Beyond The Realms Of Death – Judas Priest

Unlock the power and emotion behind one of Judas Priest’s most iconic tracks with our in-depth guitar lesson for “Beyond The Realms Of Death”. This timeless masterpiece from the band’s 1978 album Stained Class combines haunting clean passages, soaring solos, and heavy riffs — making it the perfect study piece for intermediate to advanced guitarists looking to improve their technique and musicality.

At Licklibrary.com, we break down every section of the song note for note, just like the original, allowing you to study and master the same techniques used by the legendary Judas Priest guitar duo: Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing. Danny Gill breaks down this classic track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

About the Guitar Players

Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing are two of the most influential guitarists in metal history. Their partnership helped define the twin-guitar sound that Judas Priest is known for — melodic, aggressive, and harmonically rich. Tipton’s technical prowess and clean articulation complemented Downing’s raw, expressive style. Together, they crafted solos and riffs that not only showcased their individual skills but also laid the foundation for generations of metal guitarists to follow. Their work on “Beyond The Realms Of Death” reflects both their precision and emotion, blending soulful bends with harmonised leads and intricate phrasing.

Lesson Breakdown and Techniques

Clean Intro & Verses: Arpeggiated Chord Progressions and Dynamics

The song opens with a melancholic clean guitar section built around arpeggiated chord progressions. This part is perfect for developing right-hand accuracy and dynamic control. You'll also strengthen your fretting-hand clarity and timing, which are essential for creating an emotionally resonant performance.

Benefit: Learning these clean sections enhances your finger control, teaches note separation within chords, and improves timing.

Verse Riffs: Palm Muting and Power Chords

As the song transitions from clean to distorted sections, you’ll encounter classic power chords interspersed with palm-muted alternate notes. This technique creates a tight, punchy sound and is essential for developing rhythm accuracy in rock and metal genres.

Benefit: Practicing palm muting with power chords tightens your rhythm playing and strengthens hand coordination.

Solo 1 – Expression and Melody: String Bending, Vibrato, and Trills

The first solo in “Beyond The Realms Of Death” is filled with emotion, driven by expressive string bending, smooth vibrato, and rapid-fire trills. These techniques bring the solo to life and are essential for conveying feeling through your instrument.

Benefit: Mastering these techniques boosts your ability to phrase with emotion and develop a more vocal, expressive lead style.

Solo 2 – Speed and Precision: Alternate Picking and Legato

The second solo steps up the intensity with fast-paced runs that blend alternate picking and legato techniques. This requires smooth transitions between picking and slurring notes — ideal for building speed and fluency across the fretboard.

Benefit: Combining alternate picking with legato helps you build fluidity and control during fast passages.

Lead Harmonies: Dual Guitar Harmonies and Unison Bends

This song is a showcase of Judas Priest’s signature dual guitar harmonies and the powerful use of unison bends. These harmonies create a rich, layered lead sound that has inspired countless metal and rock bands.

Benefit: Learning harmonised lead lines teaches intervallic awareness and tight synchronisation — great for playing in a band or recording environment.

Solo Embellishments: Pinched Harmonics and Slides

Throughout the solos, Tipton and Downing add flair using pinched harmonics and tasteful slides. These details add texture and aggression to their phrases, and learning them helps players inject personality into their playing.

Benefit: These expressive tools help add dynamics and individuality to your solos, making your playing stand out.

Techniques Featured in This Lesson

• Vibrato
• Alternate Picking
• Legato
• Trills
• Pinched Harmonics
• Unison Bends
• String Bending
• Palm Muting
• Power Chords
• Slides
• Dual Guitar Harmonies
• Arpeggiated Chord Progressions

Whether you're looking to sharpen your soloing skills, build tighter rhythm chops, or just want to dive deep into a classic metal anthem, our Beyond The Realms Of Death guitar lesson has you covered. Step into the realm of Priest and discover how mastering these techniques can elevate your playing to a whole new level.