Judas Priest- Nostradamus (2008)

Music Review: Judas Priest - Nostradamus (2008)

By Wendell Muthafuckin Rose • June 17, 2008

1. Dawn Of Creation
2. Prophecy
3. Awakening
4. Revelations
5. The Four Horseman
6. War
7. Sands Of Time
8. Pestilence and Plaque
9. Death
10. Peace
11. Conquest
12. Lost Love
13. Persecution

Disc 2:

1. Solitude
2. Exiled
3. Alone
4. Shadows In The Flame
5. Visions
6. Hope
7. New Beginnings
8. Calm Before The Storm
9. Nostradamus
10. Future of Mankind

Official Bar Score:

For a band that has been around for decades like Judas Priest its hard to create a new album that doesn’t sound like every thing else they’ve released. In that same since its also not easy for a band of this caliber to step outside the box and look beyond the same old sound. Judas Priest has succeeded in doing both. Nostradamus, unlike any other Judas Priest album is a concept album that tells the tale of the 18th century prophet by the same name.

I knew this going into it, and I wasn’t sure how they where going to pull it off but I still gave it a spin. I’m glad I did because what I got was a sound that I have never heard from Judas Priest, I’ve heard them be melodic and I’ve heard Glen Tipton’s solo album which was very technical, but I’ve never heard them like this. At times the album has a Pink Floyd feel to it and others you hear classic Priest roots coming out.

Rob Halford’s voice sounds as good as ever and the songs are pretty cool. This is a good album, my problem with it, is that it is a concept album so you almost have to listen to it in its entirety to get the whole experience. There are few tracks that could be singles and don’t run into another song and they are very good (most of them are on the second disc.). Musically, Nostradamus is a masterpiece, plenty of keyboards and melody backed up with harmonic guitar solos and solid bass and drum lines. Not quite as heavy as I wanted, but way more technical than I expected.

I have a feeling that most fans of metal won’t like this album because it is a concept album and it is very different than any other Priest album I’ve ever heard. It does prove that Priest will still take chances like they’ve always done before. Nostradamus is a love/hate album you will either like it or you won’t, it does tell a great story, but I myself prefer the heavier side of the band and the aggression of albums such as Painkiller and Ram it Down. This album is great in its entirety but not as far jamming a couple of songs. The second disc has a lot more to offer and in my opinion is way better than disc 1.Its just too damn long.But as a bonus if you buy this album now you get a code for 1 free general admission ticket to Judas Priest on the Metal Masters Tour this summer.