“Firepower” track listing:

01. Firepower
02. Lightning Strike
03. Evil Never Dies
04. Never The Heroes
05. Necromancer
06. Children of the Sun
07. Guardians
08. Rising From Ruins
09. Flame Thrower
10. Spectre
11. Traitors Gate
12. No Surrender
13. Lone Wolf
14. Sea Of Red

Asked by the WSOU 89.5 FM radio station if “Firepower” is a “heavier” record than 2014’s “Redeemer Of Souls”, JUDAS PRIEST guitarist Richie Faulkner said: “I think ‘heavy’ means so many different things — it could be heavy in terms of sound, it could be heavy in terms of speed, it could be heavy in terms of lyrical content. So it’s hard to know what someone’s interpretation of ‘heavy’ means. But I think it’s a more energetic record — I think there’s more fire in it — which is one of the reasons why ‘Firepower’ was a relevant title to call the record. It’s got that kind of intensity. I don’t think ‘Redeemer’ was lacking in that respect, but this one’s definitely got more of it. It’s got fast stuff, it’s got groovier stuff.”

JUDAS PRIEST guitarist Glenn Tipton announced two weeks ago that he will be sitting out the band’s touring activities as a result of his battle with Parkinson’s disease, with which he was diagnosed a decade ago.

Tipton, who is now 70 and has performed on every PRIEST album since the band’s 1974’s debut set, “Rocka Rolla”, is not quitting the band, but simply cannot handle to rigorous challenges of performing live. Joining PRIEST for its upcoming dates will be Sneap, a former member of SABBAT who has most recently played with HELL.

The North American leg of the “Firepower” tour will kick off on March 13 in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania and will wrap on May 1 in San Antonio, Texas. Support on the trek will come from SAXON and BLACK STAR RIDERS.