JUDAS PRIEST - NOSTRADAMUS
BAND: JUDAS PRIEST
ALBUM: NOSTRADAMUS
LABEL: Sony
CD1 or Act 1
1. Dawn Of Creation
2. Prophecy
3. Awakening
4. Revelations
5. The Four Horsemen
6. War
7. Sands Of Time
8. Pestilence And Plague
9. Death
10. Peace
11. Conquest
12. Lost Love
13. Persecution
CD2 or Act 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
Since 1969 Judas Priest have been blazing the way for metal. I became a fan from their ‘Ram It Down’ album, which has the classic masterpiece ‘Blood Red Skies’. Now even though this is a concept album many of the tracks on here remind me of it. Their last album ‘Angel Of Retribution’ also strummed my chords, but I have to say that Nostradamus is even better.
On some of the tracks Rob Halford's vocals bring to mind Freddy Mercury - crisp, clear and operatic. Rob has proven yet again through a powerfully executed vocal range that he is up there with the best of them. Glenn Tipton and K.K Downing feed off each other, working together to make unforgettable guitar solos. At this point in their 40 year career technical skill is not in question, and listening to this album it's the feeling and passion threaded through the music that grabs my balls and makes me look around for a beer and a mosh pit.
They really couldn't have chosen a better subject for this album as these songs seem to preserve and present all that we love about Priest with wicked synthesizer effects that enhance the solid musical core of each track.
There are too many stand out tracks to narrow my favourites down, but if forced I would have to say that Revelations, War, Prophecy and Nostradamus really get me reaching to turn the volume UP. So I for one claim they are still the Kings of the power metal genre, damn it you just can't beat Rob's vocals.
To sum up my friends, this is an Epic double disc journey. For those of you that are into Synthesized, Progressive, Melodic Rock and Metal I can guarantee this will be to your liking. On the flip side if you are the heavier Painkiller type you may be disappointed but please, if you open your mind you may find yourself more than pleasantly surprised.
Reviewed by David Harris
