Judas Priest Announce 50th Anniversary Sad Wings of Destiny Reissue, Start Work on New Album

Judas Priest have announced a 50th anniversary reissue of their legendary second album, 1976’s Sad Wings of Destiny.

While Black Sabbath’s debut record is often cited as the beginning of heavy metal, it is on Sad Wings of Destiny that heavy blues was stripped away, leaving only the hybrid of heavy and progressive music that would come to differentiate heavy metal from rock. It is considered among the very most important releases in heavy metal history for this reason.

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In a statement, Judas Priest said, “Sad Wings of Destiny was a defining moment for us as a band. It’s where we really began to shape the sound and identity that would carry through everything we’ve done since. To see it recognized 50 years on—and to have it presented in new editions — is incredibly meaningful.”

Michael Closter, president of reissuing label Exciter Records, said, “We’ve returned to the original master tapes for Sad Wings of Destiny—untouched for decades—and we’re excited and honored to bring these definitive editions to fans worldwide.”

At this time, no release date or exact specifications for the special 50th anniversary editions of Sad Wings of Destiny have been announced, other than that they will “deliver a new level of sonic depth, clarity, and fidelity.” The press release further notes that details will be unveiled in the “coming months.”

Sad Wings of Destiny, which was released in the US exactly 50 years ago today (March 26th), features such Priest classics as “Victim of Changes,” “The Ripper,” “Tyrant,” and “Dreamer Deceiver.”

In addition to news of this reissue, current Judas Priest guitarist Richie Faulkner recently let slip that the band has begun work on a new album.

While promoting the upcoming band documentary The Ballad of Judas Priest, Faulkner told The Metal Voice (watch below), “We’ve started recording it. Yeah, we were in the studio for a month in February laying the foundation. I don’t know if I’m allowed to say that, but I’ve said it.”

The upcoming album, the follow-up to 2024’s Invincible Shield, will be their 20th overall. The documentary received its debut at the Berlin Film Festival in February.