[](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9ZpbdSocMY)

 

**Judas Priest deliver “Painkiller” power at Rockfest Turku — Shield of Pain tour ignites!**

 

Last night (June 12), Turku’s Rockfest stage erupted as British heavy metal legends **Judas Priest** launched their **Shield of Pain** European summer tour — celebrating the 35th anniversary of their genre-defining album *Painkiller* ([blabbermouth.net][1]). Here’s how the opening night scorched into the record books:

 

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### 🔥 A Thunderous Opening

 

Kicking off with the rarely played **“All Guns Blazing”** — its first live performance since 2019, and debuting as a set opener — Priest immediately grabbed the audience’s attention ([blabbermouth.net][1]). They followed within seconds with the ferocious **“Hell Patrol,”** setting a turbo-charged pace.

 

Frontman **Rob Halford**, at 73, proved his voice remains a force of nature, especially on the ageless anthem **“You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’”**—one fan hailed the show as “one of the best Priest shows I’ve seen in Finland in a long time” ([metal-rules.com][2]).

 

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### 🎯 Deep Cuts & Rare Gems

 

The band dove deep into *Painkiller*, delivering **seven** of its ten tracks:

 

* All Guns Blazing

* Hell Patrol

* A Touch of Evil

* Night Crawler (not played since 2012)

* One Shot at Glory

* Between the Hammer and the Anvil

* Painkiller ([blabbermouth.net][1])

 

They even dusted off **“Solar Angels”** from *Point of Entry*, unseen since 2005, showing full dedication to pleasing long-term fans ([metal-rules.com][2]).

 

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### ✨ New Material & Live Debuts

 

The tour isn’t just a nostalgia trip. Two tracks from 2024’s *Invincible Shield* — **“The Serpent and the King”** and **“Giants in the Sky”** — received enthusiastic live debuts ([metal-rules.com][2]). Their inclusion underscores the band’s ongoing creative fire and offers a balanced experience between classic and contemporary.

 

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### ⚡ A Band at the Top of Their Game

 

Guitarists **Richie Faulkner** and **Andy Sneap** unleashed electrifying duels, while the rhythm section of **Ian Hill** and **Scott Travis** locked in the show with tight, roaring precision ([reddit.com][3], [metal-rules.com][2]). Despite Faulkner’s health-related performance pace adjustments, his charisma and technical skill remained undiminished .

 

Halford commented before the tour that the *Painkiller* segments would be “a real thrill and a treat… once-in-a-lifetime” — and Turku delivered just that ([blabbermouth.net][1]).

 

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### 🎸 Setlist Highlights & Encore

 

The evening concluded with the epic double-whammy of **“Hell Bent for Leather”** and **“Living After Midnight,”** leaving the crowd roaring for more ([setlist.fm][4]). Classics like **“Breaking the Law”**, **“Freewheel Burning”**, **“Metal Gods”**, and **“Firepower”** ensured a well-rounded set that catered to all eras of Priestheads ([metal-rules.com][2]).

 

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### 🏆 Final Verdict

 

Rockfest’s Shield of Pain opening night was a full-throttle declaration: Judas Priest are not slowing down. They brought blistering metal excellence, a nostalgic yet dynamic setlist, and new material that felt just as powerful as their classics. With this level of intensity, faith in metal has truly been defended.

 

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Next stop on the tour is Hamar, Norway (June 14), with a continent-spanning trek ahead — including major festivals and a full North American co-headline run with Alice Cooper in September. Don’t miss them if they’re touring near you — because **this show will only be seen once**.