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| Nostradamus | 
 enlarge | Artist: Judas Priest
Label: Sony
Category: Music
List Price: $19.98
Buy New: $12.51
You Save: $7.47 (37%)
New (42) Used (15) from $10.49
Avg. Customer Rating:  203 reviews
Sales Rank: 1949
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 2
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 4.9 x 0.4
MPN: 730708
UPC: 886973070826
EAN: 0886973070826
ASIN: B0018AK9RA
Release Date: June 17, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: All products brand new and factory sealed.
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| Tracks:
Disc 1
| • | Dawn Of Creation | | • | Prophecy | | • | Awakening | | • | Revelations | | • | The Four Horseman | | • | War | | • | Sands Of Time | | • | Pestilence and Plaque | | • | Death | | • | Peace | | • | Conquest | | • | Lost Love | | • | Persecution |
Disc 2
| • | Solitude | | • | Exiled | | • | Alone | | • | Shadows In The Flame | | • | Visions | | • | Hope | | • | New Beginnings | | • | Calm Before The Storm | | • | Nostradamus | | • | Future of Mankind |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Album Description
This CD contains an insert with an exclusive code for 1 free general admission ticket to Judas Priest on the Metal Masters Tour this summer. Offer good while supplies last.
Album Description
Two CD 2008 release by Judas Priest. In the realm of Heavy Metal, there has never been a double disc concept album that has managed to balance a thought-provoking storyline with metallic thunder. Long in the works, Nostradamus takes epic storytelling to a whole new level, as it recounts the life of this mysterious, world-known 16th Century French prophet. Most bands of this high stature would be happy to play it safe. But not Judas Priest, who continue to take chances and break new ground. No other rock band could have pulled off such a grand statement, and Judas Priest have raised the bar once more with Nostradamus. 23 tracks.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 198 more reviews...
 Nostradamus is an Amazing Journey June 17, 2008
56 out of 75 found this review helpful
First off..I'm a Judas Priest fan since 1978 when I first heard Stained Class, now 30 years later I'm still a "Defender of the Faith", Priest have a produced a "Masterpiece"..I know some of you will argue this till the cows come home, but this is the kinda album I have been waiting for. It's alike a journey back to the early 70's with Sad Wings of Destiny, Rocka Rolla, Sin after Sin and so forth. There's no 4 chord "Hits" on this cd, Priest have really worked hard on making "Progressive" music on this album. If you want Painkiller, or British Steel then go put those albums on, because what you have here is a journey of Light and Dark Themes, some Agressive some very melodic and soft. Rob Halford has given you the perfomance of his life on this album, some beautiful compositions on this really make his voice shine. So if your into the more Symphonic, Progressive, Melodic Rock and Metal this will be to your liking. If you into the more Heavy Jugulator & Painkiller type then you'll be dissappointed...again I love Priest and I'm happy they did something different instead of the same old "Formula".
Highlights are:
Calm before the Storm
Nostradamus
Sands of Time
Death
lost love
Persecution
Exiled
 concept album that lets Priest stretch its wings June 17, 2008
37 out of 47 found this review helpful
Intolerant metal fans will no doubt slag this double CD for its keyboards and overall melody that metal bands simply aren't doing these days. Their loss.
We must remember that Glenn Tipton released a fine solo effort with John Entwhistle and Cozy Powell a few years back that was more melodic than Priest material was. These guys have been around too long to be expected to just repeat themselves over and over. With the experience and musicianship present, "Nostradamus" gives us a metal CD that offers the best vocalist in the genre ever, Rob Halford, instead of the extremely annoying grunt metal that permeates everything else. One hopes that this CD will be a hit, and will maybe encourage metal outfits out there to not be afraid to actually sing a little bit.
There's plenty of signature lead work and slicing guitars, but also lots of keyboards, which are necessary for the subject matter and add color and dimension to the music. Lyrically, it's basically a history of the great prophet, which one can take or leave, but overall I find it refreshing to see these metal godfathers stretch their wings whether some lunkhead likes it or not.
 "The fans of 'Steel Dragon' expect certain things..." June 21, 2008
22 out of 35 found this review helpful
I was excited to get the new Judas Priest album NOSTRADAMUS, as it coincided with a road trip a group of friends was planning. The open road, friends and some great new music from a band we all enjoyed. A can't miss formula for good times right?
This CD was perilously close to being chucked out the window twenty miles down the road. How could the band that wrote the triumphant "Heading Out to the Highway" screw up a soundtrack to a summer roadtrip? To put it succinctly:
1. The Concept. Nostradamus was an interesting historical figure, no question. Does that justify a concept album clocking in at a turgid 100 minutes? Debatable. Does the average Judas Priest fan care at all about the man? Doubtful.
2. The Music. Slow, dirge-like passages that go on for entirely too long and never seem to *get* anywhere. The first disc is not salvageable. There are two or three songs out of twenty three that are somewhat interesting, but only because everything around them is just so tepid. Judas Priest should NEVER make anyone sleepy, and they do a good job of that here.
3. The Production and Performances. The CD is washed out in orchestration and synths. The guitars are mixed weakly, while Halford turns in an earnest but dull vocal performance, hampered by bad lyrics. His voice is "showing" wear and it's evident in the studio now. Ian Hill is M.I.A. here and Scott Travis is just cashing a check. His drumming talents are put to waste, as he works on material most session players could handle with a yawn.
This whole endeavor feels like something a European power metal band would take on, and probably do better as this vein of concept music fits their style better. Judas Priest built their legacy on lean and mean guitar riffs, stripped down production and fun lyrics that were at turns filled with sci-fi imagery, sexual innuendo, and just plain fun times living the rock lifestyle. NOSTRADAMUS brings us a band that is too self-aware of their own place in the metal pantheon, and trying entirely too hard to deliver the EPIC they think they need to put out to blow everyone away.
We should have seen this coming...or had Nostradamus warn us! June 20, 2008
20 out of 32 found this review helpful
I have just finished listening to the entire recording without a break. I used to love doing that when I was younger and I was very much looking forward to this time as well. Let's not minch words, I am a HUGE Priest fan. I always have been and up until "Angel of Retribution" I can think of only a small handful of songs that I haven't liked in their entire catalog. I purchased Rocka Rolla when it came out and have purchased every recording since.
When "Angel" came out, it was the most disappointed I had ever been in a Priest recording. That was not a familiar thing for me. The first half of the album had some gems..but for the most part I didn't enjoy the album. The second half in particuliar was hard to listen to as the songs lacked fire, focus, melody and any classic Priest dual guitar fireworks. "Lochness" was the beginning of what was to come and it has carried over to the new recording.
So...."Nostradamus"..it is a cool subject for certain. And I agree with others that to be successful, it doesn't need to have any "hits". But it does need to have some real strong song writting and it just isn't here. The songs all sound the same..no great variance in tempo, style and any two people could have been playing guitar..it was that ..ordinary. The pattern started ..soft intro, heavy song.. fine..but mix it up even a little.
I for one feel that the song writting is the biggest disappointment here. Neither "Angel" nor "Nostradamus" are anywhere near as good as either of Halford's solo recordings "Resurrection" and "Crucible". They just don't have very good material here and no matter what you do with it..it is going to sound the same and ..frankly boring. I would have never been able to say THAT word with ANY of the previous recordings of Priest, Fight or Halford. Even the recordings with Ripper had much better material and were very enjoyable recordings.
Some will say.."You don't understand Progressive Metal.." this isn't "You've Got Another Thing Comin'" and you are right it isn't. But I really don't care what you want to call it. If a piece of music lacks a solid melody, chord progression, catchy riffs, and catchy lyrics, it doesn't matter what you call it. It is hard to listen to and is easily forgotten after you are done listening to it.
I love concept albums, but if you are going to release one, you had better make certain the material is extra strong as you have to carry a theme through the entire recording. King Diamond's "Abigial", Queensryche's "Operation Mindcrime", Pink Floyd's "The Wall" all had incredible material. Look what happened to
Mindcrime II", no Chris DeGarmo..(a main songwriter) and the material just isn't as good.
The band plays great, Rob is amazing..but none of that matters when there is nothing to latch onto...no melody to hook you (and do NOT confuse that with a hit, or pop..even songs like "Call for the Priest", "Burning Up", "Saints in Hell" and soo on, were never hits..but they still had melody and structure and amazing character.)no great riffs, Scott Travis is lost in the mix and not given a lot to work with.
I will listen to it again..(not all at once..that ship has sailed)and if I was too harsh or rash and rushed to judgement, I will be the first to edit this and applogize. But I feel pretty confident that won't happen.
I think I will go buy the "Fight" remasters and listen to some really great metal!
Peace!
pjones
 Music From The Elder...err, I Mean....NOSTRADAMUS! June 22, 2008
18 out of 22 found this review helpful
Judas Priest is back!
Well, with that over with, now that they're back (their 2nd album since reuniting with Metal God Rob Halford), what are they doing?
What they're doing is exactly what KISS did in the Fall of 1981 - they're dividing their fans into two groups thanks to a new Concept Album. For KISS it nearly killed their career. What will Nostradamus do for Judas Priest this late in their career?
Well, let's discuss the album first. Disc 1 is largely unlistenable. Sure, there are some strong points here and there, but not much that resembles the style that Judas Priest has been known for over the last 30+ years. There's a lot of synthisizers and synth strings (or are those real strings?), and dark, mellow interludes in between almost all of the "real" songs. This is not a disc to put in for a long drive. Or a short one, for that matter.
Disc 2 is better, but still suffers from the same problems as disc 1. The upside of this disc is that there are some real songs here, and it begins to resembe JUDAS PRIEST in more spots. In fact, there are a few tracks that sound downright Sad Wings of Destiny-esque. If disc 1 had been as good as disc 2 there would be a lot less 1 star reviews here. There would still be some, but a lot less than there are now. Even so, disc 2 is still not a good candidate to pop in the CD player while driving.
Nostradamus is the type of album that went over well in the 70's - put on the album, put on your headphones, break out the lyric sheet and credits and listen intently for an hour or so. It's ambitious, it's theatrical, and it is very deep. There are more than a few Pink Floyd type moments here, and that's pretty shocking coming from Judas Priest.
Unfortunately, there is not a lot of memorable material on the album - the riffs just aren't there (not like a Judas Priest album should have, anyway), and the strong vocal hooks are few and far between. There is some substance to be had, but not enough to make up for all the failings of this set.
Maybe if they had taken the best 12 SONGS and released that as the new album it would have worked better. I'm sure it would have, but unfortunately what we're left with is an overblown concept album that just doesn't work they way they seem to have intended.
If you are a Judas Priest fanatic, then by all means - pick this one up! There are some songs here that are pretty good. If you're one of those fans who skips an album here or there because it just isn't up to the usual standards then this might be a good one to pass on.
The Elder has been dividing KISS fans for over 26 years. Nostradamus seems to have done that in 26 hours! It's not all bad, but it isn't the album that most of Judas Priest's fans wanted.
The big question is this... With The Elder everyone knew KISS would be back (and they came roaring back with Creatures of the Night), but at this late stage of Priest's career it's a little less certain that THEY will come roaring back with a killer album (or any more new albums). Let's hope they can.
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