JUDAS PRIEST: 'The Early Years' Interactive Scrapbook Takes You Back To The Band's First Two Studio Albums

Exciter Records has launched The Early Years, an interactive JUDAS PRIEST scrapbook taking you back to the band's formative years surrounding "Rocka Rolla" and "Sad Wings Of Destiny".

Explore a collection of early photos, videos, memorabilia, and archival treasures that bring this defining chapter of PRIEST history to life. Click through the scrapbook, revisit the moments that helped shape the band, and discover the roots of a legacy that would go on to influence generations of heavy metal. The site also serves as your central destination for the "Sad Wings of Destiny" 50th-anniversary 2LP, remixed and remastered, vinyl/CD release, alongside the LP featuring the original 1976 masters.

Originally issued in March 1976, "Sad Wings Of Destiny" captured JUDAS PRIEST at a pivotal moment, showcasing a dramatic leap in songwriting, musicianship, and sonic identity. Featuring iconic tracks including "Victim Of Changes", "The Ripper", "Tyrant" and "Dreamer Deceiver", the album set a new standard for blending progressive structure with pure metal intensity.

With its twin-guitar attack, soaring vocals, and ambitious compositions, "Sad Wings Of Destiny" became a blueprint for heavy metal's evolution and remains one of its most important recordings.

Exciter Records and its publishing affiliate Reach Music, in partnership with JUDAS PRIEST, acquired the master rights to the album, returning control of this foundational work to the band and its creative partners.

JUDAS PRIEST said in a statement: "'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."

Exciter Records president Michael Closter added, "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."

The 50th anniversary of "Sad Wings Of Destiny" is being celebrated with two distinct editions of the album: "Original 1976 Masters" and "Remixed & Remastered". These two new versions restore the band's intended track listing, beginning with the atmospheric "Prelude" and presenting the songs in the sequence JUDAS PRIEST originally envisioned for the album.

"Original 1976 Masters" presents an archival edition of the recordings, sourced from the original analog master tapes, preserved in storage for decades, and remastered for the anniversary. The physical release is available on hand-poured Solar Flare vinyl, with a unique color pattern on every record. The CD is presented in a classic jewel case with liner notes by Bryan Reesman, previously unseen archival photographs, and adds the original 1976 version of "Diamonds And Rust", which was recorded during the "Sad Wings" sessions but left off the album. The European release also offers a "Galaxy" color vinyl option.

The "Original 1976 Masters" was made available for streaming worldwide on October 2, 2026 — with CD and vinyl available starting October 9.

"Remixed & Remastered" features a newly created mix from the original multitrack recordings, produced by Tom Allom, mixed by Luie Stylianou and mastered by Matt Colton — the same team behind the "Remixed & Remastered" edition of "Rocka Rolla". The release will be made available as a 45 RPM, 180g Double LP on black vinyl, mastered at half-speed for a true audiophile experience. The CD is presented in a modern digipak design. Both physical editions contain a newly remixed version of the 1976 recording of "Diamonds And Rust" as a bonus track.

The "Remixed & Remastered" was made available for streaming worldwide on October 2, 2026 — with CD and vinyl available starting November 27.

In a 2015 interview with OC Weekly, JUDAS PRIEST singer Rob Halford said that "Sad Wings Of Destiny" was his "personal favorite" PRIEST album. "I really love that album," he said. "It has a lot of good things going for it, and it's an important album for us as a band and for heavy metal music in general. It's just a very solid and representation of a lot of the best of PRIEST: the riffs, the tempo the songwriting and vocals. It still stands the test of time and is one of my personal favorites to this day, but that doesn't mean I don't love our other works."