a pick to each person in that reserved area. And so he did, making three trips back to the stage to get more picks, stopping for a few moments to ensure that the person responsible received the gift.
“Firepower” and “Turbo Lover” were the first highlights of the night. There was also a great moment of interaction with drummer Scott Travis before “Screaming For Vengeance,” which reinforced the band's joy at being on Brazilian soil and announced that Judas Priest was celebrating 50 years of metal. He also talked about a certain “yellow album” released by the band a few years ago. “It’s a very good album,” he said with a good-humored smile.
With Halford on his motorcycle in the final stretch of the show, the fans revealed their hidden strength in the perfect trio of "Hell Bent for Leather," "Breaking the Law," whose chorus was sung by the audience, and "Living After Midnight," closing a night of maximum professionalism and energy from Judas Priest, who honor their own legacy as few bands could after five decades of existence.
If these musicians weren't mere mortals, 50 years would still be too short to experience the true essence of metal, because pride, love, and dedication are never lacking in Judas Priest.
See the exclusive photo gallery from our contributor Leca Suzuki in the slideshow below. To view the complete photo gallery, swipe to the side (if you can't see it, click here ).
READ ALSO: Trivium debuts Metal Week in São Paulo; exclusive photos
