It’s been 15 years since the self ordained metal gods Judas Priest last graced these shores. In fairness to leather clad frontman Rob Halford and Co. however, it hasn’t been for the lack of trying. You see in recent times the Good Ship Priest have encountered some stormy waters-including losing founding members, their singer getting cancer and their guitarist Richie Faulkner suffering a nearly fatal heart attack while onstage. Throw into the pot several Lockdowns and a twice cancelled tour with Ozzy Osbourne and I think even the most hard hearted headbanger can forgive them for taking so long to see us again.

Iron sharpens iron though and these Brummie icons are eager to remind us all that they’re made of the finest British steel during their much delayed visit to the capital. They’ve also brought their mates and fellow icons Uriah Heep and Saxon along for the ride.

Sadly thanks to Dublin traffic we miss the former, but we’re front and centre for the denim and leather loving latter and the NWOBHM legends don’t just warm up the crowd, they take a blowtorch to it and are armed with evergreen anthems such as ‘Motorcycle Man’ that still sound fresh and fun.

Judas Priest @ 3 Arena 15-03-24. Photo: Peter O'Hanlon.

Galloping guitars and gargantuan grooves and hooks are the order of the day and frontman Biff Byford is full of charisma and sky cracking vocals as he prowls around the 3Arena stage like a cat. Their set is littered with highlights, including the catchy, Celtic rock steeped classic ‘And The Bands Played On’ and the incendiary newie ‘Fire And Steel’ and by the time they finish with a show stopping run through of ‘Princess Of The Night’ we’re left wishing their 14 song strong set was even longer.

Priest waste little time taking over from where Saxon left off and for the next 90s minutes they seem hell-bent on proving that their metal gods moniker is deserved.

The ear-drum rattling ‘Panic Attack’ opens proceedings with a roar. Lifted from their recently released 19th album Invincible Shield (which just became their highest charting LP in their 55 year history in their native UK) it’s a wonderfully O.T.T. slice of heavy metal thunder crammed with shredding guitars and shrieks from their frontman.

80s chugger ‘You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’’ and the criminally good ‘Breaking The Law’ are up next and keep excitement levels at 666%. Priest then prove they’ve still got some tricks up their sleeve with the live debut of 2014 track ‘Sword Of Damocles.’ A Mjolnir heavy offering with a marvellous lead riff, we’re guessing it was given a dust down in Dublin tonight as it tips a cap to our own Thin Lizzy and we’re glad that they did.

Judas Priest @ 3 Arena 15-03-24. Photo: Peter O'Hanlon.

Elsewhere, new song ‘Crown Of Horns’ also gets its first airing and has a sharp, 80s steeped hook that lives up to its title, while a bullish version of ‘Painkiller’ affirms the veterans have plenty of firepower left in the tank.

Halford is in good form tonight too and performs copious costume changes that remind us you can never have enough black leather jackets in your wardrobe.

Before we know it, we’re being serenaded by final song ‘Living After Midnight’ and the feel good single, which has inspired everyone from Pantera to Shawn Michaels to Lady Gaga, leaves everyone with a huge smile on their face and determined to keep rocking to the dawn.

Judas Priest @ 3 Arena 15-03-24. Photo: Peter O'Hanlon.