Judas Priest and Saxon in concert at the Zénith in Paris: we were there, we tell you all about it

For several years now, so-called "double bill" concerts have been multiplying in the metal world. After Apocalyptica and Epica, Megadeth and Five Finger Death Punch, and before Anthrax and Kreator, Jinjer and Sepultura or Arch Enemy and In Flames, the Zenith de Paris opened its doors to two legends of British heavy metal.

On Monday April 8, 2024, the famous Paris venue - which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year - welcomed Saxon and Judas Priest. Two bands that anyone under the age of 20 is unlikely to have heard of. A quick glance around the Zénith venue that evening was enough to quickly realize that young metalheads were nowhere to be found. Conversely, there were plenty of gray-haired heads in the room. On Monday evening, the Zenith in Paris was sold out for this eventful concert.

An eventful concert, because it's not every day that the capital welcomes two of the biggest names in British heavy metal to the same stage on the same evening. On one side, we had Saxon. In the saddle since 1976, Saxon boast some twenty studio albums to their credit, the latest of which is entitled"Hell, Fire And Damnation". Still led by the charismatic Biff Byford (now 73), the British band has been revitalized since the 2000s.

Opposite us, we had a heavyweight of heavy metal, considered by many to be among the pioneers of the genre alongside the inescapable Black Sabbath. Founded in 1969 by guitarist Kenneth Keith Downing and bassist Ian Hill, Judas Priest was part of the famous NWOBHM (New Wave of British Heavy Metal). In 1977, the band scored a hit with"Sin After Sin", an album produced by Deep Purple bassist Roger Glover. This album remains one of the band's best in the eyes of many.

While many Judas Priest songs have become classics of the genre, the band's success is also due to its charismatic frontman, Rob Halford, whose range and high-pitched screams are as impressive as ever.

On Monday evening, the Zénith de Paris was overexcited at the prospect of seeing these two heavy metal legends live again. At 7.30pm, Saxon took to the stage to thunderous applause. With a backdrop bearing the band's effigy and Marshall amplifiers surrounding the slightly elevated drums, the set design is simple but meticulous. There's no need for frills when you've got Biff Byford on stage. With his long grey/white hair, and dressed all in black, the singer is an imposing presence. His voice, too, is impressive, on both old and new tracks.

In the end, Saxon played around three tracks from their latest opus, including the excellent " Hell, Fire And Damnation " and " There's Something In Roswell ". Very concentrated during the show, and throwing a few bottles of water into the pit towards a visibly thirsty audience, Biff Byford didn't talk much, except when he decided to ask the fans which tracks they'd like to hear that evening from a list of hits already established. In the end, the Saxon frontman takes the lead and strings together a number of legendary songs to take us back in time. Heavy Metal Thunder ", " Wheels Of Steel " and the phenomenal " Princess Of The Night " all get our feet tapping and our heads shaking, to round off the hour-long set in style! Biff Byford even managed the feat of getting the entire Zenith hall on its feet, bleachers included!

The audience was also delighted to see Brian Tatler on stage alongside Biff Byford and the others. The founder of Diamond Head was chosen by Saxon to join the band as guitarist on this European tour. A recruitment that didn't go unnoticed and made this set even more exclusive.

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After a 30-minute break in the aisles of the Zénith, it's time to hit the stands for the long-awaited Judas Priest concert. On stage, several screens were set up, while two large pennants bearing the band's effigy were hung on either side of the stage.

In the center is a huge flag, the text of which refers to the band's new album. After a few seconds of introduction, the flag falls, revealing the five members of Judas Priest. The screams of the fans are not long in coming, as the band get off to a strong start with " Panic Attack ", quickly followed by " You've Got Another Thing Comin '" and " Rapid Fire ", then " Breaking The Law", an unmissable hit taken up by the crowd. In just four tracks, Judas Priest had already won over the eyes and ears of the audience. And that's only the beginning, as the hit " Love Bites " follows shortly afterwards.

On stage, Rob Halford impresses. Shaved head, well-trimmed beard, nose piercing and dressed all in leather, the Judas Priest frontman is a real eye-catcher. Despite his age (72), Rob Halford puts on a show, moving from one side of the stage to the other, circling like a caged lion or holding his microphone upside down and in rhythm. And then, of course, there's that voice, recognizable among a thousand. The Judas Priest singer commands respect with his incredible range and ultra-high screams that make you wonder where those notes come from. The only drawback is that, at the very start of the show, his voice is slightly lost in the mix.

For this European tour, which ended in Paris on Monday evening, Rob Halford was well supported by Scott Travis on drums, Ian Hill on bass, as well as Richie Faulkner and Andy Sneap on guitar. The set design was equally well executed, with some fine lighting effects, the famous band symbol descending from the ceiling several times, and images projected onto several screens.

Like Saxon, Judas Priest took the opportunity to perform a number of new songs at Le Zénith on Monday evening, including " Invincible Shield " and " Crown of Horns ", both of which play very well live.

But the mood was raised even higher when the first notes of the cult classic " Painkiller " rang out. For this hit, Rob Halford bends over backwards while remaining motionless in order to reach the ultra-high notes for which the artist is famous. Respect, sir!

For the encore, Judas Priest are determined to continue pleasing their fans. After bringing everyone to their feet with " Electric Eye ", the singer returns to the stage on his famous motorcycle to perform the famous " Hell Bent For Leather ".

Some had expected it, but Judas Priest had also reserved a surprise for the audience, with the appearance on stage of Glenn Tipton. An essential member of the band, having played a part in the entirety of the group's discography, the musician has unfortunately taken a back seat due to the Parkinson's disease from which he suffers. This Monday night at Le Zénith, the guitarist, whose face is hidden under a cap, performs " Metal Gods " and " Living After Midnight "! And it was with these two titles that Judas Priest decided to bring the 1h40 concert to a fitting close. A successful show which shows that the pioneers of British heavy metal still have something to say, and that Rob Halford doesn't intend to give up his place as " Metal God " so easily!