Judas Priest returns to No. 1 on the U.K.’s Official Rock & Metal Albums chart as the newly-released compilation The Best Of debuts in the top spot. Portrait of British heavy metal group Judas Priest as they pose backstage at the Rosemont Horizon, Rosemont, Illinois, June 14, 1984. Pictured are, from left, bass player Ian Hill, guitarist Glenn Tipton, singer Rob Halford, guitarist KK Downing, and drummer Dave Holland. (Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images)
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More than half a century ago, Judas Priest released its debut album Rocka Rolla, and that set kicked off one of the longest and most impressive careers in the history of hard rock music. The English group was part of the earliest wave of heavy metal that reached the masses, and in the decades since the musicians first made themselves heard, Judas Priest has continued to record and release new music, often leading to fantastic results, thanks to a dedicated and enormous global fan base. Earlier this month, a new compilation titled The Best of Judas Priest – which is referred to as simply The Best Of on the charts in the United Kingdom – was released, and in the act’s home country, it becomes yet another champion for the beloved group.
Judas Priest Leads With The Best Of
The Best Of by Judas Priest debuts on half a dozen rankings across the Atlantic, and it manages to open in the highest rung on one of them. The band once again commands the Official Rock & Metal Albums tally, which is built each week with sales data and which ranks the top-selling EPs and full-lengths in those genres.
Judas Priest Scores Its Sixth Rock Albums No. 1
Judas Priest has now racked up half a dozen leaders on the Official Rock & Metal Albums chart. Four of those winners are traditional studio albums, while another pair – now including The Best Of – are gatherings of some of the group’s most popular singles. It’s only been about two years since Judas Priest last conquered the Official Rock & Metal Albums rundown, as Invincible Shield, a new set of recordings, hit the penthouse in the spring of 2024.
Here are all of Judas Priest’s No. 1s on the Official Rock & Metal Albums chart.
- The Best Of
- Firepower
- Invincible Shield
- Nostradamus
- Redeemer of Souls
- Reflections – 50 Heavy Metal Years Of
Judas Priest Has Scored 12 Top 10s
The hard rock troupe has racked up twice as many placements inside the top 10 on the Official Rock & Metal Albums chart when compared to its collection of No. 1s. 12 of the 20 releases by Judas Priest that have hit the genre-specific list have spent time inside the top 10. Rocka Rolla, the band’s aforementioned debut set, only spent one frame between Nos. 1 and 10 when it debuted at No. 7 in early 2025.
Here are all of Judas Priest’s top 10s on the Official Rock & Metal Albums chart.
- Angel of Retribution
- Battle Cry
- British Steel
- Firepower
- Invincible Shield
- Nostradamus
- Redeemer of Souls
- Reflections – 50 Heavy Metal Years of
- Rocka Rolla
- Screaming for Vengeance
- The Best of
- Turbo 30
The Best Of Hits the Top 10 on Four Charts
The Best Of is an immediate top 10 success on four of the half-dozen U.K.-based rosters on which it debuts this time around. In addition to the Official Rock & Metal Albums list, Judas Priest’s new compilation starts inside the highest tier on the Official Vinyl Albums, Official Physical Albums and Official Albums Sales rundowns. The Best Of is new at No. 5 on the vinyl-only tally, and it begins its time in seventh place on both the look at the bestselling albums on physical formats and the top-selling titles, regardless of how fans purchase them.
Judas Priest’s New Set Sells Best on Physical Formats
While Judas Priest’s The Best Of is clearly a strong seller in the U.K., it appears that purchases on CD and vinyl are largely to thank for its top 10 start across a variety of tallies. On the Official Album Downloads ranking, The Best Of manages a top 40 opening. It comes in at No. 31, but it is far from the top 10.
The same project launches lowest among the six rosters where it debuts on the Official Albums chart, the most competitive of the bunch. The heavy metal group’s newest collection opens at No. 83 on the 100-space register.