Shield of Pain: the title of Judas Priest’s tour has already set fans on fire in Clisson on June 21st, during a Music Festival celebrating the 35th anniversary of the iconic album Painkiller. The band had promised “an unforgettable experience for the defenders of the metal faith,” and the legendary “priests” from Birmingham didn’t need to preach for long to plunge their followers into a trance. A deluge of decibels (and studs on biker jackets), a festival of flames, the furious guitar solos of Richie Faulkner and Andy Sneap, the powerful and unmistakable voice straight from the white beard of singer Rob Halford… the British gods of heavy metal – with nearly 50 million albums sold worldwide, were more alive than ever, setting Hellfest ablaze. Alternating between iconic tracks, “Turbo Lover,” “Breaking the Law,” “Panic Attack,” and of course “Painkiller”, and newer songs with electrifying riffs, it was a breathtaking mass, also served by Ian Hill (bass), Scott Travis (drums), and Richie Faulkner (guitar). Invincible for over half a century, just like the shield of their latest album.