Judas Priest "Nostradamus" Song

Back in March 2007, I posted about Judas Priest's endeavor to record the band's first concept album (ugh) around the life of Nostradamus (double ugh). A double album no less (they still make those?).

The whole thing seemed like an outtake from Spinal Tap.

I also questioned if they'd even pull it off - seemed like a long winded endeavor that the band was sinking a couple of years into. Never a good time line for an album. Seems like the best ones come together quickly.

So, image my surprise to stumble onto a free Web stream of the song Nostradamus (all six minutes and forty five seconds of it) courtesy of Priest itself (and Epic Records). Check it out here.

After listening a few times, I was reminded of the Eastern feel of Iron Maiden's Powerslave, but to an insane degree. This thing starts out like heavy metal theater. But when the whole band kicks in double time speed metal and Halford issues a hearty scream, I gotta say, I can't rule this thing out until I hear the whole thing.

Dare I say, might they have actually pulled this off???

Note that Priest is on tour this summer with Heaven and Hell (Dio-led Sabbath), Motorhead and Testament. That is a no-lose bill. Jeez! Of course, no Northwest dates yet.

Spinal Tap, I Mean Judas Priest, Recording Concept Album

Judas Priest reunited a couple of years ago with Rob Halford, whose coming out of the closet gave new meaning to the songs "Pain and Pleasure" and "Grinder." Rob said, "most people know I have been a gay man all my life." Well, I sure didn't and neither did many of my friends in high school who had his leather clad image nailed to our walls! Not that it matters - who cares, right? It was just a bit of a light bulb that went on and we all said "Oh, yeah, I guess that makes sense. Ulp."

Anyway, their reunion tour was a great success and on paper this thing looked like a kickin' idea. But then unlike Iron Maiden, who put out a very topical and seriously ROCKING new album called A Matter of Life and Death (buy it NOW - I am not kidding), Priest went into the studio last year to create a concept album about the life and times of Nostradamus. Not kidding (again).

In interviews last June, the rough draft of the thing was up to 90-plus minutes. As of last month the writing still wasn't done.

Rob said, "It's absolutely massive in its scope. I mean, it really is a very big concept, even possibly a double album. We're all totally into the whole idea and researching the man's life has opened up so many possibilities. Right now Glenn [Tipton] and Ken [K.K. Downing] have all the music written but we have to construct all of that into a meaningful story. It's hugely ambitious but I know the fans will be blown away."

Other interviews reveal that whenever the album actually comes out (more or less the same month as Chinese Democracy), Priest will tour with a huge stage show possibly involving costumes, moveable sets, "big massive screens that move around, special effects and illusions."

Does this whole thing sound like Spinal Tap to you? If it doesn't yet, dig this Halford quote I stumbled on about the project: "Nostradamus is all about metal, isn't he?" Say it like Nigel Tufnel and you'll see what I mean.