Judas Priest - Nostradamus - DID YOU BUY IT?

Keep those opinions coming!

I'm really on the fence about picking up this one.

Got to pick this one up.

Just got it today. Too much orchestration, not enough balls!

Orchestration rulz dude. Even with metal band. Can't wait to hear that.

Ive been listening to this straight through since I got it monday and its actually good. So if you can handle it not being like usual priest then go get it.

The orchestration isnt really that big of a deal either. Its not like they have a 60 piece orchestra or something playing to their songs like Rhapdsody or Manowar. Its more computerized orchestration than anything so its not anything that takes over the music completely.

AceFrehley655 wrote:

Orchestration rulz dude. Even with metal band. Can't wait to hear that.

I didn't say orchestration is a bad thing. I like orchestrations in metal when done right. I just don't like it for Priest dude.

there is still alot of quality metal in this son of a gun. mostly mid-paced, & spaced out by alot of intros, interludes & outros. usual cheese lyrics ala 80's Priest. my only issue is that the album as a whole is far to long. it should have been scaled back by a few songs.

other than that, while it's not the best cd, it is an adventurous offering from one of the greatest metal bands ever, who refuse to rest on their laurels.

mc666 wrote:

there is still alot of quality metal in this son of a gun. mostly mid-paced, & spaced out by alot of intros, interludes & outros. usual cheese lyrics ala 80's Priest. my only issue is that the album as a whole is far to long. it should have been scaled back by a few songs.

other than that, while it's not the best cd, it is an adventurous offering from one of the greatest metal bands ever, who refuse to rest on their laurels.

I wish it was just one album with all the cheese cut-off. It just distracts the music and the overall flow when you have to have listen to all the unnecessary interludes and such.

I'm gonna have to spin my friend's copy a few times before I decide. I'm gun shy from too many Jag Panzer/ Virgin Steele/ Kamelot epics to go gung ho on this right away.

Fat Freddy wrote:

Never understood the hate for RAM IT DOWN. It's way better than TURBO at any rate. I always felt their worst albums were TURBO and DEMOLITION

Stop the nonsense!! - Demolition RULES!!

- Granted, there are some filler (Devil Digger, Cyberface, Metal Messiah), but with tracks like Machine Man, Blood Suckers, Hell is Home (what a monster of a song!), FEED ON ME.....it's rock solid.

mc666 wrote:

there is still alot of quality metal in this son of a gun. mostly mid-paced, & spaced out by alot of intros, interludes & outros. usual cheese lyrics ala 80's Priest. my only issue is that the album as a whole is far to long. it should have been scaled back by a few songs.

other than that, while it's not the best cd, it is an adventurous offering from one of the greatest metal bands ever, who refuse to rest on their laurels.

That's a pretty fair assessment. I just hope this gets the "orchestration" and "concept album" bug out of their system and they return to playing straight forward heavy metal with their next album. Even thought it's a decent album, it's just not what I want to hear from Judas Priest.

Is it just me or is Death sound like it is destined to be a new Priest classic? I like the whole album but that particular song IMO is the most Priest-like of the album. BTW, love the whole album and it will be high up on my list this year.

Yep, I bought it. I'm not a big fan of this but I need to give it more spins.

I picked it up last night and I'm still on the first disc but I'm blown away. I love it so far. It's good to see an old dog learn some new tricks.

Still haven't bought the darn thing.

My bro has it and he sez that disc 1 damn near put him to sleep at first, but it finally "clicked" with him during disc 2.

Man, Keith Bergman over at Blabbermouth tore this album a new one. 5/10 It's a fairly long and well spelled out review, but it basically boils down to this paragraph:

Quote :

With apologies to EXODUS, JUDAS PRIEST have created one fabulous disaster with "Nostradamus". Unfortunately for them, album length and sheer metric tonnage of strings do not make an album great. They've dressed up a third-rate Broadway show in the trappings of a heavy metal album, confusing quantity with quality and shoveling bombast at the listener until the only emotion left is a vaguely irritated fatigue. As I've pointed out, there are a few good songs, and a lot of clever bits of ear candy and impressive guitar frippery — but this is the kind of record you'll feel proud to have survived, once, and one that'll quickly start gathering dust next to the rest of the band's much more compelling discography. If you're a diehard PRIEST fan, "Nostradamus" is gonna feel like a velvet-lined kick in the balls, and if you're into long and complex concept albums, you already worship a dozen bands with more of a knack for pulling off a project like this.

On the other hand, Metal-Invader gave it a near perfect review:
http://www.metal-invader.com/db/reviews-4894.html

ultmetal wrote:

Man, Keith Bergman over at Blabbermouth tore this album a new one. 5/10 It's a fairly long and well spelled out review, but it basically boils down to this paragraph:

Quote :

With apologies to EXODUS, JUDAS PRIEST have created one fabulous disaster with "Nostradamus". Unfortunately for them, album length and sheer metric tonnage of strings do not make an album great. They've dressed up a third-rate Broadway show in the trappings of a heavy metal album, confusing quantity with quality and shoveling bombast at the listener until the only emotion left is a vaguely irritated fatigue. As I've pointed out, there are a few good songs, and a lot of clever bits of ear candy and impressive guitar frippery — but this is the kind of record you'll feel proud to have survived, once, and one that'll quickly start gathering dust next to the rest of the band's much more compelling discography. If you're a diehard PRIEST fan, "Nostradamus" is gonna feel like a velvet-lined kick in the balls, and if you're into long and complex concept albums, you already worship a dozen bands with more of a knack for pulling off a project like this.

On the other hand, Metal-Invader gave it a near perfect review:
http://www.metal-invader.com/db/reviews-4894.html

Keith is one of the worst reviewers on the net, he bases his review on 1 spin of the record and his love for the band. If a band seems to go into a new direction that he doesnt like that album is poop in his eyes.

MetalRob331 wrote:

Keith is one of the worst reviewers on the net, he bases his review on 1 spin of the record and his love for the band. If a band seems to go into a new direction that he doesn't like that album is poop in his eyes.

One spin is probably not a good thing, but doesn't everyone base their review off whether they like the direction a band takes? I think his review is a little harsh, but not really completely off base either.

I disagree with the review. What's wrong with a band trying new things? I think the new album is great. I doubt JP start doing this kind of album from here on out. I applaud them for trying this and doing a good job at it.

ultmetal wrote:

MetalRob331 wrote:

Keith is one of the worst reviewers on the net, he bases his review on 1 spin of the record and his love for the band. If a band seems to go into a new direction that he doesn't like that album is poop in his eyes.

One spin is probably not a good thing, but doesn't everyone base their review off whether they like the direction a band takes? I think his review is a little harsh, but not really completely off base either.

Well when people read reviews say on the blabbermouth site, i think they want to know how the album is, not that the guy doesn't like the direction JP went. Reading a lot of his reviews made me come to the conclusion that the cd has to be pure brilliance for him to even consider an 8/10. As for what i am saying as a reader to these reviews is that i want to know the ups and downs of the album the strong points and weak points. Not that this isn't the Priest he has grown to love and therefore it sucks.

Heres the first video from the album. I wouldnt think they would have made this song into a video. Now this I dont really care for.

http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?vid=251091

MetalRob331 wrote:

ultmetal wrote:

MetalRob331 wrote:

Keith is one of the worst reviewers on the net, he bases his review on 1 spin of the record and his love for the band. If a band seems to go into a new direction that he doesn't like that album is poop in his eyes.

One spin is probably not a good thing, but doesn't everyone base their review off whether they like the direction a band takes? I think his review is a little harsh, but not really completely off base either.

Well when people read reviews say on the blabbermouth site, i think they want to know how the album is, not that the guy doesn't like the direction JP went. Reading a lot of his reviews made me come to the conclusion that the cd has to be pure brilliance for him to even consider an 8/10. As for what i am saying as a reader to these reviews is that i want to know the ups and downs of the album the strong points and weak points. Not that this isn't the Priest he has grown to love and therefore it sucks.

Everybody (including our very own Eyesore) seems to hate Keith Bergman's reviews. I think he's hilarious. I might not always agree with him (time will tell if I agree with him on the new Priest, as I haven't heard it yet) but his reviews are always a hell of a funny read.

ultmetal wrote:

I just hope this gets the "orchestration" and "concept album" bug out of their system and they return to playing straight forward heavy metal with their next album. Even thought it's a decent album, it's just not what I want to hear from Judas Priest.

I believe this is just a one-off change in direction for the band. Unlike Scorpions with Humanity Hour I, I haven't seen the band doing interviews saying "this is the new sound and we're sticking to it". This was just a pet project of theirs that they really wanted to do. I have complete faith they'll be rockin' out with a brand new heavy metal album a few years from now.

The album isn't really too bad. I'm loving Disc 2, Disc 1 has some good stuff but kinda drags. This isn't really my kinda metal, but it's decent for what it is. The album is definitely too long though and if they'd condensed it to one album taking the best of both acts, I think it would've been embraced a lot more because there are some good metal songs on here, they're just spaced out A LOT by interludes and mid-tempo numbers.

I have to sit down and give Disc 1 a few more thorough listens, then I'll be posting my thoughts on the album on my blog in a few days.

Fat Freddy wrote:

MetalRob331 wrote:

ultmetal wrote:

MetalRob331 wrote:

Keith is one of the worst reviewers on the net, he bases his review on 1 spin of the record and his love for the band. If a band seems to go into a new direction that he doesn't like that album is poop in his eyes.

One spin is probably not a good thing, but doesn't everyone base their review off whether they like the direction a band takes? I think his review is a little harsh, but not really completely off base either.

Well when people read reviews say on the blabbermouth site, i think they want to know how the album is, not that the guy doesn't like the direction JP went. Reading a lot of his reviews made me come to the conclusion that the cd has to be pure brilliance for him to even consider an 8/10. As for what i am saying as a reader to these reviews is that i want to know the ups and downs of the album the strong points and weak points. Not that this isn't the Priest he has grown to love and therefore it sucks.

Everybody (including our very own Eyesore) seems to hate Keith Bergman's reviews. I think he's hilarious. I might not always agree with him (time will tell if I agree with him on the new Priest, as I haven't heard it yet) but his reviews are always a hell of a funny read.

I agree they are hilarious but so inaccurate if he gives it under a 6 its got a chance to be album of the year.

Fat Freddy wrote:

Everybody (including our very own Eyesore) seems to hate Keith Bergman's reviews. I think he's hilarious. I might not always agree with him (time will tell if I agree with him on the new Priest, as I haven't heard it yet) but his reviews are always a hell of a funny read.

I never go to Blabbermouth for reviews (because I didn't even know they did any), just for news. I go to AllMusic.com first and then usually just google and click links for reviews. So where are the reviews at on Blabbermouth? Mixed in with the news? I clicked on "Releases" but it just took me to Roadrunner bands.