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Judas Priest
Nostradamus
(Epic Records)
Let’s face it; throughout the often tumultuous histories of the hopelessly chaotic realms best known as the Hard Rock and Heavy Metal genres, precious few artists and groups have successfully weathered the forced departure of a key or founding member with their dignity, integrity or sanity entirely intact. Sometimes the truth hurts, doesn’t it? Even with the occasionally overbearing presence of acts such as AC/DC, Van Halen, The Who (and to a lesser extent, the bastardized disaster that is the once-mighty Lynyrd Skynyrd) looming ominously amid our battered psyches, the odds--regardless of even the best of intentions and sincere of motivations--are often improbably stacked against the average group surviving such a scenario. Fortunately, there is indeed a solution to this madness as the legendary Judas Priest has finally unleashed the exhaustive, highly-anticipated (if not outright long-overdue) follow up to 2005’s ‘…comeback…’ Angel Of Retribution.
On the brilliant Nostradamus (2008), an expertly assembled twenty three song (!), two disc collection of flawlessly executed Heavy Metal, each track, beginning with the quasi-prototypical ‘…instant classic…’ “Prophecy”, the impossibly searing “Revelations”, and the delightfully vision-inducing “War” (think charging horses, rattling sabers and the inescapable stench of decaying human flesh), immediately commands the rapt and undivided attention of all parties involved, myself most definitely included. With the group at long last delivering--for the first and presumably last time--a conceptual recording (based on, as the title suggests, the life, times and eventual death of the controversial Prophet), the fivesome wastes little time getting to the business at hand, inexorably tearing through a carefully calculated barrage of material that is both musically diverse and lyrically challenging, even when compared to the group’s already lofty, genre-defining standards.
Continuing with the rumbling “Pestilence And Plague”, the soaring, multi-dimensional “Conquest”, and the curiously-chosen (albeit highly effective) Power Ballad “Lost Love”, the legendary--to say the very least--combination of vocalist Rob Halford (Fight, Halford), guitarists Glenn Tipton and KK Downing, bassist Ian Hill and drummer Scott Travis (Racer X and The Scream, among others) steamroll ahead with the proverbial sickening ease. Seems a little over-the-top, now doesn’t it? Just wait; it only gets much, much better. Painstakingly detailing the troubled French Apothecary’s already much-theorized existence without entirely abandoning their now trademark blend of barbed melody and unabashed metallic crunch, the group (particularly Tipton and Downing) are afforded a wealth of previously unexplored creative license, offering both new and established fans alike a stunning array of their frequently imitated signature razor-sharp riffs and solos.
Is it overblown? Yes. Is it atypical Priest? Not exactly. But then again, what were you expecting? British Steel, Part II? As a result, other standouts, including the breathtaking “Alone” (which deftly showcases Halford’s oft-overlooked penchant for ‘…darker and lower…’ ranges), the maddeningly infectious shred fest “Visions”, and the tremolo-laden closer “Future Of Mankind”, only further solidify the Birmingham, England-born veteran’s status as one of the genre’s truly pioneering acts. Although one might effectively argue that the concept at the undeniably molten epicenter of Nostradamus is indeed rather absurd despite being based upon a non-fictional historical figure, as a result, the group wisely avoids the ‘…epic quests, swords and demons…’ mantra that plagues so many of their would-be contemporaries, a much-welcomed factor that easily leaves their collective efforts on par with classics such as Iron Maiden’s Powerslave and Iced Earth’s Gettysburg (1863).
But is it really that freakin’ good? Absolutely! Easily the group’s finest ‘…non-Ripper…’ effort since the Thrash-tinged classic that is 1990’s Painkiller, oddly enough, the success--or lack thereof--of the majority (if not all) of the decidedly ambitious wares contained herein ultimately lies within the individual listener’s reading habits. A definite must-have for those with a genuine and sincere interest in full-length novels and mainstream periodicals (and, as a result, most definitely not for those only interested in skimming the headlines), the resulting sonic barrage is arguably of Stained Class or Point Of Entry proportions. Thus, if you’ve once again found yourself in search of a refreshingly thought-provoking, slightly Old School alternative to the seemingly endless slew of painfully blasé, Payola-fueled bullshit that is so often the mainstream, then this, my friends, might just be the high octane cure for what ails you. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed.
Todd Newton/Todd Blomfelt
Select Discography
Nostradamus (2008) *
Angel Of Retribution (2005) *
Metalogy (Box Set) (2004) *
Electric Eye (DVD) (2003) *
Live In London (DVD) (2003) **
Demolition (2001) **
’98 Live Meltdown (1998) **
Jugulator (1997) **
Painkiller (1990) *
Ram It Down (1988) *
Priest…Live! (1987) *
Turbo (1986) *
Defenders Of The Faith (1984) *
Screaming For Vengeance (1982) *
Point Of Entry (1981) *
British Steel (1980) *
Unleashed In The East (1979) *
Hell Bent For Leather (1979) *
Stained Class (1978) *
Sin After Sin (1977) *
Sad Wings Of Destiny (1976) *
Rocka Rolla (1974) *
* features vocalist Rob Halford
** features vocalist Tim “Ripper” Owens