Artist: Judas Priest Album: Nostradamus Worth Buying: Yes the whole albumYou will be interested in this album if you are a fan of: Metal, Hard Rock, Musical Theater, Progressive Rock and Musical Theater.
Tell me more: Sometimes what the world needs is big Heavy Metal Bands doing big concept albums.
Judas Priest is one of those bands that I listened to for a while during my Heavy Metal phase (of course you never really do grow out of it now do you LOL). But it is also one of those bands that I stopped following after a while. This stops with their latest album “Nostradamus” a massive double CD concept album about the life of the 15th century seer.
This is Operatic Metal. Or Metal as Musical Theater. As I listen to this album I can see the huge stage production with actors and larger than life set pieces. Guitarists K.K. Downing and Glen Tipton give plenty of crunching guitars but they take up synthesized guitars too to create broader musical scenery. Like any smart musicians they know that it can’t all be lightning fast rockers and that there has to be plenty of quiet moments to highlight the louder moments, and like I said, this is Musical Theater Metal so even strings are brought in to enhance this particular Priest odyssey.
Is this album overly pretentious or is it serious art? ....It depends on my mood. The musicianship is superb on this album (I am considered a blues and roots musician, but I have always been amazed by the technical excellence that some Metal musicians are capable of). And the CDs opening notes by lead singer Rob Halford seem to imply that band find a lot in common with the life struggles of Nostradamus and their own personal lives. Still at times I find myself relating to this album like I would a fun 1960's Marvel comic book.
Did I enjoy this album? Hell yeah? And I think I am going to enjoy this album even more with more listens.
I’ve got to give the Priest credit for this one. This idea must have sounded terribly Spinal Tap to their record label. In fact, as serious as they are taking the music in this one, I can also picture the band laughing and making Spinal Tap references to each other during the making of this one. In other words: They are taking the music very seriously even if they don’t take themselves seriously.
What about the packaging? The CD comes in a standard Jewel case with an illustrated lyrics books. And it's a double CD that doesn't sell for too much more than a most single CDs sell for. Talk about giving value to your fans.
What if I am not ready to buy the whole album? The album is supposed to be listened to like on long piece of work, but try the song Prophecy
Listen to samples and buy in mp3 format here
CD Format
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