Step inside Judas Priest’s archives – discover ‘The Early Years’ interactive scrapbook

Exciter Records has introduced The Early Years, an interactive scrapbook dedicated to Judas Priest, focusing on the band’s formative period during the creation of “Rocka Rolla” and “Sad Wings Of Destiny.” It features a curated selection of early photographs, videos, memorabilia, and archival materials that vividly illustrate this pivotal phase in Judas Priest‘s history. Users can navigate through the digital scrapbook to revisit significant moments that contributed to the band’s development and trace the origins of their influential legacy in heavy metal. Additionally, the platform functions as a central hub for the “Sad Wings of Destiny” 50th-anniversary release, which includes a 2LP set that is remixed and remastered, as well as the original 1976 master recordings on vinyl and CD.

Originally released in March 1976, “Sad Wings Of Destiny” marked a significant milestone for Judas Priest, exemplifying a notable advancement in songwriting, technical proficiency, and sonic characterization. The album features prominent tracks such as “Victim Of Changes,” “The Ripper,” “Tyrant,” and “Dreamer Deceiver,” which collectively established a new paradigm for integrating progressive musical structures with intense metal elements.

Its dual-guitar approach, soaring vocal delivery, and ambitious compositional scope contributed to its status as a foundational reference for the development of heavy metal, securing its position as a seminal recording in the genre. Exciter Records and its publishing partner Reach Music, in collaboration with Judas Priest, obtained the master rights to the album, thereby restoring ownership and control of this essential work to the band and its creative collaborators.

The 50th anniversary of “Sad Wings Of Destiny” is commemorated with the release of two distinct editions: “Original 1976 Masters” and “Remixed & Remastered.” These editions restore the band’s original track listing, starting with the atmospheric “Prelude.” The sequence of songs aligns with Judas Priest’s original artistic vision for the album.

Upcoming shows:

• Wednesday, June 23, 2027 – Saturday, June 26, 2027 – Tons Of Rock 2027, Oslo, Norway
• Thursday, June 24, 2027 – Copenhell Festival 2027, Copenhagen, Denmark
• Friday, July 02, 2027 – Sunday, July 04, 2027 – Tuska Festival 2027, Helsinki, Finland
• Sunday, July 11, 2027 – Masters Of Rock 2027, Vizovice, Czech Republic