Atist: Judas Priest
Album: Nostradamus
Label: Epic/Sony
By Thom Copher
For Priest fans who have found sancity in the 3-to-5 minute burst of brilliance which has been
the band's forte for some 35 years, be warned... this ain't yer daddy's Priest. Nostradamus is a
two-disc adventure which begs for a grandiose stage and takes the moniker of "rock opera" to a
new level. And that's a good thing.
When I first got wind of the new Priest project about two years ago, it was referred to as a
"concept album." In heavy-metal terms this has been achieved most notably by Queensryche
(Operation Mindcrime) and Iced Earth (The Glorious Burden), but the majority hard rock
efforts of this ilk fall short in capturing the concept essence over the course of an entire LP/CD.
That being said, I had my speculations about the proposition of chronicling one man whose
words have traversed many interpretations over nearly 500 years.
But, Judas Priest is not most bands and, amazingly, the boys from Birmingham have pulled it off
with flair and fashion.
The album exposes the life and works of the famous French doctor/seer Michel de Nostredame,
better known with the Latinized version of his name, Nostradamus. Depending on how his
words are read, his predictions have included the great London fire of 1666, the two world wars
and the Kennedy assanations as well as the third world war and the end of times which many
believe we are experiencing today. Somewhere in his notes has to be where gas prices will
stand over the Fourth of July... but I digress.
Now, I have chosen the term "rock opera" over "concept album" because, as Nostrasamus plays
out over nearly two hours, the songs are interwoven with symphonic introductions which give
the disc the impression of one presentation rather than a collection of individual songs. That,
along with the fact that the storyline is progressive, seems to demand that listeners follow the
album in its entirity. Not an easy task, metal head or not. So, rather than belabor the monument
itself, I suggest that listeners take it in bit-by-bit as if studying a body of history which, in
essence, it is.
Musically, Nostradamus is a gem which keeps the traditional Priest elements in tact. Numbers
like "Prophesy" and "Pestilence and Plague" could easily refer back to 1984's Defenders of the
Faith period. In fact, the majority of the discs owe to the Ram it Down/Painkiller stylings
where Priest was leaning in a bit more structured and heavier direction. The band's free
employment of full-string arrangements throughout embellish an already meaty sound. It invites
listeners to suppose what this might look like if played out by an acting ensemble onstage.
Trippy, but cool - metal for the intellect.
Guitarist Glenn Tipton, the true architect behind Priest's musical force, has compiled what by
many definitions is a carer statement. The path woven for himself and fellow axeman K. K.
Downing gives new breath for the already iconic twin-guitar Priest sound. As for the inimitable
vocals of one Rob Halford, this seems to be the perfect stage for a voice which could easily be
successful on an opera platform.
The bottom line: Is this a great album? You betcha. Judas Priest has dared to go against the
grain. Most veteran bands tend to simply kick back on the heels of past success, put out a
predictible album and tour on the strength of the glory days. Priest has boldly forged a new
chapter which could inspire a new breed of musicians much as Stained Class, Screaming for
Vengeance and British Steel did for generations past.
Uncle Bobby and the boys once sang "You Don't Have to be Old to be Wise," but they were
young bucks back then. Age seems to have brought a sense of vigor and wisdom which has
brought Judas Priest outside the box and into new and exciting territory 35 years on.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
(Thom Copher first saw Judas Priest live in 1978 when they opened for KISS at the Huntington
Civic Center. He vowed to one day own a Harley which, according to Nostradamus himself,
was foretold.)
Album: Nostradamus
Label: Epic/Sony
By Thom Copher
For Priest fans who have found sancity in the 3-to-5 minute burst of brilliance which has been
the band's forte for some 35 years, be warned... this ain't yer daddy's Priest. Nostradamus is a
two-disc adventure which begs for a grandiose stage and takes the moniker of "rock opera" to a
new level. And that's a good thing.
When I first got wind of the new Priest project about two years ago, it was referred to as a
"concept album." In heavy-metal terms this has been achieved most notably by Queensryche
(Operation Mindcrime) and Iced Earth (The Glorious Burden), but the majority hard rock
efforts of this ilk fall short in capturing the concept essence over the course of an entire LP/CD.
That being said, I had my speculations about the proposition of chronicling one man whose
words have traversed many interpretations over nearly 500 years.
But, Judas Priest is not most bands and, amazingly, the boys from Birmingham have pulled it off
with flair and fashion.
The album exposes the life and works of the famous French doctor/seer Michel de Nostredame,
better known with the Latinized version of his name, Nostradamus. Depending on how his
words are read, his predictions have included the great London fire of 1666, the two world wars
and the Kennedy assanations as well as the third world war and the end of times which many
believe we are experiencing today. Somewhere in his notes has to be where gas prices will
stand over the Fourth of July... but I digress.
Now, I have chosen the term "rock opera" over "concept album" because, as Nostrasamus plays
out over nearly two hours, the songs are interwoven with symphonic introductions which give
the disc the impression of one presentation rather than a collection of individual songs. That,
along with the fact that the storyline is progressive, seems to demand that listeners follow the
album in its entirity. Not an easy task, metal head or not. So, rather than belabor the monument
itself, I suggest that listeners take it in bit-by-bit as if studying a body of history which, in
essence, it is.
Musically, Nostradamus is a gem which keeps the traditional Priest elements in tact. Numbers
like "Prophesy" and "Pestilence and Plague" could easily refer back to 1984's Defenders of the
Faith period. In fact, the majority of the discs owe to the Ram it Down/Painkiller stylings
where Priest was leaning in a bit more structured and heavier direction. The band's free
employment of full-string arrangements throughout embellish an already meaty sound. It invites
listeners to suppose what this might look like if played out by an acting ensemble onstage.
Trippy, but cool - metal for the intellect.
Guitarist Glenn Tipton, the true architect behind Priest's musical force, has compiled what by
many definitions is a carer statement. The path woven for himself and fellow axeman K. K.
Downing gives new breath for the already iconic twin-guitar Priest sound. As for the inimitable
vocals of one Rob Halford, this seems to be the perfect stage for a voice which could easily be
successful on an opera platform.
The bottom line: Is this a great album? You betcha. Judas Priest has dared to go against the
grain. Most veteran bands tend to simply kick back on the heels of past success, put out a
predictible album and tour on the strength of the glory days. Priest has boldly forged a new
chapter which could inspire a new breed of musicians much as Stained Class, Screaming for
Vengeance and British Steel did for generations past.
Uncle Bobby and the boys once sang "You Don't Have to be Old to be Wise," but they were
young bucks back then. Age seems to have brought a sense of vigor and wisdom which has
brought Judas Priest outside the box and into new and exciting territory 35 years on.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
(Thom Copher first saw Judas Priest live in 1978 when they opened for KISS at the Huntington
Civic Center. He vowed to one day own a Harley which, according to Nostradamus himself,
was foretold.)
Judas Priest does a night at the opera with Nostradamus
The Priest: Glenn Tipton, Scott Travis, Rob Halford, K. K. Downing and
Ian Hill
Ian Hill