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Judas Priest, 'Nostradamus'

Heavy metal stalwarts release their first concept album

By Kirk Miller

Metromix
June 16, 2008

Critic's Rating:

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Backstory: Though the band will forever be associated with its burnout fans (see “Heavy Metal Parking Lot,” the best documentary about a metal band’s fan base ever), Judas Priest has created some complex, memorable and lasting contributions to heavy metal. Four decades in, the band now attempts its first concept album.
 
Why you should care: Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing are a twin-guitar beast, and their ax wizardry saves “Nostradamus.” The album, a 23-track, two-CD examination of the titular 16th century prophet, adds orchestration, synthesizers and a complex storyline to the group’s formidable metal assault.

Verdict: Thanks to Rob Halford’s operatic vocals, the record is certainly complex. Sadly, there isn’t a single track that equals the simple pleasures of JP anthems like “Breaking the Law” or “Painkiller.” The lone ballad (“Lost Love”) and a couple of the epics (“Revelations,” “Death,” “Alone”) stand out for their ambition, but not their songcraft. If over-the-top metal concept albums are your musical cup of tea, try Cradle of Filth’s far superior “Damnation and a Day” or any album by Mastodon. Or just see Priest live; whatever the material, they still rule in concert.

X-Factor: Speaking of live, the band plans to recreate “Nostradamus” in its entirety on one of its upcoming tours. You’ve been warned.

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