Judas Priest — Nostradamus

Nostradamus is over-the-top, pretentious, overambitious, overwrought and downright ridiculous at times. None of those things are really a problem, though. It's a freaking double album rock opera; it's supposed to be that way. For the most part, it works. Priest's metal account of the life of the 16th century seer is exactly what it should be: a heavy and heady mix of growls and piercing screams, complete with all sorts of swelling crescendos and anthemic choruses. Unfortunately, the lyrics distract from the overall grandeur of the piece. Lines like "I am Nostradamus/Do you believe/I am Nostradamus/That I conceive" and "Under the hands of persecution/Defy the institution" are just too simple and juvenile for such a big concept. None of that's going to matter when Judas Priest finally put together a crazy, full live show for the piece and Rob Halford is making the million costume changes he's been promising since they started recording it, but it does stand in the way of a perfect at-home listening experience.

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