Painkiller is the twelfth studio album by English heavy metal band Judas Priest, released on 17 September 1990, and 18 September in the United States. It was the last Judas Priest album to feature long-time lead singer Rob Halford until his return for the 2005 album Angel of Retribution and the first to feature drummer Scott Travis.

Painkiller is the first Judas Priest album to feature drummer Scott Travis, who replaced long-time drummer Dave Holland in 1989. Travis was previously a member of Los Angeles band Racer X and with his heavy use of double kicks, Travis gave Judas Priest a new sound and heavier edge. Painkiller was described as heavy metal and, due to its relatively intense sound, speed metal.

The album was recorded at Miraval Studios, Brignoles, France in early 1990 and mixed at Wisseloord Studios, Hilversum, the Netherlands later that year. It was produced by the band and Chris Tsangarides, marking the first time since 1978’s Killing Machine that Judas Priest had not worked with Tom Allom and the first time since 1976’s Sad Wings of Destiny that Judas Priest and Tsangarides worked together.

Don Airey was brought in to play keyboards on “A Touch of Evil”. In a 2020 interview, Airey revealed that he also doubled most of the album’s bass parts on a Minimoog synthesizer.