Painkiller

Painkiller was written by Rob Halford, Glenn Tipton, and K.K. Downing for Judas Priest's twelfth studio album of the same name, released on 3 September 1990. The track showcased new drummer Scott Travis, whose double bass drum assault and precision fills pushed the band into thrash metal territory. The album arrived during a difficult period — the band had faced a high-profile lawsuit in 1990 over alleged subliminal messages in their music, from which they were ultimately acquitted. Painkiller served as a powerful creative statement, proving the band could evolve and intensify after nearly two decades together.