In a powerful display of inter-band camaraderie and deep respect for their shared roots, heavy metal titans Judas Priest officially released their studio cover of Black Sabbath’s seminal anthem, “War Pigs.” The cover, unveiled on **Wednesday, July 2, 2025**, arrives just days before what is poised to be a historic event: Ozzy Osbourne’s final concert and Black Sabbath’s farewell performance in their hometown of Birmingham, England, dubbed “Back To The Beginning.”
Judas Priest shared the track with a heartfelt message, stating, “We are honoured to show our love for Ozzy and Black Sabbath with our homage of ‘War Pigs’ – a song we play at every show around the world that fans sing along to, reinforcing their love as well for the legendary Prince Of Darkness!”
“War Pigs,” originally the potent opener from Black Sabbath’s groundbreaking 1970 album *Paranoid*, has long been Judas Priest’s walk-on music at their concerts, highlighting their profound admiration for the track. This new studio recording captures the raw power and intensity of the original while imbuing it with Judas Priest’s signature metallic sheen. Rob Halford’s commanding vocals bring a fresh interpretation to Ozzy’s iconic lines, and Richie Faulkner’s guitar work pays formidable tribute to Tony Iommi’s original riffing and solo.
Despite their strong desire to be present, Judas Priest will not be performing at Black Sabbath’s momentous “Back To The Beginning” event at Villa Park on **Saturday, July 5, 2025**. This is due to a prior commitment to support the Scorpions at their 60th-anniversary concert in Hannover, Germany, on the very same day. Rob Halford has expressed being “absolutely gutted” about the scheduling conflict. However, the release of this passionate “War Pigs” cover ensures that Judas Priest’s tribute resonates deeply within the metal community, solidifying the unbreakable bond between these two pioneering forces of heavy music.
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