In a recent interview with WSOU, former Megadeth bassist David Ellefson named Judas Priest as “the best Heavy Metal band of all time”surpassing even giants like Metallica and Black Sabbath. According to him, the British group perfectly embodies the essence of Metal.
Judas Priest : l’incarnation du heavy metal selon Ellefson
During this interview, David Ellefson surprised many fans by not mentioning Metallica or Black Sabbath when asked which band he thought was the greatest in heavy metal. He instead chose Judas Priest, another legendary Birmingham band, who share the same hometown as pioneers Black Sabbath. For him, Judas Priest represents the ultimate incarnation of this musical genre.
The bassist, now a member of the bands Kings of Thrash, Dieth, and The Lucid, explained: “Judas Priest is, for me, the best heavy metal band of all time. Whenever I hear something new from Judas Priest, I buy it immediately. I go deeper, I listen attentively and I go see them as soon as they play in concert.” This testimony of admiration shows to what extent Ellefson has remained faithful to the group throughout the decades.
Also read: Fall on stage: Ivan Moody of Five Finger Death Punch breaks a rib at Louder Than Life festival
Ellefson’s musical influences: Rammstein, Ghost, and Static-X
When asked about the new bands he’s listening to at the moment, Ellefson mentioned several well-established names rather than “newbies.” He praised the music and stage performances “fantastic” of Rammstein, reaffirmed his admiration for Ghost, and also spoke of his love for Static-X, with whom he toured in 1999 while promoting the album Risk de Megadeth.
“I know these bands aren’t exactly new, but it probably shows my appreciation for industrial music,” he added, paying tribute to Al Jourgensen of Ministry, whom he considers a pioneer of this genre. He also remembers with nostalgia the resumption of Burning Inside of Ministry by Static-X during their joint tour in the late 90s.
Judas Priest: still at the top
Judas Priest, who recently released their new album Invincible Shieldcontinues to captivate Ellefson, who doesn’t hesitate to take a deep dive into each new release from the group. Back in March, Ellefson shared a photo from a Judas Priest concert he attended, excitedly saying: “The metal god! It was great to see Uriah Heep, Saxon and Judas Priest in Frankfurt, Germany, right after our Bass Warrior tour ended in Reichenbach. These bands continue to give it their all, bringing back the origins of metal in Britain!”
