New Judas Priest?

[jwoods986]

I was catching up with a buddy of mine yesterday and he mentioned getting the new Priest, Nostradomus, last week - I heard NOTHING about this! I knew it was coming out soon, but did not see/hear about this being released last week. Anyone get it? If so, how is it?

[guitarzan2]

Classic case of them trying too hard. They tried to get all technical with a theme concept and 8 minute long songs. The keyboards don't help anything either. It's not terrible but it's not great.

[axeman81]

It is cool for what it is, but it's not classic Priest in any sense. They stated they were going off on unchartered grounds on this one and it certainly shines through. Not amazing production either IMHO! (was done by KK and Glenn themselves), I thought the drums were slightly weak sounding. they should've gotten Roy Z to handle that department, like on the previous effort.

There are some good songs. But a lot of interludes...so it doesn't attack you continously like, say, the Painkiller album. It seems to be a lot less riff oriented. More big chords and melodies. A lot of really good guitar solos which is the big highlight of the album for me. Loads of classical inspired stuff.
After a few good listens I'll give it 6/10.

On a side-note, I saw them live a few weeks back playing the classics...they were absolutely AWESOME!! Rob really soared on tracks like Painkiller, Hell Patrol, Sinner, Between The Hammer & The Anvil...very cool show!

[jwoods986]

Pretty much what my buddy told me then - which was, it's not bad but it's not great. A good CD if you find it for a really good price -lol. He did mention the production too, saying it wasn't as good as Angel of Retribution. But he did say that there are free concert tickets in the first so many (I forgot the number) CDs.

[Venomboy]

I'm almost done listening to it.

It's not horrible but it is very different. Many of the songs have a Touch of Evil/Blood Red Skies feel to them. There's a certain "sameness" to the whole thing. It needs more peaks and valleys. Halford sounds great but he never really lets loose. It's very dark sounding and the guitar sounds are all over the place. Scott Travis is underutilized (surprise!) and there's a TON of orchestration, keyboards, etc.

I will give them credit for really committing to something different. They could have released Angel again, but Priest always changes with each record. When they're gonna suck (Turbo, Ram it Down) they will fully embrace the lameness and the suckage. When they're going to get all arty-farty, they will do it to the fullest.

I'll have to listen to it a few more times.

[horns666]

I don't like it..they're nuetered without Roy Z. Roy would also think this is stupid. There is TONS of European metal bands that did this theme to death and other epic bullshit..we don't need Judas Priest for that!!

[dg]

I listened to a little over half of the stream they had on the MTV site, and I agree with everything Venomboy says. Credit for going all-out with their idea (even if it's not my thing), Halford sounds great, but it's a bit too uniform. It might grow on me if I bought it, but I'm not going to buy it.

[Soap]

I saw it the other day at the local CD store in the mall.
It looks like a small thick book, 30+ dollars for it. Crazy man.
I picked it up and glanced at it front and back and put it back down.
I bet they spend a heap load of money on the packing of this CD or whatever you call it.

I listened to it when they had it up on MTV's site too.
I wasn't impressed, good but not what I was expecting from them.
I was expecting something meaner more metal from them.

[axeman81]

Soap, that is the limited edition one you've seen. It includes a 48-page book on the whole story.
I've got the regular 2CD jewel case, bought it for the price of a regular new album release.
They've released 3 different versions, the standard one that I got, and the double CD with book that you saw, and also a super deluxe package with the whole thing on both CD and vinyl plus book and also a poster and some stuff.

[Nuclear Vampire]

The 48 page hard cover book is almost exactly the same as the CD booklet, so I opted for the CD.

It's...okay. The fake orchestra is cheesy, and there's far too much synth on it. The riffing is lazy and pretty uninspired. Some nice leads though and Ian's bass sounds great. The drums sound programmed and fake. Only one or two songs actually sound like real drums. Scott sin't playing very many fills at all either. I'm pretty sure you can hear the click track once in a while too. KK and Glenn produced it. Bad move. They should have gotten an outside producer to kick them in the ass and say "Come on guys, put some effort into the riffs - you're Judas fucking Priest already!" They also should have dropped most of the synths and used a real orchestra. Rob sounds really good.

In a nutshell - Judas Priest does Broadway.

[Joe_Steeler]

I heard that Nostradamus song and it gave me a bad case of constipation.
Not good, not what I expected. Big let down.

[CharvelRocker]

The 48 page hard cover book is almost exactly the same as the CD booklet, so I opted for the CD.

It's...okay. The fake orchestra is cheesy, and there's far too much synth on it. The riffing is lazy and pretty uninspired. Some nice leads though and Ian's bass sounds great. The drums sound programmed and fake. Only one or two songs actually sound like real drums. Scott sin't playing very many fills at all either. I'm pretty sure you can hear the click track once in a while too. KK and Glenn produced it. Bad move. They should have gotten an outside producer to kick them in the ass and say "Come on guys, put some effort into the riffs - you're Judas fucking Priest already!" They also should have dropped most of the synths and used a real orchestra. Rob sounds really good.

In a nutshell - Judas Priest does Broadway.

Nailed it. Travis sounds like a machine (I hate to say that too!), Halford is amazing, but the material is weak, guitar playing is good but the actual stuff being played is unsipring, Ian was strong as always. The synths sucked. I was a bit disappointed in the production too. Reminds me too much of Glenn's Baptizm of Fire album, which has gotten old to listen to due in part to the production of it.

[horns666]

Do you or they realize how many metal bands did this theme..and wayyyyyyyy more elaborate and BETTER as well.

JP needs to stick what they do best (painkiller). Halford solo efforts were awesome..Roy Z brings out the best in them.. tone and all!!!

[skorb]

I only heard that first web release song Nostradamus and it was so bad it gave me douche chills. I think I lasted about a minute and had to turn it off.

and I love old JP.

[Soap]

I love old JP.

Me too.