Initially planned for release in late 2006, the album's launch was postponed to 2007[4] before it was ultimately released on 16 June 2008[1] on Epic Records. It marks the last Judas Priest studio album featuring the Painkiller-era lineup, as guitarist and founding member K. K. Downing retired in April 2011.[5]
The concept for Nostradamus originated from manager Bill Curbishley,[14] and was pitched to the band during their 2005 tour in Estonia. Guitarist K. K. Downing revealed in a February 2007 interview with Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles that 18 tracks had been recorded, with a total runtime exceeding 90 minutes, adding that there was little he would want to cut.
Musically, the album features symphonic orchestrations, incorporating keyboards and choirs, marking a significant departure from the band’s previous work.[4]
In November 2007, the band began mixing the album.[15]
Release
In November 2007, singer Rob Halford stated that it was still undecided whether Nostradamus would be released as a double-disc set. By April 2008, it was confirmed that the album would be issued as a double CD and triple vinyl LP.[16]
Nostradamus debuted at No. 11 on the Billboard 200 chart after selling 42,000 copies in the United States during its first week of release. This was the band's highest-ever chart position in the U.S. until it was surpassed by Redeemer of Souls in 2014, which peaked at No. 6. According to Billboard.com, the album was released in Europe on 16 June 2008 and in the United States on 17 June 2008.
Three configurations of the album were issued. The most common version is a standard jewel-cased double CD. Additionally, a "CD deluxe hardbound version" was released, featuring a 48-page booklet, while a "super deluxe version" included three vinyl records alongside the deluxe CD packaging and a poster.[17]
The title track was released as a free download on Judas Priest's website through Epic Records on 12 April 2008.[18] The second single, "Visions," was released on 4 May 2008.
The band expressed interest in performing the album in its entirety as part of a theatrical production, but the idea was ultimately scrapped, possibly due to the album's mixed reception among fans.[20] Only two tracks from the album, "Prophecy" and "Death," were performed during the subsequent tour, with "Prophecy" returning to the setlist in 2011–2012.
Reception
Sputnikmusic noted that with Nostradamus, Judas Priest "has cast away both speed metal and hard rock in favour of a more symphonic metal approach," emphasizing synthesizers more prominently than in their previous work. However, the reviewer remarked that this was not reminiscent of the unsatisfying synthesizer use in their 1986 album Turbo. The review also stated it was "painfully obvious" that the band was struggling to adapt to this unfamiliar style.[21]
AllMusic described the album as representing "epic metal" similar to Iron Maiden’s 1988 album Seventh Son of a Seventh Son. However, it criticized the record for including Spinal Tap-style clichés such as "melodramatic spoken interludes" and "dated" synthesizer string sounds. The review suggested that these elements contributed to the sense that the band was padding the album to fit a double-disc format, asserting it "should have been" condensed into a single album.[1]
As of 2009, Nostradamus had sold over 100,000 copies in the United States and 500,000 copies worldwide.[22]
In his 2020 memoir, Confess, Rob Halford reflected on the album, expressing pride in its creation and confidence that it will eventually be recognized as a classic. He also reiterated his hope that Judas Priest would someday perform the entire album live as a theatrical production, noting that only two tracks—"Prophecy" and "Death"—were played during their 2008 tour.[23]
Story line
Nostradamus centers on the life and times of the famed seer. The first disc explores his various prophecies about the future, including predictions about the end of the world.
