The Phoenix Network:
 
 
About  |  Advertise
Adult  |  Moonsigns  |  Band Guide  |  Blogs  |  In Pictures
 
CD Reviews  |  Classical  |  Live Reviews  |  Music Features

Judas Priest

Nostradamus | Epic
By DANIEL BROCKMAN  |  June 17, 2008
3.5 3.5 Stars
judaspriestINSIDE.jpg
This 23-song, 104-minute double-CD behemoth is distinctive in the Priest œuvre for, among other things, being the first of their albums that you listen to and don’t think, “Wow, how could I have not figured out before that Rob Halford is gay?!” For all that moments hark back to, say, the more epic tracks on Sad Wings of Destiny and Painkiller, the operatic grandeur and the way the cuts all flow into one another make this album an anomaly of pomp previously unheard in the JP catalogue. If Priest have always been the Stones to Iron Maiden’s Beatles, then this is the band’s Their Satanic Majesties Request (though in scope and lyrical focus it’s closer to Genesis’s The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway): a concept album about the life of Nostradamus that’s as straightforward, in its lyrics, as Maiden’s “Alexander the Great.” Am I making Nostradamus sound lame? Don’t mean to: it’s a ridiculous album, sure, but take Defenders of the Faith, replace the Metallion with Nostradamus, double the number of awesome riffs, add the occasional pan flute and symphonic embellishments, and you have the most grandiose metal record likely to be released this year.
Related: 9/11: The original email conspiracies, Bring it on - side, Portland scene report: June 1, 2007, More more >
  Topics: CD Reviews , Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Judas Priest,  More more >
  • Share:
  • Share this entry with Facebook
  • Share this entry with Digg
  • Share this entry with Delicious
  • RSS feed
  • Email this article to a friend
  • Print this article
Comments
Re: Judas Priest
Mr. Brockman, From the tone of your review of Judas Priest's latest work, Nostradamus, you're completely panning the album, yet you give it 3-1/2 stars out of 4?!?  I don't get it.  Being a fan of this genre of music, I am probably a bit bias, but I think the album is very good, and my hats off to Priest for being the first (again) to explore something new.  I have to admit though, I like your Iron Maiden/Judas Priest Beatles/Stones comparison. Peterofdayton  
By Peterofdayton on 06/20/2008 at 11:00:14

[ 11/28 ]   Seth Shomes Band  @ Wolf Den @ Mohegan Sun
[ 11/28 ]   Noche De Estrellas  @ Mohegan Sun Arena
[ 11/28 ]   Hot Tuna  @ Calvin Theatre
[ 11/28 ]   McAlister Drive + Whitetree + Cadrin  @ Center for Arts In Natick
[ 11/28 ]   Aventura  @ Agganis Arena
ARTICLES BY DANIEL BROCKMAN
Share this entry with Delicious
  •   NEW ATTITUDE  |  November 24, 2009
    The rock career of UK upstarts the Big Pink has been one of finding, at the intersection of sheer bloody noise and haunting melodies, the commonality of hate and love.
  •   DROPPING BY WITH AN OLD FRIEND  |  November 23, 2009
    Even before there were festivals like All Tomorrow’s Parties to formalize the concept, Sonic Youth have always given off a curatorial air.
  •   TAKE IT TO THE LIMIT  |  November 18, 2009
    When asked to describe their own music, most bands get it horribly wrong. UK electro-noisesters Fuck Buttons, however, are not most bands.
  •   THEM CROOKED VULTURES | THEM CROOKED VULTURES  |  November 18, 2009
    One day, maybe in a decade or three, somebody will dig this LP out of the future virtual version of a record crate in a Salvation Army and be blown away by the deep grooves this supergroup generate
  •   HUMAN TOUCH  |  November 17, 2009
    “Get me something to stop the bleeding!” were the first words to come spilling out of David Yow’s mouth as his recently reunited Jesus Lizard tore into the first song of their triumphant set last Saturday night at the Paradise.

 See all articles by: DANIEL BROCKMAN

MOST POPULAR
RSS Feed of for the most popular articles
 Most Viewed   Most Emailed 



  |  Sign In  |  Register
 
thePhoenix.com:
Phoenix Media/Communications Group:
TODAY'S FEATURED ADVERTISERS
Copyright © 2009 The Phoenix Media/Communications Group