Judas priest have officially unveiled the set list for their highly anticipated 2025 “Shield Of Pain” tour. Designed as a farewell spectacle and to celebrate the 35th anniversary of their seminal 1990 album Painkiller, the band promises a…
Metal gods Judas Priest have officially unveiled the full setlist for their highly anticipated 2025 “Shield of Pain” tour—an epic farewell journey doubling as a celebration of the 35th anniversary of their game-changing 1990 masterpiece, Painkiller. Designed to be a blistering, no-holds-barred send-off, the tour is being hailed as one of the most ambitious and emotionally charged performances in heavy metal history.
The “Shield of Pain” tour marks the final chapter in Judas Priest’s near-five-decade legacy, and the band has spared no effort in crafting a setlist that spans their groundbreaking catalog. With Painkiller at its core, performed in full for the first time since its release, the tour is both a tribute to their enduring influence and a celebration of the raw, relentless energy that defined a generation of metal.
A Tour Rooted in Firepower and Farewell
The 2025 tour, launching this July in Birmingham—where it all began—will span major cities across the UK, Europe, North America, South America, and Asia, culminating in a grand finale at London’s O2 Arena in December. Billed as their farewell spectacle, the band has called it “our final roar—a thunderous farewell forged in steel and pain.”
Rob Halford, the band’s legendary frontman, said during the announcement, “Painkiller was a defining moment not just for us but for metal itself. This tour isn’t just about saying goodbye—it’s about celebrating a legacy with the fans who built it with us.”
The Setlist: A Metal Lover’s Dream
The unveiled setlist is a carefully crafted sonic journey through the band’s extensive catalog, anchored by a full live performance of Painkiller, track by track, followed by fan-favorite classics and deep cuts from every era.
Act I – Painkiller Performed in Full:
- “Hell Patrol” – Opening the show with blistering riffs and Halford’s piercing vocals.
- “All Guns Blazing” – A ferocious follow-up that sets the tone for the night.
- “Leather Rebel” – Crowd-pleaser and a tribute to the band’s rebellious roots.
- “Metal Meltdown” – A lightning-fast assault showcasing the shredding prowess of Faulkner and Sneap.
- “Night Crawler” – Atmospheric and haunting, adding depth and dynamic.
- “Between the Hammer and the Anvil” – A thundering anthem about justice and consequence.
- “A Touch of Evil” – Moody and sinister, it highlights Priest’s versatility.
- “Battle Hymn / One Shot at Glory” – An epic crescendo leading into the defining title track.
- “Painkiller” – The showstopper, as aggressive and exhilarating as ever.
Act II – A Retrospective Through the Decades:
- “Electric Eye”
- “The Sentinel”
- “Beyond the Realms of Death”
- “Freewheel Burning”
- “Breaking the Law”
- “Turbo Lover”
- “Victim of Changes”
- “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’”
Encore:
- “Hell Bent for Leather”
- “Living After Midnight”
A Production Worthy of Legends
According to sources close to the production, the stage design will be one of Judas Priest’s most elaborate to date—featuring pyrotechnics, video backdrops chronicling the band’s storied past, and a massive, retractable steel “shield” centerpiece emblazoned with the classic Painkiller angel.
Each show will also include a rotating segment in which the band pays tribute to fallen icons of the genre—ranging from Lemmy Kilmister to Ronnie James Dio—underscoring Priest’s place in the pantheon of metal.
Fans React: “This is History in the Making”
Tickets sold out within hours of release, and fans around the world have taken to social media to express excitement, nostalgia, and gratitude.
“I’ve seen Priest live six times, but this one means everything. It’s the end of an era,” one longtime fan from Manchester wrote on X. Another commented, “Hearing Painkiller live, in full, is a dream come true—and a goodbye I never wanted but deeply respect.”
The Final Ride
With over 50 years of uncompromising heavy metal behind them, Judas Priest’s “Shield of Pain” tour promises more than a concert—it promises closure. For fans, it’s a chance to honor the band that laid the blueprint for generations of metal acts. For Judas Priest, it’s the final ride into immortality.
“We started this journey in the factories and pubs of Birmingham,” Halford reflected. “Now we’re finishing it on the world’s biggest stages—with pride, power, and pain.”
Let the metal gods roar one last time.
Shield of Pain Tour kicks off July 5 in Birmingham. Limited tickets remain for select dates.
