Nostradamus (album)

For the album by Nikolo Kotzev, see Nikolo Kotzev's Nostradamus.

Nostradamus
Studio album by Judas Priest
Released	13 June 2008
Recorded	2006 – 2007 at The Old Smithy Studio, Kempsey, Worcester, UK
Genre	Heavy metal, symphonic metal
Length	1:42:23
Label	Sony, Epic
Producer	Glenn Tipton and K. K. Downing
Judas Priest chronology
Angel of Retribution (2005) Nostradamus (2008)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Blabbermouth	[2]
PopMatters	[3]

Nostradamus is a concept album by English heavy metal band Judas Priest, focusing on the 16th century prophet Nostradamus.^[4] The band's first concept album,^[5] it was originally intended to be released in late 2006 before being pushed back to a 2007 release,^[6] and was finally released in June 2008 on Epic Records. It is the band's 16th studio album and the last to feature K.K. Downing who retired three years later.^[7]

Judas Priest toured with Motörhead, Heaven & Hell, and Testament on the Metal Masters Tour to promote Nostradamus. The band also performed a world tour in 2008 and 2009 in support of the album.

Development

Guitarist K. K. Downing revealed in a February 2007 interview with Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles that 18 tracks had been recorded with a total length of more than 90 minutes and that there was not much he would like to cut down. Musically, the album contains symphonic orchestrations including the use of keyboards and choirs which is unlike anything the band has previously attempted.^[6] In November 2007, the band began mixing the album.^[8]

Release

In November 2007, singer Rob Halford indicated that it was still undecided whether it would be a double-disc set or not. In April 2008, it was confirmed that the album would be released as a double-CD/triple vinyl LP.^[9]

According to Billboard.com, the album was released in Europe on 16 June 2008 and 17 June in United States. Three configurations of Nostradamus have been issued. The most common is a regular jewel-cased double CD, but there is also a "CD deluxe hardbound version," which features a 48-page booklet, while a "super deluxe version" includes three vinyl records (in addition to the CD deluxe packaging, plus a poster).^[10]

The title track was released on 12 April 2008 as a free download on Judas Priest's website through Epic Records.^[11] The second single "Visions" was released on 4 May 2008.

The title track was nominated for "Best Metal Performance" at the 51st Grammy Awards.^{[citation needed]} The song "Visions" was also nominated for a Grammy in the category "Best Hard Rock Performance".^{[citation needed]}

Story line

Nostradamus centres on the life and times of the seer. The first disc details various forecasts he has about the future and the end of the world. This leads to him being exiled. Later on, after his death, the world realizes just how right he was.

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Rob Halford, K. K. Downing and Glenn Tipton. 

Disc one
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Dawn of Creation"	2:32
2.	"Prophecy"	5:27
3.	"Awakening"	0:53
4.	"Revelations"	7:05
5.	"The Four Horsemen"	1:35
6.	"War"	5:05
7.	"Sands of Time"	2:37
8.	"Pestilence and Plague"	5:09
9.	"Death"	7:34
10.	"Peace"	2:22
11.	"Conquest"	4:42
12.	"Lost Love"	4:28
13.	"Persecution"	6:34

Disc two
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Solitude"	1:23
2.	"Exiled"	6:33
3.	"Alone"	7:50
4.	"Shadows in the Flame"	1:10
5.	"Visions"	5:24
6.	"Hope"	2:10
7.	"New Beginnings"	4:57
8.	"Calm Before the Storm"	2:05
9.	"Nostradamus"	6:43
10.	"Future of Mankind"	8:30

Personnel

• Rob Halford – vocals
• K. K. Downing – guitars, synthesized guitars, producer
• Glenn Tipton – guitars, synthesized guitars, producer
• Ian Hill – bass
• Scott Travis – drums
• Don Airey – keyboards

Release history

Country	Date
Germany	13 June 2008
Australia	14 June 2008
United Kingdom	16 June 2008
Canada	17 June 2008
United States
Japan	25 June 2008

References

1. ^ Allmusic review
2. ^ Bergman, Keith. "Review: Nostradamus". Blabbermouth.net. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/showreview.aspx?reviewID=1431. Retrieved 16 Mars 2010. 
3. ^ PopMatters review
4. ^ "Judas Priest Confirmed For Denmark's Roskilde Festival", blabbermouth.net, 10 March 2008.
5. ^ "Judas Priest Meets Nostradamus On New CD", Greg Prato, Billboard, 12 April 2006.
6. ^ ^{a b} "Judas Priest's Nostradamus Concept LP: A Heavy-Metal 'Phantom Of The Opera'", Jon Wiederhorn, MTV News, 30 June 2006.
7. ^ Judas Priest announce farewell EPITAPH World Tour!!"
8. ^ "Judas Priest Mixing 'Nostradamus'". Ultimate-Guitar.com. 19 November 2007. http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/upcoming_releases/judas_priest_mixing_nostradamus.html. Retrieved 22 October 2010. 
9. ^ "Judas Priest Begins Mixing 'Nostradamus'", blabbermouth.net, 18 November 2007.
10. ^ "Judas Priest Finally Takes On 'Nostradamus'", billboard.com, 16 April 2008.
11. ^ Judas Priest - Nostradamus

External links

• Nostradamus at Metacritic