Judas Priest

Nostradamus (Epic)
by Scott Hefflon

A bold move, a concept record (double-album, MAN do I miss gatefold vinyl!) based on the life and thoughts of, you guessed it, Nostradamus. Not a catchy record, but a spellbinding one, no doubt about it. Beautiful intros, sweeping passages, gentle acoustics, soft breezes of keyboards, and, of course, plenty of chugging metal. Tasteful solos abound, sweet doubled leads swirl and spiral, and Halford’s finally using his glorious warble to tell a thoughtful, worldly tale, leaving “look how high I can screech” to his knock-offs. A voice as good, powerful, and passionate as his was always “more than metal,” and he finally gets a chance to ham it up, sob in the darkness, roar at stormy skies, and whisper wisdom in your ears.
(www.judaspriest.com)