Judas Priest has just pulled back the curtain on their highly anticipated twentieth studio album, ***Eternal Force***, set for release in mid‑2026. The band— Rob Halford, Glenn Tipton, Richie Faulkner, Ian Hill, and Scott Travis—have gone all‑in, assembling an impressive roster of guest stars to help deliver their boldest, heaviest record yet.
While details remain tightly under wraps, early teasers promise appearances from metal luminaries like **Ozzy Osbourne**, **Zakk Wylde**, and **Dave Mustaine**, each lending signature flair to key tracks. Pillars like Osbourne and Mustaine are expected to take lead vocals on collaborative songs, while Wylde reportedly contributes searing guitar solos.
Most notably, the album features a deeply emotional tribute to the late Lemmy Kilmister, titled **”Ace of Eternity.”** According to Halford, it’s “a raw, groove‑laden homage to a legend whose spirit never quit.” The track blends Motörhead‑style bass thunder and Priest’s trademark twin‑guitar assault, and Halford’s vocals pay heartwarming tribute—he’s even said he choked up during the final mix.
The idea isn’t surprising: Priest have honored Lemmy before—in their 2024 album *Invincible Shield*, the closing track *“Giants in the Sky”* celebrated Lemmy (and Ronnie James Dio) as “giants we felt small beside.” Halford shared he fondly recalls “sitting on Lemmy’s lap after he’d just come offstage, … with his hair in a white towel turban”
As Rob Halford and Richie Faulkner confirmed in recent interviews, the band began aligning writing and recording sessions with hopes of a 2026 production window ([en.wikipedia.org][3]). With *Eternal Force*, Priest promise to merge sweeping epic ballads, face‑melting speed tracks, and heartfelt tributes—anchored by “Ace of Eternity,” a tribute dripping with reverence.
Fans can expect a powerful world tour to follow. After more than five decades and a legacy of shaping heavy metal, *Eternal Force* looks poised to be Judas Priest’s boldest statement yet—and a fitting monument to rock’s enduring power.
