Heavy metal stalwarts Judas Priest officially kicked off their highly anticipated “Shield Of Pain” tour on Thursday, June 12, at Rockfest in Turku, Finland. This extensive trek is set to be a special celebration, marking the 35th anniversary of the band’s iconic 1990 album, Painkiller.
The Finnish concert delivered on the band’s promise of a “rare” and “unique set,” delving deep into the Painkiller masterpiece. Out of the 19 songs performed, a remarkable seven tracks hailed from the anniversary album, showcasing a significant focus on that pivotal record. Alongside the thunderous title track, “Painkiller,” fans were treated to renditions of “All Guns Blazing” (played for the first time since 2019 and notably as the opening number), “Hell Patrol,” “A Touch Of Evil,” “Night Crawler” (a live rarity since 2012), “One Shot At Glory,” and “Between The Hammer And The Anvil.”
Judas Priest had previously indicated the “Shield Of Pain” tour would feature “beloved classics” and a commitment to “be defending the metal faith in a truly memorable experience throughout Europe.” The Turku setlist certainly reflected this dedication, offering a mix of fan favorites, deeper cuts, and even some live debuts.
The full setlist for the Rockfest performance was:
- “All Guns Blazing“
- “Hell Patrol“
- “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’“
- “Freewheel Burning“
- “Breaking The Law“
- “A Touch Of Evil“
- “Night Crawler“
- “Firepower“
- “Solar Angels” (first time since 2005)
- “Gates Of Hell“
- “Metal Gods“
- “The Serpent And The King” (live debut)
- “One Shot At Glory“
- “Between The Hammer And The Anvil“
- “Judas Rising“
- “Giants In The Sky” (live debut)
- “Painkiller“
- “Hell Bent For Leather“
- “Living After Midnight“
Fan-filmed video from the concert is already circulating online, allowing those who missed the kickoff to experience the power of the performance. You can watch it down below, after every song finishes the player will automatically go to next one.
Following their Finland opener, Judas Priest continues their extensive 2025 European journey with their next stop in Hamar, Norway on Saturday, June 14. This leg of the tour will span across the continent, concluding at The O2 in London, United Kingdom, on July 25.
Judas Priest 2025 European Tour Dates:
- Jun. 14, 2025: Hamar, Norway – Tjuvholmen Kro
- Jun. 17, 2025: Stuttgart, Germany – Schleyerhalle
- Jun. 18, 2025: Frankfurt Am Main, Germany – HESSENTAG FESTIVAL
- Jun. 21, 2025: Clisson, France – Hellfest 2025
- Jun. 22, 2025: Dessel, Belgium – Graspop Metal Meeting 2025
- Jun. 25, 2025: Viveiro, Spain – Resurrection Fest
- Jun. 27 – 29, 2025: Lisboa, Portugal – Evil Live Festival 2025
- Jun. 29, 2025: Santa Coloma De Gramenet, Spain – Rock Fest Barcelona
- Jun. 30, 2025: Bilbo, Spain – Miribilla. Anfiteatro/Basketball
- Jul. 2, 2025: Ferrara, Italy – Ferrara Summer Festival
- Jul. 3, 2025: Zürich, Switzerland – Hallenstadion
- Jul. 5, 2025: Hannover, Germany – The Scorpions “60th Anniversary – Coming Home”
- Jul. 7, 2025: Łódź, Poland – Atlas Arena
- Jul. 10, 2025: Rättvik, Sweden – Dalhalla
- Jul. 13, 2025: München, Germany – Olympiahalle
- Jul. 15, 2025: Carcassonne, France – Festival de Carcassonne
- Jul. 17, 2025: Sion, Switzerland – Sion Sous Les Étoiles
- Jul. 19, 2025: Esch-sur-alzette, Luxembourg – Rockhal
- Jul. 20, 2025: Oberhausen, Germany – Rudolf Weber-ARENA
- Jul. 23, 2025: Scarborough, United Kingdom – Scarborough Open Air Theatre
- Jul. 25, 2025: London, United Kingdom – The O2
Following their European leg, Judas Priest will bring the “Shield Of Pain” tour to North America for an extensive run:
- Sep. 16, 2025: Biloxi, MS – Mississippi Coast Coliseum
- Sep. 18, 2025: Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
- Sep. 20, 2025: Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion
- Sep. 21, 2025: Franklin, TN – FirstBank Amphitheatre
- Sep. 23, 2025: Bridgeport, CT – Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater
- Sep. 24, 2025: Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach
- Sep. 26, 2025: Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
- Sep. 27, 2025: Saratoga Springs, NY – Broadview Stage at SPAC
- Sep. 29, 2025: Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
- Oct. 1, 2025: Burgettstown, PA – The Pavilion at Star Lake
- Oct. 2, 2025: Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre
- Oct. 4, 2025: Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center
- Oct. 5, 2025: Tinley Park, IL – Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre
- Oct. 8, 2025: Wichita, KS – Intrust Bank Arena
- Oct. 10, 2025: Colorado Springs, CO – Broadmoor World Arena
- Oct. 12, 2025: West Valley City, UT – Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre
- Oct. 14, 2025: Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre
- Oct. 15, 2025: Wheatland, CA – Toyota Amphitheater
- Oct. 18, 2025: Chula Vista, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
- Oct. 19, 2025: Inglewood, CA – Kia Forum
- Oct. 22, 2025: Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
- Oct. 23, 2025: Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater
- Oct. 25, 2025: Austin, TX – Germania Insurance Amphitheater
- Oct. 26, 2025: Houston, TX – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
