TORONTO -- Judas Priest might be 30 years into their metal careers, but they seem to have found a second or third wind.

The British group, who are currently touring with Ozzy Osbourne's OZZfest stateside, headlined their own show last night at the Molson Amphitheatre. And for their roughly 95-minute set, the band's classic heavy metal sounded like it has aged rather well.

Led by the leather-and studs-clad Rob Halford, the quintet opened the show with Electric Eye. Oddly enough, Halford stepped out from the pupil of an eye displayed on a large curtain.

The band, who recently reunited with Halford after nearly 15 years apart, were all smiles for most of the evening. Guitarists Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing traded licks during Heading Out To The Highway and Metal Gods, the latter title summing the up the band's status quite nicely.

"Hello Toronto! The Priest is back!", the bald Halford said with a grin. Halford's constant pacing of the stage, steps and risers was only surpassed by consistent nailing of some banshee-like wails on A Touch Of Evil, and especially the foot-stomping The Sentinel.

The crowd, which covered all classes and ages, was on its feet for most of the show and responded to each tune with pumped fists. At times Halford was drowned out by the cheering, especially during Turbo Lover and Victim Of Changes.

Victim Of Changes was also the highlight of the evening as all five members seemed lost in the song. At times Halford acted like a maestro, conducting Tipton and Downing through their guitar solos. The crowd responded to the song with raised fists and beer glasses, prompting a bow from Halford.

The only breather of the evening came shortly afterwards during the almost folksy Diamonds And Rust. The softer acoustic opening seemed to take things down somewhat. Yet it was only a fleeting moment of no electric guitars or high-pitched screams.

The evening wasn't without the band showing signs of aging -- all three guitarists were quite stationary throughout the night. Only when they decided to choreograph their guitar movements did bassist Ian Hill come to life.

Judas Priest didn't concentrate on any one album but took nuggets from British Steel and Hell Bent For Leather to make it an almost satisfying setlist, perhaps needing another song or two. But few left during the set-closing Painkiller from the album of the same name.

Soaking up the adulation, the band returned for an encore that featured Halford riding a motorcycle onstage for Hell Bent For Leather. Living After Midnight and their signature You've Got Another Thing Coming were also crowd favourites.

Opening for Judas Priest was Slayer. The band's aggressive and intense metal sound make Judas Priest sound like The Beatles by comparison. The band's hour-long set included War Ensemble and Mandatory Suicide.

JAM! Rating: 3.5 out of 5