It marks the last Judas Priest studio album featuring the Painkiller-era lineup, as guitarist and founding member K. K. Downing retired in April 2011.

Guitarist K. K. Downing revealed in a February 2007 interview with Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles that 18 tracks had been recorded, with a total runtime exceeding 90 minutes, adding that there was little he would want to cut.

Musically, the album features symphonic orchestrations, incorporating keyboards and choirs, marking a significant departure from the band’s previous work.

However, it criticized the record for including Spinal Tap-style clichés such as "melodramatic spoken interludes" and "dated" synthesizer string sounds.

[22] In his 2020 memoir, Confess, Rob Halford reflected on the album, expressing pride in its creation and confidence that it will eventually be recognized as a classic.

He also reiterated his hope that Judas Priest would someday perform the entire album live as a theatrical production, noting that only two tracks—"Prophecy" and "Death"—were played during their 2008 tour.

All tracks are written by K. K. Downing, Glenn Tipton and Rob Halford[24] Credits adapted from liner notes:[24] * Sales figures based on certification alone.