There were many different incentives to travel this year to the Parc de Can Zam site to witness first-hand this new edition of the BARCELONA ROCK FEST.And although, logically, each one would have his arguments, for a server the presence of JUDAS PRIEST commemorating his five decades in active service was an unavoidable appointment.Yes, obviously, the current incarnation of the legendary British formation without counting on the presence of KK Downing and with sporadic appearances, for health reasons that we all know very well, by Glenn Tipton, is far from the mystique of his years of splendor .But be that as it may, the triplet formed by Rob Halford, Ian Hill and Scott Travis continues to keep the creed of the “Priest” alive among a legion of fans who continue to reverently venerate the “Defenders of the metal faith”.One of the great unknowns of this commemorative tour was to see how JUDAS PRIEST would manage to summarize his long and successful career in a show of just 90 minutes. So one of the main concerns for his fans was to see how many hymns of the caliber of '“Screaming For Vengeance”, “Exciter”, “Beyond The Realms Of Death”, “United”…., they were going to be left out of the chosen set.But, as we all intuited, what was not lacking was the leather, the studs, the folded guitars, the outlandish outfits of a Halford who showed himself at a remarkable level, the motorcycle, the band's symbol on the stage ceiling, the projections….And ultimately all those details that make each JUDAS PRIEST concert a show to enjoy intensely.Curiously, it was during its discharge, being one of the highlights of the night, when the screens that flanked both stages repeatedly failed.As with any liturgy, the departure of the British raised and mobilized an audience that welcomed them with open arms.So before we knew it, with the last glimmers of clarity invading the stage, and after playing through the PA “Battle Hymn” by way of introduction, we were all vibrating to “One Shot At Glory”.Although Halford remains the image and the center of all eyes, Richie Faulkner is the one who provides the vitality and ultimately much of the show, moving around the stage while he offers us a wide range of guitar poses.His current partner at six strings, and producer of the band's latest release, Andy Sneap was more active than on previous occasions.Of course, he always remained in a discreet background, although doing a most sober and effective job.Surely many would think that JUDAS PRIEST were only going to throw away their most classic and legendary material.Well, the truth is that it was not like that.So after starting the evening with an indisputable whiplash of his acclaimed “Painkiller”, it was time to travel almost to the present to recover “Lightning Strike” from his acclaimed “Firepower”, which with the stage bathed in intense reddish tones revealed that his The work of 2018 has penetrated very deeply among his unconditional parishioners.But undoubtedly what the majority of the public that gathered at the Parc de Can Zam wanted was to sing again along with their heroes those songs that have marked several generations of metalheads and that have become, in their own right, a defining hymns of a style.So the party was total when Halford announced that the time had come for “You've Got Another Thing Comin''”, which with its contagious party rhythm and vacillation made us all jump, giving the starting gun to a first incursion on the material that billed during the eighties.The speed would increase since the battery of the lanky Scott Travis would be in charge of propelling the fast-paced "Freewheel Burning", which was chosen to represent his 1984 album "Defenders Of The Faith", leaving us the stamp of a hard-working Halford who it had to be used to the maximum to reach its high treble tonalities.Much more grateful for the veteran vocalist was the interpretation of "Turbo Lover", since it allowed him to move freely around the stage while inviting the public to sing with him, making it clear that despite the criticism that the song received, and all the album at the time, it has ended up becoming an indisputable piece in the band's discography and live shows.Once again the guitars of the Faulkner/Sneap tandem would once again show their sharpest and most corrosive side by proposing a new scale in "Painkiller", which curiously was the most visited album of the evening along with the mythical "British Steel", to make the level of intensity and dedication of the respectable did not decrease during "Hell Patrol".Immediately afterwards, one of the stellar moments of the night would arrive, and one of the litmus tests to verify in what state of shape Mr. Halford's vocal cords were.Intense, magical, vibrant... "Victim Of Changes" once again captivated the audience with its particular mix of feeling and forcefulness, all seasoned by those explosive changes of rhythm and by that succession of high notes, which although they are no longer enough the solemn quotas of yesteryear, do allow us to continue enjoying another of the essential gems in the career of the Birmingham combo.Although it cannot be said that they will cut the rhythm of the show, since both pieces have become regulars in their repertoires, I have to admit that for a server it was a small letdown that the following minutes of the show were dedicated to two versions.The first one, “The Green Manalishi (With The Two Prong Crown)”, gave us the opportunity to sing along with Halford his fantastic central melody.While his adaptation of Joan Baez's fast-paced “Diamonds & Rust” served to get more than one person excited.But as I mentioned earlier, although I like both songs, I think the band could have used that time to rescue some of their classics that were left out of the repertoire.Be that as it may, it was time to face the final stretch of the show, and what better to put the point and followed than to bet on the forcefulness and brutality of the seminal "Painkiller", which once again unleashed madness among those present with Halford once again squeezing himself to the maximum to delight of his stalwarts.Feted by his troupe of faithful JUDAS PRIEST it didn't take long for them to step back on stage to look back at the glorious eighties.And it is that the unmistakable canned introduction of “The Hellion”, announced the arrival of the always effective “Electric Eye”, which became the umpteenth sample that the British material has long since become timeless, and see different generations raising their arms to chant his killer refrain together with Halford was the definitive confirmation.After a few moments of silence, in which the stage was plunged into absolute darkness, the thunderous roar of the engine announced that the time for “Hell Bent For Leather” had arrived, with the vocalist riding his Harley on stage. to comply with another of the traditions that can never be missing in the Priest show.As happened on their previous visit to this venue to put the finishing touch to their presentation, the quintet was attended by Glenn Tipton who came on stage to receive the love of his fans and play with his colleagues " Metal Gods”.With the band turned into a “three guitar beast” we would all sing again to turn Can Zam into a party during “Breaking The Law”.Fast, direct, effective and ultimately the perfect excuse for all of us to enjoy ourselves to the fullest.The definitive culmination to end this review of fifty years of career, -nothing more and nothing less than half a century of road and heavy metal, which is said soon-, ran on behalf of another one that we have all chanted on countless occasions " Living After Midnight”.Half a century has passed.Gone are successes, endless tours, kilometers, excesses, disputes, bad times, meetings..., and a collection of songs that have managed to define heavy metal decade after decade.They are an unrepeatable, legendary, iconic band and after seeing them succeed once again at the BARCELONA ROCK FEST it is clear to me that JUDAS PRIEST still have a long way to go and that their legacy is already immortal.There are many images that the passage of time has become iconic within the world of heavy metal.And I don't think I'm wrong in saying that the picture of Dave Mustaine wielding his arrow, with his long curly hair and dressed in a dazzling white shirt is one of them.They are a mainstay for any self-respecting heavy metal follower.Perhaps MEGADETH have left some of the mystique of being a band along the way, it was always Dave and his henchmen, and even more so since Dave Ellefson was invited to leave the band for the second time.In any case, the current incarnation of MEGADETH is one of the most solid and compact of their entire long career.Although, personally, I have to admit that I didn't see it very clearly when the news broke in 2015, Kiko Loureiro has ended up becoming the perfect partner for the charismatic American frontman, nailing the classic solos as well as contributing his personal and characteristic touch.As for the rhythm section, it is impeccable, with a James LoMenzo who in this second stage within the American formation seems to be enjoying himself like a dwarf, now forming a team with drummer Dirk Verbeuren, a human steamroller that I don't think is capable of remember in all the bands and projects in which he has been a member.Obviously the presence of Dave Mustaine and his acolytes is always an excellent claim, and even more so on the bill of a festival like the BARCELONA ROCK FEST.So as the afternoon sun bathed the stage the fans were milling around.Without a new album to present -the new material from the Americans "The Sick, The Dying... And The Dead!", will not be released until the beginning of next September-, it was clear that we would have the opportunity to enjoy a repertoire full of of old favourites.Of course, the main unknown revolved around the vocal status of a Mustaine, who has had serious health problems in recent years.And yes, perhaps he was not at his best level, but the truth is that he knew how to dose himself and get the show going.Without great vocal displays but keeping the type, making the lyrics decipherable, and not just limiting himself to singing the melody as we have seen him do on some occasions.Another detail to highlight is that, as happened on their last tours, which have always been on large stages and massive festivals, the American combo once again opted for projections on LED screens, accompanying their compositions with images closely related to the lyrics of the same.In any case, if something has become clear over the years, it is that MEGADETH have been able to create, as usually happens with the vast majority of the great classic bands, a close relationship with their followers.But it is also that Mustaine is an "old dog" and knows how to attract those who are not among his followers, and that is that starting with a whiplash as lethal and devastating as "Hangar 18" guarantees you to win the attention of all present from the very start.They appeared confident, solid, compact, delighting their stalwarts in each solo phrasing that Mustaine and Loureiro exchanged, although the filmmakers did not give any when selecting the images of the musician who was performing each solo.Having started with one of his most mythical and timeless hymns, it was clear that from that moment things could only go down.But although obviously "Dread And The Fugitive Mind" did not arouse the same explosion of euphoria as the opening song, it did help the most adept to continue exercising their necks despite the fact that their tempo was not as agile and energetic.I really liked how Mustaine approached the subject, standing in the center of the stage thus giving a cup to a subject that despite being part of an album that for many is considered "minor" such as "The World Needs A Hero", -which they recorded with Al Pitrelli-, continues to remain in the band's repertoire two decades later.Throughout the years Mustaine has surprised us with monumental oversights such as when in 2012 he welcomed the Barcelona public with a “Good Night Madrid”.Well, tonight the slip came in the third cut of the afternoon, since Mustaine made a mistake when singing one of the verses of "Angry Again", the song that the band included in the soundtrack "The Last Great Hero”, and that in the end has become another of the essentials in their live performances, and seeing a large part of the staff raising their fists to sing their chorus was the definitive confirmation.With a little less punch and with a Mustaine who had to make an effort to bring the song forward, “Sweating Bullets” sounded, although with the delivery of a lively LoMenzo and the support of the respectable, it was quite manageable.The download continued with the title track of what for the moment is his latest album "Dystopia", capturing the perfect balance between speed, technique, forcefulness and melody, with a Kiko Lourerio who made his fingers fly up the neck of his guitar to end up getting a standing ovation.It was from this moment when the show began to lose some of its dynamism.First it was the extensive introduction that preceded a “Trust”, which despite being chanted with force, sounded somewhat linear and watered down.And then came the anger and the stoppage caused by a Mustaine who once again made it clear that the passage of time has not appeased his bad mood.And it is that the leader of MEGADETH caught a monumental rebound with the "pipes" of Judas Priest, since according to his criteria his work was interfering with the proper development of the show.The consequence was a harsh reprimand, a comb and the start of the always celebrated “Symphony Of Destruction” taking longer than desired.Although they didn't touch on any topic of what their next album MEGADETH will be, they didn't miss the opportunity to remind us that their release is just around the corner.So when we all thought they were going to download “We'll Be Back”, Mustaine surprised us by presenting the mythical “Peace Sells”, making the audience explode, and even more so when Vic Rattlehead appeared on the scene, perfectly dressed.I have to admit, although the band usually plays it on some occasions, I was very positively surprised that we had the opportunity to listen to a song like “Mechanix”, a real thrash punch that us veterans thoroughly enjoyed.The icing on the cake for a performance that, due to the logical time constraints when playing at a festival and Mustaine's tantrums, ended up falling short for us, was given by another of the essentials for the band's followers, another of those that sealed its golden age in the late eighties and early nineties “Holy Wars… The Punishment Due”.In short, a solvent download of some MEGADETH that, led by a Dave Mustaine who made clear that of genius and figure to the grave, managed to convince the public of Can Zam.Let's hope that the next time they come here it will be leading their own show, since the Americans seem to have subscribed to coming in packages of several bands or in big festivals.And I really want to see MEGADETH lead their own show and play their full set.JUDAS PRIEST (Facebook – Corresponding to June 25, 2022 – ROCK THE CASTLE – VERONA/ITALY)MEGADETH (Facebook – Corresponding to Lisbon on July 2)To see the photos larger, click on them.Agree with you.I had “The green…” and “Diamonds…” left over.They could have changed them for two better ones (that each one chooses).I saw Halford quite well.He knew how to defend the most complicated issues in a more than acceptable way.And Faulkner, fully recovered from his problems and giving it his all.And yes, JUDAS PRIEST are and will be a Metal legend.This Saturday they gave a recital of what should be a live show.And how short it was made for us...Megadeth.There is more metallic essence here than in them.Tremendous what they can know about themselves in 2022. But confessing the bestiality of sessions that Dave had to suffer to leave cancer behind.What the fuck!!!!.Absolutely right about Megadeth and leading his own show offering a more complete set list, lately he has subscribed to the comparsas format...It's a shame to see Megadeth giving such rickety concerts and with such a tight and hackneyed setlist, with jewels, cannon shots and forgotten hymns for the live show that Megadeth has in its discography... Yes, what a "hangar", "peace sells" « , symphony” and “holy wars” cannot be missing at a concert by the redhead, but from there… they could have a little more variety and play more with your extensive catalog.I still remember the emotion of seeing them play "Take no pr¡soners" at the Monsters of Rock in Zaragoza.They played Mechanix, Dread and the Fugitive Mind and Angry Again.I have seen them several times and they did not touch them.For me the setlist was fine.The bad thing about megadeth is that they always play the same thing, varying three or four songs... Now it's somewhat justified because they still don't have a record under their belt, but they could stop opening with hangar 18 (even if it's a great song).Hangar 18 is not a great song.It is more than that.There is no qualifying adjective to define that song.And that's why I don't know why they don't leave it for the encores… They always open the same way.The bad thing about Megadeth is Mustein, I sing like a trampled cat getting bored and his bad drooling once again revealed a homophobic man and probably racist and macho.Joe obviously knows Mustaine.Surely you have been with him so many times in private that you are capable of saying all that about a person.I think that you have not left a qualifier to define him.probably ya take x assThe Judas Priest thing last Saturday was awesome!I've seen this band three times: Turbo Lover tour in Barcelona, ​​Ram it down tour in Zaragoza... late 80's and early 90's concerts... 32 years later, at 51 tacos, I see them again... I couldn't believe the level of what I saw!… they are the biggest metal band of all time without a doubt!I think the concert was the best of the three mentioned!... great that Kiss came after... seeing Judas, the Kiss thing was, to say the least, disappointing... personally, for me, a theme park pallasada!... and look that I wanted to, but, not even like that!Hello!If someone has two tickets left over (for not being able to go) on the track for Maiden in Barcelona please write to me.Thank you!Store my data for my next commentThis website uses cookies so that you have the best user experience.If you continue browsing you are giving your consent for the acceptance of the aforementioned cookies and the acceptance of our cookie policy.