Judas Priest guitarist Richie Faulkner recently discussed the band’s future following their recent North American tour, suggesting that a 20th studio album could be the next logical step in their legendary career.
In a new interview with Teresa Robinson of New Mexico Entertainment, Faulkner—who joined the band 15 years ago for what was billed as a farewell tour—confirmed that the metal icons are already looking ahead.
“That’s a good question. We’ve always got something bubbling under the surface going on, and we always try and think about what’s coming up after this,” Faulkner said (as transcribed by Blabbermouth).
While he was hesitant to reveal specific plans, he openly mused about a return to the studio.
“There’s a few things I’m not sure if I can say [what they are] or not, but we’ve talked about whether we are gonna do album number 20,” he revealed. “Is that gonna happen or not? Or, have got any ideas for that sort of stuff? We’ve done a lot of touring over the last couple of years, so maybe it’s time to look at the studio stuff and see where we go from there.”
Faulkner also reflected on the unexpected longevity of his own tenure with the band, which began under an entirely different set of expectations.
“One thing I do know is that I joined [Judas Priest] on [what was supposed to be] the [band’s] farewell tour and I’m still here 15 years later, so it doesn’t stop. It doesn’t stop,” he said.
He noted that based on the band’s historic workflow, another album is highly likely. “I know it’s usually album, tour, album, tour, album, tour — that seems to be the pattern — so, historically, if that tells you anything, there’s usually another album somewhere. But we’ll see.”
When asked about his own personal legacy within the seminal metal band, Faulkner remained humble, expressing gratitude for his role.
“I think all you can do is your best. And I think the people decide what your legacy is,” Faulkner responded. “I’m lucky enough to be in a position where I’m touring and writing music with Judas Priest… one of the most influential heavy metal bands in the world. So, fortunately, people are listening to stuff that I’m doing and the band are doing in 2025. That’s legacy enough — just being a part of that legacy is enough for me.”
