![\"Judas](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Judas-Priest-2000s-Far-Out-Magazine-1140x855.jpg\")
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(Credits: Far Out \/ Spotify)<\/p>\n
Mon 23 February 2026 8:00, UK <\/p>\n
The Smashing Pumpkins\u2019 frontman, Billy Corgan, once described metal pioneers Judas Priest<\/a> as \u201ccriminally underrated\u201d, as long before arena tours and platinum records, they were a struggling Birmingham band trying to get noticed with some good ol\u2019 fashioned demos.<\/p>\n Despite emerging from the same industrial Midlands scene that produced Black Sabbath, they were always a different beast<\/a>, leaning into dual-guitar harmonies, dramatic arrangements, and experimental sonic detours that would later help define heavy metal. It was an identity that fully crystallised once Rob Halford joined the band and introduced his now-legendary operatic scream, but prior to that, they were originally formed in 1969 by vocalist Al Atkins and bassist Brian \u2018Bruno\u2019 Stapenhill, alongside guitarist John Perry and drummer John \u2018Fezza\u2019 Partridge. <\/p>\n Atkins was a key creative force, writing early material including \u2018Whiskey Woman\u2019, which would later evolve into the Judas Priest classic \u2018Victim of Changes\u2019; however, with the band experiencing only moderate success, and as the only member of the band with a wife and to support, the mounting financial pressure led him to officially depart in May 1973. <\/p>\n Soon after, so did drummer Chris Campbell (later resurfacing in the band Machine), leaving Judas Priest to then recruit two new members from local band Hiroshima: drummer John Hinch and vocalist Halford<\/a>, brother of bassist Ian Hill\u2019s girlfriend, making for an era that would soon define the band\u2019s global legacy.<\/p>\n In late 2025, YouTube channel Musiques Perdues claimed to have two rare first 1971 demos from the Al Atkins era: \u2018Holy Is The Man\u2019 and \u2018Mind Conception\u2019, which always gets fans excited, given that they never released any official material with Atkins. Musiques Perdues\u2019 claim appeared to line up with a post from a Judas Priest vinyl collector on Facebook who declared that they owned a 1971 demo featuring Al Atkins on vocals of \u2018Mind Conception\u2019 and \u2018Holy Is The Man\u2019, of which only five copies were pressed, one for the manager and each band member.<\/p>\n Upon listening to the recordings on Musiques Perdues, \u2018Holy Is The Man\u2019 stood out for sounding surprisingly modern and clean, which raised suspicions, reinforced by a user comment claiming the version circulating online was not from the original demo, but instead a reworked from Al Atkins\u2019 1990s album Victim of Changes, and a quick listen on Spotify confirmed this challenge. <\/p>\n On the other hand, \u2018Mind Conception\u2019, sounded a lot more like it had been produced in 1971, and after some more digging, it was confirmed to be real, but the original version can actually be found on Al Atkins\u2019 2023 album Reloaded, where track 11 of 12 is listed as \u2018Mind Conception (Original \u201970s Demo).\u2019 <\/p>\n