Epic metal

Distinctive English metal band Judas Priest has been a dominant heavy metal force since the beginning of the early 1970s. After developing a solid reputation for its brand of metal throughout the decade, the band finally found mainstream success in the early ’80s with songs like “Breaking The Law” and the classic “Living After Midnight.”  

Breakups followed success when the band split with lead singer Rob Halford in the early ’90s, only to reunite with him in 2003. Nostradamus is the second album after the reunion, a double-concept album based on 16th-century prophet Nostradamus.

“Prophecy” is one of the better songs on this epic-laden album. Halford’s high-pitched vocals are instantly recognizable. Fast-paced guitar riffs drive this bitchin’ track as Halford loudly exclaims “I am Nostradamus!” in the chorus. This palm-muted, riff-heavy tune sounds like vintage Priest in every way. “Prophecy” sounds like one of the few songs on this album that could fit on an album from the band’s heyday in the ’80s.

“Alone,” one of many slower songs on the album, is one of the better tracks from Nostradamus. The eight-minute epic piece starts out with acoustic guitar and synthesizers, then delves into a mixture of heavy and refrained guitar riffs. The anthemic chorus of this song should make it a sure favorite among longtime fans. The song is vaguely reminiscent of “Beyond The Realms Of Death” via its epic length and mix of acoustic and electric guitar.

It seems as though the band tried to write the perfect epic metal album with this release. While the first disc had no shortage of soft and instrumental songs, disc two seems to have a mellower feel. Halford still has the voice, never lacking the distinct vibrato that gives the band the quintessential early metal sound. On Nostradamus, the band seemed to have focused on writing lengthy, more artistically creative songs, at the expense of radio-friendly singles – and it succeeded.