More than 43 years after their first album, Judas Priest remain a force to be reckoned with. The heavy metal quintet, originally from West Bromwich, has seen its membership change many times over the years but is still fronted by three senior citizens who were on board when their debut album, Rocka Rolla, was released in 1974. Lead guitarist Glenn Tipton (70), bassist Ian Hill (67) and 66 year old vocalist Rob Halford - who went solo at one point but returned to the band - are joined by a pair of younger bandmates these days, and are going through one of the most successful phases of their career.
Their 18th studio album, Fire Power, is their first Top 10 entry for 38 years in The UK, debuting at No.5. It fares even better in Sweden, where it delivers the band's first No.1; and in Germany, where it sets a new high for the group, debuting at No.2. The first Top 20 album of their career in The Netherlands, where it opens at No.16, it also debuts in Flanders (No.5), Norway (No.5), Japan (No.9), Wallonia (No.14), Italy (No.20), New Zealand (No.36) and Ireland (No.52).
Calum Scott wasn't even born when Judas Priest were last in the Top 10 in the UK but the 29 year old singer/songwriter from Hull - who came to prominence singing Robyn's Dancing On My Own on Britain's Got Talent - is right up there alongside them this week, with his debut album Only Human opening at No.4. Dancing On My Own was, of course, a major worldwide hit when he released it as a single in 2016, and his introductory album is also making its presence felt, debuting at No.19 in Ireland, No.26 in New Zealand, No.34 in Germany, No.35 in Flanders, No.27 in Canada, No.75 in The Netherlands and No.90 in Wallonia.
Midlands band The Editors have released six albums thus far, all of which have made a big impression not just in The UK but globally. The latest, Violence, is off to a great start, debuting at No.1 in Flanders, No.2 in The Netherlands, No.3 in Wallonia, No.6 in Germany and The UK, No.20 in Ireland and No.24 in Italy.
Best known as the lead singer of Talking Heads, David Byrne has spent most of his life in The USA but was born in Scotland 55 years ago, and scores his highest charting solo album yet in The UK, with American Utopia debuting at No.16. It also opens at No.18 in Ireland, No.19 in Flanders, No.31 in Germany, No.32 in Italy, No.43 in The Netherlands and No.88 in Wallonia.
The Greatest Showman soundtrack continues at No.1 in The UK and Ireland but is dethroned in Japan and New Zealand. Its replacement in the latter territory (2-1) is Ed Sheeran's Divide, which also bounces 3-1 in Australia. The fact that Sheeran is touring The Antipodes at the moment is a key factor.
Finally, we've had a slew of new peaks for Dua Lipa's eponymous debut album in recent weeks but the only country in which it achieves that honour this week is Slovakia, where it surges 55-4.
