🎸 Metal · 2010s+

Evil Never Dies by Judas Priest (Riff · Distorted) — Guitar Tone

by Judas Priest · riff

The Evil Never Dies by Judas Priest guitar tone is built on a Engl Invader 100, dialed in at gain 7.5/10, bass 6, mid 5, treble 7, presence 6 (community-researched baseline). Full breakdown below — then adapt every knob to your exact guitar and amp, free.

🎛️ These settings are for the original rig — re-dial them for YOUR amp in 10 seconds. Free, no signup →

Amp settings (0–10)

7.5

GAIN

BASS

MID

TREBLE

PRESENCE

REVERB

Community-researched baseline. Your rig is different — GuitarToneAdapt re-dials every knob for your specific guitar, amp and pickups.

How these settings compare

Measured against the 284 metal tones in our researched catalog: Gain 7.5 sits right around the metal average (7.3); mids at 5 are right around average (5.2).

Guitar controls

VOLUME

7-8

TONE

Original gear

Guitar: Gibson Les Paul Custom (likely 2017/2018 model, used by Richie Faulkner and Glenn Tipton on Firepower album) · Amp: Engl Invader 100 (studio, Firepower album sessions)

Studio recording, 2017-2018. Both Faulkner and Tipton used modern Gibson Les Paul Customs with EMG active pickups for the Firepower album. Engl Invader 100 amps were confirmed for the album sessions. No evidence of classic Marshalls or Fenders for this song/era. Settings estimated based on typical Engl high-gain rhythm tones and genre.

Gear used on this tone

🎚️ Marshall songs & tones →🎚️ Gibson Les Paul songs & tones →🎚️ humbucker guitars songs & tones →🎚️ ENGL songs & tones →🎚️ EMG active pickups songs & tones →

Don’t own this gear? GuitarToneAdapt re-creates the sound on the rig you actually have.

Pickups

Bridge pickup

Signal chain

Gibson Les Paul Custom (likely 2017/2018 model, used by Richie Faulkner and Glenn Tipton on Firepower album) → Engl Invader 100 (studio, Firepower album sessions)

Effects

reverb

Amp effects: Reverb (digital, level 2)

Tone character

tight and percussive, modern high-gain saturation, razor-sharp attack, articulate low end, crushing rhythm tone, clear note separation, aggressive palm muting, scooped but present mids, minimal ambience, focused and dry

Recording context

studio

How it’s played

straight, fast tempo, loud dynamics · high-gain distortion. This shapes how hard the amp is pushed and where the EQ sits for the Evil Never Dies sound.

Difficulty

3.5/5 · Riff

The riff requires fast, tight alternate picking and palm muting at high speed, with precise rhythm and aggressive attack, making it moderately challenging for intermediate players.

Worth knowing

No direct source lists exact amp or pedal settings for 'Evil Never Dies' riff section; settings estimated based on Engl Invader 100 typical high-gain rhythm usage and genre.
Guitar and pickup models inferred from Firepower-era interviews and Equipboard; both Faulkner and Tipton used Les Paul Customs with EMG active pickups on this album.
No evidence of pedals or effects (other than possible amp reverb) used for the main riff; Firepower-era tones are known for being very tight and dry.
No evidence of time-based or modulation effects in the riff section; only amp reverb at low level is likely.
If more detailed studio notes or isolated tracks become available, update with exact settings.
Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Judas Priest's 'Evil Never Dies' features a tight, aggressive high-gain tone typical of their late 80s/early 90s era, likely using a JCM800 or 900 with moderate bass for punch, slightly scooped mids for clarity and aggression, bright treble and presence for bite, and a very dry, in-your-face mix with no audible reverb.

⚡ Same tone, YOUR gear — re-dials the gain & EQ for your amp and pickups, free →

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Evil Never Dies guitar tone — FAQ

What amp settings do I need for the Evil Never Dies guitar tone?

Set your amp to roughly: gain 7.5, bass 6, mid 5, treble 7, presence 6, reverb 1. These are community-researched baselines — GuitarToneAdapt re-dials them for your exact guitar and amp.

What gear was used for the Evil Never Dies tone?

Original gear/effects: Guitar: Gibson Les Paul Custom (likely 2017/2018 model, used by Richie Faulkner and Glenn Tipton on Firepower album) · Amp: Engl Invader 100 (studio, Firepower album sessions); reverb.

Can I get the Evil Never Dies tone on a different guitar or amp?

Yes. Different guitars and amps need different knob positions to sound the same. GuitarToneAdapt models pickup output and wood brightness, then compensates so you match the record on your own rig.

How do I sound like Judas Priest on Evil Never Dies — what gear and pedals?

Start with Bridge pickup, the amp EQ above (gain 7.5, bass 6, mid 5, treble 7, presence 6, reverb 1), and reverb. Then let GuitarToneAdapt compensate for the guitar, amp and pedals you actually own so it sits like the record.

Share this tone

Sources

Judas Priest – Firepower - Gear & Equipment Used on the Album | Equipboard

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More like this

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Settings are community-researched estimates, not official. GuitarToneAdapt adapts them to your gear. guitartoneadapt.com