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| Artist: Judas Priest
Label: Sony
List Price: $19.98
Buy Used: $7.23
You Save: $12.75 (64%)
New (46) Used (22) from $7.23
Rating:  224 reviews
Sales Rank: 2918
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
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Complete with original disc(s), artwork, and case. In stock and ships right now! 10% chance the case has small spider cracks in it.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 6-10 of 224
 A whole new level for Priest June 21, 2008
P. Myers (Alberta)
14 out of 19 found this review helpful
The latest Priest album is amazing and on a whole other level than any previous works. Halford, KK, Tipton, Hill & Travis deliver the goods as always as only they can. The lyrics and riffs are very well thought out and wonderfully written. After reading some negative reviews from "classic Priest" fans I was a little worried but after listening to this new album as a die hard classic fan myself I loved it, on par with Sad Wings Of Destany and even surpasses it musically. This could also be called "Sad Wings II" it's that good, awesome day to be part of the Priest metal beast!!! Judas Priest prove once again why they are the world's greatest heavy metal band.
 "The fans of 'Steel Dragon' expect certain things..." June 21, 2008
Sidsel Roine (Lexington, KY United States)
14 out of 24 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
Peter C. Jones (Aurora, IL USA)
13 out of 19 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
This album has made me a fan! June 30, 2008
Logan (Crystal Lake, USA)
13 out of 17 found this review helpful
I'm a 36 year old metalhead, and I pretty much know my stuff to the tune of some 4000 songs on my Ipod spanning 40+ years. I have always respected Priest and enjoy their well-known songs but I was never a hardcore fan, nor did I hate the band. Having said that, I started listening to Nostradamus with expectations of a straight-forward metal record with a few good tracks. I was immediately blown away track after track until the end of disc 2, and that's no small feat for me who's known for being a bit on the choosy side. It's amazing that Rob Halford and company not only made a brilliant concept album, but they blended prog and metal seamlessly and with amazing confidence. There is a lot of heart in the making of this album, and boy does it deliver in spades. The musicianship is balls to the wall and experimental wrapped with vocals that sound more youthful than most of what's out today. This is a great accomplishment for Priest, and this new direction has won my admiration and my fandom.
....And to the few low I.Q. morons who have ignorantly panned this record please be aware the new Hanna Montana record will be out soon since that's more their speed. Don't hurt yourselves trying to figure out all of the two-syllable words in this review either!
Metal Gods Masterpiece July 5, 2008
jhcpa (NY)
11 out of 13 found this review helpful
It was obvious from the beginning that some people would love this CD and others would hate it. Hardcore fans who want little else than a regurgitation of Painkiller will be severely disappointed. Those who are able to open their minds and explore a new world of Priest will find this CD to be an absolutely amazing journey. This piece of work displays a depth that most bands never reach.
There is no one formula or sound that makes this album. It is a combination of musical styles that requires you to listen to this album multiple times to actually "get it." This is precisely why some people will never "get it." Sadly they are missing out on one of the most amazing concept albums ever written. There are no instant radio hits here.
When you do take the time to be absorbed into the world of Nostradamus, you find layers of music rather than just a catchy guitar riff. With Nostradamus, Priest are again pioneers, blending heavy metal with operatic verses and orchestral accompaniments. If for no other reason, this CD is worth purchasing just to hear Rob Halford sing in Italian on "Pestilence and Plague." Halford shows that he is not just The Metal God, unleashing screams that will shatter glass and fragile ear drums, but that he is also a vocalist who SINGS with far more energy and talent than any pop tart that Fox Television tries to make into an "idol." This is not bubble-gum rock boys and girls. This is not pretty. This is not the 4 minute hit single they play on MTV with a bunch of screaming kids who don't even know what they are screaming at. This is Judas Priest. This is Rock & Roll. This is Heavy Metal. But this time, it's done with finesse that's usually reserved for much different musical genres. Congratulations to Judas Priest for taking the chance, and for doing it exceptionally well. There's a reason why this band is selling out arenas almost 35 years after their inception.
My final advice to anyone looking to purchase this CD. Do it! But you need to put in the time with this album to appreciate it. Priest took over two years to write and record this album. Listen to it in full- from beginning to end. Then do it again. And again. You need to immerse yourself into the world they created to truly appreciate it. If you put in the time, you will reap the rewards that this masterpiece has to offer.
All hail to the Call of The Priest and bow before The Metal Gods!
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