As Judas Priest prepares for the March 8th release of its 19th album, “Invincible Shield,” the group has given fans several songs to whet their anticipation. Next up is “Crown of Horns” on Friday, Jan. 19, but the first song out was “Panic Attack,” released last October and written by guitarists Richie Faulkner and Glenn Tipton and frontman Rob Halford. Bassist Ian Hill — the only member of Judas Priest for the entirety of its career — tells us that the song stood out immediately from the batch of material the quintet was considering for the album:

“It came about in the normal way, like I say. I think it’s a Richie idea, that one, and by the time I got it it was complete, and basically what I had to do was put my bass lines down to it. It’s just got that beginning there sings, that bit there. It’s something we haven’t’ really done before. It was something new. That’s why it stood out.” :32

“Invisible Shield,” produced by touring guitarist Andy Sneap, is Priest’s first album since “Firepower” in 2018.

Following “Panic Attach” Priest released “Trial By Fire” during November.

Due to the pandemic “Invincible Shield” was recorded piecemeal, with Hill and others recording their parts on the road once Priest returned to touring.

Priest kicks off a world tour on March 11 in the U.K. with dates in Europe and a North American run beginning April 18 in Wallingford, Conn. and then more summer shows in Europe. More dates are expected to be announced.