Judas Priest: Completes Writing New Album; "It´s Heavy", Says Rob Halford

Rob Halford spoke to Billboard.com about the progress of the songwriting and recording sessions for the band's long-awaited follow-up to 2008's "Nostradamus". 

"The writing process is complete," he said. "Now it's the painstaking work of making sure that you get every single note, every single nuance of the vocal, every tiny aspect...right. We're still tracking (instruments). It's just a very laborious but enjoyable part of making the record." 

Regarding the sound of the new Priest material, Halford said, "[It's] hard. It's heavy. It's something we think our Priest fans will be thrilled with. We know we have a reputation to maintain, and we know we have to deliver something really strong and solid. The album is going to be full of all the great things you love about Judas Priest - I don't think I can say anything more than that without being hung, drawn and quartered."

Priest plans to tour in support of the album, though not quite as extensively as it has in the past. Next year will also mark the 40th anniversary of the group's debut album, "Rocka Rolla," which Halford says will be commemorated in some way.