JUDAS PRIEST's 'Nostradamus' Previewed

Metal Edge (web site) contributor Bryan Reesman (web site) was the first American journalist to fully hear the new JUDAS PRIEST rock opera "Nostradamus" and interview Rob Halford, Glenn Tipton, and K.K. Downing about it this past Tuesday. The interview will run as the July 2008 cover story of Metal Edge, which streets June 3.

Of the album, Reesman says, "Some fans have expressed concern to me about this album being potentially 'Spinal Tap', but they have nothing to fear. The current free download (the title track) delivers a ferocious song that will certainly remind PRIEST fans of 'Painkiller', but the whole album goes far deeper. Over the course of 104 minutes, they deliver everything from emotional ballads to heavy anthems to orchestral interludes that are quite impressive in their musical and emotional scope. 'Angel of Retribution' was a good but safe comeback album. 'Nostradamus' takes PRIEST to another level. They're exploring many areas we've never heard from them. The main songs, which are all between four and eight minutes apiece, have classical or operatic overtones but are still heavy. They use live strings, piano, acoustic and Spanish guitar, and keyboards in different places. Rob even sings in Italian during 'Plague and Pestilence'. Instead of focusing on Nostradamus' prophecies, which have been debated ad nauseum, he tackles the dramas and tragedies within his life. Even though the individual songs are strong, PRIEST aren't going for hit singles here. It's powerful conceptual metal all the way. Rob's voice sounds great and his vocals the most diverse since 'Stained Class', and Glenn and Ken's guitar playing is stellar. Beyond the tours this year, they're hoping to stage the album on a grander scale next year at prestigious venues like Carnegie Hall or the Royal Albert Hall."