Our regulars no doubt recall the bitter dispute… um… I mean, civilized debate in our forum over the latest JUDAS PRIEST epic. Some of you applauded the band’s audacity, while others argued their glory days were far behind them. Just about everyone agreed, though, that this was one album that needs to be judged on its own merits since there’s never been another PRIEST album even remotely like this one. So here it is, the official Peacedogman review of “Nostradamus”, and after a few weeks of digesting this sucker, it’s safe to say that this is an album that will be endeared not only because of its epic nature, but also because it’s a damn fine metal album in its own right.

But first, let’s get all the pissing and moaning out of the way. This is by no means a casual listen as far as length or content, and by PRIEST standards it isn’t all that heavy. In other words, expect more synth than the infamous “Turbo”, because there really isn’t a moment where legendary keyboardist-for-hire Don Airey isn’t making his presence known. Sure, all that orchestration is necessary to get that “epic-ness”, and folks would probably call this a lack of effort otherwise, but in some spots it overshadows everything else. For instance, “War” has a killer brooding heaviness to it (“The Rage” comes to mind), but when there’s no real drum beat it can’t stand on its own. Also, those “interlude” tracks that sandwich the actual songs could have – and should have – been made part of those tracks instead.

That being said, let’s move onto what makes this album great. While we’re on the subject of keyboards, those who may be tempted to cry foul for PRIEST using a synthesizer over a live orchestra are forgetting one crucial detail: live performance. This metalhead for one would rather witness something that sounds as close to the original recording as possible without a major decrease in quality (like DIMMU BORGIR) or a completely pre-recorded backdrop (like THERION). It’s all about bringing it live, folks, and if any band knows that, it’s JUDAS PRIEST.

As far as the album as a whole, it comes together solidly. While, again, “Nostradamus” demands the listener’s full attention – we’re talking headphones and lyrics in hand here – it’s an immersive experience that’s well worth the extra time and effort on the listener’s part. On the other hand, folks looking for a quick metal fix should find that individual tracks like the title cut (very much in the “Painkiller” vein), the creeping “Death” (no pun intended) and driving “Persecution” should do the trick nicely. As the album progresses, the transitions from hard rockers to emotive ballads are made seamlessly, and Halford’s brilliant lyrics really suck the listener into the life of the French seer. And unlike the effort made by ICED EARTH last year with “Framing Armageddon”, the concept of “Nostradamus” is far more focused and doesn’t get too big for itself. At the same time, this is still very much a JUDAS PRIEST record, and the musicianship is nothing less than what we’ve come to expect from Rob Halford, KK Downing, Glen Tipton, Ian Hill and Scott Travis. The guitar tone is straight from 1980, and the riffs on “Prophecy”, “Alone” and “Future of Mankind” could have just as easily found their way onto “British Steel”. If anything, the band’s age complements the album, especially when it comes to Halford’s vocals. He actually sounds like he’s 56 on “Sands of Time/Pestilence and Plague” and the intro of the title track, making his performance more believable and “in character” than had he done them 30 years ago.

For a band that’s approaching their fourth decade of existence, JUDAS PRIEST has certainly earned the right to do whatever the hell they want to do. And while not all metal fans are going to have the patience for “Nostradamus”, it should be an album that history remembers fondly, and Halford and the boys deserve to be praised for not only putting forth such an ambitious effort, but for pulling it off more effectively than bands that have been around less than half as long. “Nostradamus” may not foretell the future of metal or of JUDAS PRIEST, but the here and now isn’t a bad place to be…

- Cardona

OFFICIAL SITE: www.judaspriest.com

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